Thermalling in a paraglider is an amazing experience. It is awesome to connect with lifting air and climb high into the sky. On the right day we can climb in lift between 500 and 2000 feet per minute. What a powerful force thermals can be.

Thermals are an invisible entity and can be illusive to find and hold on to. An experienced thermal pilot can generally identify the best place to find lift, and upon arriving at that spot, can connect and climb quickly into the sky.

How do you learn to thermal? Practice, practice, practice. It is a lifetime pursuit of understanding when and where the thermals will be and how best to use them. Having said that, having good insight into the subject will greatly speed up your learning curve.

Thermal Clinic
Some of the subjects we will cover will include:
• Flying with confidence
• Identify how, when, and where thermals form
• Identify consistent trigger points
• Understand weather and how it relates to thermal production
• Formulating a flight plan
• Choosing the right time to launch
• Identifying thermals in the air and knowing which way to turn
• Making sense of the jostling
• Using a vario and maximizing its potential
• Mapping a thermal
• Finding the core of the thermal
• Dealing with turbulence
• What to do when you lose the lift
• Landing in thermic air

2 Day Course Includes:
• 20 page thermal booklet
• Thermal theory
• Looking at launch and the landing zones
• Rides to launch
• Retrieve
• In-air coaching
• Tandem flights are a possibility

The cost for the 2 day thermal course is $275. Discounts available for parties of 2 or more, call 805-403-5848 or e-mail for details.