Paragliding
on the shores
Discover Paragliding off ers a
soaring experience on the coast
BY ZOE BUCHLI
For stunning aerial views of land and sea,
a wind-powered sport has just begun its sum-
mer season on the North Coast. Paragliding,
with a view high above the land in a personal
gliding system, off ers the opportunity to soar
above miles of shoreline.
For Brad Hill, who co-owns Discover
Paragliding with his wife, Maren Ludwig, the
sport is a taste of freedom. Hill and Ludwig
started the gliding school 25 years ago, and
will celebrate its Warrenton location’s 20th
anniversary this season.
The area is the perfect combination of ter-
rain, wind and ocean, according to Hill. ”This
is a unique geographic environment,” Hill
said. “The North Coast’s extensive shores,
the winds and smooth air off the beach and
locals’ welcoming of the sport combine to
make the area ideal,” he added.
June 6 will mark the business’ 20th anni-
versary of launching from Sunset and Del
Rey beaches. While Hill isn’t sure what the
event will look like yet, he imagines the
day as a reunion event for gliders who have
trained with the group.
Welcoming fi rst time gliders through expe-
rienced thrill seekers, Discover Paragliding
aims to guide all skill levels to a great experi-
ence. Tandem fl ights give fi rst time gliders the
chance to soar through the air with the reas-
surance of being attached to an expert. “They
usually fl y up to about 3,000 feet,” Hill said
of the tandem sessions. Discover Paragliding
also gives ambitious beginners the chance to
get acquainted to the sport through a two day
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
ABOVE: Paragliders, seen in the distance near
Manzanita. LEFT: A paraglider sets off from a
sand dune along the North Coast.
Discover
Paragliding
Sunset Beach,
Warrenton
Off ering solo and tan-
dem training sessions
Students should bring
helmet, mask and me-
chanic style gloves
www.discover
paragliding.com
solo fl ight training course. To share the expe-
rience of paragliding with others, Discover
Paragliding also trains instructors.
As a U.S. Powered Paragliding Associ-
ation authorized training location, Discover
Paragliding is certifi ed to instruct both solo
and tandem courses. Most of Hill and Lud-
wig’s customers hail from the Portland area,
but the business has guided paragliders from
all corners of the globe.
“We’ve had people from the southern end
of Africa, people from France, Germany and
Spain,” Hill said, adding those relationships
with travelers are strong and sometimes even
make for lifelong connections.
For Hill, the sport is a unique experience.
“We can launch at 3,000 feet and climb up
to higher than you can usually fl y a private
plane,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing. You get
to go anywhere you want to go.”
Gliding has given Hill the chance to fl y
among birds, including vultures and bald
eagles. On one of his glides in Oceanside,
he recalled being harassed by a young bald
eagle, showing off for mom and dad. “For
about 15 minutes he was diving and swoop-
ing, tallons extended, screeching,” Hill said.
For those that try gliding and fi nd them-
selves enamored with it, Discover Paragliding
off ers gliders the chance to visit their sister
location in Costa Rica. “To go from advanced
beginner to an intermediate pilot where
you’re out on your own fl ying the mountains,
we take a large part of our group down to
Costa Rica,” Hill said.
The team has built a site in Jaco, Costa
Rica, just west of the city of San Jose. Hill
and his group got back from their most recent
Co sta Rica excursion nearly a month ago.
The group was based in the small coastal
enclave for about three months before head-
ing back to Oregon.
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