Beginner Paragliding Training
!! LEARN TO FLY A PARAGLIDER !!
Learning to fly is an investment. Adventure sports and paragliding are a lifestyle.
What do you do? I am a paraglider pilot. (...cut to interesting conversation...) For work, oh yeah, there's that but who cares when you paraglide! Adventure sports change your life. Paragliding opens new horizons while turning the volume down on everything else. For me, and many of us, it places life into a new perspective. Once you join, you're part of the Wander Expeditions Crew. We use a Telegram group primarily to notify when we fly. We also chat about the sport, gear, goals, events and endless weather conversations. Its all part of a fabulous amount of humor and a great sense of camaraderie!!
Paragliding is the lightest form of ultra-light aviation under the FAA’s part 103. Our training, licensing and operations are overseen by a non-governmental organization, the US Hang gliding and Paragliding Association (ushpa.org) on behalf of the FAA. Once graduated, Wander Expeditions training provides you with your USHPA license which is accepted worldwide.
The next training class starts January 29, 2026.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL: Wander Expeditions has been training paragliding students since 2019. We have never had a serious injury and have certified many beginner and advanced pilots. While we have a culture of safety built into flight instruction, there is ALWAYS risk in adventure sports. Teaching good pilot decision making is key. We teach groups of 4-6 students each cycle.
PHYSICAL: Paragliding in Boise requires 'hike and fly' which is rewarding but does require a level of physical exertion. Our hike and fly’s generally include 20-60 minutes of hiking with gear before flying. Your physical fitness directly impacts your ability to fly. Age, fitness and weight are important considerations in choosing to be a pilot as they directly affect your safety. Requirements are below. Gear only fits a range of sizes so we are limited by that availability.
Age Requirements: 18 to 55
Height Requirement: 5'0" to 6"4"
Weight Requirement: Under 230 lbs with a BMI under 30
Total estimated cost is $8,000 USD and includes P1 & P2 levels
Payment plans are available
COSTS: Training, Gear & Membership
BASIC PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTION is $2,500.
PARAGLIDING GEAR: (wing, harness, reserve, accessories) is $5500 for a new kit. Used gear is available although we are picky for obvious reasons. DO NOT purchase unknown used gear with the expectation of training in it. You will purchase your first gear set through the school. This way, it possesses a level of safety and condition that are acceptable to learn with. You will begin using school gear and then we will get you your own within the first month.. The mentality here is to find out what style of gear you are comfortable flying and then get your gear so that when you complete training, you are familiar.
Membership cost is ongoing in USHPA is $160 annually which provides national and international ratings as well as 3rd party aviation liability insurance. You need this membership before we begin training and we arrange this when we begin.
Like many sports, you buy in. Once you have your gear, knowledge and license, you're good until you want something more performant. Should you leave the sport, your gear has residual value of approximately 50%.
TIME: The largest requirement in PG is time. Training requires a commitment of Thursday thru Sunday for 12 weeks. If you do not complete your training in this time, you can pick up in the next training cycle at a fee of $300. Consistency is required to learn. Thereafter, a recreational pilot can expect to fly 30-50 hours annually which means you can estimate around 2-3x total time commitment. The best part of the flying season is April to October but we do fly all winter. Winter is a good time for beginner training given milder conditions and better temperatures. In the summer, when the season in Boise is best, we fly in the evenings, generally after 6pm which correlates well with a regular 9-5er.
HOW IT WORKS: We use a progression model of training which is a combination of ground school and practical exercises. We start by learning to kite the wing while on the ground. This is the core of learning to fly. Once you have control of the wing in wind, we progress from small flights to larger implementing the flight skill set. Tandem flights are available and implemented to accelerate learning.
Lastly, we have a fantastic crew of 40+ pilots and we always have something going on. We mountain fly, ridge soar, go towing in the desert and enjoy many sites around Boise and the PNW. We fly internationally (Mexico, France, Spain, Nepal & Italy are popular spots).
If you are interested in training with us, contact us at Wander@WanderExpeditions.com. A $1,000 USD deposit holds your slot!
