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Ground Handling Courses etc.... by Flight Culture
Posted by Jayne Gowler at 2009-07-14 18:19

Ground handling master class

Have you noticed how some pilots seem to effortlessly inflate their glider and get it right every time? Or watched pilots kiting their gliders up the hill, steering it where they want? It almost looks effortless. Would you like to be able to do this?

Ground handling is a major part of a successful flight; when you really nail it you feel great taking off but when it doesn’t go so well it’s hard to settle. Given that it’s so important why do so many of us struggle?

Just like other aspects of paragliding ground handling skills can be learned but it is a tremendously complex set of motor skills which needs to be practiced. It certainly helps to practice on your own but it’s much more effective to have guidance and feed back.

Flight Culture is running a 2 week long master class on Dune de Pyla from 5 – 12 and 12 - 19 September. The course is open to pilots with a CP qualification upwards. We’ll not only show you how to improve your skills, we’ll also show you how to continue improving after the course. The course will include advanced ground handling techniques as well as low level soaring skills.

The cost of the course is £545. You’ll get a private room and radios will be supplied.


I’d also like to remind you that we’re running an SIV course in Lugano, Switzerland. SIV is a MUST for all qualified pilots. In most countries, once a student becomes qualified they naturally participate in an SIV course. What ever sort of glider you’re flying, it will collapse, spin, stall and in most cases where the pilot is injured it’s due to overcorrection or incorrect input. Don’t end up as a statistic, book your place today. The cost is £495 and includes use of an auto inflation life jacket, radio, and filming of all flights.

Places on both of these courses are limited so if you’d like to join us or for further information please contact us as soon as possible at john@flightculture.co.uk , www.flightculture.co.uk or on 07833-107902.

Looking on from that, we’ve got a week in a stunning villa in Lanzarote from the 15 – 22 October, are in Madeira from the 17 – 24th November. In the new year we’ll be going to the Stubai Cup in Austria, Ethiopia at the end of January, and Argentina in March.

Finally, although we have a busy overseas schedule, we will be out in the UK whenever it’s flyable, even while trips are being run as we have new members on the Flight Culture team.

All the best and safe flying,

John and the Flight Culture team

Posted by Thomas Murfin at 2009-07-14 21:06

This Ground Handling Master Course seems OTT (over the top!). If any one is unsure or out of practice then they should approach a club coach or a friendly competent pilot in the first instance to offer kiting advice (including myself). In any case the only way to truly get up to speed is practice, practice and more practice.

The SIV couse on the other hand sounds like good value for money and I would advise that your energies would be put to better use here if you have money burning a hole in your pocket.

Ground Handling
Posted by Andrew Donnison at 2009-07-15 07:13

It does look like a shameless plug for a holiday disguised as a need to improve your ground handling?

Posted by Geoff Minshull at 2009-07-15 09:14

I agree, it seems a lot of money for a ground handling course. Like Tom says, though, the SIV one sounds like better value - though I would recommend before booking any SIV course you talk to people who have already been with the same organisation.

Having said that, groumd handling is very important. The club is thinking of organising some informal sessions at some point on the Mynd, one morning before flying.

Incidentally, the club gets sent lots of information about holidays, courses, etc. These go to Jayne as secretary, and she posts them to the forum in case anyone is interested.

Posted by Gruffydd Evans at 2009-07-18 15:04

I'll definatley agree concerning the ground handling course. Why?! But-SIV, after my first beginning of June, I will be doing one EVERY year without fail as long as I am flying. Apart from all the manouvers yov'e always wanted to learn, it is a downright heck of a laugh.
The price qouted by Flight Culture seems pretty good. I went to Lake Garda and did the course with FlySpain, Rob Mansley who Iv'e known for a few years. The course was deliverd itself by a German chap and his colleagues who decamp to Lake Garda for months each year. The ride to take-off is by cablecar taking only 20 minutes. Take off is 1300mtrs above the lake but you lose some of that on a long glide (10 to 15 minutes) to the lake. However 3 flights a day is feasable. It's much more scenic than I imagine Oludinez to be. Spirals I'm at last happy doing.
I'll post a link whenn I get more time. the course cost 450 euros.

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