History of the Cumulux Paragliding Club

In Luxembourg, there was no recognised school to learn paragliding, which has not changed to this day. After completing their training, they didn't know how to practise the sport.

So the later founding members often travelled around the country looking for places and hills where they saw potential to take off.

Whilst kayaking, Rol, our first president and passionate kayaker, noticed the slope in Lipperscheid. It had just been freshly cleared. Naturally, the founders were thrilled when they looked down into the valley from the Grindlay vantage point and the upslope wind blew into their faces. Often enough, however, factors had cropped up in retrospect that later made it impossible to develop the area for sport. Here, however, everything seemed to fit. The slope was steep enough, the valley was wide and there were landing possibilities.

Of course, the slope had to be cleared of trees, undergrowth, rocks and tree trunks.

So we got in touch with the owners. They allowed us to use the site for test flights for the time being. Using a chainsaw and brush cutter, a handful of enthusiastic paraglider pilots cleared the hill to such an extent that a glider could be deployed.

A model aeroplane was then used to check the airspace for turbulence and sources of thermals. There was still no objection to a flight. Tarpaulins were laid out and then the most experienced pilot was allowed to make the first flight from the Gringlay.

The enthusiasm was great. We had finally found a place to fly. However, it soon became clear that you need structures for this because you have to make contracts with the owners. We agreed that it was time to found a club.

But you need more people for that. Where can you find them? We then published an advert with the German Hang Gliding Association (DHV), which was quickly answered by a number of enthusiastic pilots.

It quickly became clear that the launch site in such a narrow valley could also become turbulent. Launching from the steep slope also made launch aborts impossible. Permission was then obtained to cut down the row of trees still standing by the path.

15 September 2007 was the most memorable day and the birth of the Cumulux Paragliding Club. A dozen volunteers came together to clear the edge with chainsaws, axes and brush cutters.

As ordered, it turned in the evening and so we flew into the valley in the evening. We then gathered at the Brasserie du Vieux Moulin.

We then went through the prepared statutes and discussed our ideas and visions.

This joint effort had a strong impact and the enthusiasm associated with it was passed on from one person to another. People who didn't know each other before joined forces and contributed to a particularly euphoric atmosphere through their work and the exchange of ideas. This can be seen as the foundation stone of our association, even though the actual founding meeting was not held until two weeks later.