BEGINNERS COURSE
LEARN TO PARAGLIDE WITH OUR 10 DAY BEGINNER COURSE IN THE STUNNING ATACAMA DESERT
BEGINNER COURSE
Our 10-day intensive course is for absolute beginners or those in need of a refresher. The hands-on approach to the course will have you taking your first solo flight within the first three days.
NEXT COURSES
SEPTEMBER 2024 (Dates coming soon)
PRICES FROM
Course Only $2200 (USD)
Course and Kit Bundle $5900 (USD)
Course Overview
Our beginner course caters to those starting from zero or pilots who have been out the game for a while and are in need of a refresher. Across the 9 days, you will learn to take-off, land, ground handle and thermal, whilst being under radio guidance the whole time. The course includes tuition and a beginner flying kit from Gin Gliders when you purchase our course and kit bundle together - everything you need to get started.
The beginner course starts with learning how to kite the wing in Palo Buque. The vast desert sand and consistent, yet mellow winds are perfect to master the basics. Once you can keep the wing steadily above your head, you're ready to for your first few flights over the small Palo Buque ridge. Over the next few days, you will gain confidence as you fly for longer. Finally, you will be ready to fly from Alto Hospicio and over the city of Iquique to land on the beach.
Ask us about our course and beginner kit bundle for our best deal for you to start paragliding
Your Instuctor
Meet Zion, your instructor of 8-Years who will be guiding you in the air and on the ground as you learn to fly in the beautiful South Pacific coast of Costa Rica
ZION SUSANNO
Owner and Founder of Zion Paragliding, APPI Paragliding Instructor and APPI Pro Tandem Instructor
XC and Paragliding World Cup Pilot
-
Zion has been flying since the age of 15, giving him a total of 12 years flying, over 10,000 flying hours and has flown with more than 2000 passengers in tandem. Zion is a qualified instructor through APPI, which offers the highest standard of instructor training international. As an instructor and a Costa Rican, you are in the best hands when it comes to local flying knowledge combined with expertise for teaching and in-air guidance. Outside of teaching and flying tandems, Zion enjoys XC paragliding, competing and hike and fly missions - what can we say except the guy loves to fly and that’s why he’s the World record holder for the fastest ground speed on a paraglider, and longest distance and triangle in Central America.
-
Owner and founder of Zion Paragliding
APPI Paragliding Instructor
APPI Pro Tandem Instructor
Number 1 ranked pilot in Costa Rica
First Aider
Bilingual in Spanish and English
Second to none local knowledge of flying sites and weather
Beginner Course Itinerary
After 6 years of teaching with USHPA, Zion has moved on to develop his own teaching syllabus, The Zion Paragliding Method. The syllabus covers everything and more found in the likes of USHPA, HPAC and APPI, taking you from beginner to novice pilot and a little extra. Each student will receive their own copy of the Zion Paragliding Method, Beginner Course Handbook, something we have worked on over many years to produce a well-rounded and high quality teaching system.
Days 1-3:
Start your paragliding course in the famous site of Palo Buque with large open areas and dunes, perfect for practising kiting and easy landings on your first flights.
How to set up for flying
Caring for your wing
Kiting the wing
Launching and landing
First short flights a few meters off the ground
Day 4-6:
The course will introduce longer flights with students taking off for the first time from the bigger mountain of Alto Hospicio, where you learn the basics of thermalling.
Morning full instructional solo flights from Alto Hospicio
Beach landing with spot landing and final glide guidance
Afternoon kiting and ridge soaring in Palo Buque
Theory lessons covering wing safety, controlling the wing and basic thermalling
Day 7-10:
Still with the same morning and afternoon routine, it’s time to show us what you’ve learnt and demonstrate that you are ready to become a your own novice pilot.
Daily flights from varying launches with some guidance and tuition but always under observation – it’s time to put into practice what you’ve learnt
Advanced kiting practice with obstacle courses and additional techniques
Advanced theory on thermalling and wing safety
Paragliding theory and practical tests
Course Details
What’s Included
10 days of full tuition
Learn how to paraglide with the Zion Paragliding Method
Radio guidance in flight, take-off and landing
Zion Paragliding Beginner Course Handbook
Transport from meeting place every day to the take-ff
Retrieve from the landing zone
Daily practical and theory lessons, and question time
End-of-day group debrief
Advice on local accommodation and organising your trip to join the course
What You Need
Paragliding equipment including certified paraglider, reserve parachute and helmet. Purchase your beginner kit through us with out course and kit bundle deal. Enquire Now
Unlocked VHF radio – we recommend the Yaesu FT-65
Basic fitness level – the ability to sustain a 15-minute power walk
Comfortable and sturdy shoes to withstand kiting and running
Travel medical insurance covering paragliding - find out more
Not Included
Travel to the course
Accommodation
Transport/transfers to or from the airport
Food and drink
About Iquique
Zion Paragliding has been venturing to Iquique since 2014 to run beginner and advanced paragliding courses. We promise a course filled with fun and adventure and that’s why we work with local pilot and close friend Christian, with over 25 years of flying experience. Combined with Zion’s teaching expertise and Christian’s local knowledge our flying course maximises air time. As well as excellent flying, we have done the legwork to find the best food spots and places to stay so you can focus on flying. Let us be your guides in the air and on the ground in Iquique.
Accommodation
There’s plenty of options of where to stay in Iquique, from hostels, hotels to airbnb apartments.
Our favourite place to stay is in the Backpacker’s Hostel on Cavancha Beach. The hostel has shared dorms and private rooms, so there’s something to suit all pilots and budgets. We love staying here for their friendly atmosphere, outside barbecue and the opportunity to meat many other pilots.
This home style hostel is perfect for those wanting more space and privacy. The rooms are newly refurbished and the location is just walking distance from one of our landings, Playa Cavancha.
If a hotel is more your style then we recommend this place. Offering breakfast, stunning views from the rooftop swimming pool and all your other hotel amenities to keep you comfortable on your trip.
The Holiday Inn Express, offers familiarity for those needing it away from home. The Holiday Inn is centrally located on Playa Brava near to restaurants, beach front, parks and most importantly one of the main landing zones.
Course and Kit Bundle
Get in the air with our great value course and kit bundle for only $5900
Reach your full potential in your beginner course with our course and kit bundle, featuring the latest equipment and technology advancements in the sport from Gin Gliders. All the equipment in the bundle is suitable for beginners with your safety and comfort in mind. When purchasing our beginner course and kit together you save $2000 on the total cost of our course and kit if you were to buy it separately.
WHAT'S IN THE BUNDLE
THE COURSE
Nine day Beginners Course
$2200 Value
THE KIT
Gin Calypso Paragliding Wing
Gin Gingo 4 or Airlite 5 Harness
Gin G-Lite Reserve Parachute
Gin Classic Lite Rucksack or X-Lite Rucksack
Gin Buff
2 x Harness Carabiners
1 x Rescue Carabiner
Glider Inner Bag and Strap
Repair Kit
Gin Stickers
$5700 Value
More details about the selected equipment can be found at www.gingliders.com
Gin Calypso
Gin Airlite 4
Gin G-Wrap Buff
Gin GLite
EnROl Here
Iquique BEGINNER COURSE
Enrol on our 10-day intensive beginners course in Iquique, Chile using the form below. Not ready to reserve your space yet? Ask us any questions you have regarding the course and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve landed
Discover More About Iquique
THE BEST XC FLYING FOR BEGINNERS AND STUNNING VIEWS WHERE THE DESERT MEETS THE OCEAN