Fuerteventura, Riding the Skies

Crossing each of the seven Islands from north to south in the sky, is a wish that comes true for many who try their hand at one or another of the air sports, which have a considerable following in Canaries.

When you look down on the land from the air, you discover unusual and surprising vistas. Beginners and experts can satisfy their desire with a paraglide, parachute, hang glider, ultra-light or light aircraft, all of which are favoured by the prevailing winds in the Islands.

You often see someone cruising the skies with a paraglide or a hang glider, an experience that involves no risk at all, and which is helped by the bonanza of the winds - a special characteristic of the Canary Island climate.

It would not be exaggerating to state that the Canaries is one of the best places in Spain to fly, as you can climb the skies and look down on incredible sights at any time of year. This is possible, thanks to constant temperatures that make for good flying conditions all year round.

Paragliding has become one of the most popular forms of flying, and has boomed in recent years. In paragliding, as in other air sports, the wind is vital, which is why the right conditions are required for both take off and landing.

Although a course is essential for getting a basic idea and acquiring the necessary equipment, the sensations you get are reward enough, and justify the passion this activity arouses in enthusiasts. The most popular places for paragliding in the Canaries are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma.

Among the clouds. Another form of riding high is parachute jumping; an experience that will give you a tremendous adrenaline rush. Although it does not have as many followers as paragliding, it does bring together a considerable number of fans in the Canary Islands.

You can chose between free-fall, which consists of jumping from some three thousand metres up, accompanied by two instructors; the automatic or progressive system, allowing you to jump on your own and a line opens your parachute for you; or a tandem jump. The latter method, in which two people jump together, is the one that attracts most people.

Parachuting, like all air sports, is strictly regulated, which is why it is only authorised in the areas of the Las Vistas beach, in the south of Tenerife, and Playa del Ingles, in Gran Canaria.

Ultra-lights and hang gliding are two more popular forms of flying. In hang gliding, you launch yourself off the top of a mountain and stay in the air by riding the air currents, all with a single objective - to stay in the air for as long as possible.

With wings. Despite being a relatively new sport, ultra-light flying has grown fast in Spain. The sensation you get from flying an ultra-light is similar to flying an aeroplane -in this case an aeroplane with a light, aluminium structure, fabric wings and an engine that will reach speeds of almost two hundred kilometres per hour.

Two airfields, one in Tenerife and the other in Gran Canaria, also enable lovers of aerobatics to practise powered flight in light aircraft. The difference in comparison with other forms of flying is that you have to do a longer course to get a licence. For anyone who wants to try any of these alternatives, there are many schools on the Islands that offer courses and rent equipment.

GUIDE PRACTICE

Temperatures: Minimum, 18oC in January. Maximum, 24.5oC in July

Canary Air Sports Federation: Apdo. de Correos 328, 35006 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Tel./fax: 928 43 36 36

Parachuting Club (in Tenerife) Tel: 617 47 80 08

Parachuting Club (in Gran Canaria) Tel: 928 15 70 00

Tamarán Hang Gliding Club: C/ Rosa Jericó, 17, Los Giles (Gran Canaria)

Tenerife Flying Club / Los Rodeos Airport: Apdo. 28, 38297 La Laguna Tel: 922 63 81 20 Fax: 922 63 8118

El Berriel Flying Club: C/ Gral. del Sur, km. 46,5, San Bartolomé de Tirajana. 35107 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

WHERE TO PRACTICE

Hang gliding

El Rincón and Las Coloradas, in Gran Canaria y Famara, Mala and La Asomada, in Lanzarote

Ultra-light

La Asomada, Los Giles and Las Coloradas, in Gran Canaria

Paragliding

Izaña South and Izaña North; Los Patos (Sta. Úrsula); Montaña de Guaza (Los Cristianos); Las Gaviotas (Santa Cruz), in Tenerife; Los Giles, Las Coloradas, in Gran Canaria; Famara, La Asomada, in Lanzarote

Skydiving

Playa de Las Vistas, in Tenerife; Playa del Inglés, in Gran Canaria

Soaring

In Gran Canaria: All around the Island; in Tenerife: All around the Island

KEY EVENTS

Hang gliding Canary Cup. Date: December

Hang gliding International Open. Date: December

Hang gliding Local Cup. More information at Air Sports Federation

Aterriza como puedas (paragliding exhibition) Place: Las Canteras beach (Gran Canaria) Date: summer

Concentración de Parapente isla de El Hierro (paragliding concentration). Date: May

Special thanks to The Consejería de Turismo y Transportes del Gobierno de Canarias