PARAGLIDING GUIDES

Photo: Tex Beck

Paragliding Guides

Guided trips open up new places to fly and can really boost your learning curve

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Paragliding is a life-long journey – you never stop learning. At the start of that journey especially, it can be difficult to know exactly how to progress well and efficiently. Sure, you want to rack up the hours, learn to thermal and fly XC, but there are ways of doing that well, so you don’t waste precious time and money.

A good guide will help get you to the right location at the right time, and will help you interpret the weather and make the most of the day. With a group you have instant camaraderie and a sense of shared mission. It’s a really good way to learn. They help keep you safe too.

For more established pilots, a guided trip is the perfect way to get the most out of an area quickly. Arrive, get the briefing, and on with the flying. No tricky logisitics or wasted days.

FlySpain Flight Centre

Based in the flying mecca of Algodonales, SW Spain, FlySpain is a complete flight centre offering courses and guiding from beginner to XC pilots. We offer fantastic accommodation with pool, a team of fulltime guides, transport, and bespoke coaching or tuition. We have everything you need for a great holiday including FlyMaster tracking for safety and quick retrieves. We also run paramotor weeks using our machines and your glider, and offer all level of PPG courses.

flyspain.co.uk, +34 65 173 6718

FlyWithAndy

Andy Flühler and Michael Gebert have been guiding all around the world for years. They say their goal is always to find new adventures, fly places no one has ever been and to develop new XC sites. The latest exploration for 2020 is called the “Pampas Tour” and follows cloud streets across Uruguay and northern Argentina in South America. Check out their approximately 40 destinations online and contact the office for personal recommendations.

flywithandy.com, +41 77 218 41 62. Based in Oberdorf, Switzerland, we speak English, German, Spanish and Portuguese

Fly Piedrahita

Steve Ham has been guiding in Piedrahita since the early 1990s and his XC courses have a reputation for excellence. He focuses on intermediate pilots, flying EN-B and EN-C wings, who want to fly XC. After a detailed weather briefing daily goals are set between 50-150km. Steve then helps guide pilots through central Spain’s famous mix of flatlands and mountains, wih its long lines of convergence and 3,500-4,000m base. Accommodation, transfers, live tracking and guiding is included. Pilots stay in the heart of town, just 200m from the landing.

flypiedrahita.com

Airworks Paragliding

Airworks Paragliding School in the English South Downs National Park has private sites and great classroom facilities, as well as a cafe. In late spring they teach SIV in Annecy, France, and lead trips to that most reliable and mellow thermal paradise, the green and luscious Indian Himalayan foothills every spring and autumn. Operating at an incredible 3:1 student/instructor ratio they can individually tailor trips to all levels. Speedflying since the inception of the sport they also offer the BHPA direct-access speedflying course. Check the calendar online.

airworks.co.uk

Escape XC with Jocky

Join us on our world-class SIV courses and XC tours with Jocky Sanderson and his team of highly experienced guides, who know your requirements and can help develop your potential. Escape follow the sun, to maximise reliable flying conditions and help you gain quality airtime, build confidence in your glider control and fly distance over stunning landscapes worldwide. Destinations include Colombia (Jan/Feb); SIV Australia and Turkey (Mar/Apr); XC France (Jun/Jul); XC Bulgaria & Macedonia (August); SIV Turkey (Sept); and India and Brazil (Nov/Dec). Let’s just fly!

escapexc.com

Flyeo Parapente

Flyeo is the biggest SIV school in the world and has built a solid reputation over the last 15 years. Based in Doussard, near Annecy in France, their large shop and HQ is just 100m from the official landing. As a French (FFVL) and British (BHPA) school they cater for many nationalities where English is the common language. Creators of the world’s first singleskin course specialising in mountain flying, they hold courses throughout the year, from groundhandling at Dune du Pyla to XC in the Alps. Book early to avoid disappointment.

flyeo.com, +33 (0) 4 699 699 10

Zenith Aventura

Zenith Aventura are based in Ager, Spain, a famous site just two hours from Barcelona in the Pyrenees. From their base they organise guiding in Ager, SIV courses with Parapent Entrenúvols, and tours to some of the best flying spots in the Spanish and French Pyrenees. They have their own hostel, and can help with accommodation, transfers and retrieves. As well as guiding they offer a paraglider and hang-glider rental service. Non-flying activities include kayaking, e-biking, hiking, canyoning and wine tasting!

paraglidingagerguides.com

Austrian Arena

Kelly Farina is the well-known paragliding guide and author of Mastering Paragliding, the book that offers a structured approach to learning to fly XC. Kelly’s company runs guided XC clinics in Bassano del Grappa, Italy and Greifenburg, Austria, from April to September. Guiding and coaching since 2002, Kelly has a deep knowledge of flying in the Alps. His core principle is to help give pilots the knowledge they need to confidently plan and execute XC routes through the mountains themselves.

austrianarena.com