Meet the Team..

 

Andy Walkden has been a keen sportsman for most of his life, he starting at a young age when growing up in Detroit Michigan USA from 1968 -1980, his first passion was riding mini motor bikes in the summer months along with signing up to play in the typical American junior leagues of Baseball, Football, Basketball etc.. it wasn't until he had his first real taste of Sports Competition at a higher level in the mid 1970's with Olympic Style Wrestling, that he realised his adaptation to function with winning 2 Silver Medals and Qualifying for the Michigan State Finals where he Won Bronze in his 1st season and was considered a Good All Rounder by many!

His next Sport and Real Passion came in the form of Ice Hockey were he really excelled, after countless hours of practice he signed up for try out's and got selected to play for the Junior Red Wings. where his Team won the league then went on to win the Play-Off's in 1979.. he didn't realise until later on in life that Ice Hockey could have been a Potential Career for the young man! but that's another story for a rainy day i feel...

In 1980 Andy and his family decided to return to the UK and to Southport where he was born.. after leaving school and joining the local Sports Clubs in the town and trying his hand at Boxing, Karate & Squash to mention but a few.. he decided he felt the "Need For Speed" and this came in the form of Motor Bikes and reliving his early 'r youth!

In 1988 Andy got involved with Moto Cross Racing and joined one of the local AMCA Clubs as a Newby! this proved to be more of a challenge being "Man & Machine" than the other Sports! however practice paid off with a few Podiums towards the end of the season..Then came Traveling followed by Family life but still managing to keep his hand in with Road Bikes until getting back on the MX Track in 2000.. Nothing was forgotten from his early 'r day's racing with him winning the clubs (Charnock Richard) "Top Points Scorer Shield" back to back in 2001 & 2002 Complemented by Winning Silver in the North West Championships!

2003 seen a change of Sporting direction for Andy with his love of Flying, from the age of 3 with his first ever trip in 1968 when the family Emigrated to America, he had come a full circle with the family traveling back to the UK every 2 years for Holidays and being on countless Plane's in his 44 years..

Andy Walkden has now accumulated hundreds of flying hours with a Paramotor and in 2006 he Qualified as an BMAA FLM Pilot, he later went on the Qualify as BMAA FLM Instructor.... he Now Teaches to a New Improved Independant Training Syllabus boasting a 100% Safety / Satisfactory Record in his local area at the Leisure Lakes nr Southport!

In 2007 he competed in his first UK Paramotor National Competition finishing 28th from 62 entries.. followed by an International Event in 2007 at the Belgium Nationals in Namur as a Guest.where he found the Belgium's to be Excellent Hostes..Andy has now competed in the 2008 UK Paramotor Nationls improving on his results from the previous year by finishing 13th!

Andy also provides a Mobile Training Service with regular trips to Scotland where local Tuition is hard to find....

 

Aaron Walkden is the son of andy in flyschool and is also a keen player in the school and helps with training in all area's...