Jaw-dropping nature, a sports hotspot and real commitment give Rob Sporrer the ideal base for his business "Eagle Paragliding" in Santa Barbara.
1. How did you get into flying, Rob?
"I started flying paragliders in 1995. I saw a pilot fly from the local mountains here in Santa Barbara and land on the beach, and two weeks later I got connected to the world-class flight park here. I was lucky to learn from two legends of American free flight, Dixon White and Tom “Sundowner” Truax. They taught me that good flying is built on solid fundamentals and a healthy respect for the air, and that has shaped how I teach ever since."
2. What did your career path up to being UP dealer look like?
"I began teaching in 1997 and partnered in Eagle Paragliding in 1998 as the first sister school of Dixon White’s Airplay Paragliding; the two schools merged in 2006. In 2002, USHPA named me Instructor of the Year. Today Eagle trains pilots seven days a week, year-round, from their first solo flight to P4, and we run clinics and tours worldwide. We also run a full-service shop and import premium equipment. Selling gear was a natural step: once students fall in love with flying, they need a wing they can trust, and UP has been one of the brands I trust most."
3. Since when have you been connected with UP?
"For more than 20 years, since 2002. Eagle has imported and distributed UP in the United States for most of that time, and we have put a lot of pilots under UP's wings: MAKALU, KIBO, SUMMIT, TRANGO... The UP tandem wings called K2 are a favorite of my guide team when we tour worldwide."
4. What’s special and good to know about flying in Santa Barbara?
"Santa Barbara sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, so you can launch at almost 4,000 feet and look out over the city, the ocean and the Channel Islands. Our training hill at Elings Park is about 240 feet tall, smooth and grassy, and we fly it year-round. The mountain season is best from about September through May; in summer the sea breeze and the evening “sundowner” winds make the mountains much stronger. Coastal ridge soaring adds even more variety. Santa Barbara is a mecca for paragliding in late fall, winter, and early spring, when much of the country is raining and snowing and our conditions are excellent for thermal and cross-country flying."
5. Got some general tips for pilots visiting California?
"Don’t fly our mountain sites without a local briefing. Santa Barbara’s sites are sensitive and protected by the local club, so call a local school first; we are always happy to help visiting pilots. You’ll need a USHPA membership (short-term memberships exist for visitors). After flying, get fish tacos downtown or spend an afternoon in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country."
6. What’s the best general advice regarding paragliding you’ve ever been given?
"Master the fundamentals and never stop practicing them. Most accidents don’t happen to beginners on hard days; they happen to good pilots who skip the basics on an ordinary one. Do your checks every time, kite your wing, and decide whether to launch with a clear head. The best pilots are the ones still flying 30 years later."
7. What flying site is your all-time favorite and why?
"Los Tanques in Colombia, South America, is my favorite launch site. We spend three weeks there each winter doing tours, and 2027 will be our 16th year. Before we discovered Colombia, we ran tours in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, for 10 years. Colombia gives pilots of every level the opportunity to fly cross-country with very low stress. It’s a farming valley with plenty of landing options, so pilots can focus on thermaling and their flight plan instead of worrying about where they’ll land. In my opinion, the people of Colombia make it the best place to fly in the world."
8. What’s your plan for the next five years?
"Keep doing what we love: turning first-timers into safe, confident, lifelong pilots. Every Eagle student is a student for life, and we want to keep growing that community here and on our tours abroad. We also want to get UP wings back into the hands of American pilots. Import costs into the US have been tough on everyone lately, but we are working closely with the UP team on ways to make it happen."
9. Have you tried this year's new gliders, TORRE & K2 5?
"Not yet, and I’m really looking forward to it. From everything I’ve seen, the TORRE is a really nice wing, and I believe it stands up to anything in its class. I can’t wait to get one."
10. How can people get in touch with you?
"Come see us in Santa Barbara. We have flown UP for over two decades; we can help you pick the right wing for your level, and our students can try UP gear. Reach us at www.paragliding.com or 805.968.0980.
Photo credit: Rob Sporrer, founder and owner of Eagle Paragliding in Santa Barbara, California. Joining him on the photos is lead instructor Andrew Karnowski of the Eagle team. We also added a picture taken by local UP team pilot Honza Rejmanek and free online images of Santa Barbara.