COMMITTED TO PROGRESSION
Kārlis Jaunpetrovičs
Since I was 23 years old (2008), I’ve been moving around the world. I started flying back in 2012 half way around the world during my stay in Taiwan. Back then all I knew that this activity is something completely different from anything I have tried before.
It has been an absolutely incredible journey from my humble paragliding pilot beginnings to where we are now.
Here’s a historic overview of how we got here.
Cloudbase Mayhem #253 (Aug 2025)
Cross Country Magazine · XCmag · Ojovolador · Lu-Glidz
Guide to St. André (2023)
Taiwan
2012 – Year one.
I started my paragliding journey in January 2012, I was living in Taiwan at the time. Ever since I’ve inflated the wing for the first time, I had a feeling it won’t be my last. I did not realize at the time, how much exactly this new activity will change my life. I got hooked – hooked bad. Everything in my live was changed to suite my paragliding journey.
I moved around my working hours that was spread out over 5 days of the week. I squeezed them all in two days – Monday and Tuesday was a nightmare for good year.
In that same year I went from 0 to 150 hours of air time, between Taiwan and Nepal. By the end of that year I also have done an SIV course in Pokhara with David Arafat.
Taiwan & Nepal
2013 – 2015
For the following years, I was moving between Taiwan and Nepal. Summers spending in Nepal, Pokhara and the winter season around Taiwan. These years I was getting the hang of flying. Focusing mostly on Acro and commercial tandem flying. During these years I did over 2000 commercial flights.
It was an incredibly intense time for my flying and quite a diverse at that. Early in my career. I think this is one of the cornerstone that helped my progression. I would say the most important cornerstone was people – mentors. I had 7 that I was learning from.
Spain – Organya
Early 2016
From early Spring till late summer I spent in Spain couple months in Algodonales and several in Organya. By this time I was solely focused on acrobatics. In 2016 alone I spent just over 400 hours of doing just Acro. It was time to move on from the lifestyle of commercial tandem pilot that follows the season to make money. In order to be able to fly solo as much as possible.
Mentored by legends
August 2016 – May 2018
In 2016 I joined a paragliding company Bruce Goldsmith Design as a Test Pilot and Sales Manager to work together with our sports legend. For two years I was working side by side with Bruce and Arna Goldsmith.
I broke all national records during my time with BGD, competed in World Championships and learn more than I thought was possible.
Paragliding World Championship
2017
As a part of my work as Test Pilot with Bruce Goldsmith Design, I was signed up for the 15th World Championships happening in Feltre, Italy. At the time we were working on competition wings prototype the BGD – Diva. Bruce’s son Tyr and I where representing Iceland and Latvia respectively in order to test the wing. I became the first ever Latvian paragliding pilot to qualify and take part in FAI CAT 1 event.
Latvian National Records
2017
Once we knew that I will be taking part in the Paragliding World Championships, Bruce Goldsmith started to train me in competitive flying. As a result in 2017, I broke all national records for Latvia. Open Distance, FAI Triangle, Declared Goal, Out and Return, Distance over 3 turn points.
I’ve learned so much during my time with BGD. The main take-away from my time at the company was this – there is a large information gap, between the people who are developing things in the sport and the people who are practicing it. I knew something needs to be done about it.
As office-work was never going to be my thing. I moved on.
Finding my way
2018 onwards
I needed something new to do. After carefully assessing my options. I chose to dedicate my time learning another aspect of our sport. Instructing. My goal was simple – do what’s necessary in order to become the best instructor I possibly can.
For that I needed a base of operations – South of France. I’ve grow to love it, during my time with BGD. It made sense to stay in a place that offers an incredible flying opportunities. While travelling around to keep improving and gather as much knowledge about paragliding training as possible.
YOUTUBE
2020
As the world went on a pause, I finally had the time to start a project that I have been wanting to do for years. The Flying Karlis youtube channel was born.
REDBULL X-ALPS
2021
By complete chance I ended up being part of a Red Bull X-Alps team. Friend of mine needed one more person to complete his team. I was available. Rest is history. One of the most surreal experiences of my paragliding journey. Being a fan of the race for years, then to be able to take part in it as a supporter. What a adventure it was.
PARAGLIDING GUIDES
2022
In the Spring of 2021 I created my first Step by Step guide how to fly your 100 km from Chabre. It turned out to be a 24 page long PDF, called Chabre Challenge. Originally I created this for marketing purposes, to get people to sign up to my e-mail list, which worked. My family and students believed, that a whole book should be made. So about a year later, I published my first book – Guide to Chabre.
GUIDE TO ST. ANDRE
2023
Folllowing winter I spent more time to create a second guide. Guide to St. Andre.
LEARNED FROM MALIN LOBB
2023
Once I started offering SIV training, I learned the SIV methodology from Malin Lobb. My own SIV courses build on what I learned from him — adapted to how I teach, and to where each pilot actually is.
CHABRE CLUB
2024
A friend of mine who runs the local campsite in Laragne, years ago asked me if we could organize a paragliding competition of our own. Back then I didn’t know anything about organizing events at this scale. I kept that though in mind. In 2023 I was approached by Finish Paragliding Federations representative. He asked, if I would be willing to organize the Nordics. With a simple thought – how hard can it be..
Some months later – Chabre Club was born.
FLYING KARLIS EVENTS
2025
In 2024 Chabre Club, Camping de Monteglin and Flying Karlis organized 3 very successful international paragliding competitions. That same year the talks was made with Flymaster Avionics to acquire a flee of the latest trackers that was still in development. In early 2025 a cooperation deal with Flymaster was made. Company needed to expand so we created a sub section to our main activities. Now we are also offering a full service Event organization or support.
