The Hidden Risk in Paragliding: Ego, Mindset & the Psychology of Safety

By Para Clinics Aotearoa • June 7, 2025

At Para Clinics Aotearoa, we spend a lot of time helping pilots understand meteorology, site dynamics, and equipment. But one area that consistently flies under the radar—and may be the most important of all—is what’s going on inside the pilot’s mind.

Through years of instructing, observing, and flying with pilots at every level, we've seen a recurring theme: some of the greatest risks in paragliding are not external—they're internal. Ego, overconfidence, unclear motivations, and lack of self-awareness often play a greater role in accidents than thermic turbulence or gear choice.

This blog dives into the mental side of safety, and why developing a strong inner game is just as important as honing technique.

Subjective Risk: The Decisions We Make Matter Most

Many incidents in paragliding aren’t caused by freak weather or equipment failure. They come from decisions pilots make—like flying tired, pushing on in marginal conditions, or going for a big line without fully assessing their own readiness.

What we call “subjective risk” is the risk we take on based on personal factors—our state of mind, emotional condition, and judgment. Managing these internal factors is fundamental to staying safe in the air.

Ego: The Silent Saboteur

Ego doesn’t always show up as arrogance. Sometimes it’s subtle—a quiet pressure to prove something, to keep up with others, to validate your identity as a “real pilot.” The problem is that ego tends to overestimate our ability and underestimate the complexity of the environment.

We've seen pilots fly into risky situations not because they didn’t know better, but because they felt they couldn’t say no. This is where dangerous decisions happen.

Two psychological patterns we often notice:

• The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Pilots with limited experience often don’t realize the limits of their knowledge, leading to overconfidence.

• Big Fish, Little Pond Syndrome: In small local scenes, pilots may see themselves as highly experienced, but this self-perception isn’t always backed by broad exposure or refined skill.

Awareness of these traps is the first step to avoiding them.

Task vs. Ego Orientation

One of the most impactful mindset shifts we teach is the difference between task-oriented and ego-oriented motivation:

• Task-Oriented Pilots fly for the love of the process—learning, improving, and enjoying the experience. They tend to be more reflective, calculated, and safe.

• Ego-Oriented Pilots are driven by comparison and competition. This mindset often leads to increased risk-taking and poor judgment under pressure.

If your primary motivation is to out-fly someone else or seek recognition, your decision-making is already compromised. At Para Clinics, we encourage pilots to reconnect with their intrinsic motivation—the pure joy of flight, connection with nature, and personal growth.

Ego Self VS Higher Self

Skill Over Gear

Too often, we see pilots jump to new wings or high-performance gear long before their skills are ready. But history shows that some of the longest XC flights ever recorded have been flown on beginner (EN-A) gliders.

Upgrading gear doesn’t make you a better pilot. Developing core skills—especially ground handling, site awareness, and judgment—does.

Mental Tools for Safer Flying

We integrate mindset practices into all of our clinics. Here are tools we recommend every pilot use:

✅ Mindfulness & Breathing

Before launch, take a few moments to ground yourself. Deep breathing calms the nervous system and sharpens awareness—especially useful when conditions get spicy.

✅ Pre-Flight Mental Check-Ins

Ask yourself:

• Why am I flying today?

• How am I feeling emotionally and physically?

• Is this the right call for my current skill level?

✅ Post-Flight Reflection

Don’t just evaluate your track log—reflect on your decisions, mindset, and feelings. This helps identify patterns and accelerate growth.

✅ Intrinsic Motivation

Keep your “why” grounded in values that foster longevity in the sport—freedom, joy, exploration, mastery—not ego, image, or peer pressure.

Practical Action Steps

Task	Owner	When
Practice mindfulness and deep breathing	All pilots	Before and during flights
Conduct honest self-assessments	All pilots	Before every flight
Prioritise skill development over gear upgrades	All pilots	Continuously
Reflect on mindset and decisions post-flight	All pilots	After every flight

A Culture of Awareness

At Para Clinics Aotearoa, we believe real safety comes from the inside out. Weather, wingloading, and site briefings are essential—but none of it works without a grounded, self-aware pilot at the controls.

Our goal is to help pilots cultivate clarity, humility, and inner stability—the real foundation of progression in this sport.

This isn’t just about avoiding accidents. It’s about developing a mindset that lets you fly longer, grow deeper, and truly enjoy what paragliding has to offer.

So next time you gear up, ask yourself:

Am I flying from a place of clarity—or from ego?

It might be the most important check-in you make.

🪂 Want to go deeper? Our Flow & Awareness Clinics are designed to train these exact tools—on the ground and in the air. Reach out to reserve a spot.

Catch you in the sky.

— The Para Clinics Team