PARAGLIDING IN SA  |   FLYING SITES  |   REVIEWS  |   AIRLORE  |   STORIES  |   GALLERY |   CARTOONS PROFILE - DARRON GUBERMAN by Greg Hamerton Jan 2003 You might also like to read: Other paraglider reviews on this website. "One flight-park boy goes round the outside, round the outside, round the outside." There was muzak on the radio, sun beating down, a thermic breeze, the sound of the diesel bakkie idling .. one of those layed back midweek-winching- on-the-runway-mornings. I looked up, and watched the Taifun wrapping around its pilot in that inspiring visual intrigue that is the SAT manouevre. Perfect, whoop, whoop, whoop, and released. Doubly impressive, for it was Darron Guberman's first flight on the wing, and with only 200m of altitude off the winch to play with he had to get it right. He's a natural - he must have fallen out of the nest in a spin, or something. I decided to pick his brain to see if we could get the inside line on the acro moves he pulls with such ease. *Age? I need all my fingers, all my toes and 11 more. * Marital status (are you hunting, formation-flying, or nesting?) I am flying in very close formation at the moment.  I proposed to my fiance' while flying down from Lion's Head.  We will marry and start nesting soon. * When and where were you hatched? I was born in the USA, near Washington, DC.  When I was old enough to leave the nest I moved to Colorado for University. * Where do you roost now? Camps Bay, Cape Town has been my home since March 2002. * What made you migrate south from the great U.S. of A.? My fiance', Christina, is a South African.  We met flying at about 4,000 meters in California. She stayed in the US just long enough for me to fall in love with her, then moved back to SA.  I came to visit and fly last Christmas and loved it.  When I returned to the US I renewed my passport, sold all my stuff (except the gliders!) and moved south for the winter. * Occupation? I am a student again now.  My MBA program (they are going to hate my spelling) just started  at the University of Cape Town. * Any previous occupations? I use to manage a small options hedge fund.  Prior to that I was a floor broker for Charles Schwab & Co. in San Francisco.  I was one of the guys who yelled BUY and SELL all day on a trading floor.  It was stressful, but fun. * How many hours have you been avoiding your occupation (ie. drifting over the ground, not a care in the world, you can't catch me, I'm a bird, I'm a bird!) I've been flapping my wings about 500 hours -- and boy are my arms tired! * Different wings flown? My main wing now is a medium Proton.  I fly the thing about 5 kilos over the top of the weight range which makes it nice and lively.  I still fly my large Octane when conditions are light or I see any dust on the bag.  I learned how to fly on an Arcus.  In between those three wings I've played on a couple of Firebirds, an old Cult, a Gin Boomerang and a Bandit, there have been a couple of Edel wings in there..... I've pretty much flown anything I can get my hands on. * You're such a likeable, polite guy on the ground, how come you turn into such an acro monster in the air? I just love flying upside down really.  The feeling you get when pulling lots of G's and watching the horizon flip all over the place is fantastic.  I feel like I'm in charge of a roller coaster when I fly. * Ever had anything go badly wrong doing acro? The second time I tried to do a helicopter was pretty nasty.  Instead of me turning gracefully under the center of wing, I found myself swinging to the side of my glider and sorting out a complete riser twist.  The risers and brakes where locked up and holding a lot of weight shift. Each time the glider tried to restart it shot forward on the horizon with one tip leading the way below me.  I felt tension, then slack lines as my body fell sideways. I reeled in the brakes during a slack moment and full stalled the wing.  I couldn't get rid of the last 180 degrees of riser twist so I released the stall facing the trailing edge.  The wing came right and I used the rest of my height to relax and set up a landing. The whole cascade burned up about 300 meters of height. * What is the flying like in the USA? Is the scene any different than over here (South Africa)? I have only flown in California, but the flying there is fantastic!!! You've got everything from mowed grassy launches at a ridge soaring coastal site to dry desert super thermic sites.  My personal favorite is the Owens Valley.  It's about 200 miles long with 4000+ meter peaks on both sides.  Big, big air. * Your most memorable flying experience? In November I flew from Lion's Head to La Med like I had done many times before.  But this time I was trailing a banner that read, "Kee, will you marry me?".  She said yes! * Your worst flying experience? I flew in wave one time.  The up part was great and smooth.  The down part was so fast and forceful I passed traffic on a highway.  On landing I was going backwards faster than I could sprint.  Just before touching down I unclipped all the buckles.  I tried to roll forward out of the harness when my feet touched, but flipped over backwards from the momentum.  After the first backwards roll my foot hooked on the speed bar.  I felt like I was being pulled by a horse until the bar slipped off my foot.  I was unhurt but rattled.  I then walked for 3 hours in the rain to get back home. * When not flying, what do you do for recreation? Kite Surfing is new.  Scuba diving and travelling. * What is your greatest fear? Getting bogged down with MBA stuff and not flying much. * What would you still like to achieve in paragliding? Continuously inverted flight. I think the perfect flight would be a clean launch, then immediatly go upside down and stay that way.  On final approach drop the glider bag to the ground and fly it back into the bag! always keen to push a wing to the limits why walk when you can fly? Hands Up! Well, almost .. just let me turn once in this little thermal for a moment ...