Why Paragliding?

Have you ever dreamed of flying?

It isn’t just a dream, it is possible!!

draGOnFLYsister Canada

Paragliding is the newest form of personal flight with a simple and light cloth wing, under which a pilot sits in a harness attached to the canopy, controlling it in a comfortable position. The canopy is handled by two toggles, which are attached to the wing by special lines that control the direction and speed. A wing is relatively light and can be packed into a backpack to make it comfortable and easy to hike, travel and store. 

Paragliding is suited for everybody regardless of age and gender. 

Learning to fly is a lifetime investment and paragliding is relatively easy to learn, but pilots must practice their flying skills for cross-country and longer flights. There are many sites to safely practice paragliding in Canada.

TANDEM * Guide * Private Instruction * Progression Camp * Women’s Workshops

Download forms:

• DFS Registration form

• DFS WAIVER FORM

• SCHOOL POLICIES OF “draGOnFLYsister Canada”

• HPAC waiver form

• HPAC/ACVL APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP and MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

• HPAC / ACVL STUDY GUIDE FOR THE HAGAR EXAMINATION VERSION 3.1

draGOnFLYsister Canada

is entirely focused on training with safety, competence, hands-on experience and confidence of the pilots.

draGOnFLYsister is a bilingual Paragliding +Wilderness Adventure School offering tandem/ paragliding/ snowkiting/ whitewater expeditions for any adventurers but focused on women, operating across Canada and Internationally.

DFS offers a range of different courses and expeditions, from one-day introduction classes to certification courses and advanced clinics, plus instruction in manoeuvres, thermal and cross-country flights. The instructor student ratio is a maximum of 6 students for high quality, personalized instruction and is offered in both French and English.

Whether your goals are to further your certification or improve your flight skills for your own enjoyment, DFS can help you get you into the sky. DFS specializes in helping students become life-long learners; independent thinkers and problem solvers, helping them become positive, energetic, self-motivated and self-directed individuals. All participants in our courses, clinics, workshops and camps work through a

structured and safe progression from entry level to autonomous competence.

Due to our belief in fuelling a life beyond walls, each student walking into the draGOnFLYsister learning environment starts off with their own unique history, distinct personality, special set of abilities, and individual requirements to fulfill their own definition of success. We share the benefits of hands-on learning experiences in order to provide inspiration for students through active engagement in the course material. Experience-based learning opportunities will enhance their abilities to cope with real life situations & to become confident life-long pilots. 

Outdoor learning provides students with numerous experiential life-changing opportunities, and learning paragliding challenges learners in unique ways. Locations for the paragliding courses will be handpicked from numerous locations in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, B.C., Alberta and Québec, in order to offer prime paragliding experiences, as well as snowkiting, whitewater and ocean expeditions, whatever the wind and water may bring. The goal is to have a fun adventure while maximizing safety on water, on the ground and in the air, and at the same time protecting and caring for the environment, leading people back into nature to better understand the interconnectedness of it all.

TANDEM PARAGLIDING

 Tandem Flights are the fastest and easiest way to experience paragliding and have fun! Running a few feet, you can take-off with a HPAC certified tandem pilot, and see if this sport is right for you. The instructor will briefly explain  how to be a bird before take-off. $300.00

LEARN TO FLY

ONE-DAY LESSON PROGRAM

This is the shortest lesson package among many courses offered by the school. It is to let you experience and discover the feeling of flying through a full day of training.

Lesson starts with:

• The basic mechanics of paragliding, covering equipment, basic glider control, and the flight plan for the day. The students will practice inflating +controlling the glider on the ground, + learn launching sequences, landing + some steering skills supervised by the instructor.

• Usually, many students start to feel confident at the stage and are surprised by the progress they are making in paragliding. After completing the Basic Course please discuss the options of purchasing gear vs. renting, with your instructor. $325.00 personne/per day + equipment included

P1 TRAINING

To obtain a novice paraglider pilot's license

• Pre-requisites: no pre-requisites required

• P1 NOVICE REQUIREMENTS - GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A P1 Student pilot has the knowledge and basic skills necessary to fly and practice under direct instructor supervision and within significant operating limitations. The pilot understands the HPAC/ACVL paragliding rating systems and recommended operating limitations. $2 000

  1. Practical Skills (6 solo flights)

  2. Theoretical Knowledge

  3. Safety & Risk Management

• HPAC/ACVL P1 Exam

P2 TRAINING

• Prerequisites: P1 Beginner Qualification

• P2 NOVICE REQUIREMENTS - GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Novice rated pilots have the knowledge and basic skills necessary to fly and practice without direct instructor supervision. The pilot understands the HPAC/ACVL rating system and recommended operating limitations. Pilots must demonstrate Beginner level skills and knowledge before obtaining the Novice rating. All witnessed flights must be pre-planned by the pilot and discussed with the Instructor/Apprentice Instructor. $2 500 (10% discount when signing up for P1 + P2 & an additional $500 discount when purchasing a complete paragliding set up at DFS)

• HPAC/ACVL Instructor Recommendation.

• Pass HPAC P2 Written Exam

• Meet Practical Skill Requirements (listed below)

• 25 solo flights

• Must have at least one Endorsement/Sign-off(s)

  thermal

  coastal soaring

  towing

  SIV

• This includes the P2 Novice HPAC written exam

PRIVATE COACHING (one on one):

• All day: $250 per person/per day 

• Focused on safety, learn what Paragliding is in all of its beauty.

• Treat yourself to a lesson just for you and get exactly what you want out of your lesson and all the tips you need and get answers to the questions you’ve been asking yourself!

SEMI-PRIVATE (2 people)

• $225 per person/per day ($450.00)

• Be the best 2 students in the class! Learn to fly with a favorite buddy/person, spouse, or family member.

  Take home flying stories and memories that will last!

FAMILY+SMALL GROUP PRIVATE:

• $200 per person/per day (minimum of 3 people/$600) 

• Learn from another while you learn with each other! 

• Get your friends involved and share your passion for flying with them!

WEEKEND WARRIOR CAMP (2days)

• ($495 5hrs/per day) This weekend camp is for anyone who wants to become a better pilot and needs to brush off on some groundwork and air skills but can only get the weekend off!

PROGRESSION CAMP (3 days)

• ($595 5 hrs/per day) Get ready to SPREAD YOUR WINGS! This camp is designed for anyone who wants to become a better pilot. 3hr session in the morning + 2hr radio supervised in the afternoon, this 3-day camp will hone your skills from novice to more skilful and confident pilot.

YOUTH CAMP

• 2 day $495: 5hrs/per day

CAMPS ABROAD/International Paragliding Guided Tours: 

• Cost to be determined according to group size and destination.

4GIRLS/WOMEN SPECIFIC

• Paragliding Instruction: COURSES/WORKSHOPS/CAMPS (2 day $495/ 5hrs per day)

What Makes DragonFLY Unique?

Focus on women:

 A school of this nature spearheaded by an experienced, passionate and bilingual woman will help to facilitate and cultivate a greater representation of women in adventure sports, specifically paragliding. 

The estimated community of women pilots is small, and DFS is aiming to be a global leader in driving the introduction of women to this sport, building safe entry points through progression clinics for women. 

Our goals are to empower, inspire, support and increase the participation of any participants but especially girls and women in the world of outdoor adventure sports.

We want to build a community of women pilots and support the growth of this community through a shared knowledge and passion for flying and adventure sports. Students will not only learn to fly, they will also gain knowledge of where and when to fly in Canada, how to create opportunities to meet other pilots, while meeting new and long lasting friends.

Karen Girouard is one of the few Canadian female pilots guiding and instructing in the outdoors and a minority as a Francophone woman. Her love and passion for water and wind have grown stronger over the years along with her experience, and this is why she is uniquely qualified to be at the helm of DragonFLYsister.