I just finished getting my P2 certification with Penguin Paragliding and I cannot recommend this school, and the main instructors Rob and Mike, highly enough. When picking a school most important to me was safety, in which Penguin excels. Their equipment is modern and well maintained (in fact Mike is a local authority on equipment configuration and maintenance). There is always at most a few students per instructor so they can make sure everyone gets the attention they need. They never hesitate to modify or cancel class if unsafe conditions exist. Like most people I don't have a very flexible schedule so the convenience of Penguin holding classes every day except during scheduled closures is the only way I could have ever achieved my P2. It also shows the passion that the instructors have for teaching as well as paragliding. The education and support you get is comprehensive: skills, theory, site etiquette, help purchasing and maintaining your gear... everything you need to feel confident you'll be able to continue to fly after graduating. There is a strong emphasis on including you in the Penguin community. After graduating you will always have people to fly with, to practice with, and to ask for advice. This is important because for safety reasons you shouldn't paraglide alone. Finally I want to say something about paragliding itself. It is the most minimalist and elegant way to fly. There are no engines, lines, airports, tickets, etc. You just hike to the top of a hill, pull your wing out of your backpack, and fly like a bird. It's one of the most exhilarating and freeing experiences I have ever had. read more

Penguin Paragliding - This is really me! - Paragliding Near Me

The level of support, guidance, coaching and structure you get in this school far passed my expectations. I really felt supported through out the process of getting my P2. Even on low days you feel they are so patient. I love how Rob, Mike and all the instructors are so sharp and present with everyone on their journey. Penguin School goes beyond school, it's with a community of people who have people to fly with throughout their entire flying journey -- and that is very comforting (esp. for new pilots). I also love that they create local flying days for students/P2 riders and global week long trips to further their flying journey! :) read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

Amazing school and amazing instructors with a true focus on safety and community. Can't recommend becoming a penguin enough! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding at blue rock. - Paragliding Near Me

Absolutely incredible experience and highly recommend for anyone interested in paragliding! Rob and all of the instructors are very good at guiding you through your growth and learning path and went above and beyond to ensure I had a great experience and learned as much as possible. I feel a lot more confident as a recently graduated pilot in being able to stay safe and have fun in the sky. I will be continually returning to this school to continue my progression as a pilot. Rob was also very helpful in helping me decide on the gear right for me (harness and wing) and I am super happy with these choices! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Blue Rock flight - Paragliding Near Me

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If you ever contemplate to experience flying like an eagle, this is the place to go to! Rob and Mike together with their team of coaches will provide you with an exceptional, safe environment to learn this sport! Try it out, you will not regret it. If I could give 10 stars, I would! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

I've had a great experience working with the folks at Penguin Paragliding--particularly Rob and Mike--over the past month to earn my P2 certification. All of the instructors are patient and knowledgeable, and it's impressive how well-organized the group is. As many others have noted in their reviews, Penguin has built an incredible (and extensive) community around their school. This provides a built-in support network and a way to continue growing and learning for years to come. In addition to the community in Northern California, the Penguin crew is also well-connected both regionally and globally. I feel grateful to have found a paragliding school so close to home that offers so much. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about getting into the sport. read more

I had an amazing time learning to paraglide with Penguin Paragliding school. From the very beginning, everything felt incredibly professional and well organized. I always felt very safe, which is so important when you're trying something new and adventurous like this. Instructors Rob and Mike (and the whole crew) were outstanding. They're very experienced and knowledgeable, and they made sure everyone was comfortable, confident, and having fun. Their learning system is working incredibly well. If you're thinking about getting into this exciting sport, I can't recommend this school enough. You'll be in the best hands! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Supervised flight - Paragliding Near Me

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From the first day to graduation day penguin paragliding was a pleasure to learn paragliding with! I love the flexibility to my schedule and the low pressure environment. Rob and Mike are great as well as all of the other instructors that are always there when you need them! This is not just a class to get your paragliding license it's a community as well. I highly recommend Penguin Paragliding! read more

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Penguin Paragliding is more than a paragliding school, it's a whole community with hundreds of amazing people. I am so glad I became a part of this community. Rob and Mike are fantastic teachers - very knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced. They're great at explaining things, calm at all times, and fun to be around. For anyone on the fence about trying paragliding - come for one day and see it for yourself. read more

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If you're thinking about it, def give it a try and do the intro day, you won't regret it! Rob, Mike and the entire instructor team is incredible! My partner and I learned paragliding first in India when visiting. The conditions were mellow and there was almost no focus on ground handling. Once we came back to the Bay Area, we realized that we weren't capable of flying these conditions. We reached out to Rob hoping to get an intro day, and he replied almost instantly. The material is very well structured, the scheduling well organized, and communication is super timely. Rob also let us know early on the importance of getting set up with our own gear and helped us choose the right set up. Having gear has been a game changer in terms of practicing outside of classes which is super helpful. There's plenty of focus on ground handling and ensuring that pilot feels prepared with the conditions before a long flight. All in all, everyone is clutch, super helpful, very knowledgeable, and everyone maintains a great positive attitude which makes learning so much fun and something I look forward to! Highly recommend Penguin paragliding and the extremely thankful to the coaching team! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

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Penguin Paragliding is a top notch paragliding school here in the bay area. I recently completed my P2 training with them. The thought and effort put into all aspects of learning how to safely and effectively fly a paraglider is truly amazing. Rob Black and Mike McCook year's of experience is immediately apparent as is the rest of the instructor staff. Rob and Mike's communication style is very open and encouraging, they are very patient with all students, and genuinely do this for the love of flying and teaching. They quickly make you feel comfortable and part of the wonderful community. They have put a lot of time into making the whole experience enjoyable and very efficient from their always on communications, content tools, as well as the really nice training sites both for flight training and kiting. They've built out a really good step by step learning process combined with digital resources to help students manage their progress, ensure they are on track for the curriculum they have built, and follow along with USHPA's guidelines as well. Rob and Mike are also paragliding equipment experts, their training fleet is very modern, and they also stock new equipment that makes purchasing and local maintenance super easy and cost effective. Also in addition to the P2 rating, they offer and lead additional ratings and clinics as well as flying trips, or just come back and hang out and fly with them during local training days. I highly recommend talking to Rob or Mike if you are considering learning how to fly paragliders and 1000% recommend Penguin as the right team and place to learn here in the bay area. Thank you Rob and Team!! read more

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I can't say enough good things about Penguin Paragliding. Rob and Mike are professional and safe instructors but also make it a super fun learning experience. They clearly put a lot of thought into creating lesson plans for each student so that we maximize our time on the training hill and at all times I felt like I was in good hands in terms of being safe and making progress. They've also cultivated a supportive community of students and former students that keep you motivated to keep learning and then have new friends to fly with afterward. They'll also keep helping as you progress past your P2 which is so important since there is so much to learn in the sport. read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

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I had the pleasure of obtaining my P2 (novice) paragliding certification through Penquin Paragliding recently. My experience with Penquin was and is a fantastic one! The penquin phone app not only keeps track of your progress through flight school, but also has a wealth of knowledge included. The certification process was really exciting, organized and I felt safe throughout the entire course. Rob, the owner of Penquin, Mike, Penquin's lead instructor and all of the instructor staff make Penquin THE premier paragliding school and I'm proud to say that I'm a Penguin. If you've been thinking or dreaming of flying, make the phone call or email Penquin now and start your own amazing experience of flight. You will be happy that you did. read more

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You won't find a more supportive and safety focused paragliding school. Rob and Mike are dedicated to their students' success and have a very thorough and thoughtful training program. Additionally they have built and maintain a very active and supportive community. I'm so happy I found them and have been able to be their student. If you are visiting or live in the SF Bay area you won't find a better place to learn how to paraglide. read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

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Penguin Paragliding has easily been the best, and most rewarding educational experience of my life. As a birthday gift to myself I signed up for the P2 certification course, which for a flat fee includes unlimited classes until you can be confidently signed off as a P2 pilot. Classes were available almost every single day of the week (weather permitting), and every session I attended was packed with high quality, one-on-one hands-on training. I was primarily taught by Rob, Mike and Galen; all of whom are not only expert pilots, but supremely patient and caring instructors. They exude passion for the sport and it's clear that they really enjoy teaching their students. I tend to ask a lot of questions, and for every one they would spend considerable time answering, explaining even demonstrating complex topics. Paragliding is by no means intuitive, but over the months they were able to instill me with confidence in my abilities and a keen awareness for safety. I've never done anything like paragliding before, so I was surprised at how fast my progression was. On the first day I actually did a couple flights off a small hill, and after a few months of regular attendance I was launching off 3,000ft mountains, riding thermals and soaring along ridges. Rob talked me through the myriad of equipment choices, made personalized recommendations, and sold me a complete kit at a considerable discount compared to online retailers. Now I'm able to pack a literal aircraft in my car, drive to a site and fly with my new Penguin friends. All in all, I would seriously doubt that there's a better paragliding school on the planet. I feel incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon Penguin just by chance. If you're even remotely curious about paragliding, I'd highly recommend just signing up for the introductory day or even getting a tandem flight from one of the instructors. For all of history humans have dreamed about being able to fly like a bird - we now live in a time where that's not only possible, but easily accessible thanks to Penguin Paragliding. read more

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Let me start this off by saying that I'm a particularly challenging person to coach. I've taught myself many adventure sports solely by learning. It's easier for me to learn by doing than by instruction. Having said that, Rob and the other Penguin guys are the absolute greatest. They have a handful of people helping them, so you get a nice mix of people and there's always someone to match your learning and instruction style. They're very patient, even if you happen to get frustrated. But I think what's truly incredible is the amount of support you get after the instruction. I don't live in the area, but I've already traveled back specifically to fly the locations and hang with the guys. They fixed a buddy's ripped wing within two hours so that we could keep flying through the weekend. They answer your texts and calls with questions about gear, flying, tips, or whatever it might be. I truly can't recommend these guys enough. if you were looking to get your license or just test the sport, this is 100% your place. read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

Penguin Paragliding, what can I say? My Penguin Paragliding Training experience was priceless! The goal was to earn my P2 License, however the enjoyment I had in the process was unexpected. Rob and Mike provide guidance and support to help me learn this incredible sport. The emphasis is on safety first, with the reminder that you are ultimately the pilot in charge. A sense of community is felt at every training session. Helping hands are abundant and appreciated. Thank you Anthony, Tomas, Kelly, and G for your patience and presence. I look forward to many years of flying with these amazing people! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Channing site - Paragliding Near Me

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Had An amazing experience learning and trialing with Rob, Mike and other instructors at Penguin Paragliding. Got my P2 today and it was an incredible experience. They are professional, safe, lot of fun and will adjust based on your skill level. Emphasis a lot of the basics kiting skills during the training, but then my first flight ever was solo right off the bad and they walked me through on the radio. I got hooked and continued on to finish. Looking forward to growing with the community of Penguin pilots. Highly recommended and take the first lesson to experience it for yourself. read more

My partner and I stumbled onto Penguin Paragliding back in June. At the time we had no idea what we were getting in to. We just signed up, starting our paragliding adventure! Today, we're both P2s and had our first ridge soar. To say joining Penguin Paragliding is the best decision we've ever made is an understatement. The amount of support and encouragement you receive from the instructors, including Rob, Mike, Herman and everyone else involved in our community is enormous. When you join the penguins, you're really joining a family. We're a huge network of people from across the globe! Now my partner and I are looking forward to a trip in Colombia with many other fellow penguins. How was I afraid of heights just a 6 months ago!? It's incredible what adventures you can have when you stop limiting yourself to the ground. read more

Penguin Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

Just got back from a international trip with Penguin and it couldn't have gone any better. The fact that I didn't have to worry about anything after getting there was great. The other pilots and family on the trip were amazing people and everyone helped as needed and offered advice on flying, etc. This is my kind of adventure, low key, no real rush and Rob and Flo were amazing hosts. The amount of energy that Penguin put into the trip can not be overstated, everything from the airport pickup to the airport dropoff was covered and the flexibility of the group was appreciated since you can't control the weather. read more

After having received my paragliding training in Utah a year ago, I moved to California and promptly broke my arm. After not flying for 8 months, I knew I needed a refresher and reached out to Penguin Paragliding. Rob and the Penguin team were very professional and responsive. We hiked up, covered the nuances of the Blue Rock flying site, and launched for a gorgeous sunset flight at Blue Rock Vallejo! It was great to be airborne again and have renewed confidence in myself and my gear! Rob even snapped some pictures of me while I was airborne to remember the day by! Service received: Refresher Positives: Flying site, professionalism of team, value, helped get me integrated to the community Negatives: None! read more

Penguin Paragliding - Sunset flying at Blue Rock Vallejo - Paragliding Near Me

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If you want to learn to Paraglide, this is absolutely the place to do it. Rob, Mike and the team of instructors are incredibly talented and dedicated to making sure students learn safely and thoroughly. They build a community where your able to connect with other pilots so that once you graduate and start to fly on your own you have a built in social network of people to fly with and train with. I am so happy I chose this school to begin my paragliding journey! read more

Penguin Paragliding - kiting at river park - Paragliding Near Me

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There is not a better school in the Bay Area and here's why... I started elsewhere, have witnessed other schools, and none come close. As a Penguin you are welcomed to a community of support with multiple instructors and can take all the time you need to progress. Rob had 15yrs high school teaching experience before he switched to PG, so he is not just a skilled pilot but a passionate and experienced instructor. As you do your research, ask other potential schools how many instructors you'll train with to gain different perspectives (I experienced 4), how many groups go out each day so you're with similarly-skilled individuals (avg 3), instructor ratios (3:1 average, max 5:1) how many sites you might fly (I experienced 6 different launches, 8 if weather had permitted), and what their plans for supporting you after you get your P2 is (as a Penguin it's extensive). No one gives as much attention (I had multiple days where four instructors helped me), makes you a part of their community, gives you as much variation in flying and kiting, or is as friendly and patient as Rob, Mike, Galen, and Joel. Your #1 priority is learning to be a safe pilot. As a Penguin you gain more than the required knowledge to pass the P2 test. So many others schools were not providing their students with fundamental understandings beyond what was on the P2 checklist (e.g. how to assess when not to take off is arguably more important than how to take off). I could go on forever... become a Penguin you will not regret it. read more

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I think what you want in a paragliding school is a place where you can learn from the best in a supportive environment. For me, Penguin Paragliding was exactly that. I really appreciate Rob's and Mike's approach. If there were a six-star option, I would click it. read more

Penguin Paragliding - Kiting in Vallejo - Paragliding Near Me

I really loved learning to fly paragliders with the Penguins. The instructors are patient, supportive, and care a lot about their students. The program is thorough and leaves new pilots prepared to fly safely and confidently once they graduate. The logistics are great, with training available almost every day. And the school promotes community among students and graduates. I would 100% choose this school again. Thanks so much! read more

I asked my skydiving community to recommend a school for paragliding and the unanimous answer, without hesitation was "Penguin Paragliding". Every step of my training was a great experience and I would choose Penguin paragliding every single time if I had to do it again. I just returned from the annual guided trip to Colombia (my first trip out of the USA) and I can't even put into words how much that trip meant to me. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to fly, hike, eat, laugh, and become rum connoisseurs with. In just 11 days I forged friendships that will last a lifetime and experiences that have left me hungry for more. My warning to you is: BE CAREFUL. One Colombian paragliding vacation with Penguin, and you might sell all your belongings, quit your job and move 3700 miles from home to fly your ass off year round. Who's comin with me? read more

Penguin is the place to learn Paragliding in the Bay Area. You'll find thoughtful and caring instructors in Rob and Mike, and even after you're 'done' you'll be welcomed into the amazing community they've built. I can't recommend them enough. read more

I went to Rob's school on a recommendation and I'm very glad I did! Rob really built a community of pilots in the Bay Area - which you will be part of during and after training. Make the most of it! That being said - here's some tips: - Keep a flight log from the start. Record day, number of flights, conditions, wing you flew, what type of launch you did, notes, learnings, etc. These will be helpful and even necessary if you pursue higher paragliding ratings. A spreadsheet works well for this. - Find time for classes. While doing just weekends is okay - it's best if you can immerse yourself a couple days in a row. If that's not possible, practice ground handling during your non-class days - Record dates of when and what you did during ground school - Do an introductory day before you commit - If you do commit, get your own gear as soon as you can - Be active in the community! - The P2 test is timed - sit down and do it in one go with no distractions! read more

Getting my P2+ license through Penguin Paragliding was a remarkable experience. You're not only paying for the A+ training from Rob and his team, you're getting access to a community of flyers who lean on each other to continue to grow in the sport after you obtain your entry license. The entire penguin community is fantastic and super helpful. The training itself can be as fast paced or a slow as you want it to be, Rob doesn't limit you to a certain number of sessions in his P2 program -- he truly cares about taking the time to instill safety, knowledge and skill into his students to ensure they are adequately prepared for taking on solo flight and future licenses. If you're looking to pick up paragliding this is going to be one of the best learning experiences you're going to get in the Bay Area! read more

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Penguin paragliding provides a great experience for the p2 course. I looked forward to every single weekend and checked the weather three to four times a day. I personally have never been so obsessed with looking at the weather outside of the winter season for powder days!! My friend told me that you may become a weather nerd getting into this sport and start staring into the sky randomly. All this became true. The instructors-Rob, Mike, Galen, and Joel-provided me with so much support, encouragement, guidance, and drills to build up my confidence. I'm a clumsy, over analytical and slow to react physically type. I was able to put in the work with all the suggestions they gave me and built up muscle memory for control. Safety is of utmost importance and everything we learned in school is to keep us that way. The penguin community is the greatest thing ever!! This is something that can't be explained but can be felt once you are a part of it. The kindness and the sharing of knowledge to further our growth as a pilot feels like a flying family. read more

Great shop! Highly recommended! Instructors are patient and methodical, working on locations that will provide variety of challenges for a learning pilot. Even when done with instruction one is encouraged to participate in the community. Making it easy to continue flying and learning. Give it a go, I can't see how it can turn out to be anything but a pleasant and high quality experience. read more

Rob Black has built an outstanding paragliding training operation. It is structured and organized in such a way that each student has a lesson plan for the following day and it is followed. He has built an excellent team of instructors that are equally as passionate about the sport as he is. What makes his team excellent is that they actually care that you learn and have fun while you do it. In addition to the school is the community of penguins that you will be flying with in the future. It's an awesome community of pilots and very welcoming. read more

Can't recommend Penguin Paragliding highly enough!! Rob and instructors are fantastic teachers -- they are knowledgeable, very approachable, have calm demeanors, and care about their students. Scheduling is super flexible as classes are available almost every day and you can sign up for days that work with your schedule. There's also no limit of sessions if you are working towards your P2, Rob is really invested in ensuring you are prepared and ready. At first I was nervous about paragliding as I am afraid of heights. However, my fears were put as ease as it was clear I was in good hands and they ensured I was equipped with the appropriate knowledge & skill as I progressed. Earning my P2 license was an amazing & rewarding experience and I'm looking forward to continuing my paragliding journey with the amazing Penguin Paragliding community. read more

Just completed my P2 training with the penguins and had an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Rob and his team are extremely knowledgeable, skilled, and, above all, care about all of their students. They make sure that you are safe and have way more than the bare-minimum skills and experience before they sign you off. Aside from the actual training and knowledge that you learn, they also foster an excellent community and on-going relationships with all of their students. I will be continuing to fly and train with them. read more

I can't say enough good things about the Penguin crew. Rob, Mike, and the rest of the crew are outstanding instructors. My wife and I recently earned our P2 certification and are really looking forward to flying on our own as well as continuing to build skills and confidence by doing more flying at school sessions. Rob and Mike have not only created a wonderful, safe learning environment, but also work hard at creating a connected community of pilots. Thanks to them, we'll have plenty of people to fly with and learn from as we continue our journey! read more

I haven't learned how to paraglide just yet but I got the chance to visit the penguins and watched them take on the skies a few months ago. Rob was very welcoming and let us come sit to enjoy the view. The students all looked really excited to be there and the instructors seemed all very patient and motivating. Really good vibes and awesome crew! Can't wait to be a penguin myself one day! read more

I did a lot of research on several companies teaching paragliding. I ended up picking Penguin Paragliding and couldn't be happier!!!!! Rob (owner) and his instructors are very safety conscious, explain the subject matter in an easily understood fashion and make learning to fly fun. I never felt rushed or unsafe during the learning/ flying process. In Fact, Rob was awarded instructor of the year. His attention to detail, coordination, deep subject matter knowledge and teaching style is demonstrated every day you fly with him or his top notch instructors. His equipment is excellent. If you are looking for a company to teach you, look no further. Penguin is the easy choice. I now have my P2 certification. Added Bonus: once you get your certification, you get an incredible community of pilots to fly with. The depth of knowledge and years of experience in this Penguine flying community makes branching out on your own less intimidating. This community helps you progress further with your flying skills. Penguin Paragliding fosters this team approach and students can also advance beyond your P2 with access to instructors all the way. Penguin Paragliding also does trips to Columbia, Europe, Bali, and Mexico to name a few. Local trips to Santa Barbara, San Diego and Potato Hill are tons of fun as well. Who doesn't like that! Give Penguin Paragliding a call, you won't be disappointed. read more

I obtained my P2 certification through Penguin Paragliding, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. All the instructors I worked with - Rob, Galen, and Mike - have years (or decades) of experience, and are outstanding instructors. Safety is the most important principle of paragliding, and this is reinforced during every lesson and every flight. I never felt nervous or intimidated to ask questions, and the community of fellow students is a great resource for sharing tips and stories. For anyone who wants to explore this awesome sport, you should definitely check out Penguin Paragliding. I couldn't be happier with my experience here! read more

Penguin Paragliders is THE best! As a 60 year old woman learning a new sport, I couldn't have asked for a better school. Rob Black and his small team of instructors are not only pros in their sport, but pros in their teaching approach. Staying in radio contact during training flights, I never felt alone knowing their watchful eyes were upon me, giving me positive feedback and providing any adjustments needed to ensure my success on every flight. Plus, they have developed a special community of other pilots who are all so helpful and quickly becoming good friends. Now that I'm P2 certified, I'm looking forward to all of the adventures to come. Thank you Rob, Mike, Herman and Dave! read more

Excellent instruction by a very experienced crew that cares about your paragliding journey even after you graduate and get your rating. Rob is a former physics teacher with experience and background in all types of air sports. Mike eats, sleeps, and breathes paragliding. These guys will not steer you wrong. read more