Crestline Soaring Society

Hello pilots,

I went to Iquique, Chile with a paragliding tour group in November, 2007, and I want to recommend this trip for 2008. Several pilots from the 2006 trip recommended it to me, and I am glad I went. Iquique is in the northern part of Chile and sits on the ocean at the edge of a desert. That makes it both a ridge and thermaling site, and it is one of the most consistent flying sites I have ever been to. You can literally fly every day for hours at a time.

This tour is run by Luis Rosenkjer and Todd Weigand who are excellent pilots and great instructors. The first week you will fly in the morning above the city of Iquique overlooking the bright colored buildings and sparking blue ocean. It is a high wind site, but Todd and Luis are fantastic at helping you learn to kite and launch in those conditions. Once air borne. You can stay up for minutes or hours depending on your skill level, the schedule, and your stamina. It's a terrific tour for newer P2 pilots right out of school or looking for a little help and air time in both ridge conditions and light thermals. Luis and Todd will give you a briefing every morning and coach you through new techniques. As you progress and get used to the site, you have the opportunity to fly the 8 miles down the ridge, over high rise buildings, and finally land at a beach near the hotel or one by restaurants and beer.

After the morning flight, you have lunch, take a nap to rest up for the afternoon ,then go to Palo Buque a kiting and ridge soaring site about 20 minutes drive south of Iquique. There you will learn to perfect high wind kiting skills until you can kite up the hill, turn and launch and soar until sunset. In other words, Iquique is so consistent you can fly your brains out. Plus the whole week is incredibly fun.

The second week is for more experienced pilots, P4s, who want longer XC's. On this week you will drive south of Iquique to sites on the sides of steep, sandy, rocky hills, wait for the thermals to pop off, launch and fly 35km to 60 km. Todd and Luis will lead, encourage you, and give you lots of help if needed. If you manage to sink out, the chase van is always following with soda, water, and beer.

Last year I went to both weeks and came back exhausted and happy having flown long hours and some personal bests for XC.

The downside? Well, Iquique is basically on a desert and its barren, sandy, and gritty. It's got it's own stark beauty, but it is not really very scenic and it is not a trip to take a spouse or friend unless they like hours and hours of parawatching and sitting by the pool.

It is a tour, and tours do tend to be pricey. But I think this one is worth it because you can fly every day because the site is so consistent.

I am going back this year for the XC week.. I am recommending them because it is one of the best paragliding tours I have ever been on. If you are a new pilot looking to rapidly increase your skills and get air time, the first week is for you. If you are a P4 pilot looking to thermal and do some long XC, that second week is for you. If you are a P3 pilot wanting both, try both weeks!

For more information go to www.paraglidingtrips.com or contact me.

Susan Kent