Paragliders and paramotorists from Brunei, Sabah and Malaysia in a group photo at Beraya beach.
MIRI: The Sungai Pagar paragliding site at Beraya in Sibuti has the potential to become a hub for aerial sport tourism due to the location of its takeoff site from a cliff facing the South China Sea and the Beraya seafront.
This sport needs wind and height for takeoff and landing, and this makes cliffs such as the Sungai Pagar site at Beraya beach the best location for paragliding.
Paramotor sports is increasingly well-known among tourists and locals alike in Miri and Sarawak as a whole. This sport started in Miri at the old Lutong Airstrip as far back as the early 90’s, with paragliding starting in 2012.
Local licensed paraglider Ismail Jamin said many are curious to try out this extreme sport, including foreigners working for oil and gas companies in Miri.
He said that a few years earlier, paragliders from the United States, Taiwan, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah came to the Sungai Pagar paragliding site to fly and enjoy the aerial views, which is said to be the best spot with good wind conditions.
Ismail (right) and a friend.
Ismail added that these experienced paragliders were pleased with the different view offered here in Sungai Pagar as the site faces the South China Sea, the seafront, sandy beaches and has a long stretch of flying avenue as the wind here is strong and good.
“All of the foreigners gave their thumbs-up for the unique sights located above the cliff,” Ismail told The Borneo Post yesterday.
A paraglider flying along the Beraya seafront.
Sungai Pagar is about 20 minutes’ drive from Miri city along the coastal road going to Bekenu and is easily accessible by road.
He said, paragliding is different from paramotoring because it depends on the wind to takeoff while paramotoring uses an engine to takeoff.
He said he used to be also involved in paramotoring and most of the licensed pilots are flying their machines at the old Lutong Airstrip site.
He also said that usually, the key to success for paragliding and the flight duration will depend on the condition of the wind, which makes Sungai Pagar an ideal location.
Two paragliders are seen in the distance flying along the Beraya seafront after taking off from the top of the cliff.
So far, he added, no event or competition has been held here in Sungai Pagar.
Ismail disclosed that he got his flying licence in Lohan in Ranau, Sabah from an instructor there.
He said, there are a number of tourists who yearn to try out paragliding but are unable to do so due to the limited number of licensed paragliders in the state.
He said in Sabah, there are about 20 and less than half of them are full-timers leading to a shortage of experienced paragliders to facilitate this activity for first timers.