Paraglider aims to fly across Canada; makes stop at Lindale School

Up, up and away.
That was the plan for Benjamin Jordan, a paraglider who is aiming to fly across Canada to break a world record for the longest distance travelled by a powered paraglider. He is also raising money for provincial charities that help children attend summer camp.
Jordan planned to take off from Lindale School in Moose Jaw Friday morning when he hit a snag. The wind posed a danger.
"We will try again later in the evening or early Saturday morning," said Jordan.
Jordan uses a small propeller engine that sits on his back and that allows him to launch from a field.
"It is foot launch, so it's like Fred Flintstone meets the Jetsons," said Jordan. "I have to run to get the wing up to speed and at the same time I am giving it a lot of thrust, which helps me run fast. I have to get my body moving at about 35 to 40 kilometres a hour. At that point my feet will lift."
Some schoolyards have been bigger than others, which has made for easier take offs for Jordan, while some have giant trees around them or power lines.
"It has been a bit dicey at times," said Jordan.
Jordan said school fields are not set up for parargliders.
"School fields are set up for children to play and the fields look very nice, which means that they have very large trees, and when the wind is blowing really strong you end up getting a lot of turbulence coming over the backs of those trees. (However), this becomes a real issue for those trying to fly an aircraft," said Jordan.
"You need a consistent wind, not something that is tumbling or eddying."
Jordan's paraglider flies at 40 km/hour.
"From above you can see a whole lot and put yourself in a good situation. If I fly low it will be going over a nice field, if I am flying over a city I have to maintain at least 500 feet above the ground," said Jordan.
Students at all the schools he visits will be getting into a formation, and Jordan photographs the formation from the air for a book he is creating.
"I have been getting some great aerial shots of kids at their schools creating formations that have relevance to their school, either a mascot or symbol that represents the school," said Jordan.
Jordan is creating a book of 50 photographs from school and camp children in formations from across the country.
The book is the main method of fundraising for his cause.
When Jordan was a kid he grew up in Toronto with a single parent and his sister.
Things were relatively tight for the family and they weren't often exposed to nature.
Jordan said he is very grateful that his family was able to access subsidies through a government program to attend a summer camp for a few weeks in the summer.
"It was a huge part of my upbringing and helped me appreciate nature. I want that for other kids too, the leadership skills and the environmental stewardship that can be obtained and a general sense of self-confidence that I found at camp," said Jordan.
"I'm on a mission to give back as much as I can to this country that gave me so much. I hope to get as many children to camp as possible through 2010 and the years to come with the sales of this book."
Jordan began his tour across Canada in Tofino, B.C., and will finish in St. John's, N.L. Jordan will cover 10,000 km, 5,500 km further than anyone has ever flown in a paraglider.
It will take Jordan 105 days to complete his trip as he travels anywhere between 100 to 120 km a day.
Jordan used the time he had in Moose Jaw to speak to the students at Lindale.
"It was important to me to tell the kids that even though you might hit a few bumps while you are trying to achieve your dreams you have to continue, nothing should stop you," said Jordan.
Donations to Jordan's fundraiser can be made at www.aboveandbeyondcanada.com.

Colin Dewar can be reached at 691-1263.