My first but not the last paragliding experience was awesome and stress free! Thank you to my super cool and caring instructor Danny who made my flight unfergetable and really special! If you are looking for paragliding instructor in Bay Area for sure reach out to Danny, he is professional, knowledgeable, experienced and very friendly! Thanks again Danny for making my dream come true! read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

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Very professional, experienced and knows a lot about the industry. Elite paragliding is affordable compared to others and very helpful when I was looking at purchasing a glider. read more

I had an amazing time paragliding with Mark. Mark was professional and thorough in explaining what to do and what not to do while paragliding. Overall I had a fun time doing this activity read more

Mark and David are both very professional pilots. We went with a few other friends and everyone had varying levels of nervousness. Mark customized the flight based on each person's requirement. Some people wanted a gentle go up, come down type of flight. Others wanted to do 360 degree swirls and turns. They do whatever you're comfortable with. They also talk during the whole trip to make sure you're comfortable. They also explain the scenery like views of golden gate, SF airport, foxes, seals or any other animals that can be seen from the air. Just don't look down and focus when in the air. This may cause nausea and a few friends puked because of it. As long as you look up, you can manage the nausea and enjoy the flight. The pilots can also land within 3 minutes if you feel sick and don't want to continue the flight. Great experience, definitely would recommend. Ask Mark to do swirls if you want to feel the Gs rushing to your head! read more

Elite Paragliding - Takeoff after jumping from the mountain - Paragliding Near Me

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This was hands down one of the best experiences I have ever had!!! Mark was amazing and went above and beyond to meet my needs and make sure my partner and I were comfortable. I am disabled and struggle with strength issues, balance, and back problems. Mark checked in with me whenever possible, was patient and moved at my speed, and made adaptations whenever possible. The views were breathtaking, the flight was incredible , conversation was great, and I would 100% recommend this experience to everyone! I can't wait to do it again! Bonus: there were about 5 grey whales playing in the ocean near by so we got to watch them as we waited for the perfect wind. read more

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I got this amazing paragliding experience from my friend Carl for my birthday. I have to say, nothing better then flying like a bird in the sky. That also have to thanks to our awesome instructor Mark. He is very professional, experienced, and nice. He made sure everything was done correctly before we fly and explained things very clearly. I felt very safe and comfortable for this trip. During our fly, he actually let me controlled steering little bit. That was fun! It was an unforgettable day and experience. I highly recommend to try it. read more

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We had an amazing time! The staff is very friendly and very responsive to text messages. Had to reschedule a couple of times because of bad wind conditions. (Can't stop Mother Nature!) Well worth the wait! Bought us two flights for my boyfriend's Birthday. He loved it! Highly recommended to knock off a bucket list. Even though I got motion sickness, Rob was very sweet and made the ride back as as smooth as possible. But don't let that turn you away, I'm very sensitive when it comes to flying. I just wanted to point out the extra care these guys take! And definitely bring gloves and warm clothes. It definitely gets chilly up there! Thanks for letting me borrow your gloves Rob. My boyfriend flew with Mark, heard he was an excellent tour guide! They even saw a Whale in the ocean! Thanks guys for the amazing experience! read more

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Mark Zinkel was fantastic! This was my very first time paragliding over Pacifica on Mussel Rock area. He was friendly, amiable and professional. He made me feel safe, comfortable and went over each step of what he does with the harness, straps and also with adjustments on the helmet. It was an adrenaline rush, we para glide over the beach and bit into the ocean...did some S turns. It was magical for me to do this but not for the faint hearted. Just dress warm with gloves as it got colder as we went higher... read more

My husband surprised me with an opportunity to do a tandem paraglide, and upon meeting Mark, he was very warm, friendly and professional. He did a fantastic job explaining everything clearly, and we did the length of Mussel Rock where I was able to learn a lot about the history of the area. We also did some tricks at the end that made my stomach drop! This was a truly memorable experience soaring through the sky and if you're considering trying this out, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Thanks Mark for a really fun experience! read more

This was a surprise birthday gift from the husband. AMAZING experience!!! :) I went tandem with Mark who made my birthday more special. He is a warm, friendly and fun guy who knows his stuff!! While we were wating for wind to pick up, chatting with another glider enthusiast we got to know Mark is well respected glider in the community! Definitely added more pleasure flying with him. The flying. I've done skydving. This experience was calming and serene. The views, being in Carl the fog. Some fun dips and turns after my enthusiastic yes when he asked if I was ok for some adventure made the experience memorable! I'd definitely recommend to fly with Elite Paragliding and specially with Mark. read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

I had an amazing time with Elite Paragliding! I was really nervous when I arrived, but Mark made me feel comfortable. He's a also super charming. Fly with Mark! Don't hesitate! Go! read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

As a beginner pilot I didn't know what I was doing at Mussel Rock, a friend recommended that I do a tandem and ask questions during my flight. Mark answered all the questions I had about the site. Being able to feel what it was like to ridge soar helped me to gain knowledge and understanding. Felt like an interactive classroom in the sky going to each area to observe conditions! I would recommend anyone interested in paragliding to do a tandem. You get to experience what you can become as a pilot. read more

It was a blast! Mark made the experience a lot of fun. I felt safe, too. My son who is a teenager enjoyed the paragliding, too.

Hey you, yeah, you. You want to have, or give someone the time of their life? Keep reading. I'm going to keep this short to ensure you do. Let's talk safety first, before radical fun. You are in good hands with Mark, your tandem pilot. He has studied wind and flight conditions like an MD, one that you would trust your life with. And the gear is top quality... Three steps and you are flying. Soaring like a bird... Flying meditation... Experiencing the beauty and calm of the sky. Oh the lifts, the turns, the voice behind you keeping you in the loop, proving he's a pilot, as well as pointing out the golden gate (or whatever) to make sure you see it with the unforgettable sensations of an eagle. Do it. Add this to your LIVING LIST read more

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Mark at Elite Paragliding is a phenomenally great guy, and a super professional, skilled pilot!! My husband and son flew with him on 3/6/20 for my son's 17th bday, and it was absolutely priceless to see the ecstatic looks on their faces afterwords!! Just priceless!! To soar off the cliffs near Pacifica, with dramatic, sweeping ocean views was just an unbelievably spectacular experience for them!! I was equally excited filming from below, and we will DEFINITELY come back again!! I will fly too after recovering from effects of a horseback riding accident, and can hardly wait!!! Mark inspires confidence and trust, and is such a joy to interact with!! It is so clearly a joyous passion for him!! I couldn't recommend him and the experience he offers more highly!! read more

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Long over due, but had to leave my first review for one of the most top-notch out there. Took a spontaneous trip to San Francisco towards the end of the week, and somehow, despite not-so-ideal weather in the morning and throughout the day, Mark kept on top of changes in the wind and we ended up making it happen later in the afternoon. This was single-handedly one of the best experiences I've ever had! The sudden nervousness from getting pulled up for the first time and sent into the air was quickly overshadowed by the sense of awe and amazement that comes from realizing you're flying along side birds, next to cliffs, and above the ocean. If you've never done this before, don't hesitate to give these guys a try. Will without a doubt do again! read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

Today finally I got to do paragliding which was long due . It was super fun with Mark . He is very good and totally makes sure that your flight is safe and delightful experience. We were five people and we managed to have flights one after another .. Hats off to Mark !! Would definitely recommend! Whatever doubts you have you can always ask before bookings! Note : It gets really cold in up sky so wear your winter cloths for sure ! read more

Went paragliding with Rob - what a fun experience. Rob was responsive and friendly in all of our prior communication. Throughout the flight, he explained the relationship between the wind and the topography, and added a few sharp turns to add to the thrill. Overall, had an incredible time. Cannot recommend this company more. read more

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Rob took me up tandom paragliding off the Cliffs at mussel Rock. Absolutely beautiful spot over the ocean and could even see whales breaching down below us. Very knowledgeable, safe and fun. I like to describe it as the meditative version of skydiving where you get to hang out comfortably on a swing for up to a couple hours and Float around in the clouds. Can't think of too many more amazing things one could do. My experience may have been a little different than many as I am a quadriplegic and use a wheelchair to get around. Rob went through and discussed all of the possibilities, how we could make it work and what any potential dangers might be. We planned it out in advance and he was very thorough. Even talked a lot about weather, winds Etc. On the day Mark, one of the other instructors and several of their students were there and helped me get set up and launched. I don't think any of it could have gone more smoothly and everyone was so friendly and supportive. Bonnie also put together a video of the experience which I will try and figure out how to add or upload here. To make a long story short I could not more highly recommend my experience and working with Rob and Mark. Hope you find it to be the same. read more

5/5 !!! Everything was amazing, especially Mark! He was so kind, knowledgeable, and fun. During our flight, he took time to explain the geography of the area, allowed me to tell him when I wanted to ascend or descend, and did a few tricks. I felt safe the entire time, even when I couldn't see due to the fog. I made a great decision by trusting Mark's expertise and definitely recommend! read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

My GF and I had an amazing time with Mark and Sean. Clear communication, super friendly and simply a great experience start to end. Thank you!! read more

We booked the paragliding for our wedding anniversary. It was an awesome experience! We had the BEST time of our lives! Mark and Rob were both very flexible and really accommodating to make sure that we have the best experience. Mark is such a cool guy! We had so much fun. It was worth every dollar. We highly recommend flying with Mark. Looking forward to flying again with them soon. read more

Elite Paragliding - It's a whole new world up there. Chillin right above the coast with the coolest guy, Mark! - Paragliding Near Me

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What an experience! Loved every second of soaring above the cliffs and flying alongside the birds. Mark was wonderful and made sure I understood what to expect. His experience paragliding in this area ensured a perfect afternoon. read more

It has been 3 weeks waiting for this AMAZING memorable experience. It was worth the wait and I'm so thankful Mother Nature was kind enough to allow my friends and I experience this thrilling sport. Both Mark and Rob are GREAT! And they have exceptional customer service. The flight was spectacular and very relaxing. We look forward to flying with them again real soon. read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

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If you have the chance, GO FLYING with Mark and Rob! Elite Paragliding is amazing. These guys are totally focused on safety, and also professional, friendly, helpful, and did I say super safety-focused? You may need to reschedule if conditions aren't good, but it's well worth a wait. Be sure to dress warmly, as even on sunny warm days it gets cold up in the sky. We flew in Pacifica. The short hike to the launch was through pretty fields of colorful wildflowers, right beside the ocean. Mark reviewed all the safety precautions as he got us set up. Taking off was exciting, and nothing to worry about. It was both peaceful and exhilarating in the air. Mark asked if I wanted the ride to be more exciting, and when I said yes we swooped and twirled; it was wonderful! Mark pointed out landmarks as we flew north along the coast --- the Golden Gate Bridge, S. F. Zoo, the Olympic Club, etc. It was fun (and pretty!) seeing several other paragliders in the sky around us, too. Mark had a GoPro with a selfie stick; some of the time I controlled the camera and other times he did. Elite offers a photo package at a reasonable price - the pics turned out great! I'm having trouble deciding which one to print and frame. From start to finish, it was a wonderful experience! If you have the chance, DO IT! Fly with Elite Paragliding! read more

Elite Paragliding - Flying with Mark in Pacifica! - Paragliding Near Me

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What does one get for the man who not only has everything, but the finest of everything? Per all my guy friends, via text, tweet, and FB message: AN EXPERIENCE! My boyfriend, after parking at the drop off point: So where do we go? Me, gesturing toward the brightly-colored paragliders ahead of us in the distance: You don't see what we're about to do? My boyfriend, smiling for his surprise birthday present: NO...really? Thank you, Mark and Rob, for a great first time!! Mark and Rob are friendly, pleasant, and well-prepared. Additional thanks to Mark, for patiently keeping up with my frequent texts! Haha I felt at ease with Mark's pleasant phone demeanor, and informative and pertinent wind updates. I felt even more at ease finally meeting the duo and he handed me my helmet. My boyfriend felt at ease upon learning Mark and Rob use the best, EU/CE-regulated gear. I appreciate our last minute accommodations!! You truly are at the mercy of nature in a sport like this, so you do need a knowledgeable, posted, careful, professional to keep you safe as you enjoy this adrenaline rush. They even provide gear to allow you to photograph/video your experience, and promptly--within hours!!--give you a follow-up. Thank you, again, for ensuring a truly unforgettable experience! read more

I've never written any yelp (or any other kind of) reviews, but I'm now doing it for Rob and Mark! I created this yelp account just to write a review for them. I'm not good at writing reviews (obviously, due to lack of experiences), so if the review does not turn out to be glowing, keep in mind that it's supposed to be a glowing 10 star review. Rob and Mark are among the most awesome people I've met. They are super nice, chill, and fun to hang out with. They are not only running a business, but also genuinely interested in having a good time with their customers. The business is unpredictable in that it's highly weather dependent. My boyfriend and I were originally scheduled to fly on a Saturday, but after we showed up (in Vallejo, where weather was better on that day than Pacifica), it turned out that the wind was too strong for a safe flight. Btw, Rob did warn us that there could be a chance that we couldn't fly, but we went anyways, so we took the risk ourselves. Also, Rob was super on top of communication with us to arrange the flight - he was very responsive and patient with texts. OK back to that strong-winded day in Vallejo, instead of sending us home, Rob actually hang out with us for the entire day, partially to wait for the wind to get better but mostly just hanging out. We ended up not flying that day, but we went sailing!! (for free!) with Rob, Mark, and their friend Joe. After sailing, we grabbed beer and food at a local brewery. It turned out to be a super fun and relaxing full-day hangout, and all of us thoroughly enjoyed it! On the day we actually flied, the next Sunday, we had a super amazing time in the sky, and it was like flying with a good friend (I flied with Mark and my boyfriend flied with Rob). What a fantastic experience! It's been over a month since we flied, and we miss Rob and Mark. We'll make sure to go back to Pacifica on some weekends to hang out with them again! Oh last but not least, fyi, Mark is single (at least as of August 2016) ladies ;) read more

It was wonderful experience! Rob and Mark are very friendly and helpful. I had 2 super awesome flights with incredible views in Pacifica :) Thanks a lot Rob! read more

Elite Paragliding - Pacifica, CA - Paragliding Near Me

Great people , 4 of us did paragliding with them this long weekend , amazing location and friendly people who will make your experience memorable and relaxed ! Highly r read more

An amazing and safe experience! Mark is a skilled, experienced professional who answered all the questions I had before, during, and after, and had all kinds of useful and local knowledge about the area, conditions, and history. I had done some research prior and it was great to have him confirm what I had read, in particular that tandem flying with an experienced pro is safe, so I was able to focus on the exhilaration of the experience. We chose a fun route, cool sights to see, and did a few fun tricks at the end as he asked about my comfort level to make sure I was doing well. Truly a fantastic experience! read more

Phenomenal experience with Mark and the journey he took me on. Highly recommend this group especially if it's your first time! read more

Mark and Rob took out my boyfriend and I for our first flight in paragliding. We were probably flying for about an hour. They took us to Benicia to fly on some rolling hills. The view was gorgeous and the flying was so much fun! I flew with Mark. He would ask me how crazy I wanted our ride to get and did a few things like swing back and fort similar to the motions of a swing set. Both of rides were so much fun! Much better than flying in an airplane because you get a 360 view! Definitely worth the experience!!!! read more

Mark and his team is awesome. They are nice and professional, very flexible with scheduling. We all had a great experience and my five years old son was so enjoy it. I highly recommend this activity to everyone! read more

Elite Paragliding made my dream come true! I've always wanted to soar like a bird, up high.... no sound other than the wind! The weather and location were perfect, and the tandem pilots were professional, friendly, and really fun! They definitely made me feel safe and made sure I was comfortable with everything we did! This is the perfect experience for anyone who has a dream of flying the most natural way there is! I can cross that one off of my bucket list....... or maybe just go back and do it again! Give it a try! read more

Elite Paragliding - Paragliding Near Me

We met with Mark, he's a super nice, easy going dude, who was professional, experienced and very interested in making the flight as enjoyable as possible for us. I would highly recommend flying with him. read more

We were a group of 8 people and had been waiting for 3 weeks. Due to weather conditions, we had to postpone it couple of times. Mark was really patient and helped us in making it happen. We had a wonderful experience flying with Mark, Bonita and Shane. They were very friendly, safe and supportive throughout. I strongly recommend them. read more

Amazing glide along the coastal cliffs. Flight guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Felt very safe and serene in the sky. An awesome experience! read more

An out-of-this-world experience you have to do at least once in your life! Paragliding with Mark was absolutely incredible. You soar above the clouds just along the coast with beautiful views of the city and ocean. Mark is extremely knowledgeable on all things aviation from becoming a pilot to building his own business with his partner Rob. Plainly put, Mark is an awesome guy and makes the whole trip worth every single penny. If you're in San Francisco (or surrounding area) and want an adventure Elite Paragliding is the way to go. This is definitely an experience you'll want to put in the books. I know I'll be back to fly again, maybe even take up the sport myself ;). I couldn't recommend Elite Paragliding more! read more

Wow - Not only did Rob take us to an amazing location, almost private with a great view, but he was super friendly, safe, knowledgeable and supportive. I had never paraglided before, and he made me feel so comfortable. And once we got up in the air, he talked me through all of the moves he was making and coached me through landing. It was super easy and fun! Elite Paragliding is definitely the way to go, and if you've never been up in the sky sitting in a chair and flying, you got to try it!! read more

Writing this on behalf of my husband, Savan. He did his 1st ever paragliding experience (for his 40th birthday) & had the best time ever with Mark. This was so amazing that our 3 year old really wants to try it - & to be honest I'll feel safe letting him soar the skies with Mark. Thank you Mark for a great adventure read more