Page 52 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019
P. 52

CANARY ISLANDS







                                                                                                            Islands in the Stream
                                                                                                            Looking for reliable flying with easy logistics?
                                                                                                            Check out the Canary Islands. The local

                                                                                                            tourism department is investing in a rebrand,
                                                                                                            promoting activity holidays and the free-flying
                                                                                                            infrastructure is getting a boost.
                                                                                                              Accommodation is easy, getting there and
                                                                                                            away is cheap, and the Atlantic trade winds
                                                                                                            will guarantee you weather conditions you
                                                                                                            can set your clock by. Each island has its own
                                                                                                            flavour of flying, from the beginner-friendly
                                                                                                            Gran Canaria to acro heaven El Hierro (see
                                                                                                            Théo de Blic’s Acro World on p68).
                                                                                                              It’s not only paragliding either, hang gliders
                                                                                                            have long flown here, taking advantage of the

                                                                                                            strong winds, smooth air and steep coastal
                                                                                                            cliffs to rack up hours of impressive flying.
                                                                                                            Paramotors will find themselves at home too.
                                                                                                              You can fly here all year, but autumn
                                                                                                            through to spring is most consistent. So if the
                                                                                                            sky is looking grey where you are, head to the
                                                                                                            blue in the Canaries.
                                                                                                            flyincanarias.com/theflyingislands
                                                                                                            Photo: Christian Fernández del Valle




         Gran Canaria

         There are seven main islands in the Canaries.
         Gran Canaria is the third largest. It has
         the roomy take-offs and gentle laminar
         conditions that make it ideal for low airtime
         pilots and complete beginners. There are
         schools teaching to the Spanish, German and
         Italian certification, with some instructors
         able to give tuition in English.
           The 40m training hill at Las Coloradas

         will get you in the air with your first bunny
         hops, then it’s off to Giles and Giles North at
         200m for simple soaring. Instructors boast
         that students can get through a whole set
         of course exercises in a day, and complete
         beginners clock up 10 hours’ soaring in their
         first 10 days. With massive take-off areas,
         launch is low stress, even if busy. Students

         can learn to top-land easily here.
           The wind blows steady 90% of days,
         and when it’s from the wrong direction
         alternative take-offs will get you airborne.
         flyincanarias.com
         Photo: Christian Fernández del Valle




         52     CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019  CANARIES
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