Discovery Solo - 1 Flight

Some people were just born to fly. They have known for as long as they can remember, always yearning to be up in the sky with the birds. Even their dreams are inhabited by the most pleasant and incredible flying experiences. They want to fly, and feel comfortable with leaving the ground for the first time on their own.

If you are one of these people, we offer a first flight solo course that will take you there in 8 hours (minimum) of intensive training.

The purpose of the Discovery program is to give you a first flight experience where you are imparted with sufficient skills to fly as the pilot-in-command.

We supply all the required equipment: paraglider, harness, reserve parachute, radio and helmet. The only thing that we ask that you bring is some sturdy and agile footwear with good ankle support: work boots, hiking boots or light hikers.

1.0 Discovery Theory: We begin with giving you the basic principles of aerodynamics as applied to paraglider flight, general weather principles and micrometeorology.

2.0 Slope Soaring: From classroom theory we move on to Slope Soaring on grassy fields with small, gentle slopes where you begin to apply real skills to learn how to control the paraglider and launch:

Learning how lay out the glider and sort the lines in preparation for take off;

Working with the wind to inflate and bring the paraglider overhead;

Controlling and kiting the paraglider;

and accelerating and running with the glider.

When the moment is right, we have you make your first launch off the hill.

Note that we never "jump" off the hill. Similar to an airplane on the runway taxiing and building speed for take-off, we are gently lifted off our feet for take-off when we achieve sufficient airspeed over our wing through a combination of the wind coming uphill and us running downhill into it.

Though only skimming a few feet above the ground, you will be changed forever by these first moments of flight in all their glory. We spend most of the course on these ground-training exercises: having you launch, fly, steer and successfully land the paraglider from a small training hill.

3.0 Mountain Flight: When we are satisfied with your performance, and you are comfortable with all of the required skills, we take you for your first high solo flight off a mountain. Your preflight briefing will go over a detailed flight plan including "mission" objectives. You will be carefully monitored and supervised for the duration of the flight by flight-command instructors via radio. An instructor will help you set up, and launch.

While free from the ground up in the air, you will experience true free-flight, with no windscreen to separate you from total immersion into the sky. You will feel the air rushing softly around you. You will fly in a comfortable padded seat-harness that will immediately allow you to feel secure and supported above the incredible vista below. You will soar high above the valley with meandering rivers below, while cobalt blue glaciers glisten in the bowls of the majestic mountains that surround you. At times you will experience the "aha" moment, the feeling of omnipotence, like some sky god from Greek mythology, soaring above the tiny, mere morals below.

You will be guided via radio to the landing field where an instructor will guide you down for a gentle landing.

Afterwards, you will be debriefed on the accomplishment of your objectives for the flight.

This program is a quick way to discover the joy of paragliding. Most people are immediately hooked for life!

Discovery Flight (Solo): $297* ...SIGN UP!

* 8 hour course (minimum) includes: discovery-level theory, slope training and an instructor supervised high flight. Includes transportation and use of all required equipment.  We ask that you bring your own sturdy, agile footwear with ankle support (ex. hikers) and warm athletic clothing providing full body coverage. Some landing sites require a $5/day fee payable by the student to the land owner.  Full payment of the course and time commitment to specific dates must be received prior to commencement of training, with no refunds for partial course completion. We reserve the right to discontinue training any student not following directions or conducting themselves in a manner that may endager themselves or others.

Upgrade from Slope Soaring: + $217.00** ...SIGN UP!