Colombia native Daniel Vallejo moved to Kelowna when he learned the Okanagan91裸聊视频檚 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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It91裸聊视频檚 not something like hockey or soccer in Canada, it91裸聊视频檚 more of a club, he said. In Serbia, if he does well, he qualifies for the finals.

91裸聊视频淪erbia, for me, is like the world champions before the world games,91裸聊视频� Vallejo said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just the best of the best.91裸聊视频�

The 26-year-old has been in Canada since he was 16, but didn91裸聊视频檛 take up the sport until heartbreak led him to ask his father, a fellow paraglider, to teach him.

After starting lessons in a field, 91裸聊视频渕y dad, he told me, 91裸聊视频榶ou91裸聊视频檙e going to learn with an actual instructor91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he didn91裸聊视频檛 want me to go (through) what he went through,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淢y first competition had over 48 pilots and I ranked 18,91裸聊视频� he said. His father, Walter, taught him to respect his natural surroundings and to learn from it.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just going and flying. We don91裸聊视频檛 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 people91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 an extreme sport, you need to do it with caution,91裸聊视频� Vallejio said.

The paraglider competes in accuracy competitions, where he glides from a mountain top, to a marked landing zone. 91裸聊视频淚magine playing darts, you have to hit in the centre,91裸聊视频� Vallejo said.

91裸聊视频淭he feeling is right away you get nervous right? Every time I take off I91裸聊视频檓 always nervous, but it91裸聊视频檚 like a good rush. You don91裸聊视频檛 let that turn into panic. When you91裸聊视频檙e competing, obviously you91裸聊视频檙e so focused, I have to talk to myself,91裸聊视频� he said.

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91裸聊视频淵ou feel that rush, even though up there it91裸聊视频檚 colder, you don91裸聊视频檛 feel cold.

You feel hot, you91裸聊视频檙e blood is pumping91裸聊视频� plus the feeling of nothing holding you. Everyone dreams of eventually (flying,) with paragliding, you can achieve that91裸聊视频� You feel free.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 awesome to represent Canada already,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淓ven though I91裸聊视频檓 from Columbia91裸聊视频� Spanish is my main language, but I think in English, talk in English91裸聊视频� when I represent Canada in these competitions, I feel like I91裸聊视频檓 representing my home country.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淵ou feel proud, you feel like you do more, and eventually (hope to) be recognized for everyone.91裸聊视频�

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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