Intro to XC – Bassano

Is it for you?

This week is designed for pilots who have completed an SIV and want to use their current thermalling experience to start flying further.

We’ll cover everything from route planning to team flying so you can work together to stay up longer.

Our main goal is building your confidence in the air, helping you trust your decisions, commit to longer lines, and read unfamiliar terrain with ease. Working together as a group, we will cover:

• In-flight decision making: Reading the sky, choosing lines, and planning your next move.
• Team flying: Working with other pilots in your group to find lift faster and cover ground more efficiently.
• Flight planning: Building realistic, longer flight plans to help you rack up those kilometres.
• Landing out: Landing out with confidence so you can push your distance without hesitation.

About the trip

Bassano is a gentle ridge that hosts friendly launches, manageable lift and large grassy landing fields. A perfect destination for gaining airtime and to begin building the fundamentals of going cross country.

Monte Grappa sits on the edge of the southern alps and hosts a variety of 7 launches, sloping all the way down to Bassano Del Grappa, our closest town on the valley floor. Our south facing ridge runs east and west, giving plenty of opportunities to catch thermals along the main spines that connect to the Italian plains; where you can spot the coast and on a clear day, Venice. Making this playground a perfect mixture of mountain and flatland flying.

Whilst nowhere is guaranteed good weather, Bassano’s micro-climate is often protected from the bad weather in the bigger mountains, making it a reliable place to fly.

Trip schedule

The trip consists of 2 travel days at the start and end of the trip, with 6 days in between to fly. On arrival day after settling into our accommodation we’ll start with some briefings and kit preparations before heading out to dinner as a group.

The next morning after breakfast we’ll run through the weather and plan for the day before heading up to fly. We try to use as much of the flying window as possible so we are usually out all day. Finishing with a local aperol spritz to celebrate your days flying.

Requirements

• SIV experience
• 15+ hours (or will have by the time of the trip)
• IPPI4 card (If pilot rated with 50+ hours please apply for IPPI5 card)
• Own kit serviced to manufacture requirements, including a recently repacked reserve
• For the safety of you and the group, we maintain a strict no-exceptions policy regarding flying currency

Flights

We fly into Venice airport which is only an hour’s drive away from our accommodation.

Accommodation

We will be staying at Tilly’s. A hotel that’s mainly used by paragliding pilots and is only 5 minutes walk from our main landing field. The hotel has an onsite bar, restaurant and hosts an amazing buffet breakfast that won’t leave you disappointed.

Here are the room details:

• Standard Setup: Shared twin room with one other pilot
• Single Room Upgrades: You can upgrade to a private single room for an extra £280 for the week.

Please note: Because our rooms are booked in pairs, a single upgrade is only possible if your designated roommate also wants a single upgrade. Upgrade fees are due as soon as your private room booking is confirmed.

Cost

£1,300

The trip cost includes:

• Accommodation, based on two sharing
• Breakfast
• Airport transfers
• Transport to take-off
• Coaching and guiding

BOOKING

Contact us to book. Your place will only be confirmed once we receive your deposit of £350. The balance is due eight weeks before the trip.

Before booking please read our Terms & Policies.