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How to do an A/C Launch

Lifting a paraglider in stronger winds can be difficult because of the great amount of force that the wing generates in such winds. The paraglider can ascend so fast that it can lift/jerk you into the air suddenly if you attempt to stop its rapid ascent with the brakes. Flying in stronger winds should be done with caution and this is a skill that takes a gradual approach.

One solution to the rapid glider ascent is the A/C launch. This launch is called this because the wing is lifted with one hand on the A risers and the 2nd hand managing the C riser to slow the wing's ascent during a high wind pull up. After getting proficient at a standard Preset Hands launch, this variation can be learned almost instantly. The trade off is that you lose the ability to use offsetting lifting of the A risers as with the standard preset hands technique. If you have solid preset hands kiting ability, it is easy to center the wing after checking up the wings ascent. You simpley release the A and C risers and center the wing with the brakes.

The brakes are set up and held in the same way as you do with preset hands, how it differs is that only one hand lifts the A risers. The benefit of this is that the second hand can grasp the C riser and use it to stop and slow the wing down during and at the end of the ascent.

Brakes are in normal "preset" position, both A risers
go in right hand and both C risers go into left hand.

I recommend a C risers in one hand on any glider that has a riser system with the full set of A,B,C and D risers. On a glider that has a combo, C and D riser, use the combo "C" riser.

Lift the wing with as much A as is deemed necessary for wing ascent. In stronger winds, you can have a little C pulled as the wing begins its ascent. The slight pull on this will slow the wings ascent and eliminate the wings power. In strong winds you may still get pulled back as the wing ascends. By using the A/C technique, the pull will be significantly less than a standard lift. The big benefit is that instead of having to pull some brakes to stop the wing from over-flying you (this often results in getting yanked violently into the air, or if not caught in time, a frontal collapse), you can pull just a few inches of C riser to manage how fast the wing comes overhead. The key is to learn to adjust how much C riser to pull as the wings ascent speed dictates. Click the below image for a video that shows the whole process in slow motion, then at full speed.

At this point, the C risers are pulled about 2 - 3inches
If the wings ascent slows too much, let up on the C risers.
If the wing continues to ascend, pull a little more C riser.

Click Picture above for Video of an A/C launch
it happens pretty quick, watch for quick pull of left hand in the

It is best to try this technique out when the wind is not too strong (less than 12 mph or so). Practice how much C to pull and when to release. Once the wing has climbed overhead, simply release the C riser and go to the brakes to center the wing. If the wing is off to the side, centering is not difficult because of the higher winds.