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The Beginner and Novice (P1 & P2) Course cost is $1200. When prepaid in full $400 dollars will be applied to Equipment purchased through Desert Wind Paragliding and a $200 dollar credit will go toward your P3 course.
IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO COMPLETE THE COURSE I WILL PRORATE THE FEES.
You can also Begin with a $500 dollar deposit and receive $100 Credit toward Equipment.
You can also join us for an intro day at the Training and or Flying sites to see first hand how incredible Free Flying is. Free!
I also do refresher courses for those who may have had their wing in the closet for awhile. Price dependent.
See Advanced Instruction link for details on P3,P4 certification and Advanced courses and clinics.
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Your primary training flights will be flown at the Craters in Flagstaff, AZ.
The Craters in Flagstaff is an incredibly awesome place to learn to fly. But it can be a very unpredictable place to train beginners during peak summer months no matter how well you or I understand the weather. So sometimes in June July and August we utilize my permission to train at Point of the Mountain, the Nations best known training hill, to start and or complete P1 & P2 training with students. The money spent on the travel has proved to be well worth the time saved due to perfect training weather conditions there.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THESE COURSES TAKE IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE STUDENT AND THE WEATHER. I've had some students finish their P1 & P2 in a matter of 12 days others months. There's no pressure here, just a SAFE ATMOSPHERE to learn in. DEDICATED FOCUS IS BEST. After your initial flights you will need to STAY PROACTIVE so that there is not a lot of time between our training sessions. It is best to ENTIRELY IMMERSE YOURSELF in the Beginner (P1) and Novice (P2) course.
There will be INSTRUCTOR DEMONSTRATIONS ON EVERYTHING before the student does it and all equipment for training is included during training. I never work with more than two Beginner students AT ANY TIME so it is primarily ONE ON ONE TRAINING. My students will all attest to that. Also, I will not be leaving students to wait or skip their training to do tandem flights with paying non-pilots not in training, this and too many students per instructor are real problems with other instructors and schools. Some of my students, formerly their students, will attest to that.
It is so crucial for you to learn in an ATMOSPHERE OF SAFETY where you CLEARLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING and FEEL COMFORTABLE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS and even more comfortable before you engage in flying.
INDIVIDUALLY PACED MASTERY SKILLS TEACHING helps me to cultivate pilots with the RIGHT ATTITUDE for the sport who the seasoned experts LOVE TO FLY with! Not to mention enables us to HAVE FUN while we get you in the air.
IT IS MY PASSION TO CULTIVATE SAFE, AWARE PILOTS WHO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE WEATHER, THEIR GEAR, THE SPORT,THEIR LIMITATIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD ATTITUDE.
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During these training hill flights I PREPARE YOU to be able to assess conditions and launch sites yourself so you can FLY WITHOUT INSTRUCTOR SUPERVISION at sites like South Mountain and Shaw Butte in Phoenix AZ. I will be there, but with Desert Wind Paragliding, YOU WILL BE GLADLY AND CONFIDENTLY LAUNCHING YOURSELF IN THE APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS WITH EASE.
ALL LESSONS ARE LIFETIME LESSONS. After completion of courses I work with all my students every and all times that I see and fly with them. If you want to take your time and learn with someone who is really passionate about cultivating respectful pilots with a great attitude who can Fly safe AND really well, then here is where you want to learn. There is no "rushing" you through my course nor will I sign your P1, P2, P3 or P4 until you are ready AND have met ALL the USHPA and Desert Wind Requirements. I find that a relaxed individually paced environment produces good attitudes and safe pilots.
My P1/P2 course includes a minimum eight Hrs of thorough ground school on attitude, weather, theory, equipment, aerodynamics, pre-flight, assessing flying sites launches,and landing zones, launch techniques, simulation practice, ground handling skills, pre-flight, care of gear, advanced maneuvers, reserve parachute deployment, FAA regulations, Desert Wind tests and much much more. After ground school, and ample time getting you to know the equipment and fundamentals of flight, simulator practice and some kiting here in Phoenix parks to get you ground handling the wing and feeling confident with your forward launches as well as other launch techniques and the gear,we will be off to different gently sloping training hills for some more kiting, ground handling skills and, when the student is ready, first flight plans and radio supervised flights aiming for solid launches with smooth transitions, smooth flights and good pre-planned approaches and landings. We will do this until you know you are ready. Upon completion of our P2 program the pilot will be able to handle any flying situation they may encounter within the P2 Operating limitations. And you will know how to recognize these conditions accurately.
P2 pilots training that are working on their P3 will include high winds, difficult launch sites, controlled landing's in small landing zones, high wind reverse launches, reserve parachute deployment theory, ridge soaring techniques, thermal flying techniques & beginner thermal flights, collapse recovery techniques, emergency descent techniques, radio procedures, and we'll do it relaxed and with as much fun as possible. You will also have passed all USHGA required tests, all Desert Wind tests and will thoroughly understand the weather and site conditions and will be completely prepared, rated, and allowed to safely fly without instructor supervision within your operating limitations........and let's not forget have a whole lotta' fun doin' it!
So besides your Health Insurance card, long pants, long sleeve shirt, a good pair of eye protection, good ankle support hiking boots, all else you’ll need to begin is the simple desire to fly, a good attitude, and the willingness to follow through and learn. Hope to hear from you soon.
In addition: Almost all my students have also done an "Over the water safety clinic" before they completed their P2 and found the training priceless to their safety and becoming intimate with the dynamics and understanding of their wing in flight.
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As A Desert Wind Paraglider you will be consistently learning about the weather and how to fly safely in it yet as aggressively as you would like to take it.
See advanced Training link for more information
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Attitude is absolutely vital in this sport. If you are taught to disregard certain incidents as unimportant or aren't taught the significance of your attitude, you may never be conscious of the reality of your flying and paragliding will quickly become scary or you wont even notice your flying is.
Make sure to ask your instructor any and everything you need to know to fully understand the dynamics of flight for the conditions you will be in and the terminology surrounding our sport. And make sure not to let anyone or anything rush you into equipment or conditions that you haven’t had appropriate experience and training working up to. Don’t let an instructor tell you what conditions are good for you, ASK. Understand. You are the pilot. You need to understand and respect your operating limitations. That way you won’t be flying in conditions you shouldn’t be and will be able to understand and explain what happens during your flights.
Get an instructor who you can consistently seek out further training with and kites and flies WITH you. And never be afraid to question the instruction you’re being given when something doesn’t look, seem, or feel right. If you’re on launch and you’re not psyched there is a good chance you’re in conditions you shouldn’t fly in. Having an instructor who has you understand what conditions are within your limits so you decide from the very first flight is crucial to you being your own pilot. Learn how to fly with me and you wont need to worry about any of that.
Copyright
Desert Wind Paragliding LLC
Chandler Papas
Advanced Instructor 81661
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DESERT WIND PARAGLIDERS
SOME KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER
You are becoming a pilot in a sport that is completely within Mother Nature’s elements.
Respect that.
When kiting/flying be aware and open to the weathers hints that it’s time to pack it up.
Don’t make it tell you twice.
A good attitude is required not suggested.
Come prepared.
Remaining teachable requires humility and the willingness to persist.
Be present.
Knowing your equipment is ready helps make a confident pilot.
Master your pre-flights.
Remember that even on your first flight you are the pilot in command.
Ask questions.
When you look off launch you should still be psyched.
Practice.
Accepting your skill level makes for awesome flying.
Easy does it, but do it.
Parawaiting and choosing not to kite or fly is part of the sport.
Have patience.
Good habits start now.
And remember,
The better you get, the better you better get.
Now lets’s go have some fun!
Copyright
Desert Wind Paragliding LLC
Chandler Papas
Advanced Instructor 81661
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Desert Wind Paragliding LLC
P1 PARAGLIDING AWARENESS
As a beginner pilot it is key to understand that a lot of the practice that needs done, especially in the beginning, is done in the park or nearby field, throughout the days learning weather, and gaining attitude appreciation. Knowing that this sport will require the proper attitude, which at times takes great respect, patience, and many other virtuous principles, is also a vital component to having a life of fun adventurous flying.
MASTER YOUR PRE FLIGHTS.
With me you will become the type of pilot who frequents the parks/fields, a lot now and always. I will go to the park a lot with you to show you how to get good at inspecting while you lay out, lines and wing. Set up, hook in, hook in forward, backwards, practice launching turning left and right. Practice reverse and forward launches as many times as it takes so that with your eyes looking forward your focus is on feeling the weight in your harness and the subtle pressure so well that if any part of the paraglider isn’t fully deflated YOU will FEEL IT, and everything else will be second nature. Lay out markers as if they were the edge and know at what point you would need to abort by if everything isn’t just right. Practice aborting launches. Then work on kiting and ground handling in stronger conditions. Work on getting the wing above your head than get your eyes back on the horizon and kite. Learn how to kite the wing and not let it kite you. Set up obstacles to kite through and get good at feeling its every move without having to see it. Let it be as though the risers were muscles that extended up to the wings and all of it an extension of your body. This way you will be heavy with the weight shift and not heavy on the brakes.
Finesse is the name of the game. When you let it start to get away from you if you try to over power the wing the wing will win. Wings love weight shift kiting and flying. Practice kiting with big ears in stronger winds, bring it up and fold half strongly and try to keep it in the air. Practice getting really really good at kiting so in the right wind you could walk over, around and on top of obstacles in control.
Practice aborts in stronger winds and know how to deflate the wing in numerous ways. Deflate it with A’s, C’s, D’c, with brake wraps. Experiment so you know for yourself what gets your wing back down on the ground fast for yourself, before it picks you up.
Know what to do if you get dragged before you get dragged.
I will show you first then you will have ample time to practice and MASTER YOUR PRE-FLIGHTS. You doing this on your own will save a bundle of time with me on the training hill, enabling me to get you in the air that much quicker for more flights. I can can teach you a pre-flight, but it is up to you to practice it and know it’s done before you launch. Always remember, you are the pilot in command. If you hear your instructor saying ,..“This cycle is good for you…GO.”.., get a new instructor. Learn to recognize your limitations immediately. This wont be hard at all if you have good instruction, ask questions, and practice. With me you will become ready to fly on your own BEFORE I sign your P2 card.
Don’t let financial insecurity effect your decisions with a sport like paragliding. Accept the fact that it is not a cheap sport and that you might have to save in order to get quality instruction and quality gear. There is plenty to do for the season or two you are saving. There is an incredible amount to be learned by coming to the hill and watching, driving for the pilots flying XC, being a volunteer at comps, going to your local pilots meetings, studying weather, studying weather, studying weather, check out the local instructors, ask the locals who’s the safest, and you will also be helping to teach the pilots who bought cheap used gear, got bad instruction, and fly like it, that there is a better way to go as long as you respect the sport and have patience. It’s that type of attitude that will insure you with a life full of fun flying. I have had numerous students save for 2 seasons plus, now they are flying well with great equipment.
Learn to take a hint from Mother Nature. Don’t make it tell you twice. When you’re kiting and that big gust comes out of nowhere, wrap it up. It’s amazing what you can learn by kiting a lot when you’ve learned to have the right attitude. Plus you get to master your pre-flights, which is one of the most important of them all. And my bet is that you won’t be one of the pilots letting their wing frontal then horseshoe way too close to the hill. You can practice setting up so you’re ready for launch sites. You will know that launch is for launching. Not setting up. You won’t need your instructor to help you off the hill after your P2 in P2 conditions at a P2 site. You will know and respect your limitations and be ready. Not to mention people of all levels will love flying with you because no matter your experience, you will be observing the site rules and never in the way of the other pilots or doing things that makes them scared of and for you.
So, want to get good instruction, ask questions, buy airworthy equipment, learn your limitations and respect them, kite kite kite study weather study weather study weather, so you will always know how awesome paragliding really is? Train with me and join my students who will all tell you, they're really glad they started and continue to train with me.
Copyright
Desert Wind Paragliding LLC
Chandler Papas
Advanced Instructor 81661
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