Hi all, I'm Dave and could use some advice re: training.
Ever since the first time I ever saw a paraglider I wanted to do it but life kinda got in the way and time passed by. Now, however, I'm ready to start.
I am eager to begin training in the Derbyshire area but finding it difficult o choose a club as there are a few in the area. Cost isn't an issue as they're all roughly the same price but I don't yet know anything at all about paragliding so how do I choose a club to train with?
Also, do I really have to fill out all those questions below EVERY time I want to post something? Slightly off putting!
Hi Davy!
My advice would be to first find out everything you can about paragliding. The more you can find out, the nearer you'll be to knowing if the sport is really for you and what you can expect from it. Paragliding is certainly not for everyone. It's extremely weather-dependent, needs a fair bit of commitment, has a fair amount of risk, and is known to ruin family life. If you're up for those penalties, it can be an amazingly rewarding sport!
Most schools offer a trial day, where you spend a day training without committing to the whole course. By the end of that trial day you'll have a better idea about whether paragliding's for you and be able to get your instructor's advice on what you can expect from the sport. If you plan to fly from hills, it's usually best to sign up for training at a hill-focused school. Tow-focused schools specialize in training pilots to winch-launch (which has its advantages), but to gain the expertise for hill flying winch-trained pilots need to take further training to obtain their "hill" rating. A good starting point for checking out the various schools in your area is https://www.bhpa.co.uk/sport/bhpa/learn_to_fly/
Anyway, do your research, and if you can't find answers to any of your questions, feel free to pm me and I'll either answer them or put you in touch with someone who can. Alternatively, post them on here. Good luck!
