"On dirait le Sud" Paragliding Course 2023

"On dirait le Sud" Paragliding Course 2023

Here's a short recap of this 3-day traveling paragliding "trip" course, moving through the Trièves, Dévoluy, Champsaur ranges, and the Ubaye valley... The goal of this Southern course is to introduce independent pilots (Initial Certificate level if possible) to new paragliding sites, discovering sites in the South where possible, but also elsewhere if the weather forces us to. The Vosges, the Massif Central... could be possible destinations for this course.https://youtu.be/ruap_T4XCikPersonal progression in piloting, independence, discovering new flying sites, first thermals, soaring... The program is varied, and flying enjoyment is the driving force behind this whole course.The two nights and meals are spent together at locations chosen based on the destination, and therefore the weather.

Day 1 of the course:

Setting off from Talloires on Friday morning, the 7 pilots enrolled in this course, together with their two instructors Cédric and Robin, hit the road for 3 days of paragliding in the South of the French Alps. A first stop at the Courtet flying site in the Trièves after just a few hours' drive: 2 flights for all pilots. After waiting for the launch slope to catch the sun and for the katabatic breeze to stop (tailwind at launch), the pilots took off and did a few pitch and ear exercises to get to know each other and fine-tune everyone's piloting, then a few turns in small thermals to try to slow the descent on the second flight.A good hour's drive later, we arrived at the Aspres sur Buëch site. There, a 15-20 km/h breeze awaited us at launch, perfect for dynamic (soaring) flight in laminar (not very turbulent) conditions, with also a few big, wide thermals for those who managed to core a few turns in them. Enough for all the pilots to enjoy 1 to 1h30 of flight before reaching the landing at nightfall. What a flight!!A bit more driving that day to reach our accommodation, chosen two days earlier: the "Centre de Vacances de la Ville d'Aubagne" holiday center in Saint Vincent les Forts. Simple accommodation but very quiet and well located for our program.[caption id="attachment_7285" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Courtet[/caption][caption id="attachment_7286" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Aspres sur Buëch[/caption]The flight tracks from Courtet and Aspres are here.

Day 2 of the course:

After an evening together at a restaurant, and a good night's rest, we decided with the pilots not to drive too much that day and to focus on nearby sites.By 11am we were set up at the Mont Colombis launch, heading toward Gap above the Durance. A few thermals for some on the east face, a few more in-flight exercises, then a really nice picnic by the Durance.[caption id="attachment_7287" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Mont Colombis[/caption]Back near St Vincent les Forts in the early afternoon, we then made use of the Montclar resort's ski lifts to reach the launch on the ski resort's plateau. A few more thermals for some pilots, who stayed airborne for 45 minutes!Another chairlift ride up next, and we even decided to go up even higher, to the Fort de Dormillouse, for a peaceful flight in the setting light. A superb hike shared with much of the group, with a golden eagle kind enough to give us a lovely thermal demonstration right by the trail! [caption id="attachment_7288" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Dormillouse[/caption]The flight tracks from Colombis and Montclar are here.A long, peaceful glide later, we all met up at the St Vincent les Forts launch to enjoy the sunset over a well earned beer![caption id="attachment_7329" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Saint Vincent les Forts[/caption]One more evening at the excellent restaurant from the night before, and another night's rest in Saint Vincent les Forts.

Day 3 of the course:

For the last day, we started heading back north, and chose to do a short flight with some in-flight exercises from Chorges.[caption id="attachment_7289" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Chorges[/caption] We then headed toward the Champsaur, to the Orcières Merlettes flying site on the southern edge of the Ecrins massif.[caption id="attachment_7290" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Orcières[/caption]A first discovery flight of the site for some, with a breeze already in place and cumulus clouds high above the Ecrins terrain. A few pilots managed to work a bit of thermal on this flight, but without managing to stay airborne for very long.A second flight that we hoped would have more thermals, but the breeze was a bit too present and made it too hard to climb out from the site. After struggling to stay airborne a bit longer, we all ended up at the landing. As we headed back, we spotted some wings very high in the Ecrins sky before leaving the Orcières valley. Conditions were probably very good taking off even higher, or deeper into the massif (Vallouise, perhaps?). Maybe next time!Memories, learning, and some great moments shared, this Southern course was a fine success on every front, with incredibly good weather.Thanks to all the participants: Diane, Félix, Cédric, Laurent, Aureliano, Jean-Michel, and Jean-Charles!See you again next season, again for a Southern course, but not only that... our course schedule for the 2024 season can be found here. Course dates are still being added to the schedule, stay tuned or contact us to find out more.A short video edit is in progress and will be added to this page as soon as possible. Stay tuned...Robin and Cédric