Häufige Fragen

If you're asking: probably yes. We pick you up where you are – whether you're just starting out, have learnt things the wrong way, or realise after years in the mountains that wind isn't your friend.

At least the A licence or an equivalent qualification – and you should be able to launch and land on your own. Bring: complete, checked equipment with a reserve and a PMR radio; a vario or GPS is recommended. For the camps abroad you need the IPPI card and proof of insurance. The organisers also specify a body weight of 45 to 115 kg; outside that range, by arrangement. Minimum age: the DHV issues the licence from age 16. Young people need written permission from a parent or guardian, or come accompanied by one.

A week of groundhandling, soaring and personal coaching with Kai – no fixed timetable, the wind sets the pace. Usually Kai says the evening before when things are likely to start the next day, or a message with the current plan goes out to the group in the morning. Sometimes we head out early, sometimes mid-morning, sometimes not until midday. Then we're usually out and about somewhere: groundhandling, flying, theory – whatever the wind and the group need right now. Lunch is often on the go, and there's another session in the afternoon or towards evening. In the evening we cook together, sit together, talk through the day and see what's next.

You especially. Thermals aren't wind. Just ask the mountain pilot from our game – he's been dragged across the beach for years.

That's exactly what we're here for. We start on the ground, at your pace – no pressure and no wisecracks. Many who come to us have been through exactly that.

Yes – very happily, in fact. An A wing is more forgiving and ideal for groundhandling. It's not about the wing class, it's about really getting to know your wing. The very wing you fly at home is the right one for training.

As long as the check is valid: yes. We'll look at it together on the ground on the first day. If it behaves in a way that makes learning with it no fun, we'll tell you honestly.

Bring it along. The same applies as to any older wing: the check has to be valid, and on the first day we look at it together on the ground. It's the standard question from “occasional pilots” who want to spare their wing at all times – and that's exactly why they are “occasional pilots”. Your wing is a tool for everyday use: handled properly, it suffers no more at the coast than in the mountains. Our recommendation: train with the gear you go flying with! There's nothing wrong with a slightly older wing or one size smaller for training.

Yes, a reserve is mandatory – with a valid repack interval. It's on the packing list too.

Wing, harness with reserve (repack interval valid), helmet, gloves. Plus: a windproof jacket, long trousers for groundhandling (your knees will thank you), sturdy shoes, sunglasses – the gull wears a pair too –, sunscreen, lip balm and something warm for the evening. By the sea it gets chilly faster than you'd think.

Test Parakites: yes. You get one as soon as we feel you're ready – first on the ground, then in the air. Small paragliders: yes – we bring small training wings for strong-wind groundhandling.

No. We bring test Parakites. We hand them to you first for handling on the ground and then for flying – as soon as we feel you're ready. We decide that together with you, not your ambition.

We provide small training wings and test Parakites. Your own flying gear – wing, harness, reserve, helmet – you bring yourself. As a rule: you learn the most with your own equipment.

Then it's plan B: wing know-how, theory, groundhandling in light wind or a trip to an alternative spot. Which ones those are is on each camp page. Kai is also a yoga teacher, by the way – just saying.

Yes. Respect for wind is a good starting point – that's exactly what we're about. We build it up in stages: first on the ground, in the wind you can handle – then more. If you can control your wing on the ground at 30 km/h, you'll stay relaxed in the air at 20 km/h. And if it gets too much, we'll tell you before you notice.

Kai runs the training; you book with the organiser of the respective date – depending on the date, that's Papillon Paragliding, Heli Schrempf or the flying school Fly Hohe Wand. The organiser is listed right next to the date. Price, what's included and travel terms are with the organiser.

Usually included: supervision by the flight instructors with radio, daily meteo briefings, theory, video analysis and small training wings for groundhandling. Not included: accommodation, meals, travel and local transport. The binding list is with the organiser of your date.

So Kai can get in touch with you before your week – about equipment and level, say, or when the wind is on its way. Name, email and phone are optional; you can also go straight on to the organiser. You can opt in to or out of the WhatsApp community separately.

Then the travel terms of the organiser you booked with apply. Let us know anyway – we're glad if the place helps someone else. Travel cancellation insurance and travel health insurance are worth having.

If there's space: yes. Just drop us a line and we'll tell you honestly whether it works.

Lanzarote: yes – accommodation isn't part of the training booking with the organiser. You book your room at Casa La Costa, our winter base, separately and directly with Lisa: pick one in the room overview and enquire. All other camps: yes, you book your accommodation yourself. But we're happy to tell you where we stay and what has worked well. The recommendations are under “Where to sleep?” and on every camp page.

There are alternatives at Casa La Costa: a double room to yourself, the studio with its own kitchen or a bed in the four-bed room. The room overview shows what's free in your week. You'll find other places to stay where we stay ourselves under “Where to sleep?”.

That's on every camp page under “Getting there”. In short: Lanzarote by plane, the North Sea camps best by car – your wing and harness want to come along too.

Not necessarily: you'll be picked up from Arrecife airport (ACE) by arrangement. With a hire car you're more flexible – for drives to the flying sites and for days off. Expect around €150 per week. We sort out car sharing beforehand in the WhatsApp group.

On Lanzarote, not on your own: we go shopping together and cook together. How living together works there is in the next question.

On Lanzarote we're out and about as a community: we cook together, shop together and sit together in the evenings. That's as much a part of the camp as the wind. If you don't feel like taking part in community life, you're probably in the wrong place there.

Yes – we love companion gulls! There's plenty of beach, café and spectating everywhere. Just plan the accommodation for two.

The requirement for guiding is an SPT week with us – that's how we know you and your flying. You also need a valid licence (A or B licence, IPPI 4 or 5 or equivalent) and third-party liability insurance that's valid in Spain. We ask for your licence number when you book, and Lisa checks it before confirming. [Kai: Gastflieger-Regeln auf den Kanaren, Vereinsgebühren]

On a guiding week, Kai shows you the island's flying sites, briefs you on the terrain and flies with you – he doesn't train you and doesn't correct you over the radio. You fly on your own responsibility. That's why guiding is only for pilots who have already done an SPT week with us. If you want to learn groundhandling, launch technique or soaring, an SPT week is the place for you.

Then we drive to where it is – around the island there's a site for almost every wind direction. If nothing works at all, it's a no-fly day: Timanfaya, La Graciosa, beach. There's no guarantee of flying days. [Kai: Ausfallregel, Mindestteilnehmerzahl]

On the guiding page you choose your week and send a binding request – with your name, address, licence number and your SPT week with us. Lisa checks your details and confirms by email within two days – only then is your place fixed. The invoice and payment details come with the confirmation. [Lisa: Anzahlung, Fälligkeit, Storno]

Rule of thumb: number of days plus two. The two extra pairs are for the day you end up in the wet while groundhandling – and that happens. Sand gets everywhere anyway, no matter how many socks you pack.

Honestly? We'll know in February. We can tell you what it's usually like – but not what it'll be like in your week. Pack for everything between sunscreen and windproof jacket. Most winters there's one week with too much wind to fly – or even too much to train with your own wing. In recent years that was sometimes in November, sometimes in December, January or February. Otherwise, February on Lanzarote is usually already spring.

No, we only go there every winter for the coffee. – Joking aside: just ask the Famara cliff. It's been standing there a few million years longer than we have and is just waiting for you to soar along it.

No. The wind takes care of that job, and thoroughly.

Yes. That's why we go there.

Yes. And later in your harness, your car and your toothbrush too.

Yes. Kai doesn't fit in your harness with you.

Then we get wet. Or we drink coffee and talk about wing reactions. Both move you forward.

No. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't read our website. We plan the camps where and when the chances are best – the rest we handle flexibly.

Yes, yes and yes. Lanzarote, Wales, Denmark and the Netherlands aren't expeditions. Whatever you've forgotten, you can almost always buy locally – except your wing.