2008 Paragliding Trip Program
www.paraglidingtrips.com
2007 Paragliding Trip Program
Dates:
First Week-Saturday, November 17th (arrival) to Sunday, November 25th (departure) – (P-2 to P-4 level)
Second Week- Sunday, November 25th (arrival) to Monday, December 3rd (departure) – (P-3 to P-4 level)
Organizers:
Atlanta Paragliding Enterprises & Wallowa Paragliding
Tour Leaders:
Todd Weigand, Luis Rosenkjer
Guaranteed flyable days!!!:
Refunds available if we can’t get you airborne!
Tour Descriptions:
First Week-
This nine day long tour in Iquique, Chile will be focused on novice to advanced level pilots who would like to log some airtime and work on thermaling, launching and kiting skills. Iquique and the surrounding flying sites are superb training grounds for less experienced pilots but will also satisfy the advanced level pilot who would like to improve overall skills. We will be flying when conditions are smoother in the mornings and evenings, and will provide assistance and coaching at launch and landing sites. Less experienced pilots will be able to log many hours of airtime plus practice in the moderate wind conditions at the dunes. More advanced pilots will be able to fly until they are exhausted or hungry! The conditions are excellent for fine tuning thermaling skills, flying small out and return XC flights, working on top landing skills as well as perfecting your kiting skills at the world famous Palo Buque flying site!
Second Week-
We will be continuing our tour in Iquique and Northern Chile and will be focusing on intermediate to advanced level pilots who are seeking airtime and cross country miles! We will be flying in Iquique, Palo Buque, Patillos, Chipana and possibly even Cabo Paquica depending on pilot level. Flights will be focused on distance and will be led by Luis and Todd. Pilots will be able to fly in the thermal/dynamic conditions along the coastal range for many miles and will be able to log XC flights every day. Flights up to 120 miles are possible. Pilots for this week should have experience in strong thermal conditions and turbulence. If intermediate pilots would like to fly their first cross country flights then we recommend they attend the first week tour to build up their skills and then continue into the second week for XC flying. You will have to pace yourself on this tour because you may find yourself flying 5-6 hours per day if desired! Iquique is probably the most consistent flying site in the world, and we will be flying everyday!
Commentaries:
Iquique is located in the northern part of Chile along the Pacific Ocean, 120 miles south of the Peruvian border. The city has a population of 300.000 and is thriving due to the duty free zone in this northern part of Chile. This area is also known as the Atacama Desert, which is why the flying conditions are so consistent. It NEVER RAINS, and the wind is always coming from the Pacific Ocean generating incredible lift along the 125 mile range between Iquique and Tocopilla. The ridge varies between 1,500 and 4,000 feet altitude and XC flights can be done in both directions quite easily. In November, the breeze normally starts blowing at 10 AM, and lift lasts until 7 PM. There are several takeoffs near Iquique and all of them allow pilots to reach beach landings while flying above the city and the dunes. There are many other launches to the South.
Palo Buque, a site just outside of Iquique, became famous when the SAT Team shot their first video here. The launch is at the “bottom” of a 3,000 foot sand ridge! Yes, depending on the wind, you only need to kite your glider up 30 feet or so and then you can soar all the way up to the top of the dune to start an XC flight back to Iquique, practice top landing, ski in the sand, or just enjoy the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean!
Patillos is another site that deserves to be mentioned. This site allows pilots to fly a 35 mile XC flight back to Iquique to land at the Cavancha Beach next to the Choza Bamboo restaurant and bar! The thermal/dynamic flying conditions in Iquique are so consistent at this time of the year that this flight is possible almost everyday! After a hard day of flying it doesn’t get much better then to dine out at one of Iquique’s many restaurants to feast on Chile’s well known sea food and pisco sour.
Accommodations will be in two person bedrooms at four star hotels. Transportation to the unlimited restaurants in Iquique will also be available during the evenings.
PRICES, CONDITIONS AND PAYMENT DETAILS:
The price includes:
• Accommodation in double room at 4 star hotels with breakfast included
• Transfers from and to the Airport
• Transport to and from all flying sites
• Daily weather updates
• Site information and flying tips
• Launching supervision
• Radio communication with guides and drivers during flights
• Flight retrieval back to launch site
• Flight retrievals
• Free DVD movie of the trip
Prices:
• First week $ 1,550
• Second week $ 1,800
• Per day rate any week $ 280
• Extra cost for single room per night $ 30
Refunds:
We are so confident with this site’s reliability at this time of the year, that we will refund each grounded pilot $ 250 per day if 50 % of the group including us does not fly due to weather conditions.
Payment options:
For either partial or total advance payment the following range of discounts will be applied proportionally to the received amount.
Before July 10, 2007 20 %
Before August 10, 2007 10 %
Late bookings after October 10, 2007 add 10 %
We accept cash, check or credit cards
Requirements:
To have completed P2 certification, VHF radio, DHV certified equipment, reserve parachute and helmet.
Booking or questions:
Atlanta Paragliding www.atlantaparagliding.com Phone 706-336-8499
Luis Rosenkjer luis@atlantaparagliding.com Phone 404-931-3793
Todd Weigand wallowaparagliding@gmail.com Phone 541-398-1138
Tour and Guide Information:
Luis Rosenkjer- -Advanced USHGA Instructor
-Multiple Argentinean National Champion
-Argentina Open Distance record holder- 158 miles
-16 years of guiding experience in Argentina, Chile, and France
Todd Weigand- -USHGA Instructor
-Iquique International Open Champion- 2005
-Seasonal Iquique commercial tandem pilot and guide- 2001-06
-Chilean National Distance co record holder- 120 miles
