What this sport actually is, where it came from, and the safety numbers every new pilot should know.
Speed-flying and speed riding are advanced disciplines of paragliding that use a small, high-performance wing to quickly descend heights such as mountains. Speed flying is foot-launched; speed riding is done on skis.
A hybrid sport combining elements of both. Like paragliding, it's done by launching from a slope with the wing overhead, already inflated by the incoming air.
In the late 1970s, French mountaineers began launching parachutes from steep mountains on foot and with skis. Those parachutes evolved into larger, easier-to-launch wings — what we now call paragliders — while ground launching itself was largely forgotten for years before speedflying revived it.
Known as a speed glider, speed wing, or speed flyer — similar material to a paraglider, but only about half the size. That smaller size gives a much lower glide ratio, exactly what makes it suited to flying close to the slope.
Because of its small size and high wing loading, the wing responds quickly to even small pilot input — exactly why professional instruction matters so much here, more than in most adventure sports.
Calm wind conditions with good visibility. Turbulent or unpredictable weather is always a no-go, while a gentle headwind or no wind at all is ideal.