About
Gabriel Bechier, parakite instructor
Founder of Flyparakite, France’s first school dedicated to parakite, at the Dune du Pilat. Flare test pilot and France’s No. 1 Flare dealer.
France’s No. 1 Flare dealer
Flare Pro Partner, France’s first school dedicated to parakite
Flare test pilot
Involved in developing the Bandit and the Scout
Qualified instructor
French BPJEPS in paragliding, with the mini-wing module
FFVL working group
Member of the French federation’s parakite group
My background
Flying since the age of 14
I’ve been flying since I was 14, and paragliding has always been my playground. It introduced me to competition, in both cross-country and aerobatics, up to several World Cups for France. From aerobatics, I kept the fluidity of flight and the technical piloting that I find again today in parakite.
I’ve also travelled a lot with my paraglider. As a teenager, I learnt the ropes at a paragliding school in the United States. Later, in New Zealand, I worked with local schools: that’s where I learnt to teach in English. Today, my courses are bilingual: French and English, on the same course.
My studies in physical measurement, followed by my training as an aeroplane pilot (private pilot, then the ATPL theory, the theoretical part of the airline transport pilot licence), gave me a solid understanding of flight mechanics and meteorology.
A paragliding instructor since 2017, I am now part of the parakite working group of the FFVL, the French federation for paragliding and hang gliding, where I help build the teaching methods for this new discipline, which I teach at the Dune du Pilat.
With Flare
Flare test pilot and partner
Working with Flare has been an incredible opportunity. In close collaboration with the brand, I take part in developing its products. My work first focused on the Bandit, then on the Scout. On each one, I was lucky enough to take part in the fine-tuning, the photo shoots and then the product presentations, such as the Flare Academy.
Test pilot, Flare Pro Partner and, in 2026, France’s No. 1 Flare dealer: I’m happy to be part of this great family and of an exciting project to develop and innovate in parakite.
Watch me on video
Parakite: a danger or the future of paragliding?
Wingmaster live, September 2026 (in French). What sets parakite apart from paragliding, its limits and the training it requires.
Teaching parakite and how it is evolving
Julien Petrisot’s podcast, April 2026 (in French). How I teach, the links with paragliding and the FFVL’s new module.
Scout Academy #3: choosing your spot and reading the wind
Flare’s Scout Academy series, July 2026. How to choose your flying site and understand the conditions before each session.
The values I want to pass on
At 22, a serious paragliding accident forced me to learn to walk again. I have since returned to the world of flying with a strong focus on safety, which guides the way I teach today.
Human connection
Listening, kindness and respect for everyone’s pace.
Safety
A clear progression and well-mastered technique.
Understanding
Feeling the wind, reading the terrain, understanding the conditions.
Autonomy
Owning your practice and flying with confidence.
What my students say
Fantastique stage hyper bien encadré, très pro et de grandes compétences pédagogiques et techniques de Gabriel notre instructeur ! À suivre absolument !
Translated from French: “A fantastic, extremely well-supervised course, very professional, with great teaching and technical skills from Gabriel, our instructor! A must!”
Jean-Luc A., June 2026
[…] un excellent prof, et une référence dans le monde du Parakite. Quant à la Dune du Pilat, sans hésitation le meilleur endroit de France pour se former.
Translated from French: “[…] an excellent teacher and a reference in the parakite world. As for the Dune du Pilat, it is without hesitation the best place in France to learn.”
Arthur M.
Come and fly with me.
I’ll welcome you at the Dune du Pilat, with Waggas School, to learn parakite or test a Flare wing.
Courses at the Dune du Pilat
Three levels, from introduction to advanced piloting, in small groups.