Paragliding is a dream coming true-the dream of free flying….using a basic equipment and the power of wind and thermals .It is a relatively new sport with the early beginnings in the 80’s ,being practiced by amateurs and professionals alike. The equipment it’s quite simple , a paraglider has a harness that holds the pilot and a wing. The wing is made of a special fabric, in 2 layers disposed to form a row of cells allowing air to inflate and maintain the shape of the wing.

The harness it is pretty comfortable offering support both as standing and sitting position .The harness is connected to the wing using carabins and a network of lines. There are about 30 lines in a paraglider ,made of very strong materials ,each line alone being able to sustain the weight of the pilot.

The control of the paraglider is made of 2 brakes, one in each hand of the pilot, connected to the ends of the wing, offering speed adjustment and steering as well as flaring on landing .Add-on to the brakes is the weight shifting-leaning on one side or the other to steer better. Also the pilot can use a speed bar, a foot control which attaches to the harness and it is used to increase speed.

Most of pilots use variometers (to show the rate of ascending or descending), radios (to keep in touch with each other or with the ground) and GPS (mostly used for competitions).

The take-off is done from a higher point, like a hill or a slope, using the force of the wind and a bit of skill to get airborne and to fly. Pilots are looking for thermals (columns of air lifting from the earth, due to uneven heating of the ground), to use them like an air elevator and gain altitude in order to glide longer and higher.

For the professional pilots there are competitions organized each year in different corners of the world., on 3 main categories : cross-country (for the greatest distance), accuracy (precision landing on a 3 cm centre out of a 10 m circle) and acro(acrobatic maneuvers and stunts) .

In Macedonia the sport is well represented, with an active presence in all 3 categories of competition, with many clubs involved in practicing the sport as well as offering classes to beginners and helping them obtaining the pilot license or offering an unforgettable experience in a tandem flight.

The best places to fly are Krushevo, Ohrid and around Skopje, making the sport easy and accessible to the public. Competitions are organized each year in Krushevo and Ohrid, with a large presence of pilots and public.

The sport it is gaining a lot of popularity for the young people and for the ones who like to try something different and a feeling of freedom.

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More Skopje and Macedonia:
Skopje Hotels Walking Distances
Macedonia Currency
Macedonian Wine Production
Football Federation of Macedonia
Paragliding in Macedonia
Skopje History, Landmarks, Photo Gallery
Tourism in Macedonia, famous landmarks and places

The first football match in Macedonia, which gave a start up to the football in Macedonia, was played on the 20th of April 1919. The selection of the English Army, which consisted of the greatest players among the recruits, played a match against the team of “Napredak” from Skopje. The game finished with a winning score of 2:0 for “Napredak”.

At that place, where the first match in Macedonia was played, a monument in the shape of a football ball that weighted 250 kilograms was put in 1979.

A lot of football teams were formed in the period from 1909 till 2002. The first team was “FK Vardar” – Skopje, which was founded in 1912 in Skopje. During the Second World War, the selection of Macedonian football teams played against the selection of the German Army, and as well as against Bulgaria. In the period from 1900 till 1991, Macedonia didn’t have her own National Football Representation, because it was a part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).

In 1945, after the Second World War, a football section was established as part of the Union of Sports in Skopje, with Gustav Vlahov as a president. The section separated from the Union on the 16th of August 1948, and the Macedonian Football Union (“Makedonski Fudbalski Sojuz”) was established on the 14th of August 1949 in Skopje, as part of the Football Union of Yugoslavia (“Fudbalski Sojuz na Yugoslavia”), up until 1991 when the Republic of Macedonia claimed independence and separated from SFRY. The first president of the Macedonian Football Union was Ljubisav Ivanov.

The most famous players from Macedonia, who played in the National team in Yugoslavia are: Kiril Simonovski, Blagoja Vidinikj, Metodija Spasovski, Andon Donchevski, Darko Panchev, Ilija Najdovski etc.

The first championship, which was organized by the new union, was in the season of 1992/93, in which 18 teams took part. “FK Vardar” from Skopje, without loosing a single match, was the first champion, which also won the first Cup.

In 1994, Macedonia became a member of FIFA, UEFA and the Balkan Football Federation. The Balkan Football Federation organized mini tourneys for players at the age from 16 till 18. In 1995 the teams from Macedonia, for the first time after the independence, took a part in the competitions in UEFA.

As a champion from Macedonia, “FK Vardar” from Skopje played against “FK Bekeshchaba” from Hungary. In the Cup of Champions, “FK Sileks” from Kratovo played for Macedonia and eliminated the team from Hungary “Vac Samsung” with the score of 1-1; 1-0. In the second round, “FK Sileks” played against “Borussia Menhengladbah” from Germany, and lost with the score of 3-0; 3-2, leaving the Germans to compete in the next round.

The National Representation officially started in 1994 with the qualifications for the European Championship in 1996, in the group with Armenia, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark and Spain, with scores: 1-1 with Denmark, Belgium and Cyprus, playing as a guest, with Armenia 2-2, and again with Cyprus 3-0 playing at home. The first official match against Denmark on the 7th September 1994, which was played on the City Stadium in Skopje (now known as Philip II), ended with the score of 1-1. The first goal, for the Macedonian Football Representation, was scored by Mitko Stojkovski.

Macedonia also played in the qualifications for the World Championship in the group with Malta, Lichtenstein, Romania, Island and Republic of Ireland. The most significant victory was won against the Republic of Ireland, with the score of 3-2, and the most significant triumph, playing as guests, was won against Lichtenstein with the score of 11-1.

Since then, Macedonia takes part in every competitions in UEFA and FIFA, and in 2002 The Football Union of Macedonia changes it’s name in the Football Federation of Macedonia.

More Skopje and Macedonia:
Skopje Hotels Walking Distances
Macedonia Currency
Macedonian Wine Production
Football Federation of Macedonia
Paragliding in Macedonia
Skopje History, Landmarks, Photo Gallery
Tourism in Macedonia, famous landmarks and places