World Class Instruction at TPG

Steve Stackable
Experience: Since 72' - still counting. Hang gliders, paragliders, trikes, paramotor, motored hg, ultra lights, if it flies... he's flown it.
Teaching: 20 years.
Before flying there was: Professional Motor Cross   Lot's of motorcycles credits including many years as a professional.
Bio: Steve has been tandem flying since 1978. He is one of the few pilots in the world to have done a hot air balloon drop with a hang glider. He has a total of over 4000 tandems for Torrey Pines and has a total of over 9000+ hours of free flight air time logged. Steve holds a U.S.H.G.A. hang glider Administrator/Tandem Instructor rating and paraglider tandem basic instructor rating. Steve is also a former "Supercross National Champion."

David Jebb
Experience: Flying since 86' - hang gliders, paragliders, motors, etc.
Teaching: Since the early 90's.
Before flying there was: Real Estate with Century 21, San Diego Police Department and a Medal of Valor.
Bio: David started paragliding in 92'. David flew the back country desert and mountain sites extensively for five years before joining the Torrey Pines Gliderport instructor staff. He has pioneered many flying sites in Baja California and started the largest yearly thermal clinic in Baja California. He has logged approximately 4000 hours of free flight and motorized flight experience. He is a U.S.H.G.A. Master Instructor/Tandem Instructor and the Region 3 director. David and Gabriel host the only weekly Internet Paragliding Radio Talk Show in the world.

Gabriel Jebb 2003 USHGA Instructor of the Year
Experience: Flying consistently since 1993.  Flying hang gliders, paragliders, motorized paragliders, trikes.
Teaching: Officially since 96' at the Torrey Pines Gliderport.
Before flying there was: IMC Technologies, IT company in Southern California, founder and CEO. Glad to be out of the office!
Bio: Voted U.S.H.G.A. Instructor of the Year 2003. Gabriel has shot up through the certifications as a Master Instructor/Tandem Instructor. He is a U.S.H.G.A. Instructor/Tandem Administrator. He has traveled and flown extensively around the world particularly in SouthEast Asia and Europe. His charisma and flying talent led him to the paragliding "big screen" in the 1998 paragliding adventure video "Bali High". Gabriel is also the head of the Torrey Pines Gliderport flight school and runs a number of unique clinics including Maneuvers/Aerobatics, Cross Country, Tandem, Instructor, and parachute repacking clinics. Hear him on the Paraglider Radio Talk Show.

Kyoung Ki Hong 2005 Instructor of the Year!
Experience: Hang gliding since the early 70's paragliding since the mid-80's.  Former world hang gliding champion and original hang and para instructor in Korea.  
Teaching: Been teaching free flight since the 70's.
Before flying there was: Politics, speculation, and there has always been flying.
Bio: Ki was the first official hang glider pilot in Asia. He was the first Korean National hang glider and paraglider champion. For ten years Ki was the primary designer and test pilot for Edel... at one time the largest paragliding manufacturers in the world. He has over 10,000 hours logged. He is a U.S.H.G.A. Master Instructor / Tandem Instructor. He is also a U.S.H.G.A. Tow Administrator. Ki is also the designer for the new line of paragliding harnesses sold by the Torrey Pines Gliderport.

Tad Hurst
Experience: Been flying almost everyday since 97'.
Teaching: One of the best at the Gliderport, during lunch break, after work, on weekends.
Before flying there was: Still is a real job at ChemNavigator, but that only takes up part of my time.
Bio: Tad is not only one of the most entertaining instructors at the Torrey Pines but also one of the brightest. He holds a P.H.D. in chemistry and has vast knowledge regarding meteorology. He developed his own web site that all the local pilots use to check on flying conditions at various flying sites. He began flying in 1998 yet has logged over 3000 hours in that time. He is a U.S.H.G.A. Master Instructor / Tandem Instructor. He is also a U.S.H.G.A. Region 3 director.

Robin Marien
Experience: Flying since 99'.
Teaching: When my schedule permits and I'm not doing tandems.
Before flying there was: Surfing and running Rocky's Surfshop with my world famous dog Rocky.
Bio: Robin's reputation is known around the world... not for flying but for his famous surfing and flying dog "Kiko". Robin is the famous boat operator for the Torrey Pines Maneuvers and Aerobatics clinics. He is a U.S.H.G.A. Master Instructor / Tandem Instructor. He has logged over 3000 hours and is usually the first into the sky and the last one to land.

Bill Armstrong
Experience: Flying since 92'.
Teaching: Almost everyday.
Before flying there was: The Air Force and Mgmt. Consulting.
Bio: Bill became a pilot in 92' after discovering he enjoyed flying the canopy more than the free fall offered by skydiving. Bill quickly transitioned to paragliding in the high desert mountains of Eastern Washington, with additional experience Hawaii, British Columbia, Mexico, and New Zealand. His instructional and coaching experience include paragliding as well as rock and summit climbing, mountain rescue, and numerous other disciplines. Bill is a U.S.H.G.A. Tandem Pilot and Basic Instructor.

Ivan Appoloni
Experience: Flying since 91'.
Teaching: As much as possible.
Before flying there was: Adolescence.
Bio: Ivan may be theh new kid on the block here at Torrey Pines, but in Italy he's been tearing up the skies since 1991. Ivan's love of cross country and acro flying set a path for a successful career as a competition pilot in Europe. His bragging rights as a pilot are extensive, but some of his high lights include 1st place North Italian Championships 1996, 3rd place Italian Championships, member of Italian Team in the 1st World Air Games, 1997, etc. Ivan took some time off competing to attend the University of Padova, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Late 2005 he quit his job in (C.A.D.), to pursue his dream of becoming a paragliding instructor. A chance visit to Torrey Pines Gliderport got Ivan's foot in the door, but it was his skill and knowledge that moved his life to the United States.