Mile High Paragliding on a Budget How to Save Without Sacrificing Safety
SAVE ON GEAR WITHOUT CUTTING CORNERS
BUY USED WINGS FROM PILOTS WHO UPGRADE, NOT FROM UNKNOWN SELLERS
Post in the Mile High Paragliding Facebook group or on Paragliding Forum’s classifieds section—look for pilots moving to a higher EN rating who need to offload their old wing. Ask for the serial number and verify its history on the manufacturer’s database before you transfer money.
RENT A HARNESS WITH A RESERVE FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS DURING LOW SEASON
Call Mile High’s rental desk in November or March; they often discount harnesses with built-in reserves to $25/day because demand drops. Reserve online the night before to lock the rate and avoid last-minute price hikes.
USE A MOTORCYCLE BACKPACK AS A PARAGLIDING PACK FOR SHORT HIKES
Grab a used Alpinestars or Kriega 30-liter backpack from eBay for under $80—it fits a compact wing, helmet, and water without the bulk of a dedicated paragliding pack. Test it on a 30-minute hike first to confirm the chest strap doesn’t chafe.
SWAP GLOVES WITH A PILOT WHO FLIES IN WARMER CLIMES
Find a pilot in Arizona or Florida via the Mile High WhatsApp group and trade your winter gloves for their lightweight summer pair—saves $50 and keeps your hands protected year-round.
OPTIMIZE TRAVEL COSTS FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE LAUNCHES
BOOK FRONT-COUNTRY CAMPSITES INSTEAD OF BACKCOUNTRY PERMITS
Reserve a site at Chatfield State Park for $30/night; it’s 20 minutes from the Mile High launch zone and includes showers, so you skip the $10/day backcountry permit and still get an alpine start.
CARPOOL WITH PILOTS HEADING TO THE SAME THERMAL WINDOW
Check the Mile High Telegram channel at 6 a.m. for pilots posting “Need 2 seats to Guanella Pass”—split gas four ways and save $15 each round-trip. Always agree on a meet-up spot 30 minutes before launch to avoid delays.
PACK A THERMOS OF COFFEE AND A BURRITO FOR THE DRIVE
Brew a 32-oz thermos at home with locally roasted beans—costs $1.50 vs. $5 at the gas station. Wrap a breakfast burrito in foil and reheat it on the car’s engine block during the drive to save another $8.
USE A FREE GPS APP WITH OFFLINE MAPS INSTEAD OF A DEDICATED VARIO
Download the free version of XCSoar, load Colorado topo maps, and pair it with a $20 Bluetooth pressure sensor—gives you altitude, vario, and airspace warnings without the $400 price tag.
STRETCH YOUR TRAINING DOLLARS
SCHEDULE INTRO LESSons ON WEEKDAY MORNINGS FOR 15% DISCOUNT
Mile High offers a “Sunrise Special” for lessons booked before 9 a.m. Tuesday–Thursday—saves $45 on a 2-hour intro flight. Show up 10 minutes early to help the instructor set up and you might score an extra 15 minutes of airtime.
VOLUNTEER TO RIG FOR GROUP FLIGHTS IN EXCHANGE FOR COACHING
Attend the Mile High “Fly & Fry” social every third Saturday; help pack 10 wings and you’ll get 30 minutes of one-on-one coaching from a USHPA-rated instructor—saves $75 in lesson fees.
PRACTICE GROUND HANDLING AT A LOCAL PARK WITH A FRIEND SPOTTING
Use Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver—it’s flat, windy, and free. Bring a friend to film your kiting on your phone; review the footage with a Mile High instructor during a 15-minute debrief for $20 instead of a full $120 lesson.
BUY A USED PARAGLIDING SIMULATOR FROM A PILOT WHO MOVED ON
Check the Mile High buy-sell board for a used simulator like the Flytec or Gin Glider—$150 instead of $500 new. Set it up in your garage and log 10 hours of muscle memory before your next lesson to cut training time in half. https://milehighparagliding.com/.
