When do we run paragliding courses in Cyprus?

Paragliding Courses run from May to October. For exact dates for each paragliding course customers must contact us. During this period of time Cyprus is ideal for the sport of paramotoring. However by August, the country is in the full throes of summer and can be very hot indeed; this is something to be aware of for obvious health and safety reasons.

However, if you want to learn to Paramotor then we can tailor a course to suit you, and can do that pretty much anytime that is convenient for you between May and October. An outline of our paramotoring courses is given below...

What’s is our Paragliding Cyprus school all about?

Extreme Sports Cafe's paramotoring school in Cyprus offers everyone a unique and exciting opportunity to master the sport of paramotoring, whilst enjoying a holiday in the sun. Due to the perfect weather conditions and stunning coastline Cyprus is an ideal location for learning to fly and enjoying a range of water sports, including paragliding and paramotoring.

The Elementary Paragliding Course...

For those new to paramotoring and paragliding the first few days are spent completing the BHPA Paragliding Elementary Pilot course. This begins with, among other things, being introduced to the wing and the harness, equipment safety checks and various other forms of paragliding theory.

You will then begin your ground training; this involves learning how to launch the glider and the various techniques used to do so.

Once the student has proved they are competent at launching the paraglider and are comfortable wth the paraglider controls, they will progress on to their first low level flights. These take place in an old, disused quarry near the RAF base of Akrotiri. You will spend between 1-2 days, depending upon the weather and their ability, improving their flying skills. Having successfully completed a minimum of 6 low level flights and met the required standard, they will be taken to our site at Curium.

Curium is an archaeological site, abundant with ancient ruins, high on a cliff overlooking the sea. It is from here that you will progress on to the next stage. You will take off from a designated Take Off area, whilst under a radio link, and complete a minimum of 5 flights. You must show that you can consistently perform good take offs, good flights and good landings. This period of paraglider training can take between 2-5 days; it all depends upon the weather and the ability of the individual student. During this period of time you will also be taught the Theory of Flight, basic Air Law and basic Meteorology. At the end you will sit a very simple exam. Once you have successfully passed this, you will have completed the BHPA Elementary Paraglider Pilot course. It is now time to begin the paramotoring stage, unless of course you just came for the Paragliding Course....

Elementary Pilot Paragliding Course - £750.00 - Cyprus

Having completed the Elementary Paragliding Course (see above), those on the paragliding course will remain at Curium with an instructor and improve their paragliding skills and general knowledge of the sport. It will be a time for them to learn as much from the instructor as possible, whilst beginning to plan their own flights. Having completed the EP stage the remaining days will effectively give the student the opportunity to get as many flights logged as possible. Curium is an ideal place to learn this sport as it allows the student to improve their flying skills in a safe environment, whilst enjoying good weather conditions.

• 1 week long.
• This course is designed for those who just wish to learn how to paraglide, rather then paramotor. It follows the BHPA Elementary Pilot training syllabus.
• The price includes all equipment hire, instruction, log books and a FREE consolidation day at a BHPA school in the UK.

Weather in Cyprus for Paragliding..

Cyprus is a warm and sunny Mediterranean island offering tourists the chance to relax in the sun, swim in the sea and a whole lot more. Generally the weather in Cyprus is ideal for paramotoring from May to October. As with every country, Cyprus can never be guaranteed to provide perfect flying weather all of the time. Due to the thermal activity and coastal winds which generate during the day we are lucky to fly in the afternoons. Therefore in order to get the most flying time out of the day, training starts early in the morning, followed by flight theory in the afternoon. However other flying areas are available further in land. It must be noted that Extreme Sports Cafe will give no refunds if the weather conditions make it impossible for a customer to complete the course. However in this unlikely event, customers will have the opportunity to return free of equipment and course charges until completion.

Booking and Payment Guidelines

In order to avoid disappointment we advise customers to book at least 8 weeks in advance. This does not mean we can not take late bookings, however in our experience rushed decisions can cause unnecessary problems. Before committing to any dates please contact us in order to check availability. Alternatively, when booking online you can give two other possible dates when you could attend the course. This potential problem will be avoided if you book at least 8 weeks in advance.

When you make the decision to book a course, a course deposit must be paid in order to secure your place. Having secured your place the remaining balance must then be paid at least 4 weeks in advance of the course. However if customers book and pay the full amount at least 8 weeks in advance they will have £50 discounted from the overall cost.

Booking Your Flight

Due to certain countries travel regulations we are unable to make Flight arrangements on your behalf. However the following gives you all the information you need in order to book suitable flights.

Destination: Paphos (20 mins away) or Larnaca (1hr away)

Origination: Nearly all main UK / major European airports operate flights to either destination; however dates vary throughout the season.

Airline: At lest eight different airlines fly to these destinations.

Price: Prices vary from £150 to £250 throughout the season. The earlier you book the cheaper the flights.

Airport Transfers: Plenty of taxis are available at all times at the airport. For contact details for all taxi companies please check with us.

Accommodation in Cyprus

The flight training area is 10 minutes away from the village of Pissouri. This town has accommodation ranging from 5 star hotels and family villas to simple affordable self catering apartments. Pissouri is a traditional Cypriot village high up on a hill overlooking the sea. Below the old village, in the bay, is the more recently established tourist area. For all information regarding accommodation in these two areas please contact us.

Car Hire in Cyprus

Extreme Sports Cafe strongly recommends that customers hire their own vehicles. For further information contact us for recommended hire car companies, all of which offer good prices for a wide range of vehicles.

What to Bring?

Customers are advised to bring the following:

• Boots which cover and support the ankle.
• Long trousers.
• A fleece or pullover, even though it is hot.
• Swimwear.
• Sun cream and lip balm.
• Sunglasses
• At least £100 in cash or travelers cheques.
• A camera.
• Enough medication for those who require it.
• Mosquito repellent.

Insurance for Paragliding..

Extreme Sports Cafe does not provide insurance, apart from those taking tandem flights with instructors. However information regarding specialised companies that offer a good rate can be found on our insurance page. It must be noted that Extreme Sports Cafe must see proof of insurance cover for all customers; without this they will not be allowed to sit the course.

For insurance covering the equipment, Extreme Sports Cafe operates on a ‘you break it you pay for it’ policy. We therefore require from each customer a temporary charge to their credit card authorising £500. If customers do not break any equipment this will be returned to them at the end of the course. (The transaction is only an authorisation - We will never actually take the money without consulting with you first.) However, if breakages do occur the price will be drawn up and the customer asked to pay. Therefore if the damage is only £50 the customer will be asked to cover the bill accordingly. When this has been done the original credit card authorisation will be cancelled. Please check with us or your bank / credit card issuer if you have any questions about this. We can also supply details of the cost of any damages to equipment so you are fully aware of these before hiring, or using our equipment.

Other Activities Available

Due to the school’s close proximity to the sea there are a wide range of water based activities, provided by other local organisations as well as us, for customers to take part in. For those less inclined to water sports there are many special places to visit; such as the birth place of Aphrodite, the Troodos Mountains, the Adonis waterfalls and much more. These are all good reasons for hiring ones own transport. Further information regarding other activities will be provided to customers when in Cyprus or if you contact us and ask...

Extra Information

The actual flying training takes place down near a deserted beach about 10 minutes from the village of Pissouri. It is for this reason that we recommend customers provide their own transport. However, if you choose not to, please inform us before arrival and we will arrange a daily collection from your hotel. This is only possible for those staying in the Pissouri village or bay area. Situated on the flying site is the Manifest Tent. It is from here operations are organised during the day.

On completion of the booking process and payment of your deposit, you will receive further information regarding the course structure, a map of the flying area, our contact details in Cyprus and other pre course information. It is therefore quite important that those wishing to sit an Extreme Sports Cafe course must book at least 6 weeks in advance or 8 if outside of the Europe.

Note: We reserve the right not to qualify any student, until that student reaches the appropriate standard and to call a halt to training in the interest safety, if we see fit.

Who runs the paragliding courses in Cyprus?

Extreme Sports Cafe's partner school
Extreme Sports Cafe has a brand new paramotoring and paragliding line up for 2005. We are proud to have revamped the Cyprus school throughout the winter. Our paramotoring school in Cyprus has staff with many years of experience in air sports. Skydiving, flying, paragliding and paramotoring to name just a few. We also have our own patented design of paramotoring equipment - DK Whisper.

• Customers must be at least 16 years old in order to come on a course. Those wishing to bring anyone under this age please contact us in order to discuss the options available.
• You must be medically and physically fit enough to take part in this sport. If in doubt please contact us.
• Those who suffer from potentially dangerous medical conditions must contact us before booking the course.
  Extreme Sports Cafe reserves the right to refuse to accept to instruct any customer in the interests of safety.

Where do I take it from here?

You can go on more courses, join a club or buy your own equipment and fly whenever you want. Prices for a new paramotor unit starts at £3450. Get in contact if you want more information on new and second hand paramotors, or paramotoring generally. Good luck and happy flying!

If you have any questions, then please don’t hesitate to get back to us – we’ll be only too pleased to help. After all, the team at ESC are passionate about our various sporting disciplines – we want you to be, as well!