The incredible success of a young paraglider: He flew over Macedonia in a single breath

Young paraglider Dordji Ristoski (26) from Skopje achieved an incredible success. With his "kite", he flew over the whole of Macedonia in one breath. 

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He set off to the skies from the highest point of the hill Vodno above Serbia, and after five hours of constant flight and 118 km he landed near the place Kosel, seven kilometers away from Ohrid. He planned on landing in the tourists' settlement Ljubanista, but he had to land before because the paraglider quickly began to lose aerodynamics due to poor thermic. Thermic is a term for warm air which lifts the glider up and gives it a lift.

Djordji Ristoski, a graduate economist and a member of the Skopje Paragliding Club Vertigo, is the youngest flyer in Macedonia who managed to fly this distance. Before him, so far only two older paragliders have succeeded. 

Foto: sdk.mk

He told the portal "Sakam da kazam" how he came to a decision to take this long and very dangerous flight.

- We, from Skopje, often travel to Ohrid with cars or a bus. I wondered if that distance can be traveled with a paraglider. I was obsessed with it for a long time. I flew several times to Gostivar to test that possibility, thermic in this part of the country, winds and the behavior of the paraglider. Soon, I realized that the flight I want to do is possible. I was sure in myself, in my glider, my knowledge I got on thermic, winds and air currents - Djordji RIstoski started his story for the portal sdk.mk.

The young paraglider accomplished his longest flight on April 21st this year, and besides his colleagues, no one knew about that until now.

Foto: sdk.mk

- For each flight, it is important to have a good paraglider, equipment, and knowledge, it is important to analyze the weather conditions. I monitored the data for days from the weather forecast. Everything showed that I will have perfect conditions: strong thermic, favorable wind, and nice weather. I had no more doubts. I climbed to Vodno with my friend who followed me on my flight to Gostivar, and I took off precisely at 12 o'clock. Behind me, my friend flew with his paraglider to Gostivar. Then, I headed to Kicevo, I stuck with the average height of around 2.200 meters. The flight was calm. There are two high mountains near Kicevo. There are dangerous winds which could ground the paraglider due to the strong air currents. I have spotted a cumulus (a type of lof clouds), I headed towards it and I had good thermic at its base. That is how I flew over the mountains. I felt that I was close to accomplishing my goal, although it took a lot more to fly - Djordji Ristoski remembers.

While he was flying over the mountains near Kicevo, he was in the air for several hours.

- That was a favorable north wind that carried me in the direction of Ohrid, the thermic was good and strong. At one point, the thermic, or so-called air balloon, lifted me up to ten meters per second. I was at 3.100 meters at some point. That was the highest point I reached on that day. Later during the day, the thermic was gone at Kosel. I started losing altitude, and I was close to my goal, Ljubaniste. The paraglider lost aerodynamics due to poor thermic. It is important for the pilot to react properly and to find an appropriate landing site. I saw a clearing near Kosel and that is where I landed. I didn't reach Lubaniste but I was happy for achieving such a long flight - the young paraglider said.

(Telegraf.co.uk / D.J.)