Registrations for the Hike & Fly beginner course are open until April 20, 2025!
Unfortunately, no advanced course will be offered this year.
Beginner Course
This year, a Hike & Fly beginner course is being organized via the NSAC in collaboration with Alpwind. This course is designed for enthusiasts who want to learn how to independently fly single-skin paragliders. Thanks to the light and low volume of material in these wings, weight is no longer a problem and enables pilots to hike to reach high altitude sites. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for some hiking and to be in good physical condition.
You will learn to fly your paraglider and once airborn, how to use it in the mountains as a tool for mountain travel. This course is aimed at anyone who wishes to learn to fly a paraglider. There is no need for any previous paragliding experience but it is beneficial if you practice another mountain sport.
Goal of the course
To be able to fly independently with your own wing from wild take-off sites in calm air conditions, it is important to have basic knowledge of flight planning, including essential lessons in meteorology.
For this we will work on:
- Learn the basic gestures on a school slope
- Learn the “pre-flight” checklist of an autonomous pilot
- Master the trajectories and movement in 3D
- Control of the return to the ground
- Understand why and how we fly
- Understand the basics of air flow
- Understanding a flight plan
- Start autonomy in terms of decision making: the Pilot Safety Attitude (Improve the safety of pilots)
- Choice of flight conditions
- The use of single surface paragliders in addition to climbing, mountaineering, trail running, ski touring, hiking etc.
Entry Requirments
- You are an active SAC member, i.e., you have paid this year’s membership fee to one of the 14 SACs that are part of the NSAC.
- You must be in good enough physical shape to reach some higher-altitude take-off sites on foot with all your equipment
Location & Dates
Course: 15-19 September 2025 in Chamonix, France
This year, the course will take place in September. This is because weather conditions and thermals in spring and autumn are often more optimal for beginner courses.
The course will be held in Chamonix. There are many accommodation options nearby, depending on your budget. Camping de la Mer de Glace is a relatively budget-friendly option and is located close to the school.
Cost
The cost of this course is €730.
Included: This includes a complete curriculum with unique teaching materials, full training days under the guidance of two instructors, transportation to the flying locations, paraglider wing, harness with airbag, rescue kit, radio, helmet, and emergency parachute.
Not included: FFVL insurance (mandatory), drinks, meals, accommodation, and anything not listed as included.
Cancellation: Alpwind conducts a weather forecast check 5 days before the start of the course. In case the course is cancelled due to weather conditions, you will receive a full refund or priority for the next beginner course of Alpwind.
Registrations
Register HERE!
Registrations close on April 20th at 23:59.
More Information
More information about this course can be found on this Alpwind webpage.
For further questions, you can email zp@nsac.alpenclub.nl