AXIS MOUNTAIN MASTERCLASS

General Information
The goal of this intensive course is to develop pilots mountain flying skills. It is aimed squarely at experienced pilots flying DHV 2 and above wings who already have either some mountain XC experience or a reasonable amount of flatland XC.
Before starting the course you should have completed at least two 50km XC flights; during the course we hope to fly at least one 100km flight, but the primary objective will be to develop your mountain flying knowledge and skills.

The focus is on mountain cross country, including aerology, route planning and XC decision making. As the course progresses we will also practice competition flying skills. We will NOT teach basic skills like thermalling or handling collapses. You must be an autonomous XC pilot, capable of launching, thermalling up to base, handling your glider in strong Alpine conditions, completing reasonable XCs and landing out safely on your own.

Dates and locations
*Àger / Castejón De Sos: 5-9th June 2010
The 'Spanish League' competition is scheduled to take place on the 10-13th June and will offer an ideal opportunity for those interested in competition to put their new skills into practice.
* Roldanillo, Colombia. December 2010 and January 2011.
Dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Northern Spain and the Pyrenees come into their own in early summer. We will be based in Àger but with the opportunity to expore from Castejon to the coast if the weather dictates.

Roldanillo in Colombia is set to become an immensly popular winter destination for many migrating Europeans. Forget the mass-media hysteria about Colombia and be prepared to be transported to a place you may never want to leave! World Class flying is combined with a relaxed pace of life in a true paragliding playground.

Format
The courses wil be lead and supported by AXIS UK team pilots. You will be able to benefit from their wide experience and specific local knowledge to ensure that you get the most out of the week but are challenged - in a good way! - by the tasks set.
On normal days a proposed route will be set as a function of the conditions and briefed in its entirety, including why it was chosen and any particular difficulties that might be encountered. These will almost always be closed circuit flights to minimise organisational hassles. If everyone bombs out then we will aim for a second late afternoon or evening flight.
In exceptionally good conditions we will set ambitious tasks with the expectation that only one or two pilots will complete them in full. These also are likely to be closed circuit flights, giving slower pilots the opportunity to cut the corners to stay with the leaders.
On non flyable days we will either travel to a new location, talk on topics related to mountain flying, or do some sporting activity appropriate to where we are staying.

Over the course of the week we will run an informal XC league with prizes for the winner donated by AXIS UK.

Experience requirements
You MUST:
- be BHPA Pilot or IPPI 4 rated or above - have at least 200 flying hours (and please, not the same hour repeated 200 times!)
- be flying a DHV 2/EN C or an AXIS EN B glider or higher for at least one year
- have completed at least two XCs of 50km
- speak reasonable English
We RECOMMEND that you:
- have done at least one previous mountain flying trip.
- have done a SIV course
We PREFER pilots that you:
- are flying an AXIS glider
- show potential to be an excellent XC or competition pilot

Kit requirements
You MUST have:
- third party insurance to 3 million €
- personal accident insurance (including repatriation) for paragliding in Europe
- a modern DHV 2/EN C or higher certified glider (certified or constructed
after 1 Jan 2004), or an AXIS EN B glider
- a reserve parachute
- a EN-certified helmet
- a modern GPS capable of recording a 3D tracklog
- a 2m radio
- warm clothes (it's very cold at 3000m!)
If you do not have any of the above then please tell the organisers before you arrive: reasonable efforts will be made to borrow kit on your behalf for the duration of the course. All the above will be checked at the start of the course. Anyone missing any of the above will immediately forfeit their share of the common costs and will be not be allowed to participate in the course.

Costs
Details coming soon.

Cancellation by the organisers
Two days before the course is due to start the organisers will check the weather forecast and make a final call as to whether the course will proceed or not. In the event of cancellation this will give the participants time to change their flights and their only cost will be their share of the publicly budgeted sunk costs.

Cancellation by the participant
If, for whatever reason, you are unable to attend the course then please tell the organisers as soon as possible. We will endeavour to find a replacement. If we can find a replacement then you then your initial up-front payment will be reimbursed (less costs). If a no suitable replacement can be found (at the discretion of the organisers) then only your share of the marginal costs will be reimbursed.

AXIS paragliders
AXIS Paragliders are ideal for mountain XC flying. Their high performance, agility, handling and solidity make them the choice of the top mountain pilots. AXIS paragliders have won the French XC league two years running. In fact, in 2007 all top three pilots in the French XC league flew AXIS paragliders, and in 2008 three of the top six, including, once again, the top two, chose AXIS. This performance, handling and solidity continues throughout the range, making AXIS the best choice for both the confirmed and the aspiring mountain pilot.
We will have demo gliders available for test during each event.

Are you already an experienced mountain pilot?
We want to develop the skills of upcoming pilots and if you're already an experienced mountain pilot then please drop us a line! It'd be great for you to fly alongside us for a day or two and to share your knowledge when we're in your area. We don't offer much more than a lift up to launch, but it won't cost you anything other than a bent ear over a beer in the landing field.

Interested...? Contact us as soon as possible so that we can gauge interest.