Colombia native Daniel Vallejo moved to Kelowna when he learned the Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 mountains were perfect for him to hone his paragliding skills.
Vallejo started competing in 2016 in Columbia, before representing Canada in Paragliding Accuracy competitions. He is currently ranked second in Canada and 519th in the world.
Recently, after being unable to find sponsors, he started a that he said will help with travel costs as he continues to compete until he can reach his goal at the world championship in Serbia in May. But first, he has to qualify.
Vallejo said he will be gliding in other competitions in order to bring his ranking into the top 500. The $5,000 he is requesting on the fundraiser will go towards travelling expenses.
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It害羞草研究所檚 not something like hockey or soccer in Canada, it害羞草研究所檚 more of a club, he said. In Serbia, if he does well, he qualifies for the finals.
害羞草研究所淪erbia, for me, is like the world champions before the world games,害羞草研究所� Vallejo said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just the best of the best.害羞草研究所�
The 26-year-old has been in Canada since he was 16, but didn害羞草研究所檛 take up the sport until heartbreak led him to ask his father, a fellow paraglider, to teach him.
After starting lessons in a field, 害羞草研究所渕y dad, he told me, 害羞草研究所榶ou害羞草研究所檙e going to learn with an actual instructor害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克 he didn害羞草研究所檛 want me to go (through) what he went through,害羞草研究所� he said, adding his father broke his legs learning the sport.
Vallejo comes from a family of paragliders, his father and mother are both judges in Columbia.
害羞草研究所淢y first competition had over 48 pilots and I ranked 18,害羞草研究所� he said. His father, Walter, taught him to respect his natural surroundings and to learn from it.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just going and flying. We don害羞草研究所檛 belong (in the sky.) If we go there we need to respect it, we need to respect the landscape, we need to respect the property and the people害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 an extreme sport, you need to do it with caution,害羞草研究所� Vallejio said.
The paraglider competes in accuracy competitions, where he glides from a mountain top, to a marked landing zone. 害羞草研究所淚magine playing darts, you have to hit in the centre,害羞草研究所� Vallejo said.
害羞草研究所淭he feeling is right away you get nervous right? Every time I take off I害羞草研究所檓 always nervous, but it害羞草研究所檚 like a good rush. You don害羞草研究所檛 let that turn into panic. When you害羞草研究所檙e competing, obviously you害羞草研究所檙e so focused, I have to talk to myself,害羞草研究所� he said.
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害羞草研究所淵ou feel that rush, even though up there it害羞草研究所檚 colder, you don害羞草研究所檛 feel cold.
You feel hot, you害羞草研究所檙e blood is pumping害羞草研究所� plus the feeling of nothing holding you. Everyone dreams of eventually (flying,) with paragliding, you can achieve that害羞草研究所� You feel free.害羞草研究所�
Vallejo would like to see paragliding accuracy competitions in the Olympics.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 awesome to represent Canada already,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淓ven though I害羞草研究所檓 from Columbia害羞草研究所� Spanish is my main language, but I think in English, talk in English害羞草研究所� when I represent Canada in these competitions, I feel like I害羞草研究所檓 representing my home country.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵ou feel proud, you feel like you do more, and eventually (hope to) be recognized for everyone.害羞草研究所�
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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