Viktoria's Personal Experience with a Fear of Heights
I personally struggle with certain situations involving heights.
- Going out onto the balcony of a high-rise building? Difficult for me.
- Walking along a steep cliff edge? Hardly imaginable.
- Climbing? Definitely not my thing.
In moments like these, I experience real panic. My body reacts immediately. I almost freeze, wanting nothing more than to close my eyes and wait for my nervous system to calm down. Only then can I slowly remove myself from the situation. Interestingly, I have no problem at all with other types of heights. Riding in a cable car, taking a chairlift, or flying on an airplane feels completely normal to me. And that's exactly why a tandem paragliding flight can often work for people who are afraid of heights.
Why Paragliding Feels Different
Many forms of height-related fear come from having a direct connection to the ground. You're standing on a ladder, a balcony, or the edge of a cliff and feel as though you could fall. Your body interprets the situation as a danger and reacts accordingly. With paragliding, that feeling is often surprisingly different.
The moment your feet leave the ground and you're comfortably seated in the harness, that uncomfortable sensation disappears for many people. You're not standing on an edge. You're not looking down while desperately holding on. You're simply floating. To me, it feels more like gliding than being high above the ground.
Feeling Nervous Before Take-Off Is Completely Normal
Honestly, I feel nervous before every tandem flight. A little excitement is simply part of the experience for me. The adrenaline kicks in, my hands start tingling, and my heart rate rises slightly. But that feeling is nothing compared to the panic I experience on a steep drop-off or a high balcony. It's more of an excited anticipation. A mixture of respect, excitement, and a sense of adventure.
The Moment Everything Disappears
As soon as I'm comfortably seated in the harness after take-off, all the tension melts away. Suddenly there's only calmness. Freedom. Lightness.
The breathtaking panorama of the Zillertal immediately captures my attention. The mountains, forests, and valleys look completely different from the air than they do from the ground. Often, within just a few minutes, I completely forget how high we actually are. On some days, I even feel comfortable enough to enjoy a few gentle spiral turns. On other days, I simply enjoy peacefully gliding above the mountains. Both are perfectly fine. It often depends on how you're feeling that day.
Trust Plays a Major Role
Another thing that gives me confidence is knowing how much experience our pilots have. Mario and his flying partners have spent countless hours in the air over many years. Their routine, calmness, and the confidence they radiate naturally transfer to their passengers. People who feel a little nervous before the flight especially benefit from that experience.
The Best Feeling Comes After Landing
For me, the real highlight often comes after the flight. The moment my feet touch solid ground again, I feel an incredible sense of pride. Not just because of the flight itself. But because I faced a fear. Because I did something I might not have thought I was capable of doing. That feeling often stays with me for the rest of the day. I feel stronger, more confident, and just a little bit freer.
My Conclusion
If you suffer from a fear of heights, it doesn't automatically mean that paragliding is out of the question for you. Many people are surprised to discover that a tandem flight feels completely different from standing on a balcony, climbing a ladder, or walking along a steep mountain trail.
Of course, everyone is different. There are never any guarantees.
But perhaps a tandem flight is exactly the experience that shows you that some of life's most beautiful moments are waiting just beyond our fears.
And who knows:
Maybe you'll land feeling just as happy, proud, and inspired as I do.
Viktoria
17 June 2026 – 16:24