Paragliding

Flying like a bird – for me, one of the most beautiful dreams I’ve made come true. In this post I’ll tell you how to get started with paragliding, how the course works, what costs to expect and what I’d like to pass on to you as a beginner.

Your own flight in 4 steps

1. Book a tandem flight – to get a feel for flying.
2. Choose a flight school – and book the course there.
3. Intensive course & A licence – theory, training slope and 40 high flights.
4. Your own gear – and fly together with experienced pilots.

The first step: a tandem flight

Before you dive into a course and buy equipment, you should first get a feel for paragliding. My tip: book a tandem flight. That gives you a perfect impression of how it works and what it feels like in the air.

By the way: a fear of heights doesn’t have to rule you out. I know quite a few people with a fear of heights who feel no fear at all when paragliding.

The right flight school

Once you’re sure you want to start the paragliding adventure, find a flight school. I did my intensive course at Cloudbase flight school and was more than happy.

You can get the equipment for the entire training directly from the flight school – but you can also start with your own gear. Many flight schools also sell new and used equipment. The big advantage: everything there has been carefully checked.

The intensive course: how it works & costs

Prices from my 2022 course – you can get current prices directly from your flight school.

It starts with theory, followed by your first attempts on the training slope. You usually spend 1–2 mornings on the training slope – and then you’re already heading up high for your first solo flight.

Don’t worry: during the whole flight you’re connected to your instructor by radio, who tells you exactly what to do from the valley. That gives you an incredible amount of confidence, and it’s not nearly as difficult as you think at first. But of course: it’s an indescribable feelingwhen you run down the slope for the first time, after a few steps no longer feel the ground under your feet and are suddenly floating in the air.

Before the exam you complete 40 high flights – after that you’re perfectly prepared. Once you’ve passed the exam, you have your licence in your pocket and can get going!

Cost of your own gear

The basics are wing, reserve and harness. How much you spend depends on whether you buy new or used:

My most important tip: don’t go for the cheapest offer – after all, your life depends on this equipment. By the way, many flight schools also have checked used gear at great prices.

Tips for new pilots

With your licence in your pocket you can get started – but judging the wind and the situation correctly on your own on the mountain is quite a challenge at first. So: find experienced pilots and fly together. That way you pick up tips and tricks, and over time your own judgement gets easier and easier.

Hike & fly

One of the reasons I started paragliding is Hike & fly: up the mountain on foot and back down to the valley by glider. The advantage? You skip the tedious descent and get an unforgettable experience in the air on top.

It does need a bit more preparation, though. Not every mountain is suitable for take-off (too steep, too rocky, wrong slope aspect …) and sometimes the wind just isn’t right – then you simply walk back down. And that’s completely okay: I’d rather hike down the mountain once too often than risk an unsafe situation.

I wish you lots of joy in the air – and always happy landings! ♥️

Love,
Anna