Want to
try something new, tired of having your feet firmly on the ground, want
to see things from higher up........ discover
the Meribel valley in its three dimensional
geometry. For the ultimate exhilaration, soar above the ski runs in
another dimension, experience the silence, taste the freedom of
flying in perfect safety.
Flights available daily - weather
permitting and if the conditions allow
0930hrs - 1630hrs
.
Paragliding is a daytime mountain activity this means it can
only operate when the weather conditions are right for flying and during
ski lift opening and closing times. The first flight is around 0930hrs
allowing time to catch the first lift in order to get to the departure
site on time. With the last flight around 1630hrs allowing enough time to
get back to Meribel after the flight has
finished or even later if the flight ends in Meribel
itself.
meribel > saulire - meribel /
courchevel >col
de la loze
.
Paragliding
is a very popular activity with many different companies operating not
only within Meribel but also the ThreeValleys as a whole. There are many
different takeoff sites that in turn also have many different landing
sites all of which are very accessible from Meribel.
It is one of the only activities that Whitetracks cover which is entirely
down to your personal preference that should be based not only on what
you wish to see whilst in the air but ultimately how long you wish to
stay up in the air for!
.
The
Paragliding takeoff sites from Meribel in
accessibility order are; the top of the Saulire,
the Col de la Loze and La Vizelle.
.
how to get there FROM MERIBEL
.
Saulire
.
From La ChaudanneMeribel's main
lift area you will need to travel up the Burgin Saulire
bubble lift (cable car) to the top station. Once out of the bubble you
will walk down the the rubber matted slope to
where everyone puts their skis on. This will be where the Paragliding
pilot will meet you to then take you to the take off site. The
Paragliding takeoff site is below the top of the Grande Rosiere chair lift just above the ski run that takes
you towards the direction of Mottaret. The
takeoff site is situated near a little wooden hut with a small wind sock
attached to its side.
.
Col de La Loze
.
From La ChaudanneMeribel's main
lift area you will need to travel up the Rhodos
bubble lift to the top station. From here you will need to put on your
skis or snowboard and head straight. travel past
the restaurant on the left and ski the top part of the Altiport beginners green run. As the Altiport green run bends around to the left and then
straightens up you will see the Loze chair lift
tucked in by the trees on the right hand side of the slope a bit further
down the slope. You will need to catch this lift to get to the top of the
Col De La Loze as if you were going to ski Courchevel. At the top of the Loze
chair lift you will need to turn directly left. The pilot(s) meeting area
is next to the Roc Tania restaurant.
Hire a Whitetracks
Host to ski with you for ½ or a full day, they
will meet you at a pre-prescribed meeting point at the time requested.
They will ski with you taking you to some of the best snow and runs in
the MeribelValley or even the
three valleys and will make sure that you get to the activity on time. Whitetracks Host
5 minutes - 20 minutes organisation
of equipment and brief
Flying time - dependant on flight chosen and conditions
Return time dependant on landing - will involve lifts
and in some cases skiing
5 minutes handing in equipment
.
You should arrive to meet the pilot 5-10 minutes before the
requested time. The pilot might keep you waiting but PLEASE do not keep
them waiting. If you need to catch lifts to in order to get to the
meeting point please allow time for lift queues and time to travel up on
the lift.
.
When you
arrive at the takeoff site the pilot will get you set up with your
necessary equipment this will include a helmet and the all important
harness. The pilot will take a few minutes to help you into the harness
making sure that it is all correctly fitted and comfortable for you. Once
you are in the Harness the pilot will then sort the glider out with the
glider laid out flat and the strings in the correct position you will
then be called over carrying your skis or snowboard and be told where to
stand. From this position it will be time to put your skis or snowboard
on.
.
Once
ready the pilot will then move into position behind you placing their
skis either side of you - one ski to your left and the other ski to your
right. The pilot will then attach your harness to theirs. When the pilot
is ready and the conditions are right you will both start to edge forward
until you both start to slide down the slope in front of you. Once you
have traveled just a few meters the glider will
fill with air, rise above you both and you will gently lift off the
ground and into the open skies ahead.
.
Saulire > MOTTERAT
.
A 10-15 minute flight traveling
over nothing more than rocks, snow, and ski runs
.
Saulire > MeRIBEL - €120
.
15-20
minute flight time, this is the best flight if staying in Meribel. This flight flies you near Rond Point des Pistes where
you will be able to see the 'Ronny' the Aprés
Ski bar of the alps. It will also fly you over the Domain de Burgin and
the lower end of Meribel centre La Chaudanne, the main lift area before landing in a
field just of La Truite - the beginners green
run that joins Mottaret and Meribel.
This Flight is perfect for the end of the day 'the Last Flight' as you
will then not need to catch the lift back to the top.
.
Saulire > bOZEL OR BRIDE LA
BAINS - €250
.
40-45
minutes the longest flight in the ThreeValleys.
From the top of the Saulire this flight pretty
much takes you all the way down to the valley floor. This flight will
take you straight over the top of Meribel
getting what is possibly the best birds eye view
of Meribel available. The extra cost involved
in this flight also includes car transport back up to the resort once the
flight has finished.
.
Col de La Loze > La praz or col de la loze - €120
.
15-20
minute flight - NOT officially a Meribel
paragliding flight Col De La Loze is classed as
Courchevel and La Praz
is Courchevel 1300m. Still the scenery on this
flight is still pretty spectacular you will travel over snow covered
slopes, mountain restaurants and trees. At the end of the season March
time when the conditions are right, plenty of thermals, it is possible
for the instructor to land the paraglider at
the takeoff site. If landing in La Praz there
are several lifts to catch to get back up to the top. When staying in Meribel this flight is only suitable during the
mornings and mid-afternoon if landing in La Praz.
When
securely strapped to a qualified instructor and ready to go. You and
your instructor will run, ski or snowboard off a mountain with nothing
more than what looks like a winged parachute - a glider.
.
To take-off the pilot will pull the paraglider
off the ground, as it rises, like a large kite, it fills with air to form
an aerodynamic wing. As the airflows over the wing surface - the
necessary lift required for flight is developed and within a few strides or
short skied distance you and the pilot will gently lift of the ground as
you are both launched into the open skies in front of you.
.
Once in the sky a paraglider is
highly maneuverable - by the subtle
manipulation of the control surfaces situated on the trailing edge (rear)
of the wing.
.
If
there is no lift, the pilot simply glides down safely to a pre-determined
landing spot. However, should the pilot successfully locate rising air,
the paraglider can gain height and land where
it took off!
.
Lift
is found either where wind has been upwardly deflected from the sides of
nearby hills or where air has been heated to produce rising currents
(thermals) and is used for soaring by the flyer.
.
When
landing the pilot will maneuver the glider in a
figure of eight formation and glide in at a 45° angle to the landing
site. Once lined up the pilot will glide in and then when ready will pull
hard on the steering toggles to slow the glider down as you both touch the
ground and land.
epilepsy, fits, Heart deficiencies , Vertebral
problems or Pregnant women
.
The pilots will adapt each flight to the excitement threshold
of each individual passenger. If you are confident the pilot may perform
some aerobatics and may even let you take over the controls during the
flight if not just ask.
Every paragliding pilot doing tandem flights will have their
own harness for the passenger to use. They will make sure that you are
properly in the harness before they attach it to theirs at the top of the
mountain. Each pilot will also issue you with a helmet in which it is
compulsory to wear in order to take part in the paragliding activity.
Due to the Paragliding being a daytime mountain activity you
should already be correctly dressed to take part. Unfortunately if you
are on skis you will need to leave your poles at the top of the mountain
at the takeoff point. If you are skiing with friends and don't wish to
come back up the mountain to collect your poles it is advisable to get a
friend to ski down to the bottom with your poles. If a friend takes your poles to the bottom you will be free to continue
skiing from where you landed without the need to go back to the takeoff
site this gives you the flexibility to be able to ski somewhere different
for the rest of the day.
Tandem paragliders are only able to
carry one passenger at a time. If there is a small group of you wishing
to take part in the activity at the same time it is possible for
Whitetracks to get a number of paragliding instructors with their own
gliders to take off simultaneously one after the other meaning that you
will all be in the air at the same time.
Certified paragliders are rated
under a common standard into different categories according to their
stability, maneuverability and their recovery
from unusual flight situations.
.
Generally novice or standard gliders are very stable and easy
to fly, whilst performance and competition gliders have less inherent
stability, which require more control to fly safely but have superior
performance and feel.
.
Approximately 40 sq. metres of surface area
Weight range: 140 - 230kg
Tested to 1.5 tonnes +
Weighs less than 20kg
Can be stored under your bed
Takes minutes to get ready for flight
Packs into 100 litre rucksack
.
under certain conditions
.
A Paraglider can take you as high
as 4,470 metres and
As far as 280 kilometers
.
Harness for passenger
.
The passenger is firmly strapped to the instructor by means
of a harness. The instructor uses toggle strings to control the
direction and angle of the ascent.
