USHPA Paragliding Novice (P-2) Practice Exam

When you’re close to terrain and about to do a full circling 360, use figure eight turns to maintain terrain clearance. This pattern combines two lobes that loop in opposite directions, letting you stay in safer, more controllable air on both sides of the obstacle. It gives you a chance to check wind direction, rotor, and lift while keeping a comfortable distance from the terrain, and it creates an easy exit toward open space before committing to the larger circle. This setup reduces the risk of being drawn into terrain if the wind shifts or turbulence increases. The other maneuvers either drop you more aggressively or don’t provide the same controlled setup: a full stall is risky near obstacles, a spiral dive is a steep descent that can push you toward terrain, and S-turns don’t offer the same reliable path to safely reorient and clear the terrain before a big turn.