Ridge soaring is an easy way to rack up some good smooth air time. Santa Barbara has 3 very nice ridge sites including Bates, More Mesa and Wilcox, all of which are cliff launches. It is important to be familiar with the hazards of ridge soaring. According to the DHV, ridge soaring is one of the most dangerous activities in paragliding. We are constantly close to the terrain, often times flying with traffic, weather conditions can change quickly and if we are unaware we could get ourselves into trouble.

Ridge soaring can really build our skills as pilots. Working light lift may help us when we fly in the mountains and are waiting for the thermal to kick off. Flying in windy conditions along the coast will require us to increase our abilities to ground handle our wing. Flying in traffic we help us build confidence in flying with others. Top landings can really build our appriciation for smooth landings and understanding our stall point. There are many lessons to learn at a ridge if you want to fly safely and increase your skills.

Ridge Soaring Clinic

The Ridge Soaring Clinic is $175 and is a one day course. It includes a 10 page booklet, ridge theory, in-air coaching and site guide. We will visit all 3 local ridge sites - More Mesa, Wilcox and Bates.