Welcome adventure seekers! This is the ultimate adventure!

I am a free flight pg pilot as well as a ppg pilot and kite surfer. I would like to organize a group in this area to share the experience of pg, ppg and kite surfing! Let's get a group going!!

Ok, bottom line- Kite surfing takes wind of 10-25mph, ppg takes wind of less than 10mpg....hummm when the kitesurfers are sitting on the beach we can fly! When the PPG pilots can't fly, we can kitesurf!!

If you want to go on an exotic trip, you can't take your motor on the airplane!! But you can take your kitesurfing equipment and or you free flight equipment.

Want to fly often: PPG is the only solution, we fly locally. kitesurfing and ppg is at the beach and pg is long distance........

Who should Join: I hope we can get a few experienced pg or PPG pilots and kite surfers to join and also find interested beginnners who will go and get training. Pg has been described as "dreaming awake." If you have ever dreamed of flying pg and ppg is flying in the most "pure form." Typically anyone with the strong desire to push themselves to be able to experience what only a few people on earth will ever know should consider exploring these sports. I am a barefoot water skier, snow skier, diver, etc. and can honestly tell you that pg, ppg and kitesurfing is "above all !!"

Are you afraid of heights? This shouldn't be a reason to not paraglide. It may take some extra time, going at your own pace, but a good instructor will work with your fear incrementally- first 5' then 10' then 50'. After about 25 flights you should be able to fly a mountain of 2,000' with minimal fear. Discuss your fear levels with your instructor and go slow- at your own pace. Remember- we take off from the ground. Many paragliders with decades of experience would never consider sky diving!! (Me too)

Free flight paragliding in the US is governed by the US Hangliding and Paragliding Association and powered paragliding is governed by the US Powered Paragliding Association WE WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THE GUIDLELINES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. They are in place to assure the utmost safety of all pilots. Please understand that I AM NOT AN INSTRUCTOR AND WILL NOT INSTRUCT, just a fellow pilot who will share knowledge. I have been a student at three schools and can share experiences and offer suggestions to help you go and get excellent training. The schools that I have trained with have NEVER had an accident with a student and the instructors have had 10 to 30 years of experience without a personal accident! Paragliding has risks but like many sports is as safe as "you the pilot" make it. No USHPA or USPPA certified school is going to turn you loose without your complete knowledge of how to participate in the sport with maximum safety. What you do after training and your "attitude" will ultimately determine how safe you as a pilot are.

Does your age matter? Paraglider pilots and kitesurfers range in age from 10 to 70. A lot of pilots start in their 60's. Think this is just for guys? Check out Tammy Bowles http://www.southernskies.net or Kari Castle http://www.karicastle.com/index.htm

What can we do? Locally I kite and fly my powered paraglider at Horseshoe farms Park or at the beach, and free fly at Tater Hill in Boone. There are also some free flying sites in the Roanoke area (have not done that yet) We can do the dunes at Kitty Hawk (if you are a P-1). I am going to Iquiqui Chile in Nov. You can turn vac trips into paragliding kitesurfing vacations almost anywhere the world.

If this sounds like fun, come to a meetup, gather information or take an introductory day or a tandem flight at a flight school! Then you can decide to continue or not. Local schools for powered paragliding call Chris Bowls at Southern Skies, for free flight call Louis Rosenkjer at Atlanta Paragliding (links below)

We can have meetup's to discuss pg, ppg, or kitesurfing and answer questions or you can join me (I will post when I am going) at Horseshoe Farms for PPG, long distance trips or kitesurfing. If you have questions, email me, we can set up a phone call to discuss.

BTW: Paragliding and kitesurfing events are VERY weather dependent, so... most events are last minute (sorry) but its no fun to get there and not be able to fly, kite or do anything.

I could go on an on, but it is better to send you to links that explain it all. Please spend some time on these sites and drill down to get an understanding of the sport, training, and equipment required:
http://www.ushpa.aero/ (Free Flight)
http://www.usppa.org/ (Powered Paragliding)
http://www.southernskies.net/ (Powered Paragliding)
http://www.atlantaparagliding.com/ (Free Flight paragliding)
http://www.paraglidingtrips.com/iquique/tour.html (long distance pg trip)
http://flytaterhill.com/Home.html (local pg flying)
http://www.flytorrey.com/cms/ (pg school in San Diego)