Who We Are

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, We Offer Paragliding Instruction at Several Sites in Northern California.

Owner/Operator Jesse Meyers is passionate about what he does!   Just about every one of Jesse’s numerous nominators cited his positive, friendly, cheerful attitude, and his love for paragliding, as major qualifications for this Instructor of the Year award. “His passion comes through in his teaching methods, and students always leave the training hill with a smile.”

Lift Paragliding is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer paragliding instruction at several sites within the Bay Area. You will be given all around flying knowledge, from smooth coast side ridge soaring to flying in thermals with the eagles high above the mountains. With up to date knowledge, top notch training equipment, and a smooth training atmosphere, you will become a strong safe pilot. We strive to make each lesson Safe, Fun, and productive towards your goal.

Are you ready to learn to fly and set yourself free? Or ready to take an instructional tandem flight in the mountains or over the ocean at the beautiful coast side? Lift Paragliding is a school to help you see your dreams. We offer 1-day, 2-day, Novice Programs, Advanced Programs, Coaching, Instructional Tandem Flights, and Paragliding tours to some of the best paragliding sites in the world.

Jesse Meyer – Owner

USHPA 2013 Instructor of the Year

Flying and helping others to learn has become a passion for me. I learned to fly from the best instructors in the US and want to pass their and my knowledge to my students and fellow pilots. I’m a member of USHPA, Wings of Rogallo, and PASA . I’ve flown the mountains of Alaska, to the ridges in the SF Bay Area, to the long high flights in Mexico, to the picturesque landscapes of Hawaii, as well as Chile and Spain. I’m an Advanced Instructor, Tandem Instructor, Tandem Admin, and Advanced Rated pilot.   With my love of flight, coaching, and teaching others to fly we offer a smooth learning atmosphere to gain the knowledge to become a life-long safe pilot. With a big smile and always laughing I’m blessed to have the privilege of sharing this amazing sport with people who dream to fly.

Email to: Jesse@LiftParagliding.com

David Lift Paragliding

David Blacklock – Instructor

Dave has been flying paragliders since 2015, but he has been dreaming about flying since he was a kid, jumping off the garage roof with a bed sheet and “flying” his hand out the car window, knowing someday he’d be really flying. Riding motorcycles and scuba diving gave him the sensation of flying, but once he discovered paragliding, he was hooked on this sport. Dave’s wife, Julie, is also a pilot, and they love flying together and traveling to great flying sites around the world. Dave obtained his USHPA instructor certification in 2019, a perfect match combining his love of flying and love of teaching. Dave says the best part of instruction is helping students go from the first days of excitement and nerves to new pilots realizing their flying dreams. If you are looking for Dave on the training hill, he’s easy to find – just listen for the laugh.

What Billy Says

Bay Area Lift Paragliding

“I am a retired Marine F/A-18 pilot and current Airline Pilot. I am also a Hang III, skydiver, and have owned and flown 2 PPG, but I never got my USHPA Paragliding rating. I had a longer layover in SFO and decided to see if I could coordinate a lesson while in town. I called several Paragliding schools but was only able to reach Lift Paragliding and Jesse Meyer. I explained my background and my desire to spend the day flying. Jesse coordinated everything for me including a pick up and a ride to the training site! Jesse had another student and fit me in with him. Jesse Meyer turned out to be one of the best instructors I have worked with. He taught to both of us but focused on the needs and experience of each student in a way that he was able to get the most out of both of us. His teaching manner is fun, his knowledge is excellent, and he impressed me all day with his technique and ability to make to most out of the day!”

Billy Wilson

What Peter Says

“Lift is an amazing school. When my wife Anja and I decided to go paragliding I was worried that two days will not get us flying. But Jesse and Harry did an amazing job and got us off the ground on the first day and even got us down the 300ft mountain comfortably and safe on day 2. We had so much fun that we will go for our pilot license now. I can just recommend that school to everyone who wants to learn paragliding with fun and being safe.”
Peter W
Mountain View, CA

Schedule A Lesson