About this flying site
Specific local feature: the valley breeze West from Santa Maria Maggiore and East mostly blows in two completely different directions. The confluence occurs normally slightly east from the town.
Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo paragliding site and weather forecast
Italian Alps. Live seven-day Alpine flying weather, launch directions and site information for Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo.
Altitude1,772 m
Launch directionsSE, S, SW
Coordinates46.1627, 8.4754
AreaItalian Alps
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo is a mountain site in the Italian Alps with a recorded launch elevation of 1,772 m. It works best in south-easterly, southerly and south-westerly winds, and can also work in easterly and westerly winds. Pilots fly it for ridge soaring and thermal, using foot launch.
- Terrain
- mountain
- Lift
- ridge soaring and thermal
- Launch
- foot launch
- Cross-country
- Not recorded
When the wind is wrong for Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo doesn't cover.
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Take-off
HG: - at the gondola station (2 winsocks) PG: 1) Cima 2: 15-20mins walk along the ridge to the west on the highest point.
Landing
HG/ PG: huge field (with windsocks) towards the west end of the valley (see pictures) PG: near gondola station. ONLY Oct-Mar!!!
Access and parking
Italy: from Domodossola: follow signs 'Locarno'; Switzerland: from Locarno: follow signs 'Cento Valli'. In Sta.Maria: follow sign 'funivia'..
Local weather notes
Absolutely NOT with norderly winds ('Nordfoehn'). The thermals in the valley can be so strong as to cause problems when landing (especially for HG! > drag chute...).
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo
Alpe Lusentino / Moncucco18 km away · 1,106 m · thermalAlpe Pala20 km away · 1,203 m · S launchLocarno- Cardada - Cimetta -157024 km away · 1,619 m · S, SW launch · ridge soaring and thermalAlpe Quaggione29 km away · 1,322 m · SE, S launchMonte Lema31 km away · 1,601 m · SE, S launch · ridge soaring and thermalLaveno - Sasso del Ferro31 km away · 1,054 m · SE, S launch · ridge soaring and thermal
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
More paragliding sites in Italy · Alpine paragliding sites · Read the paragliding weather guide