Test of the Niviuk Jester Parakite
Thibaut had the opportunity to test the Niviuk Jester on the site of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet during a cold autumn day in thermal conditions. Here is his story and his opinion about Niviuk’s new parakite.
I had the chance to try the parakite Niviuk Jester during a session in Saint-Hilaire. I flew the 18 m² size with the Dudek Catch harness, for a total weight of 82 kg.
The conditions of the day were soft autumn thermals. My goal was to test this “parakite / wing” with a fairly aggressive piloting style to evaluate the wing’s dive ability, and compare it with its counterparts such as the Flare Moustache or the Little Cloud Mouette. I will share here my in-flight impressions, my technical observations, and my conclusions to help you understand where the Niviuk Jester stands compared to other parakites on the market.
Opening the Niviuk Jester and included accessories
Upon receiving the Niviuk Jester, I noticed careful packaging: the wing comes in a compressive bag. The kit also includes a compression strap, a riser bag, and a ripstop repair kit.
When opening it, the fabric feels robust, clearly designed to withstand the sometimes harsh conditions encountered on coastal sites or during intensive soaring. The Jester is not built with light fabric, which matches its intended use: regular to intensive flying, with resistance to sand, repeated friction and frequent ground contact (including stabilo landings). This aligns perfectly with its stated philosophy: durability and reliability for proximity flying.
After unfolding the wing, a short inflation at take-off before the first flight is essential: the goal is to check that all the lines are correctly installed and to take advantage of a ground test to become familiar with the parakite’s behaviour and test the limits of the PKS (Parakite System) developed by Niviuk especially for the Jester.
In summary: very positive first impression. The wing looks great, is well finished, and ground handling and line sorting are no more complex than with a standard wing.
Technical characteristics of the wing
Niviuk offers the Jester in 5 different sizes and provides a comparison chart to help you choose the right size based on your skill level and wind speed.
When looking at this data, it becomes clear that the Jester is designed for proximity flying, of course, but that it is suitable both for beginner parakite pilots and for experienced pilots who want to fly in conditions that may be considered strong. The only thing left is to compare these figures with my in-flight impressions.
According to the information provided by Niviuk, I should therefore fly the 18 m², within the recommended range for parakite pilots of an advanced level. Now let’s see how this translates once in real conditions.
Inflation of the wing and take-off
The session at Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet took place in very light breeze conditions at take-off, barely a small 5–10 km/h headwind.
On the ground, inflation is smooth: thanks to the moderate aspect ratio and relatively small surface (18 m² for ~85 kg), the wing rises effortlessly, even in light wind.
I start facing the wing, but a big off-centering begins due to a large knot that doesn’t release immediately. When the knot finally pops out, the brake input to recentre is instantaneous, almost as if I were recentring a speed wing. You immediately feel that the wing is going to be highly responsive to brake inputs.
Even more surprising — and this is a particularly interesting moment — is the use of the Parakite System (PKS) at the limit of the brake travel. You instantly perceive, thanks to the brake pressure, where the boundary lies between pitch adjustment and active braking of the wing.
Finally, the lift-off phase during the launch run is extremely efficient. With the hands slightly lowered to optimise the angle of attack, you can take off at a moderate speed, even in weak wind.
No need to sprint down the slope or throw yourself into the void, which is very reassuring.
Inflation and takeoff of the wing
At the Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet site, I performed several inflations in various conditions — on a gentle slope, with short grass, in light and then moderate wind:
Handling & Turns
The turns are very responsive, with no delay at all between the brake input and the wing’s reaction.
This provides immediate piloting pleasure: I tested it by trying to attack the terrain and the trees, with a very active piloting style, and I was not disappointed by the wing’s responsiveness.
You can feel the wing very well, and the handling is precise and intuitive.
Glide
The Jester has a handling that is truly full of energy, yet still incredibly smooth.
Changes in angle of attack, reversals, speed builds — everything happens naturally thanks to the wing’s pleasant glide.
The balance between “fun” and “control” is perfectly achieved: it’s not a gimmick, but a truly well-designed and refined tool.
Landing
The approach happened without any surprises. As usual, I attempted a landing in 3/6, keeping a large safety margin at first since I didn’t yet know the wing.
I noticed that you can just as easily have fun flaring for several dozen metres, easily controlling the wing to stay close to the ground, but the Jester also behaves very well without building up speed, allowing for a softer and more traditional landing.
Speed & angle of attack
Thanks to the PKS in the “hands up” position, I was able to test the wing’s dive and observe a significant increase in speed. However, compared to other parakites, there is a certain moderation in the wing’s overall behaviour. Niviuk has clearly chosen to make its parakite accessible, and the Jester fits this requirement perfectly.
On the other hand, in the “hands low” or neutral position, the wing slows down, and the glide is excellent, which allows, for example at Saint-Hilaire, to play with the terrain very low before starting the transition toward landing.
For whom, and what recommendations?
After this test, here are my recommendations:
• Target pilot: For intermediate to advanced paragliding pilots flying close to the terrain, who want to have fun, play with the slope, or use it for soaring.
• Ideal conditions: The advantage of the Jester is that it allows you to enjoy yourself in almost any conditions. You simply need to adjust the size according to your level and the conditions, and choose specific configurations if needed (very strong or very light wind).
• Recommended size: The size guide provided by Niviuk is consistent and well-designed. Follow their recommendations.
• Accessibility: Even though the wing behaves in an accessible way, it requires active piloting. If you are coming from a classic paraglider, expect an adaptation period.
• Landing: Plan for a clear field or generous margin, as the glide ratio combined with the speed you may build up before landing can lead to longer landings compared to a traditional paraglider. Anticipate this!
Conclusion
To conclude this test, I would say that Niviuk has succeeded in creating a parakite that stands apart from the “extreme performance race” pursued by some other brands. With its reassuring behavior and playful DNA, the Jester has everything it needs to become a favorite among both occasional pilots and regular soaring enthusiasts.
That said, a small disclaimer is necessary: this wing is not “relax”. It demands commitment, attention, and an adapted piloting style. If you are looking to play with the wind rather than simply glide, the Jester definitely deserves your attention. But I repeat: it is accessible as a parakite, not as a traditional paraglider. Take the time to correctly assess your level and get familiar with the specific handling of this type of wing.
I hope you enjoyed this review. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions!
Thibaut 😉
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