Wingovers are a foundational maneuver in paragliding and often represent a pilot’s transition from basic control to more dynamic flight. While they may appear simple, wingovers involve complex timing, energy management, and awareness. Without proper understanding, they can quietly become one of the more dangerous maneuvers pilots practice.

Learning the common pitfalls — and how to avoid them — is essential for long-term safety and progression.

What Wingovers Really Are

Wingovers are best understood as controlled turns back and forth rather than a single defined maneuver. There is no exact measurement that determines when a turn becomes a wingover. Instead, they exist on a spectrum that starts with gentle directional changes and gradually develops into more dynamic oscillations.

These turns are a fundamental flight skill. They teach pilots how to make quick heading changes, coordinate eyes, body position, and brake input, and stay oriented in the air.

Why Wingovers Can Be Deceptive

At low intensity, wingovers are generally forgiving. Small errors in timing or technique often do not result in serious consequences. This can give pilots a false sense of security.

The danger often appears at mid-intensity levels, where slack can develop in the system. At this stage, the wing becomes more vulnerable to outside tip deflations, especially at the top of the pendulum swing. Ironically, very high-intensity wingovers tend to reload the wing more consistently, but reaching that level without proper training is extremely risky.

This makes the middle ground the most problematic phase for many pilots.

The Most Common Wingover Pitfall

The primary risk in wingovers is an outside wingtip deflation at the top of the pendulum. This typically happens on the side the pilot is not actively focused on. Many pilots unknowingly neglect outside brake pressure, assuming a fixed arm position is enough.

As intensity increases, that passive approach often fails. Without sufficient brake tension on the high side, the wing can partially collapse, leading to an unplanned turn or even a developing spiral if not corrected quickly.

Proper Control and Body Coordination

Effective wingovers depend on coordination rather than force. Key principles include:

• Eyes move first and continuously, never pausing on one direction

• Weight shift happens smoothly at the bottom of the pendulum

• Brake input begins gently and increases progressively

• Both brakes are felt at the top of the swing to maintain wing pressure

Feeling pressure in the outside brake at the peak of each swing is critical. This active feedback helps prevent tip deflations and keeps the wing loaded.

Understanding the Role of Physics

Wingovers are governed by pendulum physics, not paraglider quirks. Line length, wing design, harness setup, pilot weight, and timing all influence the rhythm and radius of the swing. Small changes in any of these variables can significantly alter how the wing behaves.

Because of this, a maneuver that feels safe for years can suddenly become unstable if conditions or equipment change.

Progression Matters More Than Performance

One of the most important philosophies in paragliding progression is restraint. Wingovers should be developed slowly, with consistent repetition at low intensity. Allowing slightly stronger movements to occur naturally over time is far safer than intentionally pushing limits.

Jumping too quickly from mild maneuvers to aggressive ones dramatically increases risk and often shortens a pilot’s time in the sport.

Training and Supervision Are Essential

Pilots practicing wingovers should seek proper instruction, ideally with:

• Experienced coaching

• Clear feedback on technique

• Safe training environments, such as over-water practice

There is no substitute for guided progression and external evaluation.

Final Thoughts

Wingovers are an important tool for developing control, awareness, and confidence in paragliding. However, they can also be deceptive and unforgiving if approached casually. Understanding where the risks lie — particularly during mid-intensity transitions — helps pilots avoid common mistakes.

Long-term success in paragliding is not measured by how aggressively you fly today, but by whether you are still flying safely many years from now.