Why the sky gets the final say.
The short course in paragliding weather, for passengers.
Paragliders fly in light to moderate wind blowing up the slope, with no rain, low cloud or thunderstorms nearby. The pilot checks the forecasts before the flight and the real conditions again at takeoff, and only flies when both look good.
Wind
A paraglider takes off into the wind, so the wind has to blow up the slope we launch from. Too strong or too gusty, and we wait or go elsewhere. That's why I choose the mountain once I see the forecast, not when you book.
Thermals
When the sun warms the ground, bubbles of warm air rise. Pilots use these thermals to climb and fly longer. They're strongest in spring and summer. When there are none, the flight is a calm glide down to the valley.
Clouds and storms
Small, flat-bottomed cumulus clouds are a sign of good thermals. Clouds that grow tall in the afternoon can turn into thunderstorms, so on summer days we fly earlier or later.
Rain and low cloud
A wet wing flies badly, and a mountain in the clouds has no view. We don't fly in either.
Two Slovenian specials
- The foehn: a strong, dry wind pouring over the Alps from the north. Clear skies, but turbulent air. No flying.
- The bora (burja): a strong, gusty wind in the Vipava Valley and on the Karst. No flying at Kovk; we switch to Gorenjska.
How I decide
I watch the forecasts and tell you the place and time when the conditions look good. At takeoff the real wind has the last word: if it's not right, we wait or pick another day. You pay only after a flight, so a cancelled one costs you nothing.
Every season flies differently, and every one is good: the best time to fly.