Motorists on Interstate 90 passing Lake Sammamish craned their necks to see the lone figure, motionless, seemingly floating, a thousand feet above the water.

With just a slight wind, onlookers wondered how the daredevil was kept aloft by the narrow parasail. From that distance, they couldn’t see the wire connecting the paraglider to the speed boat below, being driven by Marc Chirico of the Seattle Paragliding Club.

On fine days this summer and into the fall, Chirico has been introducing paragliding novices to the incredible thrill of the life as a bird. Launching from one of the many public beaches around Lake Sammamish, Chirico’s boat whisks the paraglider up into the air without their feet getting wet.

Having spent many years developing the popular program of paragliding off the western side of Tiger Mountain, the Seattle Paragliding Club is now giving men, women, boys and girls of all ages the chance to experience a view of Lake Sammamish and beyond few would ever see.

For more information phone Chirico at 206-387-3477 or marc@seattleparagliding.com.