Can you paraglide if you're scared of heights?

Fear of heights is the most common hesitation before a first tandem — and almost everyone who flies scared reports the same thing: it's less scary in the air than standing at the launch site thinking about it.

The mechanics help: you're seated in a harness, not hanging; the sensation is floating, not falling; and the pilot handles everything, so there's no performance anxiety.

The honest tips: tell the pilot you're nervous — they'll keep the flight extra gentle. Avoid the front of the launch queue if watching others spikes it. Breathe. And know that a shaky launch-day feeling doesn't predict how the flight feels.

If the fear is severe, start with a ground visit — go to the launch site on a flying day, watch launches, decide from there. Operators allow it.