Intro Session

Believe it or not, it's possible to come out to our 'Intro Session' with ZERO knowledge of hang gliding or flying in general and we will SAFELY get your feet off the ground. We use a modified scooter to tow you and a trainer glider just a few feet off of the ground. It's all done with certified instructors and calm conditions (next to no wind) - if you can jump off of a bench, you can do this! These intro sessions are perfect if you want to try it first before committing to our complete Certification Courses and they are also a great social activity to bring a group out.

Are there size & weight restrictions?

There are different sized gliders for pilots of all sizes. For the Intro Sessions, the gliders we use have the widest weight-range of any glider. The pilot needs to be within 100 and 235 pounds.

Where can I see some more pictures of the scooter-tow system you use?

See here. these aren't necessarily our scooter-tow winch but are various winches used in other areas

Where can I see some videos of scooter towing?

There is a great video of Scooter Towing here. It's more suited to convincing schools to use the scooter-tow method but it's a great overview for any potential pilot/student.

....and YouTube of course! :)

This is a student after completing a full-course. You wouldn't get close that height on your first day out.

How many flights do I get?

It varies...it's pretty weather dependent. We try to get each student pilot at least 5 flights and we can usually pick the proper days that we know the weather will cooperate.

We don't offer any refunds, even if the weather doesn't cooperate. But any unused flights can be used up in the future. If you register for a session and don't cancel within 24 hours and we can't fill the spot, no refund will be given. If you cancel before 24 hours of the session, you can rebook for any other session.

When do you do Intro Sessions?

Check the calendar as we can usually schedule these well enough ahead of time. Space is usually limited so you usually need to Register and pre-pay for a session. We want to ensure those that come out enough turns on the glider before conditions change.

Be sure to subscribe to our Intro-Session Notifications for any last-minute openings we have.

How do you get airborne on flat ground?

We use a 'scooter-tow' which is the industry standard method of instruction to introduce people to getting in the air...even with no prior instruction.

How long are the sessions?

Normal session are 3-4 hours including briefing.

We are limited usually by the wind. Once the wind picks up, it becomes less safe to tow first-timers so we are keen to start as early as we can. We can also do evening courses once the winds die down (if they do) but forecasting when and if the winds die down isn't easy.

But if you have enjoyed your intro session, you can stick around and go for a tandem flight!

What do I have to know ahead of time?

Not much really. We design the Intro Session to be as easy as possible for anyone to pop out and experience. It's meant to be a social thing for groups to come out and explore what modern hang gliding is all about.

We start with a briefing on how hang gliders work and an overview of the equipment we'll be using - everything from the glider, harness & helmet to the scooter winch that will get you airborne. We'll then spend the rest of the session on the glider taking tows and getting you off the ground and towards living your dreams of free-flying.

How high do we get?

Since this is a first-day introduction with no prior experience, you'll never get higher than your willing to jump from...so no higher than 5 or 6 feet. And with the glider above you, it'd be like jumping from a picnic table at worst. This is the way we keep risks to you to a minimum.

What do I need to bring/wear?

You need to bring:

sturdy shoes, preferably hiking boots
sunscreen
water & food
payment (exact cash on location or prepay with Paypal)
jacket - even in the summer it gets cool up at altitude...at least bring a wind-breaker to keep the wind off of your arms

We provide:

all the gear - helmet, harness, glider, etc
all the fun you can handle!

Instinct Windsports