A week at the foot of the Dune du Pilat, also written Pyla, facing the Arcachon basin: three days of ground-handling sessions with the Waggas School, in an exclusive partnership with Ailéments, to master your wing in the wind, then two days flying with Pierrot. €650 for the course alone, €900 with the shuttle from Gréolières.
Sand and windThe Dune du Pilat is the highest dune in Europe. The sand and the steady wind make it a training ground for developing a feel for your wing, the basis of safety in flight: this is where the Waggas School, the dune's school, specialists in piloting in the wind since 2003, works.
This paragliding course at the Dune du Pilat is for pilots who have done a beginner course, and beyond. Everyone progresses on the step that matches their level, from reverse inflation to waggas, with their own wing.
In this guide: the next dates, the week day by day, the ground-handling programme, prices and the shuttle, the conditions and your questions.
Dates, prices, places left and free seats in the shuttle, taken from our course schedule. A session is confirmed from 5 participants.
A stay of at least one week, including the journey there and back: three days of sessions with the Waggas School, then two days flying with Pierrot.
With the shuttle, departure from Gréolières in the morning by minibus, your wing travels with you. Without the shuttle, you make your own way to Pyla-sur-Mer.
Three days of ground-handling sessions with the Waggas School, with exercises chosen to suit your level. Each session lasts 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the wind; it is filmed, then analysed for 1 h 30: a personalised video debrief and technical explanations, to see what you have mastered and what still needs work. Meetings and debriefs take place at the Camping de la Dune, in Pyla-sur-Mer.
These two days are also part of the course: with the sessions over, you fly with Pierrot, on your own wing, and take into the air what you have worked on the ground. The plan follows the wind.
With the shuttle, back to Gréolières in the evening. Late-afternoon flights, on session days, are outside the course, on your own, under each pilot's responsibility.
During the three days of sessions, each session starts with exercises set according to your level. On-site briefings included.
For pilots fresh from a beginner course or not yet comfortable with inflation: preparation, pre-inflation, inflation, static phase and collapsing the wing, with the right postures. You learn to handle the wing in the wind, hold a heading and move around without losing it.
For pilots already comfortable facing their wing: static window edges (the cobra), then dynamic ones while moving across the ground. You control the asymmetric phases of the wing, your trajectories and body positions, the basis of paragliding piloting.
For pilots comfortable in the wind, independent in the air and in good physical shape: barefoot to the right and left, ground-air and air-ground transitions, flight-ground-flight sequences, turning the wing over. Playing close to the ground also sharpens the reflexes useful for the wing over.
With the shuttle, the course costs €900: return trip by minibus from the school, your wing travels with you. Only 6 seats, subject to availability. Without the shuttle, the course only costs €650.
Not included: accommodation, meals and the FFVL licence (compulsory, to take out with the federation). For accommodation, we send you our addresses at the foot of the dune and in La Teste-de-Buch.
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The course is for pilots who have done at least one beginner course. Without any solo flight yet, start with the beginner course. 10 pilots at most, aged 14 to 55 (above that, we check together by phone), 30 to 90 kg.
Everyone brings their own wing: it is not provided for this course. If you do not have one yet, the progression paragliding course uses our equipment.
Same rules as our other paragliding courses: a 25% deposit by bank transfer when you sign up, session confirmed from 5 participants (below that, waiting list with no deposit), decision 4 days before, balance on site.
Playing with your wing on the sand of the dune.
Price, level, shuttle, wing, duration, flights and accommodation.
€650 for the course only, or €900 with the return shuttle from Gréolières (6 seats, subject to availability). Accommodation, meals and the FFVL licence are not included.
Having done at least one beginner course. Everyone progresses on the step that matches their level, from reverse inflation to waggas. Without any solo flight yet, start with a beginner course.
At least one week, including the journey there and back, with five days of course: three days of ground-handling sessions with the Waggas School, then two days flying with Pierrot. Each ground session lasts 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the wind.
With the shuttle: departure from Gréolières by minibus on the first morning, return on the last evening, your wing travels with you. Otherwise, you make your own way to Pyla-sur-Mer.
Yes: everyone brings their own wing, it is not provided for this course.
Yes. The two days flying with Pierrot are part of the course. On session days, late-afternoon flights are outside the course, on your own, under each pilot's responsibility.
Accommodation is not included: we send you our addresses at the foot of the dune and in La Teste-de-Buch.
Like our other courses: a 25% deposit by bank transfer when you sign up, session confirmed from 5 participants (below that, waiting list with no deposit), decision 4 days before and balance on site.
Four pointers before signing up.
Including three days of ground-handling sessions with the Waggas School, then two days flying with Pierrot.
Course only, or with the shuttle from Gréolières (6 seats).
With your own wing, 10 pilots at most.
Accommodation, meals and the FFVL licence; we give you our addresses.
