Parakite Club Pilot course

A new way into flying New

New for October 2026, and developed with the BHPA: our Parakite Training Course leads to the brand-new Parakite Club Pilot rating. It's built for anyone who wants to learn specifically to parakite, so you can skip the traditional paragliding hill training altogether.

Whether you're an experienced kitesurfer, a skydiver who already knows how to handle a canopy, or completely new to all of it, this route gets you flying faster. Already a paraglider pilot? We also run a conversion course for you.

What is a parakite?

A parakite is a type of paraglider: a foot-launched ram-air wing with a reflex profile and a dedicated control system. It isn't simply a small paraglider with unusual risers, and parakites aren't necessarily small.

On a paraglider you fly mainly with the brakes, which act on the trailing edge. On a parakite, an integrated control system changes the geometry of the risers, so you control the wing's angle of attack directly: slow and nose-up with the controls pulled, fast and nose-down with them let up, with the reflex profile keeping the wing stable. That gives a very wide speed range and a direct, dynamic feel that suits stronger coastal wind.

We teach the course on the coast, including Cornwall, choosing the site each day to suit the wind.

It's not all low-level wagas and foot-dragging along the beach, though. You can still soar gently like a paraglider, and the bigger wind range means far more flyable days.

Want the full picture first? Read our guide to parakiting in the UK: the BHPA rules and insurance, where to fly, rotor safety and choosing your first wing.

Three levels of wing

• Beginner: built for maximum passive safety, predictable behaviour and forgiving recovery, for students starting from scratch.
• Intermediate: for pilots with solid control, or paraglider pilots crossing over. This level is fine for experienced paraglider pilots.
• Advanced: for expert pilots who want high performance, speed and agility.

What you'll learn

• Ground handling: pre-flight checks, site assessment and equipment handling, including forward, reverse and cobra inflations. You'll learn to run with the canopy, launch in strong wind, land under control and depower the wing quickly so it doesn't drag you or reinflate.
• Flying: flying in stronger winds, understanding the wind window, and learning to fly with the parakite's control system.
• Theory: meteorology, principles of flight and air law, plus ridge rules, collision avoidance and soaring the coast in strong winds, so you can make safe decisions on your own.

When you pass you'll hold the BHPA Club Pilot rating for parakites, which lets you fly independently in a club environment. You also get full access to our e-learning platform.

Ready to buy your first parakite?

We provide all the kit you need for training. When you want your own, the Sky Riders shop has our recommended parakites at all three levels, and Sky Riders students get exclusive bundle discounts.