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Until now, taking up paragliding meant choosing between learning at a school in the UK and dealing with the variable (and often frustrating !) weather, or learning at a foreign school with a different training system and often a different language.

SunSoar Paragliding is now leading the way by offering BHPA courses at what is arguably the best training site in Europe; the Grand Dune de Pyla in southwest France. The Dune offers us steady teaching conditions and the area is a fantastic holiday destination.

Why do it in France?
The UK has some of the best flying and teaching sites in the world. However, the weather patterns can make attaining a BHPA rating a drawn out and frustrating procedure with blown out days interrupting steady progress through the syllabus. By running courses in the very reliable conditions found in this area of France, we can offer a fastrack approach to attaining your rating, and having a great holiday to boot ! We pick you up in our minibus from the airport, teach you to fly in a great place and drop you back again at the end of the week.

Complete Beginners
If you have never touched a paraglider before, this is the perfect opportunity to take your first steps into the air in a pleasant and safe environment. One week at the Dune, comprising 6 possible days tuition should complete your EP and get you started with some of the CP tasks. If you want to complete the rest of your course abroad we thoroughly recommend South Cyprus for reliable soaring conditions.

The Dune
Because of its orientation and low altitude, the Dune offers extremely reliable teaching conditions. During the warmer months, the sea breeze effect switches on at around 11am to midday and allows a flyable window until late afternoon. Because our accommodation is literally on the flying site, we can make the most of the flying window and make swift progress through the syllabus.

The Courses
We offer complete beginners’ courses (Elementary Pilot Certificate), and continuation training for those already part-way through the EPC syllabus. Although the Dune can be perfect for soaring, our experience is that it gets very crowded, so much so that we consider teaching soaring here to be too dangerous. However, as a qualified pilot you will enjoy soaring the Dune and so it is a good place for a qualified pilot to accompany a friend or partner who is on one of our courses. Even if you did not start with us we can still train you, the Dunes offer the perfect conditions for starting (or restarting) your flying career. We always have at least two instructors available and all the latest equipment that you would expect back in the UK.

All our courses are fully BHPA ratified.

The Base
Arcachon, about 1 hour from Bordeaux, is an ancient port built around a sheltered harbour. It's a busy fishing port as well as having a huge marina for yachts and other pleasure craft. It's a busy tourist location and thus has more than it's fair share of restaurants and other amenities. The Dune is a few miles from Arcachon and all along the back of the Dune are campsites with very nice mobile homes. The mobile homes offer 6 person accommodation and we allow one of these for two pilots, so you have your own bedroom. The campsite is a very relaxing place, set in the shade of a pine forest, and has a pool, shop and restaurant. Best of all, its only a 5 minute walk to take-off!

Other Activities
As well as the busy and attractive port of Arcachon, the surrounding area has many other attractions. Of course there is the beach and the sea, and the dune is backed by extensive pine forests which offer shade from the heat of the day and pleasant walks along it's trails. Lake Biscarosse is only a short drive away and offers good watersports such as windsurfing or kitesurfing. In between flying, or when conditions do not allow, we take time to visit the area and make the most of your stay.
In the evenings we have the choice of many good restaurants or we can stay at the base and cook individually or perhaps get together for a barbeque.

Non-Flyers
This holiday is ideal for non-flyers as we have self contained accommodation and all amenities on site. We would normally allocate one mobile home per family. The area is a popular holiday destination with the usual amenities and the flying takes place practically within sight of the accommodation. Pilots are encouraged to bring their families to join in the fun.

What if the Weather is Bad ?
We have flown extensively in different places around the world and one thing we have learnt above all others is that you can never guarantee the weather ! We try to be realistic about what is achievable in the time allotted and have days in hand should one or more be unsuitable. Unfortunately we cannot gaurantee that you complete the course although the venue and season is chosen to offer the best possible chance. If a day is not flyable, we do make the most of the holiday by finding interesting alternative activities or just enjoying the surroundings with a beer (or two!). SunSoar Paragliding will happily continue your training in the UK, although we may have to make a charge for this.

Take a look at the feedback we have had from previous customers here.

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Thanks to John Brettoner, Pete Logan, Wayne & Julie Powell for the photos.