I spent five days at Speed Fly USA learning to speed fly, and it completely changed how I think about flying. The crossover clinic is designed for pilots who already have their P2 paragliding certification—if you don't, you'll need to complete their full 10-day course first.

Going into it, I thought speedflying would be similar to paragliding but faster. That's technically true, but it misses the bigger picture: speedwings are exponentially less forgiving. Your margins shrink dramatically. Make a mistake on a paraglider and you might have time to recover. Make the same mistake on an 8-meter speedwing and you're already in trouble.

Ground Handling is Everything

The first surprise was how much time we spent on the ground. Not flying—just controlling the wing in different conditions. My instructor Jeff Katz emphasized this constantly, and for good reason. The way you steer and control a speedwing demands precision that paragliding never prepared me for. When the wind was too strong for my 16-meter wing, Jeff lent me his 8-meter just so I could kite it for four hours straight. That single day probably leveled up my wing control more than anything else during the week.

Katz knows what he's doing. He's a professional speedflyer who works with Ozone on testing and design, splitting his time between Utah and France. He was generous with his gear and genuinely invested in building proper skills rather than rushing students through a curriculum.

Safety Isn't Optional

The course hammered home risk analysis and progression-based growth. Speedflying is inherently more dangerous than paragliding—there's no way around it. They don't sugarcoat this. Instead, they teach you to assess conditions properly, recognize when you're pushing too hard, and build skills methodically. Pushing limits too quickly is how you get injured, and they make sure you understand that from day one.

By the end of the five days, I felt confident taking speed flights on my own. That confidence came from repetition, systematic progression, and brutally honest feedback about what I was doing wrong.

Why Salt Lake City

Salt Lake's Point of the Mountain offers some of the most consistent wind conditions in the country. Other places in the US might get a few flyable days per week—here it's almost daily. Some days are better for cross-country flying, others are perfect for speedflying. The variety means you can practice different skills and accumulate hours faster than anywhere else.

The pilot community is strong and collaborative. Everyone shares beta, everyone wants you to progress safely. It's the kind of environment where you learn from watching others as much as from instruction.

I now have my own kit—an Ozone Dragonfly 16-meter and speed harness. The Dragonfly is designed for pilots of all skill levels with a weight range up to 120kg, making it ideal for first speed flights while still being capable enough to keep you challenged as you progress.

Speedflying is incredible. It's also dangerous. If you're thinking about learning, take it seriously, find proper instruction, and don't rush the process. The sport rewards patience and punishes shortcuts.