SIV CLINIC

SIV training increases your safety and confidence when paragliding. Learn fundamental safety skills, how to deal with unexpected events and how to react in emergency situations. The course includes both theory and practical sessions.

Our SIV clinic is designed to improve your overall paragliding expertise and to boost your confidence. You will learn fundamental safety skills and become more familiar with your wing’s behaviour in diverse situations. Your safety and enjoyment while training are our main priorities.

SkySurf Paragliding SIV Courses are held at Lake Burrendong NSW, the best location for SIV training in Australia. The huge body of water offers a safe “box of maneuvers” and unobstructed launch/landing areas facing all wind directions. Accommodation is available by the lake at “Reflections Caravan Park Lake Burrendong“ (camping and cabins available)

Our SIV Courses are held in association with Phil Mansell from FlyDubbo. Phil is a towing specialist and one of the most experienced winch operators in Australia. Having a specialized towing team guarantees safe towing and consistent altitude. It also allows CFI Rafael Esquillaro to dedicate 100% attention to the pilots on launch, under tow and while performing maneuvers. Your SIV instructor focus on providing pre-flight checks, pre-flight briefing, radio instructions and after flight debrief. We always have 2 boats in the water (Towing + Safety) and 2 people in the Towing Boat (Boat Driver + Winch Operator/Spotter).

The course runs over 3 days (weather conditions dependent) and includes both theory and practical sessions. We pay particular attention to the psychological aspects of SIV training and mental visualization. The theory lessons are held on the night before each training day. We make sure you have complete mental understanding of each movement before the actual practice. A comprehensive debrief using video analyses is performed at the end of each day.

accommodation at Lake Burrendong

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Our SIV Clinic can be customized for all pilot levels and specific goals. Every pilot presents different learning curves and the course is not intended to tick boxes superficially. Pilots will only progress to the next maneuver once they are proficient and confident performing the previous one.

The standard program includes:

Big Big Ears with speedbar
Asymmetric Collapses (at trim speed, 50% Speed Bar and 100% Speed Bar)
Full Frontal Collapses (at trim speed, 50% Speed Bar and 100% Speed Bar)
Pitch Oscillations and Pitch Control
Dynamic Collapse (Asymmetric/Symmetric)
Spiral Dive (Entry and Controlled Exits)
Full Stall
Tail Slide
Spin
Reserve Deployment

For Pilots with previous SIV experience and proficient at performing Spiral Dives, Full Stalls (Tail Slide) and Spins we also offer Introduction to Acrobatic Flying including but not limited to Wing-Overs, SAT, Asymmetric SAT, Parachutal Stalls, Misty Flip and Helicopter.

Course Includes:

2 Boats in the water (Towing + Safety)
PFD Flotation Device provided
Waterproof Icom UHF Radio and Speaker Mic provided
Towing Weak Link Material provided
SIV Simulator
Extensive Briefing and Debriefing including video analyses
Comprehensive skill development coaching for Novice pilots including launch, landing and general flying techniques
Expert Towing Team
EXPERT SIV INSTRUCTOR (CFI Rafael Esquillaro has extensive Acro, CCC and SIV’s instruction experience).

SIV requirements:

Current SAFA membership and Tow Endorsement
Certified Paraglider, Harness and Reserve Parachute (repacked within 6 months)
Helmet
Non-shatter protective Eye Wear
Tow Release Bridle
Gloves recommended
Hook Knife recommended
GoPro Camera or similar recommended

4 Tows Averaging over 1000 meters each. Cost $1090 Inc GST (Extra tows can be purchased. Cost $150/extra Tow)

instruction during a full stall - flow fusion light en c

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Testimonials:

Just had yet another brilliant 2 day SIV safety course with Raffa at Lake Burrendong. Towing is flawless, location is proabaly the best in Australia for doing SIV over water. Being highly competant in Acro himself you know Raffa knows what is is talking about. Raffa seems to instill both confidence and calm in you when doing the manouvers, espeially when its a new manouver and you are unsure what to expect, just knowing Raffa would not ask you to do something beyond you ability and having that voice in your ear coaching you through it at precisey the right moment is gold. 5 pilots who all exceeded their goals for the weekend and then some. Can't wait for the next one. Thanks Raffa, faultless weekend with massive gain in my flying ability. Crannie

Just returned from an SIV course with Rafa & I am going to be frothing for days!! A massive thank you to everyone involved! I think this is by far the most important & the most challenging thing I have ever done & I have to admit I wasn't sure if I would be able to complete all of the manoeuvres. Rafa's experience as an acro pilot was quickly apparent to me, his in depth knowledge of every input & weight shift led me to develop a trust in him that I needed to complete the whole course - including full stalls!!!!...... believe me I surprised myself! In my mind he has everything you could want in an SIV instructor; calm & simple explanations, not over complicating things, his extreme passion & enthusiasm is contagious even when you are literally bricking it & on your 10th pre flight pee!! This course is invaluable for any pilot who wants to fly inland & fly xc. In hind sight I cannot believe I've put myself in some of the situations I have without the knowledge I have gained over the last couple of days! It was so much more than just ticking boxes on a list of manoeuvres. One of the most stand out things for me was talking about equipment, I learnt heaps about the different types of reserves, mounting of reserves & landing under reserve. This information & the opportunity to throw mine has given me the impetus to change my equipment that could literally have a massively different outcome to an emergency situation should I encounter one in the future. Another thing that surprised me in the course was how much we managed to fit into 5 tows. The tows were huge & enabled us to complete 5 to 8+ manoeuvres on each flight. Full stalls were not just a quick in & out, we were taught about fly back & the importance of it & I was stoked to be coached through this on my first SIV, again exceeding my expectations. Logistics of how this course is run & support crew also deserves a huge mention. The confidence I had in Phil’s expertise in towing & equipment helped massively, this along with the fact they have two boats in the water with Ian & Mitch on board if you do end up in the water intentionally or otherwise they are there waiting. This set up also allows Rafa to be on the shore with you before launch for the final brief & immediately after landing for the initial debrief. This is followed up by video debriefing in the evening. If you have never done an SIV & are considering doing one I have two pieces of advice; Do IT!!! & Do it with Rafa! If you don't know me from a bar of soap & you're looking around at different options for SIVs believe me in one thing; who you choose is a very important decision! Ask lots of questions & make an informed decision.

This is the 2nd SIV I have done with Rafa from Skysurf paragliding (and Phil from Fly Dubbo). The whole operation is very professional and organised. Top class experienced and calm instruction, which is always required when you are pushing beyond your comfort zone. Towing operations by Phil Mansell of Fly Dubbo - 2 Boats and 2 Winches mean than gear failure is unlikely to result in loss of tow time. I have about 25 tows with Phil behind boats and trucks and he is a smooth operator. Tows are 1000-1400M ish providing plenty of opportunity for manoeuvres. Lake Burrendong, near Wellington NSW with its shoreline, peninsula's and islands mean towing is possible in any wind direction. The tow is designed for optimum placement in the box ensuring that in the event of an unplanned reserve deployment, risk is mitigated by a water landing. Cabins are only meters away from the boat ramp. I spent the two days focusing on stalling into tail slide. I am gaining much needed confidence .....and possibly even enjoyment.....conducting this manoeuvre. This confidence rebuilding is required for me after my reserve toss on a comp wing last summer....and not my one first either!.