My friend John and I went to Colorado to explore. A local named Valerie suggested Vail Valley Paragliding[she basically suggested we go jump off a mountain, still trying to absorb if she liked us or not(j/k)]. We called David and Bob to set up a time. They worked with our schedule to set up a day that would work best for us. They told us verbally the directions, and they informed us of the directions on the website. The directions to the "meeting point" by the landing zone was 'spot on', on google maps, on my android T-mobile phone.(I'd like to point out here, that it is only about 10 minutes from Avon.) You get off of US-6 at Hillcrest Dr, take your first left on to Red Canyon Estates Rd, then drive about a mile until the road makes a hard right under I-70, directly a crossed from the hard right is a dirt road to the landing area.(only a couple hundred yards.)

Copy and paste this into your browser, and it will give you the google map from avon to the landing zone, which also is the meeting place.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Avon,+CO&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=39.656919,-106.626391&spn=0.024053,0.045447&sll=39.66746,-106.644368&sspn=0.001245,0.002111&geocode=FavAXAIdlJmm-SklizhJKHZqhzE-9739pTLdyw%3BFSxIXQIdtrqk-Q&oq=av&mra=ls&t=m&z=15

When we met David and Bob, they were laid back, but exceptionally friendly and most importantly, PROFESSIONAL. We filled out the necessary paperwork. They explained everything to us in terms we could understand. The safety of John and I was their biggest concern. The drive up to the launching point is scenic. The view at the launch point is phenomenal. While they were setting up the equipment, they showed us exactly what 'makes us fly'. They had cameras on small adjustable rods that we used during the flight.(I believe they will also allow you to use your own camera if you have a lanyard for your wrist, but i doubt they will be as good as the pictures you can take with their rod cameras.)They went over the procedures on how to launch, then we patiently waited for the perfect conditions to jump off a mountain. The view in flight was spectacular!!!! The ride is pretty smooth. The whole flight feels like 2 to 3 minutes, but it was more like 15 to 30 minutes.(even if it was 2 to 3 minutes, it is still worth it.) The landing is something like sliding into home plate in baseball. There is a airbag under your butt, that you land on. My suggestion to all whom attempt this; HAVE FUN, stay hydrated in Colorado, trust your instructor, wear tennis shoes, long pants, and a long sleeve shirt.

This was the perfect ending to a great trip. THANK YOU David & Bob.

Website:
Vailvalleyparagliding.com

Emails:
David@vailvalleyparagliding.com
paraglidevail@hotmail.com

If I said that I am terrified of heights, it would be the understatement of the year.

My wife wanted to do this and I grudgingly agreed to call these guys to inquire (nothing more). I called David 2 days before we were scheduled to be in Vail and he explained details to me - including the ideal time to do this for beginners and what would be involved etc. His calm demeanor gave me the confidence to at least show up and the decide if I wanted to do it.

We went to the landing site and saw the different instructors swoop in gracefully from the sky - got me excited, but the waiver forms only got me more anxious.

We drove up to the launch spot and I found a bench farthest away from the edge and sat down wondering what the heck I was doing there (though the words forming in my mind are unprintable).

Tom, the other instructor was constantly giving me encouragement and was explaining everything in greater detail. He realized my abject fear and actually ran with me as we were taking off. And then.......

WOW - what an incredible view - the flight was extremely smooth and the views spectacular. The harness and the seat made me much more comfortable. We had a fantastic run and the landing was awesome.

These guys are pros and I am VERY thankful to David and Tom for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Oh...and did I say that I am scared of heights !!!!

Get a birds eye view of a beautiful valley and mountains. An awesome experience that you don't want to miss. It was worth every penny. Tom and Dave were total professionals from start to finish. I would highly recommend to anyone.

I highly recommend paragliding with Dave and Greg. From the moment I called to inquire about the experience to the final landing, I felt safe and trusted the individuals in this company. It was a dream that I had, yet didn't discover the courage until I met them. With professionallism, passion and focus on the client, this company is exceptional. The experience was powerful, the views breathtaking and the memories are heartfelt.