Seven days of XC coaching across Portugal
The XC Coaching Programme is built around one thing: flying farther and understanding why. Seven days across Portugal, always chasing the best cross-country conditions available — the Alentejo plains south of the Tagus, the mountain thermals of the Serra da Estrela, the Douro Valley thermal corridor, or northern sites where the terrain concentrates the air. Behrooz reads the RASP thermal model and synoptic charts, plans the task in advance, and adapts decisively to get the best flying available.
On a strong day, you fly a goal-and-return or triangle task. On lighter days, you work weaker thermals, tighter streets, and low saves. Behrooz is in the air with you — not watching from the ground. He positions himself in the next thermal ahead, calls back climb rates on the radio, talks you through route decisions and transition windows in real time. When you're in a weak thermal trying to decide whether to push or stay, he's already in the next one telling you what it's doing.
Back at base, every evening is a track-log session. You pull up the IGC file, mark the key decision points, and work through what the air was doing — which climbs were worth stopping for, where you lost time on a transition, how to read Portugal's dry-season Alentejo thermals. Pilots consistently improve more in a single week on this programme than in a full season flying alone. The group is a maximum of 5 pilots — Behrooz will not run it larger, because real radio time during an XC flight is only possible in small groups.
The Alentejo plateau — flat agricultural terrain south and east of Lisbon — is one of the finest cross-country paragliding regions in southern Europe. Reliably strong afternoon thermals, an average cloudbase of 2,200 metres in spring and autumn, and clear outlanding terrain make it ideal for accumulating XC hours in Portugal quickly and safely. When conditions push further north, Serra da Estrela and the mountain ridges of central Portugal add altitude, variety and different thermal character to the week's flying.
What's included
- Daily forecast analysis & XC task briefing
- Radio coaching every pilot, every flight
- Live track-log monitoring during XC flights
- RASP & synoptic weather analysis sessions
- Evening track-log debrief — every day
- Private transfer to every launch, daily
- Launch coaching at varied terrain types
- Video & photos of your flying days
- Cross-country retrieve coordination
- Bad-weather programme on low-forecast days
Before you come
XC flying puts specific demands on your equipment and preparation — sort these before you travel.
Licence & IPPI card
Bring your national licence or IPPI card. Portuguese air law requires licensed pilots to carry proof of qualification. A photo on your phone is fine.
Glider & reserve check
Full glider check and reserve repack within the last 12 months. XC flying over the Alentejo plains is no place to discover a porosity problem. Behrooz will ask about both on arrival.
GPS variometer
A GPS vario is essential for the daily XC tasks. If you don't have one, let Behrooz know before you come — he can advise on options. A basic Bluetooth vario paired to XCTrack works fine.
Radio
Behrooz provides a radio for each pilot. If you have your own handheld already configured to the standard frequency, bring it — it saves setup time on day one. Spare batteries recommended.
Travel insurance
Standard travel insurance won't cover XC paragliding. Get a policy that explicitly includes it before you travel — most national paragliding associations offer one. Check it covers outlanding retrieval distances.
Getting here
Fly into Lisbon (LIS) — the programme is based in central Portugal, 45 minutes to an hour from the airport. Behrooz can arrange an airport transfer; ask when you confirm your dates.
What XC experience level is required?
A B-licence or national equivalent, plus at least a few thermal flights under your belt. You don't need to be an experienced XC pilot — the coaching programme builds your skills progressively. Pilots returning after a break, transitioning from coastal to XC, and advancing beyond their first XC hours all join regularly.
What XC distances can I expect on this programme?
Typical days in Alentejo range from 30 to 80+ km depending on conditions. The goal isn't distance for its own sake — it's making better decisions, reading the air correctly, and flying smarter. Behrooz sets daily targets based on your current level and adjusts throughout the week.
Is outlanding retrieval included in the XC coaching tour?
Yes — full outlanding retrieval is included every day. Behrooz or a support driver follows the group and retrieves every pilot who lands out. It's built into the programme. No pilot is left in a field.
Is private transport to the inland flying sites included?
Yes — daily transfer from your accommodation to the launch is included, as is full outlanding retrieval every day. Behrooz or a support driver follows the group from the ground, so you can focus entirely on flying. No rental car is needed at any point during the week.
How does the real-time radio coaching work?
Every pilot carries a radio tuned to Behrooz's frequency. He follows the group by vehicle and calls out thermal location, climb rates, transitions and decision points in real time — the same guidance a competition pilot gets from their team. After each flying day, track logs are reviewed together so you can see exactly where thermals formed, where the better lines were, and how to read the same air differently next time.
How does payment work?
Payment is made directly to Behrooz — no booking platforms, no agencies, no middlemen. No deposit is required to reserve your place; a WhatsApp message or email locks it in. Payment details are sent once your reservation is confirmed.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation on all programmes. If you've already paid ahead of your tour, cancellation is free of charge in full — nothing is deducted. Just send a WhatsApp message or email and Behrooz will take care of it personally.
What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?
Behrooz knows every flying site in Portugal and always has a backup plan — if one site is out, we move to wherever is flyable. On any day nothing can be flown, you're not charged the full rate, only reasonable administrative or transport costs. Because of this, payment is handled flexibly: depending on the tour, Behrooz may take payment before or after the week, so you only ever pay for the days you actually flew.