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Elver Park Paragliding Training Hill

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Elver Park Paragliding Training Hill

Spot Info

Spot Details

PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Not marked
Club / contract
Not marked
Launch faces
NNW, N, NNE
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
Public City of Madison sledding/training hill documented by the current local school for repeated PG student sled runs. Use only during ordinary open park hours, when the hill and landing runout are completely clear and no reservation, event, election closure, winter operation, maintenance, or posted restriction conflicts. First-time pilots and students should coordinate with Madcity Paragliding/Compass AirSports for current local practice and supervision.
Site rules
  • Short PG training and sled runs only unless a qualified local instructor determines current conditions and airspace support more; this is not a general XC launch.
  • Students and low-airtime pilots must train under a qualified instructor. Do not imitate the site's rare thermic flight without the rating, judgment, and active supervision required for the conditions.
  • Yield to sledders, skiers, disc golfers, field users, trail users, children, dogs, picnickers, workouts, events, and maintenance. If anyone can enter the wing, run, or LZ path, do not inflate.
  • Do not launch during elections, posted closures, reserved activities, winter grooming, crowded sledding, fireworks/holiday events, or when the surface is wet, damaged, reseeded, icy, or protected.
  • Use the north-facing grassy hill and immediate clear runout only after a complete walk-through; do not cross roads, facilities, trees, sports fields, or occupied paths at low height.
  • No motors. Nothing in the public-park or training record establishes PPG access.
  • Check current City park status, FAA facilities, controlled airspace, NOTAMs, TFRs, weather, and local rules before every session.
Launch directions
NNW, N, NNE
Direction notes
Current catalog range is NNW through NNE and the local-school flight report identifies north wind. Use only clean, straight-up-the-hill flow suitable for the pilot and training objective.
Safety notes
  • Typical flights are only about 10-20 seconds. Limited height and an urban shared-use runout leave little time to correct a poor inflation, turn, or approach.
  • A documented spring flight encountered a rowdy developing thermal and climbed unexpectedly. Solar heating, gust fronts, thermals, and rapid direction changes can turn a benign training hill into advanced conditions.
  • The park contains trees, paths, sports fields, ski routes, shelters, play areas, people, dogs, and frequent scheduled uses. Continuous ground control and an active spotter/instructor may be necessary.
  • North wind is required for the documented hill. Crosswind or lee flow introduces rotor and removes the simple straight launch-and-land geometry.
  • The exact launch and immediate landing runout are represented by one training-hill point; no separate LZ coordinate is published. Walk the whole line before each session.
Additional notes
Included as a public PG training hill, not a destination soaring site. The current school remains active, its site report documents hundreds of local-instructor launches and student sessions at Elver, the May 2026 catalog retains the exact training-hill point, and the City confirms the hill remains public and open under a current status framework.
Map pin (exact launch)
ParaglidingSpots exact training-hill point at 43.0355,-89.50108, corroborated by Madcity Paragliding's Elver Park sledding-hill report and the current City park map/status page.
Navigation warning
Shared public training hill, not an aviation reservation. Check the City status and the entire hill/runout before use; contact a current local instructor before first flight.
Official website
https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/find-a-park/elver

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