Folding your parachute is not a chore at the end of a flight: it is the gesture that preserves your sail and keeps your rescue harness ready to open. Folded in accordion style, care for the zips, drying, and the folding of the emergency parachute — the guide to folding a parachute, by our DEJEPS instructors at Gréolières.
Taking care of your sailEvery end of flight ends the same way: we fold it. Done in a rush, this gesture wears out the material; done with care, it makes it last for years. Folding is one of the simplest… and most neglected maintenance tasks.
This guide to Paragliding folding get to the point: how to properly fold your sail (the fold in accordion, the care of spiders, drying process), the errors that damage it, and a point that is too often forgotten — the folding of the emergency parachute.
It is written by the Ailéments team, paragliding school at Gréolières (06) since 2013. We work hand in hand with the workshop Aerotech For revision, repair and emergency folding: this is what we apply every day.
A sail is made of coated fabric, buckles, and rivets. Folding affects all three of these—and your safety.
Careful folding, without flattening or marking in the same places, ensures the coating that makes the fabric air-tight. It is this coating that maintains the performance — and a sloppy fold is one of the factors that leads to deterioration. aging from the wing.
Modern wings have spiders in the attacking end. Good news: they quickly regain their form, and the way they are folded ultimately has little impact on their lifespan. Provided one condition: never fold them too tightly or too loosely.
The folding process does not only affect the sail: the Emergency parachute It must be folded regularly to remain reliable. A forgotten backup in the bottom of the saddle can open too slowly on the day when everything is up in a second.
The reference method boils down to one idea: align, respect the form, fold in accordion fashion. Without force, without haste.
We unfold the sail and gather the half-wings, then we aligns the cells one on top of the other at the edge of the cutting board. It is this step that keeps the logs well parallel and gives a neat fold.
Then the entire assembly is folded back. in accordéon, cell by cell, while respecting the shape of the sail — never in a tight roll. A folding bag (concertina type) helps keep the jellyfish aligned on the very equipped wings.
We fold the accordion to the width of the bag, without compressing it, and we arrange the wings and the harness in the carry-on bag. Choosing the right one equipment And an adapted bag makes organizing easier without forcing anything.
The fold itself forgives a lot. What really wears down an wing are those few mistakes — all avoidable.
Folding a wet sail is condemning it to a short life: the moisture attacks the coating and promotes mold growth and peeling. You always do dry the sail in the shade before folding it. Moisture makes a wing age faster than UV rays — see our guide to life span of a paraglider.
It is advisable not to leave the sail spread out in the open sun at takeoff, and we protect it from sandy (abrasive) and the'salt water. Tightly folding and storing it warm in a car trunk is also part of the gestures that mark the fabric.
It's the interview that everyone pushes back on — and the most critical one. One aid only works once, but it must be opened quickly this time.
A garment that is kept folded for too long sees its tear edge stick, absorb moisture and open more slowly. Airing and folding it returns it to its original shape: a recent fold makes a difference in the average time it takes to open it. more than a second at the opening.
La FFVL recommends airing out and folding its aid twice a year, Even though it was never used. A simple habit to establish, for example, at the beginning and middle of the season.
Reassembling a rescue operation is not an easy task: installation, assembly of the suspension system, and restoring the equipment to its original condition. It is better to entrust this task to a professional — it is also an opportunity to perform a real inspection of the equipment and its condition. security.
Between two home-made folds, your equipment needs an expert eye. That's where our workshop comes in.
Ailéments offers the emergency folding within the workshop Aerotech, With whom we work closely. Twice a year we air the tents, fold them up and check them — ready to fulfill their role in case of emergency.
Beyond the fold, a sail is controlled every 2 years or 100 hours of flight (porosity, fabric resistance, suspenders). The revision in the workshop and the possible repairs significantly extend its lifespan.
Since 2013 at Gréolières, the team Accessories transmits good material reflexes from the very first flights: folding properly, storing in a dry place, having it reviewed and having it folded again. We work hand in hand with the workshop Aerotech for revision, repair and emergency folding.
State-qualified instructors (DEJEPS), affiliated with the FFVL: over 1070 5/5 reviews It confirms it. Well-maintained equipment means more pleasure and more security.
Have his sail revised
Sail, mosses, humidity, emergency parachute: the concrete answers.
We align the cells at the edge of the attack, we fold the wing cell by cell while respecting its shape, and then we finish. in accordéon — never in a tight roll — before placing it in the folding bag. The fringes remain aligned, never being folded too tightly. A well-made fold preserves the fabric, the coating, and the life span of sailing.
Visit accordion, This is the reference, especially for the winglets: the cells are aligned and then folded respecting the shape. Rolling the wing tightly or crushing it makes unnecessary wear on the winglets and marks the fabric. The concertina-type folding bags keep the winglets aligned on the modern, highly equipped wings.
Not much, if you respect them: polyamide jellyfish quickly regain their shape and the packaging method ultimately has little impact on lifespan. The only rule: never fold them broken or too tightly. The real enemy of a sail is not the fold, but humidity, the sun and sand.
No, never. Moisture attacks the coating and promotes mold growth and peeling. If the sail has picked up dew or wet grass, it should be washed. dry completely in the shade before folding it. That's it factor of aging the most underrated.
La FFVL recommends airing out and folding its aid twice a year, Even when not in use: this prevents the front edge from sticking, limits moisture and ensures quick opening. Recent folding saves an average of more than a second on opening.
Four reflexes for a sail that lasts and reliable assistance.
The cells are aligned along the edge of the sheet; they are folded accordion-style, respecting the shape. Never rolled tightly, never compressed.
They regain their shape, but never become too loose or too tight. A concertina bag helps on modern wings.
The'humidity It is the worst enemy of sailing. We dry in the shade before folding, we store it dry — never in a hot box.
We air and we fold it Emergency parachute twice a year (FFVL). Folding and Revision Trust a professional.
Repairs, repairs, emergency folding: we take care of your equipment in the workshop Aerotech, so you can rest easy. Let's talk about it.
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