Student Testimonials

I looked over other statements and said, yeah, all true. I've grown to know most of these folks. Very good people. Can’t really top what has already been said. Rob Black and Joel McMinn of Penguin Paragliding are top-notch instructors that provide the perfect combination of teaching, encouragement, correction (why couldn’t I have had a physics teacher like Rob in high school, college?!? damn) to make learning to paraglide an incredible and enjoyable experience. Joel’s like a sage. Probably no situation that he can’t or won’t give you the needed guidance to do it right. I had problems kiting. Joel said 'Stop looking at the wing. Close your eyes. Feel it.' What? Damn, it worked. And on and on. They don't stop teaching. Their emphasis is always safety. I’m closest to Dave’s age. North of 60, just south of 70. As long as you can hike a hill, you can paraglide. In today’s flight, I had a red-tailed hawk hold position right next to my wing. It hung there, turned with me, for, I don’t know 15, 20 seconds. Catching the same ridge lift. Not bothered by my presence. Talk about serene. Paragliding is truly what it means to fly like a bird.

Keith Miles-Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate
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Can't recommend Penguin Paragliding highly enough!! Rob and instructors are fantastic teachers -- they are knowledgeable, very approachable, have calm demeanors, and care about their students. Scheduling is super flexible as classes are available almost every day and you can sign up for days that work with your schedule. There's also no limit of sessions if you are working towards your P2, Rob is really invested in ensuring you are prepared and ready. At first I was nervous about paragliding as I am afraid of heights. However, my fears were put as ease as it was clear I was in good hands and they ensured I was equipped with the appropriate knowledge & skill as I progressed. Earning my P2 license was an amazing & rewarding experience and I'm looking forward to continuing my paragliding journey with the amazing Penguin Paragliding community.

Rachel McBride, Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate
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​I am super happy with my decision to go with penguin paragliding for my P2 training.  Rob is professional, very safe and easy to deal with.  He is available 7 days a week so anytime the weather is ok I can train.  Since he is always teaching I can join in last minute, which is great since my work schedule is unpredictable.  You can learn at your own pace and you get plenty of one on one teaching  from Rob and his other instructors.  
There are often P2 graduates at the flying sites and I see Rob and his instructors continuing to teach them and help them work toward their P3 at no extra charge.  He got me a great deal on new equipment and continues to make it clear that we can take as many lessons as we need to become safe pilots.  

 There are two aspects of Rob's school which I think are very important.  He stresses lots of ground handling which if you research you will see that everyone agrees this makes you a safer pilot.  It's also surprisingly fun.  The other thing is the continuing education.  I have already completed all the requirements for my P2, and I still definitely need guidance.  It is great to know that my training isn't over just because I earned a piece of paper that says I can fly on my own under certain conditions.

Wyatt P- Penguin Paragliding P2 graduate

I can't imagine a better school to learn to paraglide. It's something special when someone can be both a great paraglider but also have the experience and skill of teaching as well. Rob and Mike were passionate, friendly and knowledgeable.

Each day between sessions I all I thought about was the next time I would get to hang out with the instructors and learn to paraglide. The school is well organized and flexible for any schedule. It was really helpful for me to just be able to attend a session whenever it fit my schedule. Rob and Mike quickly built a connection to me and made sure every session was exactly what I needed. They have a great process to build trust and I always felt safe even as someone who can be nervous trying new things.

My initial expectation was that I would just "find a school and learn to paraglide" but the Penguins are much more than that. It's a community of friendly people all sharing their experience of flight helmed by some of the nicest most knowledgeable people I have met.

My wife and I earned our P2 as Penguins and it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I'm really excited to continue to fly with the Penguins!

Scott Garman- Penguin Paragliding Graduate
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If you want to learn how to safely fly a paraglider in the Bay Area, Penguin paragliding is the school for you. Rob has a passion for the sport and he is very methodical and structured in his approach, so you will have a well designed progressive training. You will be flying soon from several sites under different conditions and to add even more value, you will also receive instruction from Joel and Mike who are outstanding individuals as well as excellent pilots. You will get the best instruction, you won't be rushed, and you will have tons of fun. The proof is that in many of the classes you will see P2, P3 and P4 graduates.

Paragliding with the penguins is so much fun. If you are hesitating I would recommend to take a tandem flight or a 1 day lesson. If you are afraid of heights don't worry it goes away when you are attached to a wing that you control :).

I can't wait for the next camping and flying trip.

Jorge I- Penguin Paragliding Graduate
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Penguin Paragliding has easily been the best, and most rewarding educational experience of my life. As a birthday gift to myself I signed up for the P2 certification course, which for a flat fee includes unlimited classes until you can be confidently signed off as a P2 pilot. Classes were available almost every single day of the week (weather permitting), and every session I attended was packed with high quality, one-on-one hands-on training.

I was primarily taught by Rob, Mike and Galen; all of whom are not only expert pilots, but supremely patient and caring instructors. They exude passion for the sport and it's clear that they really enjoy teaching their students. I tend to ask a lot of questions, and for every one they would spend considerable time answering, explaining even demonstrating complex topics. Paragliding is by no means intuitive, but over the months they were able to instill me with confidence in my abilities and a keen awareness for safety.

I've never done anything like paragliding before, so I was surprised at how fast my progression was. On the first day I actually did a couple flights off a small hill, and after a few months of regular attendance I was launching off 3,000ft mountains, riding thermals and soaring along ridges. Rob talked me through the myriad of equipment choices, made personalized recommendations, and sold me a complete kit at a considerable discount compared to online retailers. Now I'm able to pack a literal aircraft in my car, drive to a site and fly with my new Penguin friends.

All in all, I would seriously doubt that there's a better paragliding school on the planet. I feel incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon Penguin just by chance. If you're even remotely curious about paragliding, I'd highly recommend just signing up for the introductory day or even getting a tandem flight from one of the instructors. For all of history humans have dreamed about being able to fly like a bird - we now live in a time where that's not only possible, but easily accessible thanks to Penguin Paragliding.
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Thomas Purcell – Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate
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Do you remember learning how to crawl or walk? I wouldn't think so, but I guarantee you won't soon forget your first paraglider flight. It's that kind of milestone in ones life that can literally change it.  
After experiencing a tandem, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to become a pilot, and what better place than Penguin Paragliding to discover how to soar like a hawk.
          The instructors Rob Black and Joel McMinn are highly qualified, and make all aspects of flying a fun experience. Besides, they're the only local school that provides year round flying, so look no further than Penguin Paragliding.

Oreste Fausto- Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate
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Do you remember learning how to crawl or walk? I wouldn't think so, but I guarantee you won't soon forget your first paraglider flight. It's that kind of milestone in ones life that can literally change it.  
After experiencing a tandem, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to become a pilot, and what better place than Penguin Paragliding to discover how to soar like a hawk.
          The instructors Rob Black and Joel McMinn are highly qualified, and make all aspects of flying a fun experience. Besides, they're the only local school that provides year round flying, so look no further than Penguin Paragliding. 
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​Caleb Bourg- Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate
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 Don't take our word for it, check out more reviews from our graduates on Yelp and Google

Additional Reviews:


Fabio Maenchen - P2 Graduate

I grew up watching paragliders and hang-gliders on the hillside, dreaming that one day I too would be able to experience the wonder of flight. Thanks to Robert Black's flexibility to work out a payment plan that fit with my budget, at 33 years of age I was finally able to take a shot at that old dream.
> I was impressed at how much support and brotherhood there is between the students and the graduate pilots, we really watch each other's backs out there. You will always have someone around to help you through the process, the instructors are passionate about teaching the sport and most of all devoted to students safety, which was very reassuring with my fear of heights. Only 5 months later, thanks to all the great instructions, I'm very impressed with how much I was able to learn and develop my skills. Being in the sky and flying my wing now feels as natural as riding a bicycle.
> Even if you're just curious about the sport I suggest you come down and hangout with us and meet the crew. You can ask questions and learn about and see the sport up close. 


Tiffany Pham, Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate

If you’re thinking about paragliding, Rob Black and Joel Mcinn are the guys to go to! They have the knowledge and experience to not only teach you how to fly, but to fly safely. They really took the time to teach me how to control the wing well, instead of rushing me as quickly as possible to get my 25 flights. Because of that, as a 5’2”, 120 lb. girl, I am routinely launching, flying, and landing without a problem all due to the good habits that they taught me during their USHPA P2 course.  
 Penguin Paragliding is a very unique school for many reasons. There are more than 5 sites within 10 miles that we train at. As a student, this was very valuable. Not only was it fun to fly at new sites, I was able to acquire and practice new skill sets that I would not have gained if only flying at one place. Now, I feel more comfortable flying at new sites for the first time because I have done it before.
 Although I have completed their P2 course, I still paraglide with Rob and Joel almost every day. They believe in lifelong learning, so they continue to teach me more advanced skills to become a pilot beyond the P2 Novice level. You won’t find this at any other paragliding school.  After joining Penguin Paragliding, you can best believe that you will be completely ready to paraglide and have the experience of a lifetime.  


Dave Smart-Penguin Paragliding P2 Graduate


I came to paragliding late in life (age 71), and I was fortunate to do so under the guidance of Penguin Paragliding instructors Rob Black and Joel McMinn. Penguin Paragliding’s course of instruction is comprehensive, with an emphasis on safety and the development of a variety of flying and flying-related skills. Safety being Penguin Paragliding’s foremost concern, Rob and
Joel emphasize it throughout training.
As a Penguin Paragliding student, I had access to eight training sites, seven located in Vallejo and Benicia and the eighth roughly a 40-minute drive. So, Penguin Paragliding’s training exposed me to varying local wind and flying conditions. This allowed me to develop a greater set of skills, e.g. side-hill landings. Also, Rob and Joel tailor their instruction to the individual
student’s learning style, ability, motivation, and time. Some earn their P-2 in several weeks;some take a year. Rob and Joel stick with students regardless of how long the journey takes.
Whether it lasts 20 minutes or 20 seconds, you will never forget your first flight, during which you will slip “the surly bonds of Earth” and experience a freedom and euphoria unique to paragliding. And . . . you can continue to enjoy this experience again and again for the rest of your life.
If you’re considering paragliding, consider Penguin Paragliding. Quite simply, they are the best at what they do.


Justin Cannon-P2 Graduate


I highly recommend learning to paraglide with Rob. I'm extremely satisfied that I went with Rob instead of other schools in the area. Here's why:
     1. Rob offers more of a mentorship than a school. Most of my sessions were either one-on-one or with one other student.  Rob adjusted his training according to my learning style and progress. Rob is a former calculus and physics teacher, and his gift for teaching is clear in the way he instructs. I ask a lot of questions and probably overthink too often, but Rob was always patient and perfectly accommodated how I like to learn.
    2. The program is extremely flexible. There are no set training days or hours - you can arrange sessions around your availability and schedule. Mornings, afternoons, every day, once a week - all possible.
    3. The community of other Penguin paragliders is extremely valuable. Those that have already graduated regularly join sessions and mentor newer pilots. The encouragement and tips I received from other more experienced pilots when learning was as helpful as actual instruction. Now that I have my P2, I'm continuing to participate in and really enjoy the Penguin community. Half the fun of flying is doing it with friends.
    4. I really think Penguin Paragliding does a dramatically better job preparing students to be safe, skilled pilots than other schools in the area. I'm super thankful for Rob's emphasis on developing ground handling skills - my good kiting skills made me a much better and safer pilot once I began flying. I was also able to train and learn to ridge soar at multiple "real" sites, as opposed to a basic training hill that doesn't really simulate real-world launch sites.
Learning to paraglide with Rob was an awesome and extremely rewarding experience. Flying is definitely going to be a life-long hobby, and I look forward to soaring with the penguins for many years to come.



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