- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School
Category: Active Life Active Life [Edit]
Jockey's Ridge State ParkNags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-2426
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Ticia G.
Albany, NY
9/6/2010
we had a fantastic time and will be back next year.
the videos were helpful and interesting - i didn't know anything about the history of hang gliding (and didn't realize that i wanted to till we were watching)
the instructors were all good and engaging and totally knew thier stuff.
it was super easy for us because we chose to go the day that hurricane earl was hitting OBX - thus we got lift without much effort, perfect for a first time i would say just to get the idea/feel of hanging.
zach was our instructor and was wonderful. will be definately asking for him next time. -
Review from Chuck S.
Falls Church, VA
8/20/2011
Scurrilous business practices. Only after they have secured your payment do they present you with an unconscionable legal agreement in which you are asked to sign away all your rights, including holding them responsible for their own negligence. You are not even offered a copy of what you have signed away. Then the instructor proceeds to tell you the worst injury he has witnessed is a head laceration. Something doesn't make sense here.
Find something else to do and avoid these greedy thieves. -
Review from Sally M.
8/15/2010 1 photo
Fun times, even though I crashed the landing EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I took the 3 hour beginner's hang gliding lesson. It did last exactly three hours. Here is a rundown of my day:
-Get there 30 minute early to sign the four page waiver
-Classroom instruction where the instructor talks about the basics of hang gliding (equipment, movements, FAQs, etc.)
-Watch 2 short videos; one for Jockey Ridge State Park and one for Kitty Hawk Kites
-Go outside to watch the instructor go over instructions with the stationary hang glider in front of the park
-5-10 minute break
-Get helmets, harnesses, and permits
-Walk to the dunes and instructor demonstrates a flight
-You hook in and review the movements. Then you're off! Go twice, wait, go twice, wait, then one final "victory flight"
-Walk back to the store, return equipment, fill out your certificate and flight log
I liked the small group instruction. We started off with about 12 people in the classroom and then broke up into three groups, i.e. 4:1 ratio. I think that hang gliding isn't as easy as it looks. I totally failed the first two flights and never managed to land properly. The instructors are super enthusiastic and great about explaining what you need to work out.
I believe the price is $99 for the lesson (I had a pass for a free lesson). Some guy said that there is a $5 coupon in one of those touristy books. There is a sign in the classroom that says that tipping is appreciated but not expected.
Listen to them when they tell you to bring lots of water! It gets hot and tiring walking up and down the dunes. Good for kids too. -
Review from Suanne L.
5/30/2011 3 photos
FLY THIS! Everyone and their mother goes para-sailing and swimming on a beach vacation - for some added thrill, how about something with a little more lift? For about $100 and 3 hours in the blistering sun, you can take hang gliding lessons in Jockey's Ridge State Park. The Wright Brother's were totally on to something when they flew their first airplane out here. The Atlantic winds are consistent and strong (today was about 15 mph) and the sand dunes in the state park allow for soft landings - yes, even when you inevitably crash face plant. You get about 5 flights during the lesson, which is held usually with a fairly large group. The basics are, you go through the basics and theory, you get in a harness, then run like hell off a sand dune. The instructors push the hang glider with you and run down the hill as you catch air and float down the face of the dune. Most flights will travel about 150 feet and no more than 15 feet vertical in the air. If you've done everything right, you land running and on your feet. If you're like me, you crash into another sand dune, brush the grit off your face, and yell "That was TOTALLY AWESOME!" The instructors are really patient and friendly - they'll give you lots of tips to improve for your next flight so each time gets better and better. And if you really really love it, they'll also help you get your Hang-1 Certification so you can hang glide at even more awesome places.
Tips: bring LOTS of water, sunscreen, and a change of clothes for later. You WILL get sand into every crevice possible and run out of water or feel dehydrated. They offer kid's lessons too. -
Review from Scott D.
Short Hills, NJ
8/23/2010
We took my 10 year old son to learn hang gliding with KHK here. They were awesome. His instructor was both thorough and very clear in explaining what had to be done.
By the end of the group lesson, everyone had had a successful flight. A great way to start in an extreme sport.
PS Zack was his instructor, and I highly recommend him.
This is my son:
I thought that the experience of hang gliding was going to be very scary but it turned out to be very relaxing. If its going to be your first time u should ask for Zack. hes awesome and does tons of hang gliding. If your 75 pounds or over u are in an adult class. You shouldn't feel to old to do hang gliding because in my class there were 50 yr old men doing it! Just try it and you will be fine. -
Review from Ray P.
Cleveland, OH
6/20/2011
This was by far the highlight of my last vacation! I had heard it was a lot of fun and I was not at all disappointed. I had heard that early mornings in the fall or spring were best but I went in the beginning of June at 11:30am. When driving into Nags Head we were a bit concerned that the thunderstorm overhead might not allow us to fly that day. Luckily the storm passed over while in the ground school and we were up on the dunes after a 15 minute break. It was the best flying experience that I have ever had. The instructors bring the gliders back up the hill for you and are very patient even when you have wrecked 2 of their gliders, as I had done. I hit the ground pretty hard 3 times and my worst injury was a cut in-between 2 of my fingers from catching the edge of the control bar on impact. The harnesses and gliders did a great job of absorbing the impact! If you do nothing else on your trip to Nags Head you absolutely have to try hang gliding at Kitty Hawk Kites. A+++
-
Review from Renee M.
Bucks County, PA
8/1/2009
I loved hang gliding here! The dunes were gorgeous. I got the "hang" of it quickly. Listen to the instructors when they tell you to LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! It's true. My 3rd flight, I looked at the sand and skidded to a stop with my face! lmao I believe I snapped the frame of my glider then, too. Trevor was my instructor and I couldn't have been happier. He was the most patient and personable guy! He even autographed my snapped frame and gave it to me as a souvenir!
-
Review from Doug R.
Louisville, KY
12/12/2008
You drive by the big sand dune at Jockey Ridge State Park and see these hang gliders hovering and swooping around in the sky above the dunes and you think to yourself, "that looks like fun!" Well, at least I did. It is a bit pricey, they do a good job teaching you the fundamentals, with a lot of emphasis on safety. Hardest part of the whole thing trying to climb the dune in the loose sand to reach the launch point. try it, but leave the sandals/flip-flops behind.
