Gus Hurst

BHPA CHIEF FLYING INSTRUCTOR

Fluent in English, French & Portuguese with hints of Spanish and German.

Gus has called Chamonix home base since 1994 when his love for the mountains, skiing and his recent British paragliding qualification first brought him here for a winter of flying and skiing. Since then he has amassed thousands of hours in the air and helped hundreds of students to find their wings and evolve their passion.

‘Paragliding brings some of the most amazing moments and experiences in my life. Whether it be flying hundreds of kilometres across the desert in Brazil, soaring effortlessly along coastal cliffs in Portugal, or climbing up into a cloud at over 5000m above the Mont Blanc range, it’s a sport that never stops giving. The immersion in nature, the cultural encounters in places off the beaten track and the friendships forged through this pursuit of flight, are truly magnificent.’

Beyond paragliding, Gus enjoys skiing, speed riding, snowkiting, kite surfing and triathlons, and also worked as a freelance extreme sports photographer and journalist for many years.

Chamonix is the renowned extreme sport capital of the world and is overshadowed by Mont Blanc (4810m), the highest mountain in Western Europe. Less than an hours transfer from Geneva airport, and with direct borders to Switzerland and Italy via the Mont Blanc tunnel, tourism here is year-round. Attractions such as the dramatic Aiguille du Midi, the highest cable car in Europe, or the Montenvers train running up to the Mer de Glace glacier, bring sightseers from around the globe. They are drawn by the hiking, climbing, road biking, mountain biking and trail running which are super popular attractions here in all but the winter months.  A town with plenty of charm and character it is complimented by dozens of atmospheric bar, and restaurants. From regional dishes to culinary delights from many corners of the world. It also has live music, museums, concerts, festivals and sports competitions. There is a certain kind of magnetism that draws people back here time and time again. Contact us to organise your paragliding adventures and find out for yourself.