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The Patras paragliding Club founded in 1990 is one of
the first paragliding athletic clubs that started in Greece. Based
on the will and the passion of its members, they have managed to
bring to the attention of the greater public the idea of aerial
sports. The club became a full member of the Hellenic Aeronautical
and Air sports Federation and belongs to the
General secretary of
Athletics. It is officially recognised.
Meteorological seminars, Wind
behaviour, First Aid and Rescuing are accomplished at Patras
Paragliding Club. For that reason Greek and
foreign specialists are
invited to lecture the members on how to fly with
safety by having
greater knowledge of the subject.
They co-operate with Aeronautical
clubs in Greece and from other countries, in order to train the
members and for them to gain experience from advanced Greek and
foreign pilots. At the same time, the club takes
the initiative,
with the participation of its members; to take part in shows
organised by the Western Greece District, the Providence of Achaia
and the district municipalities of the Providence. They work with
them to protect the natural environment by doing well for society
Todays
Board members of the club are:
• Rapanou Giota
President
• Dasoukis Dimitris Vice-president
• Arvanitis
Vagelis Secretary
• Krimpas Stavros Treasurer
Member
• Mpakounis Christos
Member
•
Marinos Spiros
Member
•
Thabet Iasonas
Member
 A short step back into the history of
Patras Paragliding Club
The paragliding movement in Patra starts off as an idea at
the end of the 80s, specifically in 1987 from a handful of
people who love air sports and have a basic idea of parachuting from
the army. It is the era when paragliding starts to gain worldwide
recognition and the first manufacturers have already made their
appearance.
In 1988, a small team, who is intrigued by paragliding, is formed.
A take off area is found, in Santomeri and a training area in
Kritharakia. From then on, paragliding starts to win more and more
friends day by day.
1989: The Paragliding club and the Aero club of Patra,
who train every day, is already one strong team. The attraction of
new members is huge. At the same time there is a need for
instructors and for more rules and regulations.
The take off areas are on the increase and the flights become more
sophisticated, as the pilots record them in detail in the flight
logs. It does not take too long for this sport to be introduced to
the people of Patra. At the same time the first contacts begin with
people who are already involved in paragliding from all over Greece.
Then, the first informal sporting meetings begin and opportunities
are given to Greek pilots to exchange experiences
and knowledge, which they have obtained with a lot of sacrifices.
In September of the same year, the first official Panhellenic
Paragliding meeting in Santomeri takes place with the
participation of eight Aero clubs. There, an opportunity is given to
the athletes to exchange experiences and to further discuss the
progress of the sport..
1990: The section of Paragliding of the Aero club of Patra
has grown enough and therefore it seeks to find its own way. Thus,
it creates its own club with the official title Paragliding Club
of Patra(P.C.P.) and it is accommodated in a basement at 20
Gotsi Street, in the centre of Patra.
A lot of sporting meetings, competitions and demonstrations follow, the
dominant one being on the 1st of May in 1990 in Panahaiko .The crowd
that comes to watch this demonstration is so big, that the traffic
police takes measures to ease the traffic on the mountain! Wild
applause sounds when the first Blow up comes out from the fog and
they land with maneuvers amongst the spectators! Undoubtedly it is
the event of the year!
 1991:
The P.C.P. organises a Panhellenic meeting in Panahaiko and sets a
prize for two categories of parachuting: the Blow Up and the Banana
shape. The participation from all over Greece is huge. More than 40
pilots take place and the competition is a success.
1992: At the take off area in Omblo, which is in
operation for over a year, the Panhellenic meeting takes place with
the participation of athletes, spectators, television crews and
public address systems etc. From that day on, the Club successfully
organsises a competition or an informal meeting almost every year.
In the same year the Club participates in the air show with the Air
force at the airport of Araxsos, with a parachute demonstration over
the area, which is provided by the administration of the Air force.
1993: In October the 3rd Panhellenic meeting in Omblo,
under the supervision of the National Air club of Greece, promoted
by the Municipality of Patra and local industries, whilst the
province of Achaia participates by taking care of the take off area.
The same meeting takes place in the next year as well.
1995: Santomeri hosts the 2nd stage of the Pahellenic
Championship. The same year in Santomeri a 2nd school of instructors
is accomplished with the participation and supervision of Patrick.
It is a special moment for the history of paragliding.
1996: The May Day celebration in Omblo is held with the
assistance of the municipality of Patra and the participation of
many people. Santomeri again hosts the 5th Panhellinic Paragliding
Meeting. From the 22nd-24th of November the club invites Hans
Bollinger to lecture about cross-country flying. The seminar comes
to a new phase with the participation of athletes from air clubs fro m
all over Greece.
In the following years, Skiadas
hosts the 1997 Panhellinic Championship, whilst for the years 1998
and 1999 Santomeri host the Championship cup.
Omblos, Panahaiko, Skiada,
Santomeri and Kalavrita hold meetings, competitions and championship
cups and they become an attraction for athletes from all over the
country offering the opportunity for friendly competition between
the athletes and it is also an excuse for a celebration and a party.
At the same time the athletes from the Aero club of Patra with the
consistent participation and recognition in Panhellinic competitions
are accepted as excellent pilots and good friends.
In the following years the club becomes a full member
of the Air sports Federation and it has over 80 trained members,
trained by the six instructors. Some members have competed with the
National team representing our country at a European and world level.
In
March 2000 the rules and regulations of the association are
modified so that they are in harmony with the order of those of the
General Secretary of Athletics. This way it can be registered by the
name: The Patras Paragliding Club.
In the following year, in 2001, the
clubs offices are transferred closer to the mountain, and the
landing area of Omblo, in a place that is formed for its members so
that they can attend courses, seminars, educational programmes etc.
In September of the same year a Panhellinic informal meeting is held
in Kalavrita with over 100 athletes participating in co-operation
with the municipality and the local officials.
In 2002, the 3rd part of the
Panhellinic Cup is held in Kalavrita. The President of SVL Burkel
observes the competition as a guest of the Patras Paragliding Club.
He decides that the area is appropriate for competitions, thus
opening the gate for the 2003 Championship Cup and the
2004 European Championship.
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