Parakite Club Pilot course

A new way into flying New

New for October 2026, and developed with the BHPA: our Parakite Training Course leads to the brand-new Parakite Club Pilot rating. It's built for anyone who wants to learn specifically to parakite, so you can skip the traditional paragliding hill training altogether.

Whether you're an experienced kitesurfer, a skydiver who already knows how to handle a canopy, or completely new to all of it, this route gets you flying faster. Already a paraglider pilot? We also run a conversion course for you.

What is a parakite?

A parakite is a compact, very responsive canopy built for dynamic handling, strong ground-handling control and foot-launched flying.

A traditional paraglider is designed mainly to glide efficiently over long distances. A parakite gives you a more direct, agile connection to the wing and is made for coastal flying. It handles stronger winds, needs a smaller launch area and feels completely different in the air.

We teach the course on the coast, including Cornwall, choosing the site each day to suit the wind.

It's not all low-level wagas and foot-dragging along the beach, though. You can still soar gently like a paraglider, and the bigger wind range means far more flyable days.

Three levels of wing

• Beginner: built for maximum passive safety, predictable behaviour and forgiving recovery, for students starting from scratch.
• Intermediate: for pilots with solid control, or paraglider pilots crossing over. This level is fine for experienced paraglider pilots.
• Advanced: for expert pilots who want high performance, speed and agility.

What you'll learn

• Ground handling: pre-flight checks, site assessment and equipment handling, including forward, reverse and cobra inflations. You'll learn to run with the canopy, launch in strong wind, land under control and depower the wing quickly so it doesn't drag you or reinflate.
• Dynamic soaring: build up from ground-skimming hops and mid-slope launches to gentle soaring, 180° and 360° turns, top and slope landings, and using the wing's energy.
• Theory: meteorology, principles of flight and air law, plus ridge rules, collision avoidance and soaring the coast in strong winds, so you can make safe decisions on your own.

When you pass you'll hold the BHPA Club Pilot rating for parakites, which lets you fly independently in a club environment. You also get full access to our e-learning platform.

Ready to buy your first parakite?

We provide all the kit you need for training. When you want your own, the Sky Riders shop has our recommended parakites at all three levels, and Sky Riders students get exclusive bundle discounts.