Colombia native Daniel Vallejo moved to Kelowna when he learned the Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 mountains were perfect for him to hone his paragliding skills.

Vallejo started competing in 2016 in Columbia, before representing Canada in Paragliding Accuracy competitions. He is currently ranked second in Canada and 519th in the world.

Recently, after being unable to find sponsors, he started a that he said will help with travel costs as he continues to compete until he can reach his goal at the world championship in Serbia in May. But first, he has to qualify.

Vallejo said he will be gliding in other competitions in order to bring his ranking into the top 500. The $5,000 he is requesting on the fundraiser will go towards travelling expenses.

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It香蕉视频直播檚 not something like hockey or soccer in Canada, it香蕉视频直播檚 more of a club, he said. In Serbia, if he does well, he qualifies for the finals.

香蕉视频直播淪erbia, for me, is like the world champions before the world games,香蕉视频直播� Vallejo said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just the best of the best.香蕉视频直播�

The 26-year-old has been in Canada since he was 16, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 take up the sport until heartbreak led him to ask his father, a fellow paraglider, to teach him.

After starting lessons in a field, 香蕉视频直播渕y dad, he told me, 香蕉视频直播榶ou香蕉视频直播檙e going to learn with an actual instructor香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈ウ he didn香蕉视频直播檛 want me to go (through) what he went through,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding his father broke his legs learning the sport.

Vallejo comes from a family of paragliders, his father and mother are both judges in Columbia.

香蕉视频直播淢y first competition had over 48 pilots and I ranked 18,香蕉视频直播� he said. His father, Walter, taught him to respect his natural surroundings and to learn from it.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just going and flying. We don香蕉视频直播檛 belong (in the sky.) If we go there we need to respect it, we need to respect the landscape, we need to respect the property and the people香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 an extreme sport, you need to do it with caution,香蕉视频直播� Vallejio said.

The paraglider competes in accuracy competitions, where he glides from a mountain top, to a marked landing zone. 香蕉视频直播淚magine playing darts, you have to hit in the centre,香蕉视频直播� Vallejo said.

香蕉视频直播淭he feeling is right away you get nervous right? Every time I take off I香蕉视频直播檓 always nervous, but it香蕉视频直播檚 like a good rush. You don香蕉视频直播檛 let that turn into panic. When you香蕉视频直播檙e competing, obviously you香蕉视频直播檙e so focused, I have to talk to myself,香蕉视频直播� he said.

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香蕉视频直播淵ou feel that rush, even though up there it香蕉视频直播檚 colder, you don香蕉视频直播檛 feel cold.

You feel hot, you香蕉视频直播檙e blood is pumping香蕉视频直播� plus the feeling of nothing holding you. Everyone dreams of eventually (flying,) with paragliding, you can achieve that香蕉视频直播� You feel free.香蕉视频直播�

Vallejo would like to see paragliding accuracy competitions in the Olympics.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 awesome to represent Canada already,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淓ven though I香蕉视频直播檓 from Columbia香蕉视频直播� Spanish is my main language, but I think in English, talk in English香蕉视频直播� when I represent Canada in these competitions, I feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 representing my home country.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淵ou feel proud, you feel like you do more, and eventually (hope to) be recognized for everyone.香蕉视频直播�

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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