Fly Days

What to expect: A typical day that promises the right weather conditions to launch and fly safely will start with meeting us and, likely, other active pilots at the Landing Zone (LZ).
If you are meeting us for a tandem flight or to continue your training for your solo license then we will have given you a specific meeting time.
At the LZ, we will get to know each other a little bit if we haven’t met you before, we will answer any and all questions that you might have about our absolute favourite sport/pastime, and we will coordinate transportation to the top of Mt. Prevost.
Students (this includes tandem passengers) always have our priority, whether taking their first tandem flight or one of their coached solo flights, so please don’t hesitate to speak up when you have a question or concern… no matter how busy the site may seem. On busy days you’ll no doubt witness many animated conversations about paragliding and get a glimpse of the passion we pilots have for this sport!

What to bring: The air temperature at launch elevation is typically 5degC colder than what is forecast for the city of Duncan, BC. Additionally, your glider will fly at about 38km/h so you will have a wind hitting your face and body at that same speed.
So, we recommend secure footwear, long sleeves and pants no matter the season and if your top is covered by a wind-proof layer, you’ll need fewer layers beneath. In colder months, gloves can really help keep you comfortable.
We provide you with a paragliding-rated helmet, but if you have a favourite helmet that you’d prefer to wear, bring it along and we’ll make sure its safe to fly.

If you are prone to motion-sickness, your first flight can be a lot for your brain to process and you might feel a little nauseated by the time you land. Paragliding is inherently smooth and gentle, but you’ll be seeing the world from a very new perspective that can be dis-orienting enough to trigger that nausea, so, having an antinauseant on hand for after your flight could be helpful in ensuring that you can enjoy the rest of your day.
The good news is that by the time to get out for your second flight, even if its later in the same day, your brain will already be much more familiar with that perspective and that usually means no nausea!

What you’ll experience (Tandem): If the conditions appear to be safe for us to take off and fly, we will walk you through the launch procedure and our pre-flight checklist.
You’ll be equipped with a harness adjusted to fit you comfortably, which features an airbag under your backside as an extra precaution against any kind of stumble or tough landing.
This harness then gets connected to the wing with two locking carabiners and to your instructor’s harness via a “spreader bar” that allows you to have some space between you while in flight.

When the conditions are right, your instructor will “pull up” the wing from its layout on the ground. The wind does most of the work here, but you’ll often need to move forward to help get it the rest of the way.
This slow and un-rushed part of the flight allows the instructor to see that the wing is “inflating” properly and will be air-worthy before committing to flight. If the instructor doesn’t like what they see, they will simply put the wing back down on the ground and fix the problem.
If the wing comes up and looks good, the instructor will start to move forward with you and then tell you to “run” the last steps as you build up enough airspeed to lift off of the slope; no falling or jumping.

As your feet leave the ground and you fly away from the mountain, you’ll be able to lean back in your harness and find that its really comfortable! You’re now sitting on a lounge chair in the sky and you can take in the breathtaking view of the Cowichan Valley, City of Duncan and the Gulf Islands.
Your average flight lasts 20min, so you now have time to chat with your instructor, watch the eagles fly beside you and enjoy the freedom of flying peacefully without the noise of a propeller.

When you come in to land, your instructor will ask you to put your legs back down and lean forward. This will prepare you to catch your own body weight as if from hopping off a milk-crate.
Despite what your eyes will warn you about as the speed we had in the air becomes more evident close to the ground, your instructor will pilot you in low and horizontally over the landing field and at just the right time they will apply the “air brakes” to make you slow your forward speed to almost nothing and set you down as gently as possible given the conditions of the day; sometimes without having even to bend your knees, sometimes with a step or two to stop your momentum.

What you’ll take away: A new view of the world? Perhaps a feeling of freedom that sticks with you? Maybe you’ll discover a new passion for free flight like we have!
Whatever your experience, we look forward to hearing all about it in the LZ as we debrief.
You’ll choose a song for us to add to your video (if you chose the option) and we’ll talk about next steps.

If the experience leaves you wanting more you have the option to start training with us and working toward your solo license. By the time we land, you’ll know whether you want to make paragliding a part of your life and whether you’d like us to help you achieve that.