Ratholz

Ratholz is a training slope at 983 m in Germany, flown on south wind only, used for structured paragliding instruction rather than open access — flying here requires explicit permission and prior arrangement with the site operator, not a drop-in flight. Two rules protect the approach and the launch: the railway line below must be overflown with at least 50 m of clearance, and launching in crosswind is banned outright because the trees around the site create a lee effect that makes crosswind conditions genuinely dangerous here. There are effectively two launch points: the main site suits students generally, but the upper launch (Startplatz 2) is reserved specifically for more advanced students who already have at least 10 altitude flights logged. Between the permission requirement, the crosswind ban and the tiered launch access, this reads as a well-run but tightly managed training site rather than a free-flying spot.

Local rules & hazards

Flying here requires explicit permission and prior arrangement with the site operator. The railway line must be overflown with at least 50 m of clearance, and crosswind launches are banned outright — the surrounding trees create a dangerous lee effect. The upper launch (Startplatz 2) is reserved for advanced students with at least 10 altitude flights logged.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Ratholz, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Ratholz with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.