We are the only paragliding resource center conveniently located in downtown Vancouver at 1238 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, for all your paragliding needs.
We are central to paragliding sites in the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Pemberton and Bellingham area so students enjoy maximum variety and we can work with weather to optimize selection of the best location each day.
We regularly test fly the latest paragliding gear and select only the very finest for our iParaglide Right Stuff Paragliding Equipment Store. This ensures our paraglider pilots enjoy a state of the art performance and safety advantage to accelerate their learning curve.
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The purity of expending your own energy to reach a mountain summit, and to be rewarded by a fantastic flight under gravity back down, is an eco-adventure that gets to the heart of how paragliding got started. Para-alpinists can now take advantage of the latest inspired paraglider design optimized to save weight: Icaro Oxygen.
Icaro Oxygen is light weight and compact, making it the ideal companion for the para-hiker. Oxygen is also optimized for take-off reliability and certified for maximum passive safety as class LTF 1 and EN A.
Oxygen belongs among the lightest mountain paragliders available on the market, while maintaining v-rib construction for optimum performance, and not being under-sized or under-built.
Thanks to the ultra light construction of the canopy, lines and risers, the Oxygen size M weighs only 4.2 kg, while size S is a mere 3.9 kg!
Engineered light weight materials
The sail material utilized is Dacron high quality Skyte 27g NCV Porcher Marine, carefully selected for its durability and resistance to UV-damage and reduced weight.
To ensure durability, lines are constructed of Liros Dynema and Edelrid Technora with HMA core (High Molecular Aramid) and a PE covering for the other lines. Different line diameters are used, depending on the line level.
The stitching within the sail and at the v-ribs is reinforced per the typical high Icaro standards.
A 4+1 riser system is used allowing for ease of big ears or high wind launch. 10 mm Kevlar with PE covering for protection (Race-Risers) and Maillon Rapide oval, 3.5 cm soft links are used to further enhance weight savings.
Light paragliders are subject to the same test criteria (load test, manoeuvres) as all other gliders. If these criteria are not met the glider will not get a seal of quality (LTF- certification).
The use of light weight materials results in a decreased pack volume which further benefits the hiking experience.
Available in two sizes: S and M for a take off weight from 65-130 kg.
Guarantee: 150 flight hours or 2 years porosity guarantee.
Oxygen & Energy Cross Convertible Harness: a Para-Alpinists Dream at 8.5 kg
Recognizing the trend back towards alpine trekking and flying, Icaro has designed a first class convertible paragliding harness, Energy Cross, when combined with the Oxygen Paraglider, complete the dream alpine kit. The elimination of the redundant backpack allows for further weight savings and reduction in total pack volume. With the Oxygen and Energy Cross the weight is a mere 8.5 kg, and will travel internationally at a pack volume not much larger than a traditional backpack.
A first paragliding wing has a demanding role to fulfill: to smooth out imprecise inputs to provide the very highest levels of passive safety; while maintaining performance headroom for the paraglider pilot to grow on. The all new Cyber TE goes a step beyond, incorporating the latest technologies from the performance class, enabling agile handling, great thermalling capacity, and a good glide.
The Cyber TE is a paraglider of choice not only as a first wing but for weekend pilots looking for maximum fun with maximum safety. Recommended for pilots flying 35 air hours or less per year.
Cyber TE's array of performance features not typically found on ENA paragliders:
Mini-battens in the leading edge for improved launch characteristics and top speed performance.
Mini-ribs in the trailing edge for a crease free sail and improved handling.
Hybrid 3-liner with only 3 risers for improved glide and ease of sorting on launch.
Higher than the typical projected aspect ratio, for improved glide performance.
V-rib & t-profile design, for line attachments only every two cells: reduces parasitic drag and improves sail tension.
Hybrid use of sail cloths of different weights in optimized areas resulting in a significant overall weight and pack volume reduction, near the mountain paraglider weight & bulk level.
Brake line tensioning system.
Special recreational pilot features including: clearly marked risers for Take-Off, Big Ears & B-Stall; and all main lines have the same length making it easy to check the trim.
Take-off and landings on the Cyber TE are pure pleasure. It rises without much force to the zenith and doesn't over shoot. The Cyber TE inspires with its modern profile and optimised canopy & line geometry, yielding agile handling and surprising performance typically only found on ENB paragliders.
Recreational pilots will be empowered to mix it up with the aces in thermals, while flying stress free under a forgiving ENA paraglider. Combined with the Cyber TEs striking colors and elegant plan form reminiscent of intermediate paragliders: this wing is sure to take you from first flights through many great adventures.
Icaro's ambitions for the Instinct paraglider were set high...
The name was a call for a paraglider that communicated to the pilot clearly, allowed dynamic handling, and yet was so forgiving that new and intermediate pilots could fly it by Instinct...
High passive security, good performance, direct and precise steering via the brakes and weight shift. All this was not a problem for the experienced Icaro paraglider R&D team. However, they also wanted to create a paraglider suitable for acro and freestyle while preserving the safety of a DHV1 (un-accelerated) wing, a very difficult and unprecedented proposition.
Mission accomplished! The Instinct is a break through paraglider which you can fly thermals with stress free, long distance cross-country flights, as well as breathtaking acro manoeuvres in the sky.
The Instinct is the ideal partner for the adventurous paraglider pilot
Fly unknown routes or do new manoeuvres with the agility and performance of a real intermediate while preserving the stability and safety of a DHV1 (unaccelerated) class wing.
Innovative Details
An elaborate material mix which includes the newest cloths from Porcher Marine and highest workmanship quality make the Instinct paraglider particularly attractive.
The Instinct sports v-ribs and a line gallery arrangement to optimize handling.
The latest generation plan form is swept back, further enhancing agile handing.
Performance-Air Intake-Flaps, an Icaro innovation, are small fabric triangles under the leading edge that increase the cell opening size at the start, for a simple launch. In flight, the flaps close, and the reduced cell openings achieve an additional performance kick.
The Instinct will allow the majority of pilots to fly better and more relaxed
Soaring in a gentle dynamic wind, XC flight, hammer hard thermals, or freestyle:
Use your Instinct for every flight situation!
Alexander Meschuh, Professional Acro Pilot
The wind at the take off area is blowing perfectly from the front. I play at keeping the canopy directly overhead. Ground handling is fun! Other paraglider pilots are admiring the innovative cut of the canopy. Instinctively the wing pulls into the thermals and stays on track as I circle. Fully accelerated, I fly into the next thermal cloud at the other side of the valley. The Instinct paraglider gives me an absolute safe feeling. I haven't flown so relaxed in a long time. For the remaining 900 m altitude, I put the Instinct through the paces. Dynamic paragliding acro manoeuvres are possible with high performance potential. With a bit of practise you can get "dizzy" doing the helicopter. After landing, I had to grin. The advertising slogan is correct - I had both "fun & action".
Incorporating the latest innovations gleaned from development of the ultra performance Icaro GTO Race competition paraglider, the Icaro Wildcat is the latest inspired paraglider design aimed at cross country pilots, who want stress free flying, within the safety of the LTF1-2 & EN B class.
To achieve this goal, Icaro expanded its test regimen: all Wildcat paraglider prototypes were not only tested by test pilots above water, but were taken to the limit under all conceivable conditions in realistic air traffic and extensive paragliding cross country flights.
In the final phase of trimming, suggestions and criticism of many friendly paragliding instructors, amateur pilots and Icaro distributors who tested the wing, have polished the Wildcat into a work of beauty.
The result is a paragliding wing that is highly dampened in turbulence and is simple to fly at a high performance level for smooth and inspiring cross country flights.
A review of the details of this paraglider impress:
The aspect ratio of 5.5 flat and 4.5 projected is higher than typically found in this class, see below table for a comparison of popular EN B class paragliders:
New profile offers high performance and stability.
Extensive v-rib and span wise pre-tensioned struts allow for: a high aspect ratio, a low form profile, a wrinkle free paraglider canopy, excellent form rigidity, and lines only every third cell.
Performance-Air-Intake-Flaps (PAIF), an Icaro innovation, are small fabric triangles under the leading edge that increase the cell opening size at the start, for a simple launch. In flight, the flaps close, and the reduced cell openings of smaller size typically only found on DHV2 paraglider, achieve an additional performance kick.
Lightweight construction of the canopy interior and the stabilo for a significant folding resistance of the paragliding canopy and refined extreme flight behavior.
Pro-grip brake handles, an Icaro innovation, allow customizing the brake handle size for the paraglider pilot. Swivels prevent twisting of the brake lines.
The Wildcat is the new all-round paraglider from Icaro which is simple to fly, fulfills high security standards and offers high performance on long distance flights.
The design brief for research and development team of the Maverick 2 paraglider was to stay on the leading edge, and create the ultimate cross country paraglider, that would not only be at the very top of the ENC class, but that would also hold its own even against higher class END paragliders. Adding to this complex challenge, it was deemed essential to extend the sweet handling and excellent passive safety of the original Maverick paraglider.
Creating the Next Generation of ENC Paraglider
The team decided that a completely new paraglider design was required, so several innovative concepts were explored as the design evolved.
The first protoypes were true 2-liners and achieved good performance. However the absence of quick and easy descent aids including big ears and b-stall, combined with the more complex and less intuitive handling of 2-line systems, moved the design team in a different direction.
The next protos had an increased aspect ratio. But further refining was necessary.
The third generation of prototypes incorporated a hybrid 3-line concept and had ideal, crease free sail tension with a razor sharp trailing edge and good handling.
3D-Shaping and reworking the profile resulted in further significant improvements to performance and handling: the Maverick 2 was born.
The Maverick 2 is empowered with 67 cells, 6.06 flat aspect ratio and an impressive 5.03 projected aspect ratio. This is a significant shape change from the original Maverick which was 55 cells, flat aspect ratio 5.96 and projected 4.81. A significant increase in the number of cells and flattening of the canopy arc-curvature.
While the design represents the cutting edge of what is available in the ENC range, handling and safety have been optimized to have good natured characteristics, similar to the original Maverick. Pilots upgrading from the original Maverick , will immediately feel comfortable and will be able to indulge in the experience of this new performance dimension.
Cutting Edge Technology
New Performance Profile. Thanks to new proprietary software, ICARO can diagnose the virtual profile (between ribs through inflated section) more precisely, allowing optimization. Thus, the 3D model corresponds more exactly to the real thing. The new profile brings more performance and stability.
Battens. Flexible and extremely light nylon battens give the profile the shape and distribute the load of the A-line attachments. The battens are less delicate than the well known Dacron reinforcements. This gives the paraglider outstanding leading edge characteristics and a great inflation.
Recessed A-tabs. The A-tabs are further back from the leading edge than typical. An auto-stabilizing system: if the wing load increases suddenly, in strong turbulence, the angle of attack increases slightly. The effect is similar to braking the paraglider, without pilot input, and occurs more quickly. The gain in stability is pronounced.
3D Shaping. To adjust the blown up profile (blue) to the desired profile (white)the difference is rectified by an arched sail cut at the highest point (red). This important cross stitching detail on the upper sail leading edge improves performance!
Trailing Edge Mini Ribs. Creating an impeccable sail at the trailing edge has been achieved through the addition of mini ribs.
Light Internal Construction. All non structural internal components are made with 27 gram Skytex material. This reduces weight and also improves the extreme flight behavior. The Maverick 2 is 300 grams lighter than its already light predecessor.
New Race Risers. Cross country paraglding flights often require standing on the speed bar for extended periods. The new speed system pulleys and a B-redirection reduce the effort by 30%, alleviating cramps in the legs.
Hybrid 3-Liner. Two and three line paragliders have a disadvantage: they develop a hump due to greater wing depths between the last row of line attachments and the trailing edge, while braking, per arrow in photo above. This hump distinctively detracts from the precision and climb rate. The first Maverick 2 proto was a pure two liner, the second was a pure 3 liner. The final Maverick 2 paraglider incorporates additional D support, which will only go under tension while braking. In this manner, the hump while braking is eliminated, and the advantages of a 3 liner are preserved. The result is a beautiful, crease free, optimized airfoil.
The Maverick 2 is Very Fast
Cross country flying is optimized through a high trim speed, offering more distance in the same time. The trim speed on the Maverick 2 is approximately 10% faster than the original. For example, the Maverick 2 would fly 220 km in the same time the original would fly 200 km!
The top speed on full speed bar has also been extended 6-8 km/hr, compared to the original, and also the stability at 50% speed bar is much higher. The Maverick 2 on half speed bar is as fast as its forerunner on full speed bar, but at the same time is more stable and with a better glide.
More Stable than Ever
Stability is always a requirement. The more stable the better. The technology employed in the Maverick 2 paraglider with performance profiles and battens with the A-tabs set back from the leading edge, enables more stability and safety.
In fact due to the increased stability, simulating/creating asymetric collapses in SIV training is more difficult.
Easy Launch
The Maverick 2 does not share the traditional tendency of performance paragliders to shoot forward and lift the pilot prematurely in strong winds. Pilots will be pleasantly surprised to find that even in strong winds, it is comfortable to smoothly lead the Maverick 2 to the apex overhead, without surging and with a high level of control of the precise moment of takeoff. An impressive score of ENA for launch confirms the beautiful and simple launch characteristics of the Maverick 2.
Precise Handling
With its increased wing loading and new profile, the Maverick 2 shines with polished and agile handling allowing pilots to center on even the narrowest meandering thermal cores. It can be either turned flat or rolled abruptly using brake and weight shift combinations, as appropriate, to the type of thermal engaged.
What we love best
When gliding in calm air the Maverick² is at the top of the ENC paraglider class. When thermal bumps are encountered, or when flying against the wind, the Maverick² is clearly in front: every movement of air is transferred reliably into height, like with competition paragliding protos of the open class, and the canopy pulls ahead.
It also shares the high stability of the competition paragliders when flying fast on speed bar.
Test and Compare
High performance claims can be heard from all paragliding manufacturers. Slick marketing campaigns and slogans should not replace true innovation.
With the MAVERICK², extensive design details bring a comprehensible reality. We absolutely recommend test flying the Maverick 2 and comparing against other reference gliders in side-by-side flight!
Pilot Feedback
"Yesterday I flew my new Maverick 2. You have not exaggerated with the promised points in comparison to the original Maverick 1. To tell the truth, I have never felt so fine under a wing! In 5m/s thermals, it knifes in to the thermal core. Top landing is a true joy. Big praise to ICARO, it is pure pleasure flying with the Maverick 2."
"Accelerated and at full throttle is a true joy... couldn't stop the grin all over my face. I have never flown so fast ... and did not even lose substantial height!"
"Impressive speed: at first I thought I was flying with a tail wind. Then I flew back over my path: as fast as before. Cool!"
"As described in your information, the Maverick 2 takes off with zero wind as well as with strong wind very easily. This is true, I can confirm that."
"When flying thermals, soaring, or even only a sled ride down the mountain, I always draw a comparison between my Maverick 2 and other wings of this class. Doing so, the speed advantage strikes immediately (catching up to colleagues), and how fast it engages the thermals and converts them in a fast climb."
"...it flares so nice :)"
"…it runs solid...like on rails...unbelievable"
"… thank you very much for the test flight! Now I must persuade my wife :)"
Acro flying for non-professionals? With the ICARO Instinct 2 Acro: no utopia. With no other paraglider can you learn the SAT, Wing Over, MacTwist and Stall so safe, fast and controlled. With some training, even the Helicopter and Tumbling are possible.
Even when highly loaded at the maximum certification weight of 110kg, the Instinct 2 Acro impresses with its high level of passive safety, scoring ENA in 23 out of the 27 tests!
ENB occurred for: behavior in steeply banked turn; recovery from a developed full stall; and asymmetric collapse 70-75%.
ENC only occurred in accelerated flight (speed bar) and for one test: asymmetric collapse 70-75% in accelerated flight.
As aerobatic moves are done without application of the speed system, while performing acro maneuvers, the Instinct 2 Acro maintains the safety of ENB for all maneuvers, even at the high maximum wing loading of 110 kg!
We recommend the Instinct 2 Acro to all pilots who want a safe and dynamic Freestyle wing optimized for learning acro.
What makes the Instinct 2 Acro unique?
It is agile and dynamic. It reacts immediately to small weight shift inputs.
Nevertheless, it has long steering travel more typical of EN B class gliders, which protect against inadvertent stalling.
It is extremely mistake forgiving and therefore perfect for learning paragliding freestyle & aerobatics. With it you can coach your reflexes and train the manoeuvres calmly without demanding too much of yourself.
Above all, it is extremely easy in spin/negative, and thus, makes it easier learning the helicopter.
SIV trainers lend the Instinct 2 Acro with pleasure to participants to fly their first full stalls, because it is simple to fly precisely, and in the case of a mistake, easy to regain control.
What is different in comparison to its forerunner, the Instinct XS Acro?
The new Instinct 2 Acro has been made smaller than its predecessor due to many requests: it has now an area of only 20.9 m².
The Instinct 2 Acro impresses immediately with its pronounced quickness and dynamic. These have increased clearly to its forerunner.
Unchanged are its incomparable simplicity in full stall and all negative manoeuvres. It remains safe in asymmetric and full frontal collapses.
A Fresh New Face
A makeover completes the new Intinct 2 Acro design with an intense green, red accent stripe and striking Nikita Logo on lower sail.
Technical news
Designer Michael Nesler did not have an easy job: to better the already excellent Instinct XS Acro was very hard to accomplish. He modernized it by using up to date technical finesse:
decreased size by 2m^2
slight increase in projected aspect ratio
new openings at the leading edge for more performance
new brake line geometry for more accurate handling during manoeuvres
a higher trim speed
a new material is utilized at the the trailing edge
After two years of development and test time, ICARO Paragliders launches the long awaited high level performance glider. The GTO Race is an ultra performance paraglider designed to offer pure un-compromised real world performance and fantastic handling.
Non-Conventional by Design
After many experiments with different profiles with only three line levels and different canopy curvatures, the ICARO R & D team firmly resolved on the prototype farthest away from the recent mainstream trend of 3 lines with a high canopy curvature.
The GTO Race has 4 line levels which run up to the riser. This has great advantages to the true and false (C and D combined) three-liners:
The extreme flight characteristics are easier and the glider is safer. Despite the high 7.5 aspect ratio, front and full stalls are easy to control, and the tendency to get tangled up in a cravat is extremely low.
The fast speed profile can be trimmed more neatly because of the better load distribution. At full speed, the profile is being changed into a reflex-profile through a slight change in the four levels. This enables a high stability and a better glide performance, when flown on speed bar.
Of great effect on handling: the fourth line level improves the climbing performance and the handling while centering on thermals. Through the direct and more efficient handling, it is much easier to avoid asymmetric collapses in heavy turbulence and unloading.
Despite the four line levels, the GTO has the same line resistance as other gliders with three line levels, as achieved by a genial geometry of the line galleries.
The canopy curvature of the GTO Race is very flat compared to other competition gliders
The projected area is bigger at the same form drag. The high projected aspect ratio generates more lift, and thus, superior glide.
Many brands create a good optic while the glider is laying flat on launch, with a high flat aspect ratio, that is then dramatically cut back with large curvature in flight: yielding a low projected aspect ratio. Good thermal pilots using perfect flight techniques can barely achieve advantages against lesser pilots when all are using high canopy curvature paragliders.
This is different with gliders that have a flat curvature: the difference between good and moderate thermal pilots is distinctive. The good paraglider pilot using the flat curvature paraglider will climb beyond the highly curved canopies.
The hybrid use of materials in the GTO Race is complex
Depending on the desired expansion, Icaro uses different sail cloth and line materials and diameters. In this manner, for example, the ultra light Porche Marine Skytex 27 sail cloth is used in select areas to deactivate extreme flight characteristics.
The race risers are made of Kevlar, with an easy to push speed system, despite a precise six-fold attachment and are optimally arranged.
There are no pvc or carbon fiber mini battens used for reinforcement of the sail, as real performance was achieved without using them.
Flight Impressions of the GTO Race
The GTO Race flies surprisingly comfortably considering it is an elongated high performance paraglider. Its direct handling, with no time lag, is new for this class and not only guarantees better climb rates in the thermals, but also total control in turbulence. This is reinforced by the long brake range travel in this class: A non-intended over-steer because of an extreme interception maneuver, to counter turbulence, is therefore no subject for proficient pilots. For thermal flying and steering, the first 10 to 20 cm of brake travel is enough. Up to the stall point, another 40 cm are available for an interception. Due to the tensioning system at the brake, the brake effect is being enhanced. The flat canopy offers good pilots the possibility to fly away from higher curved gliders with a better flight technique and better performance. The slightly larger self motion of the canopy in heavy turbulence, gives more time to the pilot to react to the upcoming release of pressure, and to avoid asymmetric collapses. Due to the four line levels, light construction, and the well balanced design, the extreme flight characteristics are easy.
A lot can be written about glide performance and speed: the real picture can only be seen by in flight side-to-side comparison tests with other reference competition paragliders. From the real perspective, GTO Race positively convinces.
iParaglide Comments
Icaro has zagged rather than zigged with the mainstream and applied the KISS principle here, rather than fashion, and used real solutions to optimize design. Of special interest is the use of high projected aspect ratio in lieu of 3 line levels, to gain glide advantage without compromising form rigidity or handling.
After more than one year of development and many micro-adjustments, the new NIKITA³ paraglider went to the first world cup competition in Ölideniz, Turkey, in May. In the first run, Xandi Meschuh immediately placed in the top of the field on his new NIKITA ³, earning 2nd place. He held this position until he couldn't complete his last maneuver in the final run, and got a point deduction. Despite the point deduction, he finished in 4th place overall in the paragliding aerobatics competition.
Congratulations! Xandi is thrilled with his brand-new NIKITA ³ and is looking forward to new challenges in the world of paragliding aerobatics.
Xandi speaks of ICARO's new paraglider:
"The new NIKITA ³ is simply brilliant! The stability of the canopy in the Rhythmic SAT and the Infinity is incredibly high. The Helicopter connections run fluently and there is no trend for getting stuck or for premature exiting. The Mistyflips, Mac Twists and X choppers can be initiated exactly, and the wing stays open and solid."
In any case, Nikita 3 is a paraglider with striking character. After all, ICARO's Femme Fatale needs a sensitive touch. But which woman doesn't?
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