FAQ's

Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like 'speed bag' suspended below a fabric wing.

Parasailing, also known as parascending or parakiting, is a recreational kiting activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that resembles a parachute, known as a parasail wing. The manned kite's moving anchor may be a car, truck, or boat. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope. The vehicle then drives off, carrying the parascender (or wing) and person into the air. If the boat is powerful enough, two or three people can parasail behind it at the same time. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute. The activity is primarily a fun ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding.

Most flying site require third party liability insurance to protect land owners from litigation. Have a solo pilot's rating with the national organization USHPA, will provide that. USHPA also provides SOP's for instruction and pilot proficiency.

Paragliding is not physically challenging. Pretty much anyone can fly. With four or five days of good weather and motivation, you can be well on your way to your solo ratings. Learning to make good decisions takes more time than actual flying. With 8 to 10 hours of ground school, you begin to have an understanding of some of the concepts. Continuing education as a pilot is a good recipe for a long career.

Yes, like most extreme or adventure sports, paragliding carries certain risk. With training and knowledge a good pilot will be proactive in risk mitigation. making good decisions and flying conservatively can reduce or mitigate much of the risk. Paragliding carries the same kinds of risk as skydiving.

We start our students in the sand on the beautiful Oregon coast. Once proficient in ground handling, we move to inland sites in central Oregon.