What is dune soaring?
Surfing the sea breeze for hours
What exactly is dune soaring? Imagine standing on a dune, taking three steps, and becoming weightless. Instead of gliding down, you stay airborne, suspended by the upward sea breeze. With the North Sea beneath you, you can fly as long as the wind blows—sometimes for hours.
Dune soaring is the most accessible, yet most addictive form of paragliding on the Dutch coast.
See it in action? Watch the video where our head instructor and pioneer Max Morriën explains exactly how we use the wind to stay airborne for hours.
How do we stay in the air?
The principle is simple: the sea breeze hits the dunes and is forced upward. As a pilot, you fly exactly within this rising airflow. You are essentially 'surfing' an invisible wave of air hanging just in front of the dune.
This makes dune soaring different from mountain or thermal flying (where you search for pockets of rising warm air): here, you have a constant, stable 'motor' of wind keeping you aloft.
Is dune soaring for everyone?
The beauty of soaring is its accessibility. You don’t need years of training or peak physical fitness to take your first steps!
Because the sea breeze on the Dutch coast is very stable (in flying terms: 'laminar'), you don't suffer from the unexpected turbulence often found in the mountains. This makes it a predictable and relaxing way to fly.
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Fitness Check: Can you walk through loose sand with a backpack? Then you’re fit enough. From young to old: anyone can learn to fly.
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The Vibe: And if the wind drops for a moment? The atmosphere on the beach is just as important—it’s always a community vibe between flights!
Why dune soaring is the best start for your flying career
Whether you want to learn to paraglide or improve your skills, the Dutch beach is the place to be. Even if you dream of high-altitude mountain flights, you build your strongest foundation right here.
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10x More Airtime: In a mountain course, you often spend a lot of time traveling to the launch site for a 15-minute flight. On the beach, you don't depend on ski lifts or long hikes. In one weekend at the coast, you often get more 'airtime' than in an entire week in the mountains.
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Mastering Wing Control: Learning to fly happens on the ground. At Parakiting, you learn to feel your wing instinctively. With this ultimate mastery (Ground Handling), you’ll launch later with 100% confidence, wherever you fly.
What do we fly with?
High-tech in a backpack
Forget heavy engines or trailers full of gear. Everything you need to soar fits into a single backpack. You fly with a paraglider or parakite and sit in a comfortable harness. This equipment is lightweight, incredibly strong, and tested to the highest safety standards. Just toss the backpack in your trunk and drive to the beach. It’s that simple.
Want to learn to soar yourself?
Eager to try it? You don't have to jump into the sky right away. We work with a unique, step-by-step system that combines safety and fun.
You always start safely with both feet on the ground by practicing wing control. Here, you learn at your own pace how the wind and the wing work together. Only when you are ready and handle the glider with confidence do we take our first small hops from the dune. We guide you with calm and confidence toward the moment you first truly take flight.
Why Parakiting?
30 Years of Experience
30 years of dune pioneers. Experience our refined method.
100% Soaring Specialist
While other schools do soaring 'on the side,' it is our core business. We understand coastal winds like no one else.
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No Pressure, Pure Focus
We focus on building muscle memory and confidence on the ground, so you can relax and enjoy the air.
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Guidance from Basics to Pro
From your first steps on the ground to flying the latest kite-riser wings—we have the expertise to guide you all the way.