ALP Supair Paragliding Harness

The ALP: A Revolutionary Ultra-Light Harness for Hike & Fly and Distance Flying Athletes

Inspired by the mountains where it was created, the ALP is specially developed for ambitious athletes engaging in Hike & Fly and distance flying at an advanced level. Its innovative design redefines the performance standards in the ultra-light harness category.

With the ALP, Supair aims to elevate Hike & Fly to the same performance level as distance flying competitions, which are traditionally dominated by ultra-high-performance products. By integrating extreme lightness with a design focused on pure performance, the ALP ushers in a new era in free flight: that of ultra-light cocons with full fairing.

To achieve this, every component of the ALP was meticulously selected for its lightness, compactness, and technical efficiency. The assembly of these cutting-edge materials has resulted in a harness weighing just 1.58 kg, fully equipped and ready to fly. From its initial design in 2022 to its competition test by Pierre Rémy during the X-PYR 2024, the ALP has been finely optimized to offer a unique combination of performance, lightness, and comfort, thereby setting new standards in free flight competition.

Aerodynamic Optimization for Unmatched Performance

Submarine-type harnesses revolutionized XC competition. The ALP goes even further by integrating a full fairing with an inflatable envelope that takes shape in flight thanks to relative wind.

This advanced design minimizes aerodynamic drag generated by the pilot by ensuring a smooth airflow over a streamlined profile. Additionally, it stabilizes the harness on the yaw axis, providing optimal flight comfort over long durations. The ALP's design guarantees exceptional performance while remaining ultra-light.

The Lightness Revolution: A Novel Ultra-Light Harness

Through rigorous material selection and structural optimization, the ALP stands out for its exceptional lightness. Weighing as little as 1.58 kg, it includes not only the harness itself but also all necessary accessories.

The ALP's compact design, utilizing innovative fabrics and an optimized chassis structure, allows for easy and minimalist packing in the carrying bag. Moreover, its inflatable protection compresses completely to minimize packing volume.

Performance and Lightness: The ALP, the Ally of XC Competitors

The ALP pushes boundaries by combining a sophisticated aerodynamic design with ultra-light materials. This unique combination not only maximizes in-flight performance but also ensures optimal comfort on the ground for the pilot.

This innovative fusion between Hike & Fly and XC competition guarantees a smooth and efficient flight experience, all while reducing weight to the bare minimum. The ALP thus distinguishes itself from other light cocons, setting new standards in lightness and performance.

A Harness Designed for Hike & Fly

During the design phase of the ALP, a thorough analysis of existing options revealed that full fairings offer aerodynamic performance far superior to traditional light cocons, with almost double the efficiency. To validate this discovery, the development team created a prototype envelope and compared it to current models in the range using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. With these results in hand, it became clear that integrating an envelope was essential for the new harness, but a question remained:

How can a complex and high-performing envelope design be adapted to an ultra-light product? The Research & Development team therefore studied the specific needs of Hike & Fly athletes to devise adapted and innovative solutions.

Magnetic Closure: Ease of Use

The ALP stands out with the integration of a magnetic zip to its envelope, simplifying the process of getting in and out of the cocon, especially in the context of Hike & Fly.

To settle into the harness after takeoff, simply slide your legs into the cocon and extend them, allowing the magnetic closure to lock automatically. This closure ensures perfect sealing, allowing the envelope to inflate with the airflow.

To exit the cocon, a simple movement of the legs or knees is enough to open the zip, making landing preparation as easy as with a classic cocon.

Inflatable Protection: Optimal Lightness and Safety

Adapting a harness with an envelope to the demands of Hike & Fly requires protection that is both compact, lightweight, and easy to use, while meeting safety standards.

Extensive testing has been conducted to find the ideal combination of thickness, shape, and weight for the protection, ensuring maximum safety without compromising the aerodynamic profile of the envelope.

The protection of the ALP is designed to be discreet in the carrying bag and inflates quickly during takeoff using a system accessible on the left shoulder of the harness.

Reinforced Chassis: Comfort and Lightness in Harmony

The chassis of the ALP has been meticulously developed to achieve a perfect balance between lightness and durability. Made from materials chosen to minimize weight while ensuring optimal force distribution, it offers unmatched comfort.

Despite its streamlined design to reduce weight, the ALP offers all the necessary adjustments to fit different body types, including shoulder length, backrest angle, lumbar support, seat angle, and speedbag length.

The chassis is also equipped with practical accessories for Hike & Fly, such as a pole pocket, two flask pockets, as well as a 3L under-seat pocket and a 12 to 15L back pocket, with a dedicated space for a water bladder and hose passage.

Conclusion

By combining innovation, lightness, and performance, the ALP redefines expectations for Hike & Fly and distance flying athletes. Precisely designed to meet the needs of the most demanding competitors, this ultra-light harness from Supair offers a perfect balance of aerodynamics and comfort. With its unique features, such as the full fairing envelope, compact inflatable protection, and reinforced chassis, the ALP sets new standards in the ultra-light cocon category. Whether you seek maximum performance or innovative solutions for your mountain adventures, the ALP is the ideal harness to push your limits and reach new heights.