USA Cross Country Soaring Courses
2008 Season
cancelled
We are sorry to
announce that for persoal reasons
we are unable to operate our usual XC schools in Minden and Parowan for the 2008 season.
However we expect to be back for the 2009
season. Please read the info below
which outlines the nature of our US courses.
The mountains and
high
desert of Western
Nevada and Utah offer some of
the world’s most exciting soaring with cumulus cloud bases
reaching to over 20,000 feet above sea level above wild and
spectacular scenery. This year the courses will be based
from Minden in western Nevada,
Parowan in south west Utah and
Ely in Eastern
Nevada.
Course summary:
-
Five day cross country soaring courses for 1 to 3 persons.
-
Exclusive, personal attention ideal for those wishing to extend
their XC experience or who want to simply experience the joy of
cross country soaring.
-
For one on one tuition join an Individual Course or
-
Put together your own Group Course for up to three pilots
with similar levels of experience.
-
Both courses have extensive daily briefings and de-briefings. The
objective is to have fun, extend cross country skills and develop a
greater understanding of how to drive the atmospheric soaring
engine.
-
On Individual Courses all the flying is dual in a Duo
Discus, there is no need to bring your own glider.
-
On a Group Course each person does one to three days dual in
the Duo Discus while the other pilots follow in their single seat
gliders.
Course
Prerequisites:
-
On an Individual Course there are no prerequisites.
We cater for:
-
Experienced soaring pilots who want to
have fun and learn about flying further and
faster
-
Anyone wishing to experience the
adventure and joy of cross country soaring
-
Pilots taking their first cross country
steps.
-
On a Group Course each pilot must have a similar level of
experience. As a minimum they should be cross country rated and
should already have made successful cross country flights of 50
miles or more. They must be confident in out-landing their glider
and be reasonably efficient at centering and climbing in thermals.
If pilots don’t meet these group course prerequisites they
should take an individual course.
Locations:
-
Minden is located in
the Carson Valley, western Nevada,. It is an hours drive south of
the Reno airport, five hours from San Francisco, 30 minutes east of
Lake Tahoe and close to the California/ Nevada border.
Minden has long been famous as the premiere wave and high desert
soaring site in the US. As well as soaring in the Sierra Nevada
ranges one can fly south into the White Mountains and east over the
high mountain desert. Flights up to 1000 km are common and over
2,000km flights are possible.
-
Parowan is located near
the southern end of the Wasatch Mountains in south west Utah. It is
3 hours by shuttle bus north of Las Vegas.
A recently discovered soaring site, Parowan offers fantastic
thermal conditions, excellent land out opportunities and
spectacular flights out to the Grand Canyon and the red rock
country of Canyonlands. Flights over 1000 km are often
possible.
-
Ely is located in the eastern Nevada high mountain desert on
Highway 50, the “world’s loneliest highway”. It
is exactly in the middle of nowhere!
For the past ten years hard nosed, big air soaring pilots from
around the world come to Ely to break speed and distance flights in
gliders. It has became one of the world Mecca’s for long
distance soaring. But it is not for the faint hearted!
Course Fees: 2006
prices
Individual Courses:
This includes daily briefings, seminars,
and 15 hours of Duo Discus time.
Refunds or extra Duo time at $90 per hour.
Aero tows and retrieves (if any) are not included.
Group Courses:
-
2 persons US$ 1,900 each - includes 8 hours each of Duo Discus
time, and daily briefings and seminars.
-
3 persons US$ 1,350 each – includes 6 hours each of Duo time,
and daily briefings and seminars.
Refunds or extra Duo time at $90 per
hour.
Aero tows and retrieves (if any) are not included.
A US$500 deposit is payable at the time
of booking.
If the booking is cancelled within 40
days of the start date then the deposit is not refundable unless a
replacement booking is forthcoming. The balance of fees is due on
arrival with any adjustments being made at the end of the
course.
Accommodation
Accommodation can be arranged at
Minden in a comfortable Private House a few minutes from
the airfield. For details please visit
www.sierravistasvilla.com .
In Parowan we recommend
Victoria’s bed and breakfast.
Gliders
This year we will operate two Duo
Discuses including 2TB, the immaculate Duo owned by Tropic Bird
Soaring of Minden. It is fully equipped for cross country soaring
with loggers, GPS and flight computer. Visit www.tropicbirdsoaring.com
for details.
We do not arrange single seat gliders for rent. These can be
arranged at Minden
from Soar Minden. Visit www.soarminden.com . At Parowan
visit www.flyparowan.com
for glider rentals
Course Director
and Instructors
These courses will be run by Gavin
Wills, Director of GlideOmarama.com. Gavin has been soaring for
over 30 years with 8,000 total time - mostly in the mountains.
Teaching mountain soaring and cross country skills is his passion.
Gavin will be assisted by his two senior instructors, G Dale and
Lemmy Tanner. They are all highly experienced cross country soaring pilots who
have soared and raced gliders around the world.
Information and
Bookings
For further details,
inquiries and bookings:
email: Contact Gavin
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