BEGINNERS to paramotoring are hoping Mere’s SkySchool will teach them the skills they need to take part and finish the Icarus Trophy, a 1,700km race later this year.

Founded in 2005 by Alex Ledger, the school will be training recruits for the two-week long-distance paramotoring event across America, beginning on October 12.

Six beginners got their first experience of the sport, which involves paragliding with a motor strapped to your back, last month but had their teaching shortened due to poor weather.

But Mr Ledger, who also founded the International Paramotor Association, is confident that his recruits have what it takes to complete the gruelling event.

He said: “It’s a huge challenge, normally it would take 50 hours of solid flying and up to two years to get to a good level.

“But we offer really intensive training and in June and July we will be going to Spain where the weather will hopefully be better and give the recruits the opportunity to do as much flying around as they can.

“For anyone thinking of doing it, it’s quite important that you start trying to fly now as you can never do enough practice and the more you do the more prepared you’re going to be and the more chance you have of finishing it.”

Created by race and adventure specialists, The Adventurists, the Icarus Trophy will see competitors set off from Seattle and finish in San Diego while travelling over a diverse range of terrain, navigating themselves and carrying all of their own equipment.

Tom Morgan, Adventurists founder and the brains behind the Icarus Trophy said: “We'll all start in one place with a paramotor stuck on our backs and hopefully finish up in another one – a bloody long way away.

“We think it’ll become the world’s toughest air race so having SkySchool on board is vital to make sure pilots new to paramotoring are up to scratch when they reach the start line.”

The term paramotor was first used as early as 1980, with the sport becoming more popular in recent times due to the internet and documentaries.

Mr Ledger added: “It has always been seen as a sport for affluent people but now it’s a different dynamic. Younger people are getting involved and people who wouldn’t normally take it up are wanting to try it.

"I think the Icarus Trophy has challenged people’s imagination. It's the ultimate adventure race: a combination of endurance, skill and risk management.”