Sunith was born into a flying lifestyle, taking his first tandem flight at age four and growing up immersed in paragliding at Kamshet, India. His stint in learning to paraglide began with ground handling at the age of 10 and becoming a club pilot at 15. Sunith has participated in numerous national and international competitions since age 21, achieving top rankings and setting Indian paragliding records, including a 100 km FAI triangle and a 259 km cross-country flight, which is the longest by an Indian pilot. He now conducts thermalling and cross-country clinics for club pilots, working with Nirvana Adventures, and is ranked among India’s top pilots.
How did you get into paragliding?
In 1997, when I was less than a year old, my father discovered paragliding and spontaneously decided to open a paragliding school. My parents happened to own a piece of land in the Western Ghats near Mumbai, where we lived, and before I turned 2, Nirvana Adventures—India’s pioneering paragliding school—was born. Since my days as a toddler, I have spent time outdoors running amongst paragliders, believing that flying was an everyday affair for us humans. So, I could say that I was kind of born into the sport.
What has the experience of flying been like for you?
Paragliding changed the way I perceived myself and the world. In school, being dyslexic, I stood out as different from my classmates. I was not good at sports either. Once I began to fly, especially when I began to push the boundaries, it dawned on me that the world had no boundaries, and it was up to me to set goals and break them. Initially, I started flying XC back to our guesthouse, Native Place, from Tower Hill in Kamshet, which is a distance of about 10 km. Then, in the Himalayas, I started to achieve flights of 100 km and more. Today, I hold the record for the longest flight by an Indian pilot in the Himalayas, achieving 259 km (FAI triangle).
Tell us about one of your most memorable adventures while paragliding.
I’ve been lucky to have way too many memorable flights, but here’s one that comes to mind: The 2nd time I flew from Bir to Manali, in the Himalayas, I remember it was the first day of good weather that season. What made it increasingly special was the fresh snowfall from the previous night, making the view more breathtaking. I was at an altitude zone of 4500 to 5500 meters, and even after reaching Manali, I continued to stay high and enjoy the view. I noticed that everything looked a bit too beautiful, and I was feeling way too happy. That’s when I realized that I was getting hypoxic and it was time to land.
You recently participated in the 14th Paragliding World Cup Super-Final—what was the experience like?
The speed of the competition was just crazy, and the smallest of mistakes could drop you several positions. In one of the tasks, I came in 15 minutes after the winner, which, in any competition in India or lower-level competitions in Europe, would secure me a pretty good rank—out here, I wasn’t even in the top 100!
It was amazing to see how a few pilots could consistently keep finishing at the top. This really inspired me; it was amazing to see their skills. Even when they made mistakes, they bounced back from it and kept going. It was a great learning experience.
Why should more young people be encouraged to paraglide or participate in adventure sports?
Paragliding and other adventure sports instill a love for the outdoors and a sense of ease in mind and body. I have seen how learning to paraglide has impacted the lives and characters of many people who have enrolled in Fly Nirvana, our paragliding school. People have reported that a weekend on the hill recharges them and gives them the energy and motivation to give their best at work. Then we have seen shy people become friendly and let go of their inhibitions. People overcome their fear of heights, buy their own gear, and travel the world flying in different places.
How has this sport transformed your life?
Paragliding opened up my world. I’ve met some of my best buddies in the sport. Paragliding is my passion, and it fuels me to hone my skills and keep excelling. Whether it be in competitions or when I am flying in the Himalayas, I always have a goal set to achieve. I have traveled to Spain, France, Italy, Macedonia, Slovenia, Turkey, Colombia, Korea, and Nepal for competitions. It’s been an honor to meet and fly with people of various nationalities, and now I have friends all over the world.
Is paragliding a safe sport?
In an adventure sport, there will always be inherent risks involved. In my opinion, with proper risk management, it is not riskier than riding a motorcycle. If someone is going for a course or a tandem ride, it is important to go to a reputed company. For pilots who have finished their training and are flying on their own, it is important to have a realistic and honest understanding of their own skill level. Accordingly, determine what kind of flights they can attempt and what kind of weather conditions they can fly in. When pilots let their desires push them beyond their actual skills, they put themselves in a lot of risk.
What are some good places to learn paragliding in India?
Kamshet in Maharashtra is by far the best place to learn paragliding in India. Low rolling hills, progressive sites, consistent weather, smooth soaring conditions, a long period of operation (October to May), and laminar winds make it a great place for beginners to learn paragliding.
Bir is probably the best site to fly for pilots who want to progress. However, for beginners, it may not be ideal as the take-off altitude is quite high, which could be intimidating to a lot of people doing their first solo flights. In my opinion, it makes more sense to complete basic training and get more skills before going there.