France, Switzerland, & Italy Paragliding Tours 2008

Date:
 Wednesday, May 14 th (arrival to Geneva) to Saturday, May 24 th (departure from Geneva) 2008

Locations:
St. Hilaire, Annecy, Chamonix, Mieussy, Verbier, La Madeleine, Les Saissis, and others….

Organizers:
 Atlanta Paragliding Enterprises & Wallowa Paragliding

Tour Leaders:
 Luis Rosenkjer & Todd Weigand

Tour Descriptions and Commentaries:
 The French and Swiss Alps are where it all began in the 80's!   We will be taking you back to the Alps where paragliding has more history then anywhere else in the world!  

The impressive beauty of the Alps is not a secret and many pilots consider this area to be the world's “Mecca” of paragliding.   We will be flying the heart of the Alps and will be surrounded by snow capped peaks, granite cliffs, and green forests with a patchwork of small fields and villages below.   Mount Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, rises up to nearly 16,000 ft and seems to pierce the sky with its glacier covered peak when not surrounded by puffy cumulus clouds.   Huge glacier carved valleys surround these majestic mountains and provide wide open landing sites next to small villages.  

With local knowledge and weather forecasting we will guide you to the most favorable flying site in the area depending on the conditions.   With our central location we will be able to spend at least one day flying in Switzerland and if conditions allow we will also travel through the Mount Blanc tunnel into Italy for one day as well!  

This tour will accommodate pilots of all levels from P2's to P4's.   Pilots will need good light wind launching skills.   Most of the sites we will be flying provide light thermal soaring conditions.   Advanced pilots will be able to climb up above the mountains and take in the impressive views of the snowy Alps from above.   For those pilots who land early, we will be providing unlimited shuttles back to launch as long as pilots still want to fly!   A few of the sites provide an opportunity for advanced pilots to fly some out and return and triangle flights.   XC flying is not the focus of this trip though, and XC retrieval is not a part of the normal retrieval routes.   Most of the sites we will be flying have over 2000 vertical feet and even sled runs last 20 minutes!

All the flying sites are less then 2 hours from where we will be staying in St. Gervais, a year around tourist destination just outside of Chamonix.   Many of the sites we will be visiting are not only great flying sites, but are also world famous event locations such as St. Hilaire and Annecy.   Mieussy is recognized as the birthplace of paragliding and will take us back to our roots!   For those who want some extreme flying, we may also have the opportunity to fly off the “La Aguille du Midi” glacier on Mount Blanc at 12,540 ft


In order to make this trip affordable due to the ever strengthening Euro we have chosen to base our tour from an apartment complex in St. Gervais instead of a hotel location.   Our accommodation will include double rooms apartments and a shared kitchen, but will be without room service. Single rooms will be priced differently than double rooms.   See our room pricing below.   Please contact us if you prefer a private double room apartment.   

We would also like to invite any nonpilots to join us on this tour!   We will have a female interpreter who will be available during the week to guide anyone out to experience the beauties of France from the ground! Nonpilots are also welcome to join us during the daily flying activities.

Our comfortable van transportation will be available for other attractions and activities as well when we are not flying.   Some special occasions may include dinner at “La Ferme” after a day of flying in Annecy or a night out on the town in Chamonix or Geneva.  

Luis has led and organized this trip 5 times since 2001.   Groups have ranged between 14 and 35 pilots each trip and every year it seems to get bigger and better!

During edition 2007 (Todd's first), 26 pilots flew out of La Aiguille du Midi, Mont Blanc, taking off towards the South face and flying above La Valle Blanche.

We are here to fly, and that is what we will do!   But during this tour we will also experience the French culture, eat some great food, and enjoy the magic of the French Alps!

Prices, Conditions and Payment Details:

The Price Includes:

Prices:

Prices may change anytime before receiving payment due to the Euro rate.

Payment Options:
For either partial or total advance payments the following range of discounts will be applied proportionally to the received amount.

Before January 10 th , 2008: 15%
Before February 10 th , 2008: 10%
Before March 10 th , 2008: 5%
After April 10 th , 2008, add 5 % to our price
After May 1 st , 2008, add 10 % to our price

We accept cash, check or credit cards

Requirements:
 To have completed P2 certification, VHF radio, DHV certified equipment, reserve parachute and helmet

Booking or Questions:
Atlanta Paragliding         www.atlantaparagliding.com             Phone- 706.336.8499
Luis Rosenkjer               luis@atlantaparagliding.com             Phone- 404.931.3793
Todd Weigand                wallowaparagliding@gmail.com         Phone- 541.255.2289
Wallowa Paragliding       www.paraglidefrance.blogspot.com    Phone--541.263.1081