There is no fixed day-to-day itinerary for our "Learn to Fly" paragliding course. The instructors will set the content of the course based on the pace of your progression and general ability. However, the roadmap of this 5 day course is designed as follows.
The first two days will mainly consist of theoretical work practiced on the ground with your instructors and designed to acquire the basic notions of paragliding. You will learn how to inflate your paraglider, both on a flat surface and on a gently steep one to get used to the take off part. Your instructors will use photos and videos to teach you the best gestures and postures and show you the do's and dont's.
One of the major aspects of the theoretical part is safety, and your instructors will focus on all the safety procedures both on the ground and once you're in the air. Last but not least, they will teach you how crucial the climate and weather conditions are, and how to understand the invisible phenomenons around you (the winds, the temperatures, the thermal currents, etc.), which are always determining factors when envisaging a paragliding flight.
To participate in the course you will need to get a FFVL (federation français de vol libre) license which covers your public liability whilst flying. This is not included in the price and will be the first thing you do with the instructors when you start as you adhere via the paragliding school. Costs vary from 35€ to 80€ depending on which format you choose.
The First Flights
After the theory comes the practice! Because it may be a bit overwhelming to fly by yourself after all this theory, the first flights - usually happening on the third day of the course - are so called "tandem flights". This means that you will take off strapped to your instructor. For these tandem flights, the instructor uses a wing large enough to hold both of you (ie a pilot and a passenger). Each person has their own harness, but they’re attached together, with yours in front and the pilot’s right behind.
These first flights with your instructor will be the perfect opportunity for you to put everything you've learned in practice, with the help, support and advice of your instructor. After this first flight, the staff will assess whether it is safer or necessary to do more tandem flights before the ultimate reward: your first solo flight!
Don't be afraid though, you won't be left on your own! For this very first solo experience, the staff will guide you from the ground with radio and walkie-talkies from your take off to the landing point - and will congratulate you when you set your feet on the ground a few (memorable) minutes later!
Please note that you will need to
