Baz Rhodes has been flying for 21
years and logs around 250 hours each year. In 1998 he won the
Pennine Cross Country League and came fourth in the 1999
British Paragliding Cup which qualified him to enter the
British Nationals. He came tenth in the first task in
Mid-Wales and sixteenth overall. Also in 1999 he came first in
the Scottish Open before leaving the UK to sample the fast
developing flying scene in Algodonales.
To add to their extensive
paragliding experience in the French Alps, Baz and Sam visited
Brazil and Piedrahita in early 2000. Together with his UK
cross country flights, Baz flew over one thousand kilometres
in the year 2000 alone and was fifteenth in the British Cross
Country League. On a local level he was nominated Best Pilot
in competitions representing the Pennine Soaring Club in 1999.
In 2002 both Baz and Sam spent time in South Africa
experiencing the unique cross country conditions before
returning to Algodonales where they have run the highly
successful Andalucian Experience for several years.
Since 2002, Baz and Sam have spent
most summers around Piedrahita, Pedro Bernado and Arcones,
running numerous paragliding trips.
Baz was a Trainee Instructor for
Active Edge for three years but has not pursued a career in
instructing due to commitment to his competition flying.
However, with the vast knowledge accumulated during his
career, thermalling and cross country guidance is all part of
a stay at the Andalucian Experience.
Sam is a flier too whose priority
is to see that all the clients are well looked after. On the
rare occasions when she has time free she enjoys topping up
her paragliding hours and with her local knowledge of the
house thermals may well be the one to watch!
Our happy clients!!!
We have several valued repeat
clients who have made many trips out to Algodonales. Most take
advantage of the cheap airfares available from airlines such
as EasyJet and all are eager to exchange the uncertain weather
conditions of the UK for the sunny skies and excellent flying
climate of Southern Spain. Here are the comments of a few...
_____________________________________
Hi Baz and
Sam,
Thanks for a
great week last week. Unfortunately after flying every day in
Algo the grim reality of real life is not a nice experience.
Nor is the British weather! The help and advice from you both
was much appreciated.
Take care and
many thanks, Paul Seagrave
_____________________________________
Baz, Sam and
Johan,
Many thanks
for a wonderful weeks flying. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and
feel that I made some progress with my flying skills. Without
you all it would just never happen. Your knowledge of the
local conditions is amazing, and your enthusiasm and patience
with us will always be appreciated. Thank you again and I look
forward to flying with you again in the near future.
Kindest
regards to you all, Martin
_____________________________________
Baz / Sam,
Just a note to
say thanks for a great week.
See you again
some time, Mal
_____________________________________
Dear Baz and
Sam,
Just a quick
word to say thanks alot for herding us lot around last week.
Emma and I had a fantastic holiday. I know I am still grinning
from ear to ear. Anyway bye for now, all we have to do now is
to work out how to get back asap.
Regards, James
and Emma Paston
_____________________________________
Baz,
Hope you and
Sam (and Ben) are well. Thanks again for the fab time Mike and
I spent in Algo in June.
Hope to go
back next year! HH (AKA Hamish)
Read more about Hamish's trip via the following link:
www.aze.org.uk/fly/reports/HamishAlgodonales/index.html
_____________________________________
Hi Baz,
Big thanks to
you, Sam and Johan for another great week in flying paradise.
All the lads enjoyed themselves, and I know it far exceeded
first timer Andy's (blue Bolero) expectations.
See you next
year, Woody
_____________________________________
Hi Baz and
Sam,
I just wanted
to write and thank you both for organising such a fantastic
time for us all last week. I really enjoyed myself and will
definitely return to you at some point in the not too distant
future.
As a customer
would I suggest anything different? - no, everything you did
was fantastic.
Please do keep
in touch with me if you do marketing e-mails etc, it will be a
pleasure to hear from you.
Thanks both
once again and see you soon.
Regards and
best wishes, Chris
_____________________________________
Hi Sam,
Just thought I would send you a quick message following my
stay last month. I am still struggling to find the time to
edit all those super flights I had!! (I was well impressed).
On viewing the footage, my special thanks has to go to Baz for
all his advise and patience with me.... I didn't realise how
much guidance & effort he spent on me (nerves I guess) - on
all the videos he can be heard in the background, offering
his words of wisdom - and not a dodgy word amongst them!!.
thanks, again I would certainly like to return - if I can earn
the 'brownie points'?
Regards,
David (the lone flyer you had to collect - following the
shopping trip)
_____________________________________
Hi Baz and Sam,
Just wanted to say thanks for a great holiday! It was amazing
to fly every day, and thanks to Baw for putting us on the
right hills at the right times. I really feel like I
progressed a lot, and I hope to come back one day. Say
thanks to Dan again, I have been watching that DVD and it's
great.
Take care,
Jez
_____________________________________
Hi Sam,
Just a quick note to say thank you, thank you, thank you for
a wonderful week. Baz is just the best guide I think it's
possible to have and with you both looking after me it's
just a joy to visit Algo. The trip back was OK, and the
weather here is actually surprisingly OK, although I think
it was pretty horrible last week while I was away, which is
always good news
J
... What I might try and do is come out with them in late
September next year, and maybe come on your Piedrahita trip
on my own - so let me know when that is!
Gordon
|