Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 12:December 2014 | Page 49

prefer that the group comes with an instructor, but they are friendly and approachable. It’s well worth contacting Dave and Rachel at Allez-Up to see what they suggest. Also, it’s worth contacting Alan Chauvet, a three-time French champion who runs high-level training courses along with his English-speaking colleagues. Bring the Family The tourist office is incredibly helpful to pilots in Laragne. Situated in the heart of town, they run a free shuttle to takeoff four days a week. Simply let them know the day before you need their service, and they’ll make sure the shuttle has a rack for your hang glider. Alternatively, there’s a shuttle from the campsite run by a rather charmless lady who charges about $10, but sometimes leaves pilots stranded. The tourist office can also help you find accommodations and recommend activities for family or bad-weather days. This includes great hiking, mountain biking, and swimming holes in a landscape reminiscent of Oregon. Getting There The nearest airport is Grenoble, but it’s a relatively small regional airport. From the US, you might find cheaper fares to Marseille, where there are also more car rental options. Fuel and motorway tolls are expensive in Europe, so you’ll save money by going for the smallest, most fuelefficient car you can cram into. Foreigners from outside Europe should ask about claiming back the sales tax on car rentals, before booking. Alain Chauvet. Advance training [email protected] Prevol Delta. Gear, school and local advice in St Hilaire www.prevoldelta.com Ellipse Delta. A possible lead for renting gear www.ellipse-delta.com Bernard Kurtz. Delta Sud. Gear and guiding [phone] [email protected] General info in English www.facebook.com/FlyLaragne Dave and Rachel. English speaking guides www.allez-up.com Campsite www.camping-monteglin.com Tourist Office www.tourisme-laragne.fr/en HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE 49