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    Penguin Paragliding

    5.0 (47 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    Blue Rock flight

    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!

    Stephan W.

    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!

    Supervised flight

    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!

    Graduation flight

    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!

    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.

    Aishwarya K.

    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!

    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!!

    Jeremy S.

    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.

    Gusty wind ground handling
    Danny C.

    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.

    Adam B.

    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.

    Paragliding at Potato Hill
    Anthony M.

    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.

    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.

    Channing site

    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!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Penguin Paragliding

    Review Highlights - Penguin Paragliding

    Rob really built a community of pilots in the Bay Area - which you will be part of during and after training.

    Mentioned in 38 reviews

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    California Hang Gliding - Students on the training hill : )

    California Hang Gliding

    4.6(20 reviews)
    28.6 km

    Whether you're interested in a tandem flight or learning to hang glide yourself, you will truly be…read moreglad you went with John. He's an absolutely fantastic and safe pilot with a proven track record. I'm amazed at how accurately he can assess the weather and flight conditions (at one point while passing another glider John said "were going to feel the turbulence from their wing tips in 3..2..1.. *bump*" Pretty awesome!). Aside from his great flying abilities, he's just an awesome, hilarious, and down to earth character who loves sharing his passion for flight with others. I'm grateful to be able to train with John as I know I'm setting myself up for a safe journey into this sport and having tons of fun along the way.

    There is no other way to describe except INCREDIBLE!…read more This is something I have always wanted to do. The BF purchased the trip for my Bday present. Paris Williams is a true professional and truly enjoys what he does. I was looking at the pictures and in every single one Paris has a huge smile on his face. The expressions on my face.... well there were a lot of smiles but a few moments of concern. We launched south of Fort Funston and landed at Ocean Beach for 30 minutes of the most incredible gliding! It was cold, a little foggy but I didn't care. Everyone must do this! Paris films or videos the entire experience which is included with the price. So much fun! I only wish it would have never ended.

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    California Hang Gliding - Lessons on the beach!  Can't beat that!

    Lessons on the beach! Can't beat that!

    California Hang Gliding
    California Hang Gliding - Above the world!

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    Above the world!

    Skydive Golden Gate

    Skydive Golden Gate

    4.9(90 reviews)
    25.1 km

    Can finally check off skydiving from my bucket list!…read more My friends and I came here twice but were only able to skydive once. The first time we came was when there was a fire incident (not their fault), causing the airport to be shutdown. Thankfully, we were able to jump the second time we came. Upon arriving, you are required to fill out a waiver and watch a video about safety and onboarding. If you are over 200 lbs, be prepared to pay $1 per lb. The first time we came, the person helping us said that we could decide to purchase the photos/videos after recording them, since we were unsure whether we wanted them. The second time we came, they didn't allow us to do that and made us pay upfront. When we came to skydive, they were quite behind schedule. Our reservation was at 12 pm, but we didn't start until 1 pm. They can only bring up 2 people at a time due to the size of the plane, so if you're coming with a large group, expect to go in pairs. Each pair took around 30-45 minutes; we finished all our jumps around 2:45 pm. The skydiving experience itself was AMAZING! My instructor was Gus, who was super chill and explained to me all the instructions. I loved his enthusiasm and he made me feel so calm yet excited to jump. Greg is the other instructor, and he is also very detailed in his explanations. The plane ride up was smooth, although it's a bit tight and there are no seats. You get a nice view of the city and north bay once you're up in the air. You climb up to around 9000 in altitude, before the first person goes in their tandem skydive. At the end of your skydive, you get a certificate. If you want to get a skydiving license, you have to dive 25 times, and this counts as one of the dives. If this is your first time skydiving, I'd encourage you to get the video/photos to look back on. The whole thing goes by so fast. The video was a bit cringe to film and watch back, but I don't have any regrets getting it. It is $100 if you want either video or photos or $140 for both. The photos are just stills from the video, so it's bit pricey to pay an extra $40 on top for both. Overall, I had a fun time skydiving with Skydive Golden Gate. The instructors and staff were great, and the whole experience was thrilling and certainly gave me an adrenaline rush. The main downsides were the delays in schedule and the pricing for photos/videos. That being said though, I would still come back here and jump again!

    Wow! Thanks Gus and Greg! A lot goes into providing a safe, educational, yet stress free and fun…read moreskydiving experience and for all of this to come through in such spades means that these guys must really love their job. We did our first tandem dive with Gus and Greg this weekend - it was unreal. You can tell they work with first timers a lot, they're calm and to the point and super psyched. The whole team created an easy-going experience and we couldn't be more grateful!

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    Skydive Golden Gate - Skydiving with Gus!

    Skydiving with Gus!

    Skydive Golden Gate
    Skydive Golden Gate

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    Bay Area Hang Gliding - mike training student

    Bay Area Hang Gliding

    5.0(26 reviews)
    84.3 km

    My boyfriend and I took a hang gliding lesson with Mike bright and early on a Saturday morning (we…read morearrived ~8am) and had a LOT of fun! There were 2 other attendees other than my boyfriend and myself, so our class was a total of 4 people, all of us beginners. One person had taken classes before, but was doing more lessons in order to get his hang 1 license. Mike starts the class by introducing himself and teaching us some safety lessons. We put together the hang glide together as a group, and he teaches us the different parts of the hang glide and how they work together. Then, we roll the glider up a small hill and he gives us some pointers on how to approach the lesson and what to do what we start running and once the glider starts taking off! The lesson was from about 8am to noon. Mike REALLY works for the money he makes during these lessons - he is running up and down the hill, and coordinating to make sure that everyone gets plenty of time on the hang glide. His passion for this sport is palpable, and it's clear he is friends with all the other folks at the area / park that morning who are regular hang gliders. This is a really fun activity to do on a weekend morning, not to mention the VIEWS are amazing. Attaching some photos as proof! Overall I had a GREAT time and would certainly consider taking more classes with Mike!

    I found Eric to be an excellent instructor. His patients and willingness to restate his…read moreinstructions, many times over, drives home the needed understanding for the skills he is describing. On those occasions when I was not getting the instructions, he restated them framed differently. His vast knowledge and experience was demonstrated through his patients and confidence. With his guidance I learned very quickly. I have no hesitation recommending Eric for hang gliding instructions. I would have no hesitation if I were starting over asking his support and training. Thank you Eric, for all your help and assuring I learned the skills needed to be a safe pilot! Mikee Bowen

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    Bay Area Hang Gliding - Mike

    Mike

    Bay Area Hang Gliding - Training on simulator

    Training on simulator

    Bay Area Hang Gliding - Flight sequence

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    Flight sequence

    Oxygen Paragliding - Oxygen Paragliding

    Oxygen Paragliding

    5.0(7 reviews)
    44.3 kmInner Richmond

    I went out for my first tandem flight with Klaus from Oxygen Paragliding, and it was probably the…read morecoolest thing I've ever done. Period. I cannot describe the feeling as you run forward strapped to a big parachute and suddenly start flying... this isn't bungee jumping, it is far far better than that! - Up we went into the sky, circling in thermals with the birds, playing the ridges to find lift. Klaus is clearly a highly competent paragliding instructor and he's well respected by the community. He's sets you at ease from the start, and was eager to share his excitement for this sport. My tandem flight opened my eyes, and I'll be coming back to Oxygen Paragliding to learn how to fly myself.

    Nothing less than 5 stars!…read more Klaus was out of town during our scheduled flights so Joel was our tandem instructor - what a great guy, cool, patient and easy to get along with. We were amazed at his stamina! He made sure that the conditions were safe for us to fly and was determined to get all the 6 of us on air and have fun, and fun we had! Kudos to the Oxygen team for planning everything meticulously. I had not done sky diving before, but somehow I got a feeling that most will enjoy paragliding more than the 10-20 second adrenaline rush of skydiving. A typical flight lasts about 15-30 mins depending on the wind conditions. Our take off / landing spot was at the blue rock flying site at Vallejo and you get some fantastic views of North bay from here. In fact I was lucky to get on to the final sunset flight, magical views! Overall, highly recommended. If you have been planning to do something different from the usual sky diving, then please give paragliding a try, and for people from the bay area.. Oxygen paragliding is the place to go!

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    Oxygen Paragliding
    Oxygen Paragliding
    Oxygen Paragliding - Flying the Beach!

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    Flying the Beach!

    Penguin Paragliding - paragliding - Updated May 2026

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