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I think about going back to paragliding from time to time but it's just too expensive to do casually, requires time I'm no longer willing to dedicate to it and is a bit too dangerous for me now. But if I had a lot of money, didn't have to work and had unbreakable bones...
Every 5 years go so I think about getting into powered paragliding. It looks amazing! Inevitably each time I find youtube videos talking about how much progress has occurred in the industry...and a heartfelt eulogy about a wildly experienced paraglider pilot that died recently while paragliding. I always turn away with the same thought: "If the very experienced people are dying like this, it is far riskier form me to try."
I would say that casual flying can be pretty much as safe as skiing or rock climbing. It's an extreme sport and accidents happen but most of them are minor. The risk of something serious happening on a beginners wing and on a calm day is rather low. The problem is that flying on a calm day gets boring (you're zig-zagging close to the mountain all the time) and to keep learning and advancing you have to do more and more dangerous things. It's typical for people to push until they get out of their comfort zone and hit a limit. I knew people that did one or two solo flights and were done. Others pushed until first minor injury. I tried cross country flying and it was too much for me. Others are fearless and become real pilots. Each step means new dangers and higher risk.
I appreciate the reply with your experience and the context. Can I ask what your opinion is on electric paramotors? Do you think they are mature enought yet?
No idea, I never touched paramotors. From what I know it just lets you fly without wind so it should be safer than paragliding because you can fly when it's really calm. I would say it's as approachable as paragliding. Find a good instructor and you can dip your toes, see if you like it.
Those wildly experienced paraglider pilots are usually getting killed doing advanced acro or flying in sketchy conditions though.