HILL CONVERSION COURSE - FRANCE
This letter will give you some further details about how to get here, when to arrive, and what to expect. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.
Welcome to the Paragliding Course 6 - 13 June.
Our base for the course is Allez Up – a Gite near Ribers, which is at the base of le Charbre – one of the best flying sites in Europe.
HOW TO GET HERE
Most students elect to fly by low cost airline. The nearest airport is Marseille (1 hour away – good flights from Birmingham with Ryanair and from Gatwick with Easyjet tho there may be more airlines flying to Marseille during these summer months), followed by Nimes & Grenoble (2 hours drive) and then Nice (3 hours drive).
There is good public transport from Marseille, but not so good from the others. For more details go to
http://www.notanant.com/showtopic.php?org_id=11891&kb_header_id=31501
The best flight at the moment is with Ryanair:
6th June Birmingham - Marseille departs 13.45, arrives 16.45. Cost £14.99 excluding taxes + luggage
13th june Marseille - Birmingham departs 17.20, arrives 18.30. Cost £0.00 excluding taxes & luggage
You ca n hire a car or there will be a minibus meeting this flight and delivering back to Marseille in the afternoon on the 13th June. (Cost for this is 50 Euros for the return trip - let us know if you want a place in this minibus).
Watch your luggage allowance if travelling by cheap fare airlines –their rules are strict (15kg on Ryan Air, 20 kg on Easyjet). If you are going to exceed this amount (ie bringing a paraglider) then the best way is to book a "sports bag" as your luggage. Altho it costs extra, it's cheaper than booking a normal bag then paying excess baggage because a harness + kit weighs 25kg! If you are fairly modest in the amount of clothes you bring, you can get the whole lot into your harness bag. Bear in mind that you can put a lot in your hand luggage (you are allowed 10kg) but the size of bag you can carry on to the flight is restricted
ARRIVAL
Please arrive on Saturday 6th June. We will meet early on Sunday 7th at Allez Up & will be going out flying from there.
The price of your course is £495 & includes all your airborne tuition, ground lectures + transport from Allez Up to the flying sites and back.
WHERE TO STAY
The price of accommodation at Allez Up is 40 Euros per person, per night, for B&B, sharing a twin room with another pilot, or 75 Euros per night for a double room.
There is other accommodation available in the area, ranging from a Chateau in Ribiers to the campsite in Laragne. Bear in mind that if you stay elsewhere, you must get yourself to Allez Up for morning briefings & to meet up with the van, to go to the flying site each day.
THE FORMAT
On our courses, the emphasis is always on the flying. There will be some informal lectures to help you to learn about paragliding and hill/mountain flying, and some thermalling theory, but the primary aim is to get you time in the air. The weather in the Laragne area is generally very good – they get an average of 330 flyable days a year. As always, it’s not guaranteed, but we have a number of sites to choose from which can cope with a wide range of conditions so the chances of flying are higher.
ESSENTIALS
You must have medical insurance which covers you for paragliding and which includes repatriation. Please bring your insurance certificate with you.
Some companies that cover paragliding are:
On Risk
http://www.onrisk.co.uk/paramotor-insurance.cfm
speak to Jane & mention Airways Airsports when you book to ensure you get the right package including paragliding, medical & repatriation
Sports Cover Direct
https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/action/insurance.py/quote_form?product=1&sportsgroup=4&sportid=122
Airsports Insurance bureau:
http://www.bhpa.co.uk/airsports.php
OTHER MATTERS
The all important FOOD! If you are staying at Allez Up Gite, breakfast is included. Often our groups go out to eat in the evening, socialising together. Some groups staying in the Gite, take advantage of the large, well equipped kitchen to either self cater in the evening or to cook as a group.
You can purchase a packed lunch each day from Allez Up if you want.
OTHER STUDENTS ON YOUR COURSE
If you want to contact any other members of the course to liase about transport please email me at
Best wishes & see you in France!
Judy Leden & Chris Dawes
