When I was first introduced to paragliding, I thought I would never be capable, or brave enough to fly. Over time and watching Stephen teach others on weekends, I realized that his teaching style and safety-conscious mind would keep me from getting hurt. He taught me to kite and fly toward the end of 2017, he worked hard to clean up my technique to as close to perfect as I personally can get, and I've been at it non-stop ever since! I've been able to progress at my own snail-paced speed, which kept me having fun and I was able to achieve some unbelievable goals. I earned my P4, I'm able to stay up for hours in thermals, I've flown cross-country a few times, flew a few different sites, and last year I became a BGD Team Pilot!!! If you told me in 2017 that this is where I'd be in 2024/25, I would have laughed in your face. I could not have done any of that without him. I've watched him bring up many great pilots who have a good understanding of safety and potential, many of whom have their own wonderful achievements. Whether you're timid, or an adrenaline junkie, he can get you flying. He will give you all the tools you need to succeed, as long as you listen, heed his warnings & apply his advice. He continues to be an invaluable resource to not only myself, but pilots who aren't even his students! He truly cares. Yes, I would 100% recommended him. read more

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I booked a tandem for my other half for Father's Day and he had an absolute blast! He said he would do it again a billion times lol I booked everything with Stephen by email and he always responded super quick and to all my questions. Awesome customer service and great flight ! read more

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This has always been something I have wanted to do. Unfortunately it just never happened or the opportunity never came around. Then on 4th of July while staying in Crestline, CA, that morning my husband said if you can find a place to do this and they have an opening go ahead and book it. Oh and it had to be that day only because we were leaving the next day to come back home. The Airbnb we were staying at recommended Neverland Paragliding. I emailed Stephen after looking over his website and he got back in touch with me and said we could do that day at 4 PM. I was ecstatic! Stephen was amazing. He explained what to expect and what to do before, during, and after the flight. I had the absolute best time up in the air. He did whoop-di-dos and swoops that had me smiling from ear to ear. I was loving our tandem flight. Best $200 spent for such an amazing experience. Also I would like to point out that the people at Andy Jackson Airpark were the friendliest bunch of people. First time meeting them and it was like we were all friends who gathered every day to meet up. FYI the ride up the hill was just a much an adventure as the flight coming down. Thank you Stephen for giving me an amazing experience. I already scheduled another day for when my daughter comes home from college to drive down from Ventura to San Bernardino just to fly with Stephen again. There are other places closer to fly but the experience I had with him and the other people at the Airpark make the drive with it. Highly recommend Neverland Paragliding!!! read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about Neverland Paragliding. I wasn't sure if I wanted to get into this sport but I'm sure glad I finally gave Stephen a call. My training has been nothing short of amazing, Stephen is a superb instructor that truly knows the art of "from known to unknown" teaching method. Safety appears to be the #1 priority at Neverland, but what I like best about it is that I don't feel any of my money with the excellent training I received. 10/10 would learn to fly again with Neverland. read more

I've really enjoyed working with Stephen to learn to fly paragliders. He instructed me initially 10 years ago, then after a long time being out of the sport, I went back to him for a refresher course. He's a great instructor that is engaging, a wealth of information. He doesn't just tell you what you need to know, he goes into the WHY and physics of it. Combined with a friendly and patient approach to instruction, he packs a great deal of learning into the very first lesson with lots of didactic instruction and has you apply the course information straight into ground handling in what felt like a seamless logical flow into application. You can't go wrong with choosing this instructor. The cost of instruction is on par, the value of instruction is definitely worth it. read more

Stephen is an excellent pilot and amazing instructor. He is very thorough in his instructions and really takes the time to make sure his students understand the concept at hand. I started lessons 4 years ago and the learning and help from Stephen has never stoped. He continues to help even after lessons are over. NeverLand Paragliding is the best place to learn to fly. The tandem flights offered by NeverLand Paragliding are second to none and a great experience. I would recommend Stephen and the NeverLand Paragliding crew to all my close friends and family. read more

I just finished my first week with Stephen at Neverland Paragliding and had one of the greatest experiences of my life. His instruction from theory to flying is second to none. Stephen was able to adapt to my learning style and speed to help accelerate my learning in a safe, positive, and fun way. If you're going to learn to fly, learn to fly at Neverland! read more

Review of Aerial Antics PPG / Neverland Paragliding with Stephen Nowak In a few words.. unstructured, unprofessional, unsafe. A fellow pilot and myself traveled 4 hours and stayed 4 days from home to take part in the journey of adding POWERED paragliders (PPG) to our list (all others all fixed wing). The basic training was supposed to follow a kiting-gliding-power sequence over the course of 4-5 days all with instructor Stephen Nowak. Nowak, although extremely skilled and knowledgeable about paragliding and weather phenomena, seemed to be severely lacking in basic instructor pilot fundamental skills, deep understanding of aerodynamics and airspace, and mission planning/preparation, as well as experience and confidence in powered paramotoring (the entire reason for going). Within the first three days, from what I think anyone would consider normal student struggle.. we were able to eventually launch from over 2000' above the landing zone and hit it uneventfully. However when we were asked what we wanted to do, (a curiously common theme throughout training showing lack of planning, syllabus discipline, and instructor guidance) and requested to use the motor.. we were met with immediate hesitation. After a little coaxing, the instructor agreed to teach us paramotor basics.. suspiciously difficult considering my initial training inquiry was specifically for PPG. Per usual, he was late to the agreed arrival time at 1530 because he didn't have enough gas in the paramotor and wasn't familiar with the area. Stephen had selected a new training site located on some private property with "no trespassing" signs posted everywhere, based on his friends' suggestion the night prior. He didn't have enough equipment for all three students to use for training and borrowed a motor from Troy Hartman of Aerial Antics/Soboba Paragliding. The equipment wasn't fitted correctly for the students ahead of time, or even put together. He decided we needed to hang the motor and harness from structural beams INSIDE A NEARBY STRANGERS CARPORT! who didn't seem to be home at the time to find the correct hang points. During assembly of the motor and harness he admitted to never having used this specific motor and "wasn't [immediately] sure how to put it together". It was then that I noticed several instances of damage to the carbon fiber frame that was "fixed" with bonding and covered up with electrical tape. I called knock-it-off immediately, said thanks for the opportunity and that I wasn't comfortable flying. I was not going to put my life in the hands of an instructor unfamiliar with the location and equipment he's supposed to be instructing how to use, or equipment in such poor condition. After politely refusing to fly, we were met immediately with aggressive assurance that it was structurally sound, criticism of our inexperience and lack of paraGLIDING skill, and was told that we should need at least a YEAR of gliding experience before using a motor.. a ridiculous and obviously defensive response considering the many successful and reputable PPG schools located far from any gliding terrain. Stephen then went on to argue that we wasted HIS time that day despite the fact that once the motor would have been hung, and all three students fitted, there would still have been less than an hour per student of stick time before sunset. Throughout all of my formal aviation training, NEVER have I been talked down to and insulted in such a way by expressing my concerns regarding safety of flight. The level of unprofessionalism, childishness, disregard for student safety, and outright false advertising that this company and its instructor allows is truly staggering. Needless to say, neither Ariel Antics PPG nor Neverland Paragliding will be getting any more of my business and I cannot and will not, in good conscience, refer any of my friends and fellow pilots to them for training. Anyone who has been trained in any formal aviation curriculum will see very quickly that it is ONLY because the FAA does not have many restrictions on ultralights or certify solo flight instructors that this guy is able to instruct. Honorable mentions: 1) Stephen hit a local patrons' vehicle in the parking lot and ran. 2) Although we paid for a USHPA P4 instructor.. he shared instructor time with a local homeless gentleman who often wreaked of marijuana. 3) One of our GoPro cameras was stolen from their facilities and they rejected our request to check security camera footage and insisted that my friend had lost it during flight although he had never taken it flying with him. TLDR: Decent paragliding experience (attributed more to the location), horrible/no paramotoring experience. Instructor trespasses, deceives, and disregards their own syllabus. Minimal demonstration and heavy criticism coupled with severe lack of progression guidance and recommendation. Would not recommend to anyone without any sort of prior experience. read more

The best in local paragliding instruction IMO. I have been teaching hang gliding for 43 years and for many of those years I have operated at the same site as Stephen at Neverlandparagliding. I recommend Stephen for those seeking either tandem or solo training in paragliding. Keep it up Stephen. read more