Paragliding Palisades_Shell Beach, CA

This coastal ridge site in Shell Beach offers a scenic yet challenging paragliding experience. The launch area is a well-landscaped small park with easy public access to the beach. The setup is done on an open lawn area where paragliders can raise their wing and walk out to the cliff to launch. However, this site is considered hazardous and has been responsible for serious injuries in the past five years. It is crucial for new pilots to be accompanied and checked out by a knowledgeable local pilot or instructor before flying here. The ridges are rock-faced with some beach extending north but mostly south to the first point. Access from the beach is available on either side of the park/launch area. Top landing on the grass areas is achievable. Under favorable conditions, paragliders can fly further south of the point in front of the hotels, but pilots should be aware that the shore is rocky with no landing locations available in front of the hotels. Similarly, the residential areas come up to the ridge, and the beach turns rocky as one flies north. New pilots must be accompanied and checked out on hazards and appropriate use of this site by knowledgeable local pilots. The site requires an intermediate-level pilot (P-3) due to its special hazards. Novice (P-2) level pilots are not recommended, even with instructor supervision. Pilots should use only designated areas for launching and landing, wear a helmet, and standard foot and back protection. All flights must comply with FAR Part 103. Powered paragliding or hang gliding is not allowed to avoid the loss of this site. The rocky ridges generate significant rotor and unusual wind currents, which can put you into the rock face. A large tree located 1000 feet south of the launch has a history of snagging paragliders. Winds generally come around noon and are good for one to two hours but often blow out in the afternoon. As the wind grows in strength, you can easily be blown back into residential and commercial structures lining the ridge. Flying conditions are intermittently good most of the year, usually when other local sites are not working. The site can launch in WSW to NW winds of 10-15 mph. It can thermal block, but winds tend to blow out the block, making it a site that is clearly on or off. If the winds are light and switchy, it may not be a good time to fly. Minimum Required Rating: P3 Wing Strength (MPH) Minimum: 5 Ideal: 11 Maximum: 15 Gust: 5 Wind Direction (Degrees) Ideal: 280 - 300 OK: 270 - 310 Min Required Glide Ratio: 10.8 Also Required: USHPA Membership SLOSA Membership For more information, contact the local club: [SLOSA Shell Beach Site Information](https://slosoar.org/shell-beach-site-information/) Watch a video of the site: [YouTube Video]( )