Hello, Paraglider and Flying member.
Last updated 2/6/2025
Your one-stop resource for site overview, safety, weather, and links to fly.
Sand City is a local-pilots’ Self-Regulated site.
Pilots MUST wear a HELMET! Or the site could be shut.
You must have a speedbar connected
and flight instructions to fly here.
Primary Flying Season: Spring to Fall
If visiting in groups
PLEASE contact one of the schools listed below so they can plan for the extra traffic. Thank you.
Join our Locals FACEBOOK GROUP
1) Visiting Pilots Guidelines and Safety
3) Marina launch site RULES – Coastal Condors Club
WEATHER APP OVERVIEW – Getting Started
9) Articles to stay safe when ridge soaring
10) Training Videos and PG books
13) Risk and Injury Avoidance Notes (by Ryan Kerschen)
14) Tips to make your wing last longer
15) QR Code For Site Sign Linking To This Doc
0) Quick Start – Need to Know
- Map: Park on Fremont Blvd. or at the shopping area then follow the blue line to get to the dune. Launch dune is here http://t.ly/dq9C0, parking is here http://t.ly/H6ARJ
- No kiting or lounging.
- Avoid Highway 1 and the ocean at all costs.
- This is the only way people have died at this site.
- Know how to predict, recognize, and respond to high winds.
- Just think about this for a minute: what happens if the wind suddenly builds to 20MPH or beyond (which it occasionally does)? Hint: you’re headed for the freeway unless you have a good plan and know how to execute it.
- Know how to immediately recognize that the winds are getting light, and what the associated hazards are.
- Hint: traffic difficulties due to the small lift band, and landing in the ocean (since the wind is no longer blowing you away from it).
- Just land on the beach.
- Off-limits beach areas
- Fenced-in areas restrict access to an endangered species – you may not land there.
- Use common sense
- As always, one of your best common sense measures is to talk to local pilots.
- Get instruction! Do not show up here without instruction expecting fly.
- If you have any questions about the above, please just ask any of us, rather than regret having had a useful, and likely enjoyable, conversion. 🙂
- For Airspace restrictions and VIP visit TFR NOTAMs use https://skyvector.com/
1) Visiting Pilots Guidelines and Safety
Please seek FREE SITE INTRODUCTION BEFORE FLYING at Sand City or Marina (ASK a LOCAL)
Get paragliding instructions before flying at Sand City.
Marina State Beach flying requires a minimum USHPA P3 rating.
For Sand City the preferred Wind direction is WNW to WSW
and
Minimum wind speed ~8+ MPH
to soar on a full-size wing
Radio Freq: 147.405
ON-SITE SCHOOLS
RAVEN WOLF SKY SPORTS
Instruction & Gear Sales
CONTACT: Cyn “#WindWitch”
TOUCH & GO ADVENTURES
Contact: Ryan Kerschen
TouchandGOAdventures@gmail.com
FIREFLIGHT PARAGLIDING
Contact: Eric Rasmussen
Public Calendar
Follow this calendar for current season events.
We have a bi-weekly Friday Pints & Paragliders Meet up.
And various gatherings, outings, and clinics being offered seasonally.
Use your google calendar app on mobile.
Be signed in on desktop to your google account.
Come hang out, get involved.
2) Site Intro
Brief and pertinent site information for Sand City (most of which also applies at Marina)
- The biggest hazard here, besides the ocean, is a blow back into the highway and all of the structures behind the highway. The wind may seem and be forecasted to be well within your glider’s parameters however, things change fast here, so pay attention.
- Have your speed bar connected, and
- Understand the warning signs of incoming wind gusts (increased texture, and whitecaps on the ocean).
- Ask for, and understand the local escape routes should you start getting blown back towards the highway and not being able to regain penetration.
- Ref: Avoiding Blow Back
- Stay away from and do not land in the ocean. The water is never a safe place for a Paraglider to land. The Pacific Ocean, here in Monterey Bay, can be quite rough and have very drastic riptides.
- Be safe by leaving enough margin with the terrain, better to veer out and land at the beach than get hurt or injured by hitting the terrain.
- Prevent midair collisions:
- When there are tandem PG flying, please give them the right of way and generally avoid them. Especially if it’s on the lighter side and the lift band is narrow.
- Fly defensibly:
- Slow down if you are getting closer to the glider ahead of you.
- LOOK and Turn, if needed, before the pilot in front of you has to at the end of the ridge or due to traffic congestion.
- Look before you turn
- Be predictable
- In an open harness Extend your leg to RT or LT to signal the direction of your turn.
- Be respectful of your fellow pilots, like avoid waking someone downwind of you.
- It’s advisable when you show up for the first time to this location to sit and watch and get a lay of the land before launching and flying.
- FYI, there is a Paragliding school operating at this location most days which means there are P1s and baby birds in the air on any given day. The instructor is more than happy to let you know which pilots to look out for and give you a free site intro upon arrival.
- Know the ridge rules (Ridge to the right has the right of way). from The book Paragliding the Beginner’s Guide c2020
- The Sarlacc PIT is constantly looking for its next victim. Please ask a local what this means or you’ll find out on your own eventually. Trust us on this one there’s some very good insider trading information that can keep you out of it.
- Do not kite near venturi/compression areas to the right of the high-wind launch area.
- If you are not familiar with high-wind launch techniques, launch from the beach by kiting up the dune a few yards until you fly off it.
- The flat berm north of the venturi lines is not recommended for kiting up and relaunching as it is not inclined long enough to keep control in high winds, i.e. when the wing is at the top lip of the berm while you may still be on the flat beach below, the wing is in a venturi zone, and if the wind is strong enough, it can drag you up and then down to the pit (I have witness that!).
- No hang glider launching is allowed at Sand City.
3) Marina launch site RULES – Coastal Condors Club
Flying at Marina, North of Sand City, requires a current H3 or P3 USHPA rating, or higher. Please familiarize yourself with ALL the content on this site link regarding take-off and landing zones.
ALL PILOTS MUST SIGN IN – P3 and above ONLY
4) Snowy Plovers – ATTENTION
ATTENTION: ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN PLEASE READ!!!!
SNOW PLOVER & PARAGLIDING – ATTENTION READ
State Park could revoke access to the flying area if not followed!
The Snowy Plover is an endangered species. Our flying area beach is the habitat.
Do not cross the cable areas directly in front of the dunes.
Either find a special access approved corridor or walk around. No exceptions.
Please read the following information.
Paragliders must be aware of sensitive areas including do-not-take-off or land areas. Please read. Pay attention to all fences along the beach close to the dunes.
The Snowy Plover
5) Weather Forecasts:
6) Weather Apps:
Check our BASIC Weather APP Clinic with videos
WEATHER APP OVERVIEW – Getting Started
- Davis Weather Station
This App is invaluable for the Sand City Area.
Add App, create account, navigate to Sand City High School weatherlink station.
Need a free account, login, & app
- APP – Get the app here
- Marina Seaside High School weatherlink station – real time info
- https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCASEASI29 Seaside High School trend graph
- The microclimate does not allow much accuracy.
- When you read West dir., it really will be 45 deg more south, i.e. WSW which is a good direction for flying.
- https://www.wunderground.com/hourly/us/ca/sand-city?cm_ven=localwx_modtomorrow/date
- Windy app – or www.windy.com Great visual on wind direction locally regionally, globally
- Wind Alert app – https://www.windalert.com/ Love this app, great graphics, model selection, can be pretty accurate
7) Cameras
- CANNERY ROW, Monterey Ca
- Marina State Beach and other nearby spots
- Monterey State Beach and nearby spots
8) Big Sur Site Info:
- Big Sur Flying Site by Paragliding Lessons.com
- Prewitt Ridge Trail Map by All Trails
- Nepenthe Restaurant Cam
- All Trails APP
9) Articles to stay safe when ridge soaring
- Ridge Soaring Safely – Avoiding Blow Back
- Beware of wind gradient when ridge soaring cliffs http://wessexhgpg.org.uk/Sites/Siteguide/Coast%20Flying%20Safety%20Guide%202.0.pdf
10) Training Videos and PG books
- PG Strong Wind Launch Videos
- Avoid these dangers in strong wind.
- Good book for newer pilots https://xcmag.com/product/paragliding-the-beginners-guide/
- More PG books at https://xcmag.com/product-category/books/
11) Other Flying Resources
- My Radar – simple radar tool
- Lift Forecast – Bay Area flying locations and info
- Knowledge bases for PG
12) FAA Airspace restrictions
- SkyVector – Airspace info
- http://b4ufly.aloft.ai FAA App
- These airspace restrictions are called Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs ) and are communicated to pilots through Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM s). They restrict aircraft (including drones) from operating without permission in a certain area for a limited time.
13) Risk and Injury Avoidance Notes (by Ryan Kerschen)
With a couple of injuries recently,
I feel it’s important to be aware of a few things.
- Group Effect
Seeing many pilots accomplish something may create a strong temptation to try to do the same thing. They may be more skilled than you, or they may simply be taking a higher risk. This is one time where you have to keep your ego under control, and judge for yourself of the skill and risk involved.
- Wing Overs
wing overs take a great deal of time to perfect the timing needed and outside brake pressure to keep a wing from collapsing. Add turbulent air and you are adding to the risk. Did you learn proper wing overs on an A wing? Did you take the correct steps starting on A to low B, high B, then C, and D? Are you practicing wingovers high up so that in case you took a collapse you would have time to fix this without ever being near terrain? Are you always leaving margins for error or gusty winds pushing you closer to the hill? Have you done a SIV with your glider and do you understand how your glider responds with collapses?
- Mini Wings
These are mini PARAGLIDERS. Meaning that they demand even more respect. They MUST be flown like paragliders even though they feel as agile as speed wings. If things go wrong then they go wrong very fast. Have you put in the time flying full size gliders prior to getting a smaller wing just so you can keep flying when the winds pick up. Flying in higher wind speeds takes a greater understanding of paragliding and quick thinking and correct reactions.
- Instruction
Nothing is worth more money than actual instruction. Teaching yourself is possible and has many caveats.
- You are more dangerous to those around you
- You are a danger to yourself
- You increase the risk for the site you are visiting
Please don’t be “that guy” here at Sand City
- Safety
Let’s stay safe this season and please reach out if you have any questions. Remember… I am a talented, skillful, experienced pilot with excellent judgment. I use my experience and judgment to avoid getting into situations where I have to rely on my talent and skill.
14) Tips to make your wing last longer
Frank from the Telegram group:
Sand city (sand inside your wing) will wear out porosity 2-3 times faster than the dirt launches of mussel rock. Many people have dedicated old wings for Sand City as not all coastal flying is the same.
If you collect sand in your wing, it is best to get it out as quickly as possible.
Moisture/fog, getting wing and lines wet effects trim. But it’s not as bad if you allow your wings to dry slowly in a cool environment.
If you allow your wings to dry in a hot environment. Such as trunk of your car parked someplace hot. Or black roof cargo box parked in sun. Or perhaps even out in sun, someplace hot inland.
Just like your clothes drier on high heat, shrinks clothes. Your lines and cloth will shrink. Even if you let it happen just once.
I have wings I’ve flown for years and hundreds of hours at the coast, getting them wet in fog and sunset flights regularly. Still being wet when I pull them out to fly them the next day. Letting them dry in the cool coastal air while I’m flying. These wings have still stayed in decent trim for a couple years, despite that abuse.
So keep in mind, that heat shrinks.
But eventually, the wet dry cycles take their toll. The lines and fabric become weak. Lines start breaking, and fabric starts tearing too easily.
Also, as everyone likely already knows. Don’t leave your wing just on the ground for hours if you aren’t flying it.
UV light kills fabric and lines. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the air flying or lying on the ground. Hours count the same. So bag it up and get it out of the sun if you want it to last a little longer.
Lots of people just count hours in the air. But many coastal pilots’ wings get more hours of wear and tear on the ground than in the air.
Some leave 2-3 wings lying around on the ground all day long as they switch wings often throughout the day.
Nothing wrong with that, if you got the budget for new wings. 😁
15) QR Code For Site Sign Linking To This Doc
QR code Printable page here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13kHWhjAb_xFrAF-I8a0o8RaI9bURhrPl3zQxLwAdIs0/edit
VISITING PILOT
Please SCAN, Read and Ask for FREE Site Intro
