We have joined together with Sky Club Austria to bring you a whole series of courses and opportunities in The Schladming Valley.

Sky Club Austria is the biggest school in Austria and, under the watchful eye of Walter Schrempf, has been teaching pilots from all over Europe since Paragliding began. Their school is based in Moosheim at one end of the valley, and can be seen in the picture near the landing field.

This partnership means that we have full access to all their flying sites, in both valleys and even an instructor to guide us around so that we don't miss out on any flying opportunities.

Cable cars that go up just about every mountain and take off's less than 100 yards from where they drop you off, could things get any better. Well, yes they can. The landing fields are only a few hundred yards from the bottom of the same cable cars. A weekly pass on all the valley's cable cars means that no sooner have you packed up your glider in the landing area you are on your way back up for another flight.

So, Why the Schladming Valley.

Apart from the cable cars mentioned earlier, most of the hills are smooth and grass covered with nice slopes making take off a doddle. Multiple take off's covering every wind direction with varying heights from a few hundred feet all the way up to the Dachstein Mountain at nearly 9,000 for the very brave.

All this means lots of time in the air even if you just end up doing a top to bottom.

The Dachstein Mountain.

This mountain is so impressive for Cross Country pilots that Red Bull actualy chose it as the start for their 800km cross alps competition. Competitors from all over the world got together in July to race from the Dachstein to Monaco using their gliders or their legs. One of the hardest paragliding competitions in the world mixes paragliding skill with fitness and endurance. Imagine what you could do if all you want is to practice your Cross country's.

Check out the Red Bull Web site at www.redbullxalps.com