Mountain Soaring Courses
Whatever your level of experience, our Mountain Soaring Course affords the best introduction to soaring at Omarama, the best value for money and the most fun. These are our most popular courses and are tailored to your experience level whether you are new to soaring or have thousands of hours.
You will receive daily seminars from G Dale and Gavin and fly a Duo Discus with one of our highly skilled and experienced instruction team. Gavin and G ( known just as G!) endeavor to fly with each Private course guest for at least a day or more.
Over the past ten years Gavin and G have rewritten "the book" on Mountain Soaring and how it is taught. During the Course seminars, much of the material you will recieve about how the atmospheric engine works has been inspired by their long involvement with the complex Omarama soaring envirionment. It has been written up in numerous soaring magizines and is unique to our Mountain Soaring Courses.
The seminars, therefore are a highlight of the courses and include many aspects of the "how, why and where" of mountain thermals, ridge running, alpine convergences and lee wave. Plus there is ample opportunity for discussions about and development of your own personal soaring skills including high altitude soaring, badge flights, records and racing gliders.
GlideOmarama equipment is second to none. On Mountain Soaring Courses we operate up to 6 Duo Discus and a DG1000. Each is a high performance two seat sailplane equipped with computers, GPS navigation, reliable loggers and FLARM anti-collision devices.
Strictly limited numbers are accepted for Private Mountain Soaring Courses. This ensures a family-like sociable atmosphere for which we are reknowned and guarantees quality personal attention. You will be neither alone nor overwhelmed by the crowd.
We are happy to look after a wide range of experience levels, from beginner cross country to pilots with many thousands of hours. But to help us help you, our Mountain Soaring Courses are pitched at three different levels of experience (see experience requisites below).
Group Courses for two to six individuals (see below) may also be arranged.
What you get on a Mountain Soaring Course is:
- 5 days of intense soaring
- quality personalised coaching from our highly experienced and dedicated instruction team
- fun, fun, fun!
- unique seminars and illustrated debriefs pitched to suit your experience and aspirations
- some of the most spectacular and challenging mountain soaring in the world
- a welcome into the GlideOmarama family that includes a comfortable briefing room, internet access, free tea/coffee and a memorable course dinner at the famous Kahu Cafe
- a full service ground crew to manage your glider.
Course Fee is: NZ$4,950
The fees are packaged to include:
- minimum of 15 hours Duo Discus time
- daily briefings, debriefings, seminars and ground school
- club membership, maps, visiting pilots guide
- internet access, use of club rooms, tea/coffee facilities
- 6 nights Airfield Chalet Accommodation
Refunds and Extras:
- refunds of unachieved Duo Discus time is at NZ$130 per hour.
- Duo Discus time from between 15 and 20 hours is charged at NZ$130 per hour.
- Duo Discus time over 20 hours total is free
- aero tows and any outlanding retrieves are not included - pay only for what you need!
- If Airfield Chalet accommodation is not available alternate Hotel, Motel or caravan accommodation will be arranged. As a result a small refund or supplement may be due. Details on our accommodation page.
Experience Prerequisites:
These are guidelines only to assist us design your programme. There is plenty of opportunity to discuss your experience and modify our programme to suit particular needs once you are at Omarama and have met our team and your instructor.
- Level One: Never before flown in mountains.
- Level Two: Either never flown in mountains but with extensive cross country experience or already flown up to 100 hours in the mountains.
- Level Three: Extensive cross country and more than 100 hours in the mountians.
Course dinner at the Kahu Cafe
2009 - 2010 Mountain Soaring Course schedule
Mountain Soaring Course Schedule 2009/2010
October
| 28-Sept | 02-Oct | 01a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 05-Oct | 09-Oct | 02 | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 19-Oct | 23-Oct | 04b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 26-Oct | 30-Oct | 05a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
November
| 02-Nov | 06-Nov | 06a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 09-Nov | 13-Nov | 07a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 16-Nov | 20-Nov | 08b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 23-Nov | 27-Nov | 09b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
December
| 30-Dec | 04-Dec | 10b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 07-Dec | 11-Dec | 11b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 14-Dec | 18-Dec | 12a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 20-Dec | 24-Dec | 12b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Sunday through Thursday |
| 27-Dec | 31-Dec | 13b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Sunday through Thursday |
January
| 04-Jan | 08-Jan | 14b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 11-Jan | 15-Jan | 15a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 18-Jan | 22-Jan | 16b | Mt Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 25-Jan | 29-Jan | 17b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
February
| 01-Feb | 05-Feb | 19b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 08-Feb | 12-Feb | 20b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 15-Feb | 19-Feb | 22b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 22-Feb | 26-Feb | 23b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
March
| 01-Mar | 05-Mar | 24a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 08-Mar | 12-Mar | 25a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 15-Mar | 19-Mar | 27b | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
| 22-Mar | 26-Mar | 28a | Mtn Soar Courses | 5 days | Monday through Friday |
Private Group Mountain Soaring Courses
- book your own group of two to six pilots
- are tailored to the experience and aspirations your group
- are best run with pilots at similar experience levels
- are still more fun and cheaper than multiple private courses
- can be run with up to six Duo Discus and/or up to four single seaters in various combinations.
Price on application
free phone 0508 58 55 88 | phone +64 3 438 9555 | inquiries | bookings
"I have enjoyed the thrill of gliding in many places around the world, but the splendour of soaring NZ's Southern Alps from my home at Omarama is second to none. Come share it with us." Gavin Wills, Director, GlideOmarama.com