TRAVEL IQ
HOW TO… CHOOSE A TRIP
T
he difference between a good guide and a poor one is you having a great day and flying 100km, or bombing out and spending the rest of the day scratching at the dust with a stick while the rest of the pack flies overhead at base. I’m lucky enough to have been on several different guided trips and advanced XC or SIV courses. Here are my top tips to make the most of your precious time and money.
it can be time to look beyond the school. Word of mouth really works here. Good, professional paragliding guides have spent many years building up their business and client list. They have many satisfied customers, and lots of repeat business. Ask other pilots who they have been away with, who they recommend and why. Research them online, then pick up the phone to find out more.
1. Go with the people you know. If you are a new pilot who wants to fly as much as possible and build hours, then your school will often offer just this type of trip. The advantage is you know them and, more importantly, they know you. They will accommodate your shaky take-off style, know your strengths, and help you continue your progression safely.
3. Know who will be guiding you. Guiding can struggle to be scalable. The guide with the good name is often in high demand, so they often take on other guides for certain trips. This is fine, but check who will be guiding your trip, and what their credentials are, so you are not disappointed. Good guides will be honest about this.
2. Word of mouth is gold. For those looking to spread their wings, explore new places or go on an advanced training course, then
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4. Do they speak your language? Flying takes up mental bandwidth, and having to deal with a new place, new pilots and radio chatter is enough. Whether going on holiday,
CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2020 CHOOSING A TRIP
an SIV or a guided vol-biv expedition, if you struggle to understand your guide mistakes in translation can easily happen. That can be inconvenient, or it can be a safety issue. 5. Don’t shop around on price (too much). Cheap flying holidays and guides come at a price, and it is usually poor logistics and frustrated flying days. Compared with other sports like mountain-guiding or off-piste skiguiding, paragliding guiding usually offers remarkably good value. The skills involved in shepherding you successfully and safely from A to B through 110km of open sky in Colombia are rare, and, again, the ones with a good reputation do charge a premium. It’s usually worth paying. 6. Know what you are getting. Is everything included, or are you just paying for the guiding? If so, how much will accommodation, travel, transport and food cost you? It can pay dividends in headspace to shell out a little bit more to have your
