Paragliding Hampshire

We mostly fly on the South Downs near Petersfield, Hampshire. Occasionally we fly on the coast near Weymouth or Swanage.

You don’t need to be an athlete, but a moderate level of fitness is helpful. You need to weigh between 42kg and 110kg (7 to 17 stone). You should be capable of running for 30 seconds, and be able to balance and jump. If in doubt, call us for advice.

There is no legal minimum age for tandem paragliding, but the passenger needs to be able to follow simple instructions, and give their consent to take part in a risky sport. For this reason, we put an age limit of nine years old.

Paragliding is a high risk sport – insurers tend to put it in the same category as off-piste skiing or white water rafting. We do everything reasonable to reduce the risk: we are trained and inspected by our national association (the BHPA), our equipment is carefully inspected, and we have many years of experience. But we cannot reduce the risk to zero – so you should only take part if the joy of flight is worth the risk for you.

It all depends on the weather: we need no rain, and light wind from the right direction. The forecast gives us a good idea a few days in advance, and the evening before we can be 90% sure. Once you've paid online, we ask you to contact us with three dates when you'd like to fly. We'll be in touch the night before each date to tell you if the weather is good. In addition, we may contact you if the weather forecast is good and we're looking for more passengers.

Grippy shoes, ideally with ankle support. A wind proof jacket and long trousers. The temperature at altitude is a bit cooler, so wear an extra layer. In winter you’ll need gloves and a scarf.