The Cloud 9 Paragliding School

Ask any of our hundreds of students: the Cloud 9 Paragliding School is utterly dedicated to creating the perfect learning experience for our students. Our staff of instructors is composed entirely of pilots who love teaching as much as they love the sport -- and that's saying something.

We are the nation's largest paragliding school, and that distinction carries with it many benefits for our students: for example, Cloud 9 Paragliding is the only school in Utah to offer lessons 7 days a week, year-round. (Don't worry about the cold: winter is an excellent time to learn to paraglide!) The expansive Cloud 9 Store is another benefit: we're dealers for many brands of paragliders and accessories, so we're able to offer the best prices possible to our students when they're ready to pick up their own gear.

Physical Requirements

While paragliding is a fairly mellow sport meant to be enjoyed by all ages, training can be pretty rigorous and we want to make sure your body is up for it. We want to spread the joy of free flight with everyone, but we don't want to break you! Below are a few ways to check if paragliding is right for you:

• Endurance: Hiking up and down the hill is a big part of training, particularly the first few days. Can you hike up a steep hill? Can you run back down it? Can you move around actively for 2-3 hours while kiting? We allow as many breaks as you need, of course, but we want to make sure you get the most out of your training.
• Landings: A perfect landing is like stepping off one stair and landing on your tip-toes. However, it takes practice to get those landings dialed in, and if you time incorrectly, it can be a little rougher. Can you jump off a few stairs and handle the shock? Can your knees and joints take a few rough landings or tumbles?
• Scuffs and Bruises: Training bruises are a mark of pride, so make sure your body is able to handle them. 99% of our students will get bruises on their arms and stomachs from leaning forward against the risers or in the harness for an extended period of time. This is perfectly normal and goes away after your training. You may also trip and fall during a landing or while kiting. Make sure your body is equipped to handle such things.

If the answer to all these things is yes, keep reading! If not, maybe try a tandem flight to experience paragliding, or reach out to us and we can help you find a more accessible option(i.e. Trikes and Chairs).

The Point of the Mountain: Our Training Grounds

Cloud 9 Paragliding has the privilege of teaching at the premier training site in the country: The Point of the Mountain Flight Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pilots come from around the world to experience the smooth air, predictable weather and consistent ridge-soaring conditions at the Point. In the mornings the wind normally blows from the South, so most lessons are taught on the South Side. In the afternoon, the winds normally switch to blow from the North, so we fly our PM sessions on the North Side. Both sites are stupendously convenient, with spacious parking lots, room for tent camping, food and fuel close-at-hand, and drive-up access. (The latter is, as seasoned pilots will tell you, a huge bonus: no hiking the hill for each flight!) Due to the unique conditions at the Point of the Mountain Flight Park, flights of several hours are very common here.

What to Expect

The morning of each lesson we will meet at the Point of the Mountain to plan each day's activities. Meeting times vary depending on the time of year. Morning lessons go from just after sunrise for  2-3 hours (or in the event that weather conditions shut us down).

Join us for our Ground School classes! See our schedule here:

It's important for each student to:

• Bring plenty of water and snacks
• Wear long pants and ankle-supporting boots/shoes
• Gloves and extra layers are nice to have on cooler days
• Call ASAP in the event of lateness or cancellation (You can call the shop during business hours or text us any time: 801-576-6460)

Introductory lessons are taught in the mornings 7 days a week by appointment. The lesson begins on the South Side just after sunrise and will last about 3 hours. Following a brief orientation, students will learn how to set up their glider followed by launching and landing on a gentle slope. It is typical for students to have 3-6 low level flights off of our "bunny hill" during this lesson. The price of the lesson is applied to any of the packages if you decide to continue with your certification. It is a great way for anyone in good physical condition and 18 years or older to get a feel for paragliding.

Ready to Sign Up?