www.USHPA.aero
JUNE 2011 Volume 41 Issue 6 $6.95 Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
On the cover, Markus Zimmerman snaps a spring shot in the hills near Interlaken, Switzerland. Meanwhile, Ki Hong flies a tandem at Torrey Pines | photo by Nick Greece.
MAGAZINE STAFF Martin Palmaz, Publisher: executivedirector@ushpa.aero Nick Greece, Editor: editor@ushpa.aero Greg Gillam, Art Director: greg@gillamdesign.com Martin Palmaz, Advertising: advertising@ushpa.aero Staff writers: Steve Messman, Dennis Pagen, Christina Ammon, Ryan Voight, Tom Webster, CJ Sturtevant | Staff artist: Jim Tibbs Staff photographers: John Heiney, Jeff Shapiro
OFFICE STAFF Martin Palmaz, Executive Director : executivedirector@ushpa.aero Robin Jones, Communications Manager : tech@ushpa.aero Beth Hollendorfer, Membeship Services Coordinator: membership@ushpa.aero Terry Rank, Office Coordinator : office@ushpa.aero
USHPA OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Rich Hass, President: president@ushpa.aero Dave Wills, Vice President: vicepresident@ushpa.aero Bill Bolosky, Secretary: secretary@ushpa.aero Mark Forbes, Treasurer: treasurer@ushpa.aero REGION 1: Rich Hass, Mark Forbes. REGION 2: Dave Wills, Urs Kellenberger, Bill Cuddy. REGION 3: Bill Helliwell, Rob Sporrer, Brad Hall. REGION 4: Ryan Voight, Ken Grubbs. REGION 5: Donald Lepinsky. REGION 6: David Glover. REGION 7: Tracy Tillman. REGION 8: Michael Holmes. REGION 9: Felipe Amunategui, Hugh McElrath. REGION 10: Bruce Weaver, Steve Kroop, Matt Taber. REGION 11: David Glover. REGION 12: Paul Voight. REGION 13: Tracy Tillman. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dave Broyles, Bill Bolosky, Mike Haley, Dennis Pagen. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR: Art Greenfield (NAA).
SUBMISSIONS HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine welcomes editorial submissions from our members and readers. All submissions of articles, artwork, photographs and or ideas for articles, artwork and photographs are made pursuant to and are subject to the USHPA Contributor's Agreement, a copy of which can be obtained from the USHPA by emailing the editor at editor@ushpa.aero or online at www.ushpa.aero. HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit all contributions. We are always looking for well written articles and quality artwork. Feature stories generally run anywhere from 1500 to 3000 words. News releases are welcomed, but please do not send brochures, dealer newsletters or other extremely lengthy items. Please edit news releases with our readership in mind, and keep them reasonably short without excessive sales hype. Calendar of events items may be sent via email to editor@ushpa.aero, as may letters to the editor. Please be concise and try to address a single topic in your letter. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have an idea for an article you may discuss your topic with the editor either by email or telephone. Contact: Editor, Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine, editor@ ushpa.aero, (516) 816-1333. ADVERTISING ALL ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MUST BE SENT TO USHPA HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS. All advertising is subject to the USHPA Advertising Policy a copy of which may be obtained from the USHPA by emailing the Publisher at publisher@ushpa.aero. The USHPA is a member-controlled sport organization dedicated to the exploration and promotion of all facets of unpowered ultralight flight, and to the education, training and safety of its membership. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for Rogallo membership are $270. Pilot memberships are $75 ($90 non-U.S.). Dues for Contributing membership and for subscription-only are $52 ($63 non-U.S.). $15 of annual membership dues goes to the publication of Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine. Changes of address should be sent six weeks in advance, including name, USHPA number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue. You may also email your request with your member number to: info@ushpa.aero.
The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Inc. (USHPA) is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), which is the official representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the United States at FAI meetings, has delegated to the HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING (ISSN 1543-5989) (USPS 17970) is published USHPA supervision of FAI-related hang gliding and paragliding activities such monthly by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc., as record attempts and competition sanctions. 1685 W. Uintah St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904, (719) 632-8300, FAX (719) 6326417. PERIODICAL postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine is published for foot-launched air- mailing offices. sports enthusiasts to create further interest in the sports of hang gliding and paragliding and to provide an educational forum to advance hang gliding POSTMASTER Send change of address to: Hang Gliding & Paragliding and paragliding methods and safety. magazine, P.O. BOX 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement #40065056. Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3
DISCLAIMER The publication of any submissions, articles or advertising in HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the authors, advertisers, products, services, apparatus, processes, theories, ideologies, opinions, advice and/or recommendations presented, nor does it constitute an endorsement of the authors or companies involved. The statements of fact and opinions as well as any product claims in the submissions, articles, advertisments, artwork and photographs appearing in HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine are those of their respective authors, contributors and advertisers and not of the USHPA. The USHPA makes no representation, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, advice, opinion, recommendation, apparatus, product, product claims or process disclosed, in such submissions, articles, advertising, artwork or photographs. All individuals relying upon any materials published herein do so at their own risk. The USHPA is not responsible for any claims made in any submission, article, or advertisement. Advertisers may not, without USHPA's prior written consent, incorporate in subsequent advertising that a product or service has been advertised in a USHPA publication. COPYRIGHT Copyright (c) 2011 United States Hang Gliding And Paragliding Association, Inc., All Rights Reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the United States Hang Gliding And Paragliding Association, Inc.
The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, a division of the National Aeronautic Association, is a representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale in the United States.
For change of address or other USHPA business call (719) 632-8300, or email info@ushpa.aero.
2011JUNE EDITOR
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PILOT BRIEFINGS
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ASSOCIATION
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TOWLINE
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CENTERFOLD
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TANGENT
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NEW RELEASES
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DISPATCH
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RATINGS
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USHPA STORE
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the us national teams USHPA's 2011 XC Rock Stars by CJ Sturtevant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Flying colombia's Valle del cauca A gem in South America by Davis Straub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
What is OPEN DIStance? The answer revealed by Kenneth Hudonjorgenson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
on the dunes at kitty hawk Then and now by Simone Short. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
wallaby ranch spring fly in and Wills Wing Demo Days by Michael Robertson and Ryan Voight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ALEX The next generation by Eric Katzfey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Paragliding world Cup COLOMBIA by Nick Greece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
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I
recently attended a class where a principle was presented that I found to have striking similarities to free flight—mindfulness. Mindfulness is defined as a type of meditation based on specific sessions that develop awareness, using designated cues. For us, these cues might be the sound of a vario as you climb in a thermal, the sight of birds marking your way up, or the sensation of wind in your face. Years ago I postulated to some prospective students that free flight is a relatively cheap and easy way to reach a meditative state of Zen. Flying helps us escape the humdrum details of our daily lives and experience the joy of focused concentration upon leaving the earth below. Niki Sue Mueller, a pilot in Jackson Hole, recently elaborated on how flying and mindfulness interact, when she commented: “ In flying, we are inherently practicing mindfulness because the inconsistent forces of nature and the delicate mysteries of the sky need full respect. Each time we step into our gear, stand at launch, thermal to puffy clouds, and land into the wind we are required to have the presence of mind for good decision making.” We, as pilots, are very lucky to have chosen a sport, which demands a disciplined focus, that literally and figuratively cuts all ties to earthly endeavors and routines. I believe this is one of the threads that bring together such a diverse cross-section of interesting people. The June issue is packed with content that spans the spectrum of USHPA members’ pursuits. CJ Sturtevant, once again working the USHPA beat, provides a detailed look at the US National Hang Gliding and Paragliding team and puts out a call for award nominations for outstanding USHPA members in 2011. We also have a report on the festivities surrounding the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Orville Wright’s soaring the dunes in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On October 21st, soaring enthusiasts from all disciplines will gather in Kitty Hawk to participate in the Soaring100 event. The USHPA will conduct its fall board of directors meeting (BODM) in conjunction with this event, providing participants with the opportunity to take part in the USHPA BODM, celebrate the anniversary, and watch several Wright flyer replicas attempt to soar yet again on the undulating sand dunes that make Kitty Hawk a premier flying area in the history of flight. Over the winter, cross-country pilots headed to Roldanillo, Colombia, for competitions and exhilarating flying. Davis Straub contributes “Flying in the Valle Cauca,” and tales and photos from the first Paragliding World Cup of the season in the land of sugar cane, coffee, and great climbs are presented by Davis Straub, and myself. This site proved to be the newest world class locale for winter escapes. As always, we are on the lookout for content that reflects your experiences during this flying season. Let us know if an event, occurrence, story, or photo catches your eye in your local area. Have fun, and land safely! [left] Natalia, Zippy, and Nick at Torrey Pines promoting free flight in America! Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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New | Improved | Buzzworthy
PilotBRIEFINGS
ALICANTE, SPAIN Scott Mason, the pioneer of tandem paragliding flights with trained birds of prey, will team up with Doyouwanna in Alicante, Spain and offer Parahawking flights from May to October. Mason 39, a falconer since he was 11, has been developing and running Parahawking in Pokhara, Nepal since 2001. Initially just an experiment, and an innovative way of flying with the raptors at his Himalayan Raptor Rescue Center, Parahawking has now grown in popularity and gained international recognition. It is listed in The Lonely Planet’s: “Best in Travel 2010” guidebook and features prominently on many travellers’ “Bucket 8
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
Lists”. Parahawking is a flight with a trained bird of prey. The birds are trained to fly with paragliders and guide them to the best lift. Not only an unforgettable experience, it provides a unique opportunity to understand these magnificent raptors and interact with them in their own environment. Mason is closely involved with bird of prey conservation in Nepal. According to Mason, Asia has lost up to 99% of several of their vulture species in the last 15 years, due to a veterinary drug called Diclofenac. In his own words: “These birds play an important role in our eco-
system and their potential loss has profound ecological and social consequences. Parahawking raises not only awareness of the vulture’s plight but also vital funds for their conservation. We hope that our operation in Spain can further support our work in Nepal.” Keep your eyes open for news of the new Parahawking movie: “Flight for Survival” due to be released on DVD soon. “Flight for Survival” has been selected as a finalist in two categories at The Missoula 34th International Wildlife Film Festival. For more information go to www.parahawking.com.
FAI & USHPA SANCTIONED Scott flying with his friend | photo by Scott Mason.
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Membership | Policy | Involvement
TheASSOCIATION CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2011 USHPA AWARDS And the Winners Are…
By the time you read this, the seemingly interminable cold-and-wet season should be behind us – that means sunshine, and thermals at last! What’s the flying season look like in your neck of the woods? Fly-ins, comps, social gatherings, fund-raisers are all essential parts of what holds our communities together, and keeps us involved. If your community is like mine, there are some key players who make things happen year after year, and if you’re lucky there are also some new folks who are coming forward with energy and creativity to spice up the old traditions. So, how do you let those movers and shakers know you appreciate their efforts? Whatever your local group does, it’s all good, but how about adding an official “thank you” from USHPA? It’s easy, it costs nothing but a few minutes of your time, and USHPA has awards for everything from club-level participation through contributions that enhance hang gliding and paragliding on a national level. For example, who’s the photographer who keeps your website updated with eye candy from your local flying scene? If you think his or her images are aesthetically pleasing, original, and portray hang gliding and/or paragliding in a positive light, then they precisely fulfill the requirements for USHPA’s Bettina Gray photography
“Typically the most hotly contested annual award is Instructor of the Year; one paragliding and one hang gliding instructor is selected each year.” [right] Paul Voight was awarded the first annual Rob Kells award in 2010 | photo by Nick Greece.
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by C.J. Sturtevant
award. Is there a talented videographer in your group who’s produced a theaterquality film that promotes hang gliding or paragliding? The Best Promotional Film award recognizes one outstanding promotional film (and its creator) each year. If you don’t nominate your local artists, the rest of us may never have the opportunity to appreciate their creations! On a more nuts-and-bolts level, for someone who has given exceptional service as a volunteer (i.e. no pay) organizer/ meet director for a comp or fly-in, or worked on site or public relations issues, or participated in a heroic rescue operation, or done just about anything that enhanced someone else’s enjoyment of flying, or promoted the sport in some manner, there’s the USHPA Commendation (for USHPA members) and Special Commendation (for non-members). There’s no set limit to how many of these awards are presented each year; typically any nomination that makes a clear case for award-worthiness is accepted. The few minutes of your time required to fill out the online nomination form can go a long way toward assuring that our volunteers keep on volunteering, and our relationships with landowners remain strong! Typically the most hotly contested annual award is Instructor of the Year; one paragliding and one hang gliding instructor is selected each year. Students, colleagues and friends invest considerable time, thought and feeling in craft-
ing their nominations, with the intent of convincing the Awards committee members that their favorite instructor stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Nominations are not considered “votes” for the candidate (so a form stating “I agree with so-and-so’s opinions” is a waste of your time and ours), but since many of the instructors are not personally known to the committee members, it’s these “from the heart” tributes that determine which of the many nominees will be selected from the pool of well-qualified candidates. Does your local club provide essential services that impact your flying community’s activities? The Chapter of the Year award recognizes a club with strong programs in areas such as site procurement/ development/retention, safety, support of beginner and novice pilots, membership development and more. If your newsletter or website is a state-of-the-art tool that supports and enhances your club’s activities and functions, nominate it and its editor/webmaster for the Newsletter of the Year award. USHPA also has awards for those whose efforts reach beyond their local community: The Exceptional Service award is given for outstanding service to the Association during the past year, while the Presidential Citation, USHPA’s highest award, is for someone who has made significant contributions to the sport recently or perhaps over a span of years. The Rob Kells award recognizes someone who’s been actively supporting hang gliding and/or paraglid-
USHPA’s awards are simply one more ing, Rob Kells-style, for at least 15 years. Links to a more detailed description of The NAA Safety award recognizes some- each award, and a list of past recipients of way for pilots to say, “Right on!” to their friends and neighbors in hang gliding and one who has made a significant contribu- each award, are on that page as well. tion hang gliding/paragliding safety. You can submit a nomination at any paragliding. It’s much easier to take on Submitting a nomination for any of time before the fall BOD meeting (usu- a task again next time around when you these awards isn’t quite a no-brainer, but ally in October), when the Awards com- know your efforts have made a difference it’s close. Except for the photography, vid- mittee reviews the submissions and makes and are appreciated. It only takes a few eography, and newsletter awards, which the decision, but earlier is better, especially minutes of your time to make the nominarequire examples of the nominee’s work, if you’re gathering a bunch of testimonials tion, but the award recipient will rememyou can complete the nomination online for the Instructor of the Year or Rob Kells ber those minutes of thoughtfulness for a long while! at http://www.ushpa.aero/emailaward.asp. awards.
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Analysis | Preparedness | Incidents
SafetyBULLETIN 2010 PARAGLIDING INJURIES SUMMARY Looking back at ushpa.aero, I see this will be my fifth annual summary article. Last year, I finished the article with “Now, with this sobering experience behind me [reviewing all the accident reports], I am ready to try my hot new 2-riser comp wing scheduled to arrive this week. Here’s hoping I’ve learned enough to still be around next tax season!” Maybe I should have been a little more specific. I did manage to “be around,” somewhat to the surprise of my doctors. But it would have been better to avoid the whole medical detour. This year we are seeing speed gliding wings in the statistics for the first time, so I’ll begin with them. Many of those now entering our sport seem to be choosing speed wings. I suppose they like the portability and ability to launch in high wind. Plus, there are the online videos. You’ve seen them—helmet cam shots as the pilot skims down the flanks of a big snowy mountain, barely clearing obstacles and jagged ridges. The video you saw was almost certainly filmed on a clear, nearly-calm day, in the middle of winter. Do people understand why? One of our fatalities was a young skydiving instructor who took up speed gliding on the side. He and two others set out to fly from a high ridge on a
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by Mike Steed
windswept tropical island. Because he was the last to launch, we know little about the crash except that he was found many hours later on a steep slope 600 vertical feet below launch. We don’t know if a reserve parachute or a padded harness might have saved his life; he apparently had neither. Consider another speed flying crash, this one in the mountain west. A similar demographic, but this time with an audience. A spectator had been talking with the pilot and learned that it would be his 4th hike-up flight of the day. The spectator said he flew straight out, suddenly initiated a steep turn, and then seemed to have a problem with one wingtip. He spiraled to the ground from a height of 100 to 300 feet, according to various witness estimates. I found no mention of a reserve parachute in subsequent discussions. This was probably our most serious non-fatality of the year. (I say probably, because we never got an accident report about these or a few other serious injuries.) Another speed wing pilot was ridge soaring in strong wind at an inland site. The wing had a frontal collapse and recovered, but he swung across the slope, impacting hard enough to break an arm. Another hurt a foot on the beach due to a mis-timed flare. Yes, they land
fast. And we’ll complete the speed wing reports on a happier note—one speed wing pilot was carrying a reserve parachute, felt the need to use it, and walked away uninjured! Here is another serious crash—this one a conventional paraglider that also spiraled to the ground. The pilot doesn’t recall any of it, but his GPS was intact, there were witnesses and even a video of the last bit. Apparently he got a tip cravat in a strong thermal. Other pilots reported he tried to fix the cravat as the wing made two large circles, but then the wing accelerated into a spiral dive and he never threw the reserve. He happened to hit the steep slope at a low angle and survived. His GPS showed a loss of 660 feet in 16 seconds, an average of 41 ft/sec or 12.5 meters/sec. This sink rate is near the maximum of sink rates claimed by manufacturers for altitude loss in a spiral dive (with no cravat). Estimating the sink rate from the video of the last few seconds, I get an even higher number. Attempting to fix a cravat is risky business, since it takes you into a hard turn for the duration. You may be better off paying full attention to brake and weight shift in hopes of preventing both a stall and spiral. When entering a spiral, you risk blacking out from the g forces and spiraling to the ground. Altitude is your friend—but when in a spiral, you are losing friends at an alarming rate. As it happens, I had some firsthand experience with cravat spirals this past year. I was approaching goal with a serious surplus of altitude, more than a mile above the ground. A witness later asked why I pulled a helicopter way up there. What I recall is my wing rotating overhead like a helicopter, but without any brake inputs on my part and with no collapse, until I essentially ran over my own wingtip. With half a wing and twisted risers, I soon went into a steep spiral. For a full minute my average sink rate was 16 m/sec, peaking at more than 20 m/sec. Most of that time was spent struggling against g forces to reach above the twist and grab any rear lines. I was finally able to slow the wing and stalled it twice, but the collapse wouldn’t budge. So the reserve came out anyway, followed by steering the still-collapsed
wing upwind to try to get down before town. Not my best day, but not my worst either—that was still 3 days away. This year the number of reports and injuries were down. We don’t know if this is due to a lack of reporting or a true reduction in the number of incidents. There were 45 unique reports— some from the online reporting system, and some less formal and complete. Of these, 17 ended without pilot injury, though 8 of those included injury to property (wings, trucks, power lines) or injury to another pilot. Two midair collisions at popular soaring sites injured one para pilot and killed one hang pilot. Reserve parachute deployments without injury were reported 6 times, if you count opening “a second or two” before impact and walking away with a stick puncture in the leg as uninjured. The pilot injured in a midair collision threw his reserve to full extension, but it did not open. The statistics in the charts follow the usual rules: injury accidents only, pilots from anywhere, but USA locations only. We don’t count the guy who died of a coronary while laying out his wing, but we do count the guy who died while kiting. Both happened in 2010. You may have already read about the kiting fatality: a pilot on the beach removed the harness from his wing, and then kited the wing by holding the risers. He got lifted up and held on. He continued up and up, eventually falling from a height of more than 100 feet. This year, the age profile of injuries is especially unusual. Past years, injured pilots tended to be a bit younger than the pilot population at large. But this year, injuries are skewed way toward the older pilots. But note the small base of reports. You could change the age reported by three pilots and get a balanced chart. So maybe it is random, or maybe we just have fewer beginners making beginner mistakes. While reported injuries were down across the board, women accounted for only one pilot injury and one tandem passenger injury. Female pilots are few, worst (forward) seat in a tandem tumble. The pilot rating of the injured pilot also so their share of injuries tends to jump The wings flown by injured pilots spans the range, with a skew toward the around, but over the years women seem continue to span the range of ratings, higher-rated pilots. I suspect this says less likely to crash as pilots. At the same with speed wings suddenly becoming a something about the tendency of some time, women are more likely to be in the significant share as already mentioned. of us to fly cross-country in strong conHang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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ditions. Six injuries started before the pilot even left the ground. These were variously attributed to poor technique, bad preflight, or choosing to launch when conditions were not appropriate. Most of the rest were approach problems— pilot errors or surprising changes in wind velocity or direction. Wind shad-
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ows that left the pilot with low air speed contributed to several stalls and spins. Finally, the one statistic that is not down is the severity of injuries. Overnight hospital stays were encountered with fully 69% of reported injuries. So while serious injuries persist, some of the minor injuries are either not being reported, or are being avoided by
more pilots. Back injuries continue to be the single most common (and serious) injury reported. Back/neck/head are injured more often than lower extremities, which are injured more often than upper extremities. So where did I “fall” in all this? I’m the older P4 pilot on a comp wing who completed a 105K competition task a
little tired and dehydrated and then failed to note the strong wind, until drifting well past the airport goal. Pushing back upwind on speed bar, it became evident I could barely get across the rocky terrain to the near edge of the runway. I got off bar and out of the pod, descending vertically toward my intended landing spot. With no forward movement, I
my heading as the risers slowly twisted. I had no plan B. I don’t remember the rest, but apparently I did nothing and allowed the wing to enter a wild spiral, with the half wing diving below me at one point during about two 360’s. A bit of advice – if you have to crash, do it right where nearly every medicallytrained person in the county is either already assembled, or is about to arrive. Thanks to you all for getting me quickly and safely to a hospital despite my being mostly unconscious. I have since recovered from injuries that included 6 broken vertebrae. Thanks also to good medical insurance, plus the repatriation insurance that flew me to another hospisoon realized I had to judge wind direc- tal near home for surgery. So, how best to close the article this tion by my crosswind drift, which I attempted to eliminate. Then, 20 meters year? Maybe just a wish that my next 19 above my target, I suddenly drifted right years will be as injury-free as the first 19, and up, not realizing that my whole left and that year 20 will prove to be a stawing was folding under at the same time. tistical aberration. And a wish that you I recall the imperative in my mind (keep all share your experiences (via the handy it pointed upwind) being in conflict online form) so fellow pilots can learn with subsequent reality—I couldn’t hold from you and avoid injuries!
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Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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HigherEDUCATION
HOW TO TEACH BETTER, HIGHER, FASTER The fundamental goal of writing our monthly series of Towline articles is to try to teach folks how to do useful things in a practical manner. This article is about teaching, along with how and why to develop a curriculum. Specifically, we provide a step-by-step example of developing an aerotow tandem curriculum. Tracy: Question: What do hang gliding competitions, engineering projects, surgery, military battles, church services, and hang gliding instruction have in common? Lisa: Well. If we are looking at good practice, it would be having a plan. Hang gliding comps have daily tasks and scoring plans, engineers have project plans, surgeons have operative plans, military forces have battle plans, churches have worship service bulletins, and hang gliding instructors should have a curriculum. Tracy: And if we are looking at best practice, the plan—whether a project plan, competition plan, or teaching plan, etc.—should include expected performance objectives and standards, should be documented, and should be shared with participants. Lisa: The point being made is that hang gliding instructors should follow a written curriculum. This helps them to teach more consistently, thoroughly, and not miss details. And they should share that curriculum document with their students so that every student can learn 16
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
by Drs. Lisa Coletti & Tracy Tillman
with a better understanding of the overall course and the expected performance objectives, which will help them to learn more effectively and efficiently. Lisa: Good flight instructors know this. We subscribe to AOPA’s Flight Training magazine, which is a publication specifically meant to help flight instructors teach better and to help student pilots learn better. Every month, we usually read this magazine cover to cover. Many articles, along with personal comments from master flight instructors and students, repeatedly drive home the point about the importance of using a written curriculum. Here are some (paraphrased) comments on this topic that we found in the most recent issue of Flight Training [ref 1]: “It has been a long and expensive road for me, because of the lack of an organized syllabus from the flight school.” “To my flight instructor: It makes absolutely no difference to me that you consider yourself to be one of the best pilots out there… that does not necessarily make you a good instructor.” “Too many flight instructors lack professionalism and only seem interested in taking your money. Fortunately, there are good instructors out there, too.” “You can learn to fly properly if your flight instructor uses a comprehensive training syllabus.” Tracy: So, other than reading that magazine every month, how much do you know about teaching? Lisa: I know something about teach-
ing. In addition to being a hang gliding instructor, I have been a professor at a medical school for my entire professional career. I teach surgery to medical students and residents who may be on either a private practice track or an academic practice track, meaning I not only teach how to do surgery, but I also teach how to teach surgery. That’s just part of my job. As Associate Dean of the medical school, I oversee the selection and education of 1100 residents and the accreditation of 95 graduate programs of various medical and surgical education specialties. Tracy: Oh yeah? Well, I know a little bit about teaching, too. I recently retired after 25 years in the college teaching profession. I developed and taught a wide variety of college courses in R&D, engineering, technology, and management, and developed three college degree programs, including a PhD program. Like you, I also taught grad students how to teach, because many of the students in my PhD program were aspiring (perspiring, actually) to become college professors. I guess I was pretty good at it; I did receive a national teaching award in engineering. Lisa: You got a nice plaque, too bad it wasn’t a leg lamp. Tracy: But wait, there’s more. . .I’ve got three engineering-related college degrees and I worked as an engineer and manager in industry before going into teaching, so I know both practical and theoretical aspects of the discipline. That kind of background is not uncommon for a college professor, but what is less common is that I also have a PhD in Education. From that, I learned solid fundamentals of the art of teaching— the same as a certified school teacher— which made it much easier for me to be a decent college instructor. I also learned advanced topics about the science and psychology of teaching, such that most of my academic research, scholarly writing, and consulting work was on engineering education and psychometrics. Related to all that, I became an ABET evaluator, which involved visiting other universities to evaluate the educational quality of their engineering programs for accreditation. As you well know, review of curricula and instructor syllabi are one of the first and most important parts of
assessing the quality of a university and its separate programs for accreditation and re-accreditation. Lisa: So, is a narcissist who knows everything still a narcissist? Tracy: Sorry, I wouldn’t know about that….but did I mention that I’m also a hang gliding instructor? Lisa: OK, OK, enough already. I suppose, since we are writing these articles every month, it doesn’t hurt for folks to get to know us a little bit better. Tracy: And when it comes to the topic of teaching, our readers should be able to have some degree of confidence that we do have some expertise and know something of what we are talking about. As university professors and hang gliding instructors, we know that we teach better and our students learn better when we have a written curriculum that we share with out students—and we know exactly why this is so. Lisa: This is an important topic. The future of our sport depends on the availability of good quality instruction. An important and very practical foundation for good quality instruction is use of a written curriculum by an instructor that is shared with his/her students. I’m sure there are other hang glider or paraglider pilots or instructors in the US, such as certified school teachers or college teachers, who understand the requirement and importance of having and using a written curriculum to help them provide good quality instruction. Tracy: Learning the fundamentals
about how to teach, which includes developing and following a written curriculum, is part of the training program for USHPA-certified instructors. The process of how to become an instructor is provided on USHPA’s web site [ref 2]. Candidates are expected to develop a curriculum during their initial certification training and use it with their students after they get certified. Lisa: Providing documentation of a written curriculum is also now part of the periodic re-certification process for USHPA-certified instructors, to encourage continued use and improvement of their written curriculum [ref 3]. This is a new requirement for re-certification, and thus is a timely and important topic for us to cover this month. Tracy: If a USHPA-certified instructor has a written curriculum, it will be no big deal for them to include a copy of it along with the other documentation required from them for re-certification. Lisa: However, there may be a few instructors out there who may not have fully understood the expectation and importance of using a written curriculum, and may not currently have one to submit for re-certification. This can be resolved with a little remedial training to get up to speed on the basics of developing a curriculum. Tracy: Holy-moly! That’s exactly what this month’s “Towline” article is all about! Lisa: OK, OK, now settle down. Tracy: First, let’s talk about what a
curriculum is. Fundamentally, a curriculum is a teaching plan for a course of study. It is a Latin-based word, originally referring to a race course [ref 4]. The modern term “curriculum” is most commonly used in several ways: (a) a program curriculum refers to a set of subjects or courses that constitute an educational program, such as a college degree or aviation flight training program; (b) a course curriculum refers to the set of subjects or topics presented in a single course, as delineated in a course syllabus; (c) a lesson curriculum refers to set of topics presented in a single lesson, as spelled out in a lesson plan. Lisa: So, at a minimum, a hang gliding or paragliding instructor’s curriculum could simply just be a written set of topics that they cover in a lesson, but would more commonly be what they cover in their course or training program. It’s their basic teaching plan. Tracy: If an instructor knows what they are doing, it is very easy for them to develop that list. By having a written curriculum, the instructor can refer to their list of topics to make sure that the right topics are being taught at the right time, and that nothing is skipped. Over time, as an instructor gets new ideas or develops new methods, he/she can modify the list for continuous improvement. Lisa: Having a written curriculum on hand for reference is not only helpful for an instructor, but is also very helpful for a student. If a student has a copy of the curriculum, then he/she can know and un-
“Hang gliding instructors should follow a written curriculum. This helps them to teach more consistently, thoroughly, and not miss details.”
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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derstand what needs to be covered from start to finish, and how far along they have progressed through the program. It’s much like making a simple agenda for a business meeting and sharing it with the participants—it makes running the meeting more effective and efficient, and it helps the participants understand and participate in meeting issues. Tracy: Right, it is very helpful and practical. It is not at all hard to develop and use a simple curriculum, and instructors don’t have to do it from scratch. During instructor certification training, candidates should have been presented with examples from their Instructor Administrator, and they should have developed their own curriculum or syllabus at that time. More examples are available in the Hang Gliding Instructor’s Training Manual [ref 5], which is used as a reference during instruction certification training. If an instructor has any trouble developing a curriculum for re-certification, they should ask for help from their Instructor Administrator. Lisa: In addition to encouraging the use of a written curriculum by instructors, USHPA has a goal of looking at the curriculum submitted by instructors, with their permission, to study and identify best teaching practices and develop models of best practices that can be shared to help all instructors. Tracy: So, the new requirement to submit a copy of a written curriculum as part of the re-certification process can result in both an immediate benefit of improved quality of instruction for some instructors, as well as a long-term benefit of improved quality of instruction across our entire sport by providing models of best practice to all instructors. Lisa: But won’t some instructors claim that developing and submitting a written curriculum for re-certification is too hard, takes too long, and is too burdensome? Tracy: I suppose some might claim that, but they shouldn’t. First, having and using a written curriculum is the right thing to do for a certified instructor, who has been trained and credentialed to the level of being considered a professional. Second, they should have already developed a curriculum during their initial instructor certification training. Third, lots of examples are available. Fourth, 18
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that would be a claim based on the fear of doing something new, rather than the reality of how difficult it is to do. Putting together a basic curriculum is only about as hard as writing down a shopping list for the grocery store, and shouldn’t take any longer than setting up a hang glider. Lisa: OK, prove it. Tracy: Fine. Lisa: Fine. Tracy: OK, let’s put together a basic curriculum, meaning a list of topics that comprise a teaching plan, as an example of how to do it. Since this is a towingrelated article, we can put together something that could be used by an aerotow tandem instructor for an introductory “discovery” flight training short course. Basically, it would consist of a ground school portion and a flight training portion. Lisa: How long did it take you to figure that out? Tracy: A few seconds. Lisa: But that is not enough information to be considered a curriculum or teaching plan. Tracy: Right, but it is the start of a basic outline. So, let’s expand the ground school portion first. Here is a short list of things that could be covered on the ground, before the tandem air work begins: 1. Introduction, orientation, paperwork. 2. Description of equipment, method of flight, and what the instructor and student will do during flight. 3. Preflight check, fitting of helmet and harness, and practice of methods of control.
methods of control by instructor, practice by student. 9. Practice positive exchange of control between student and instructor. 10. Practice complete release of control by student. Lisa: How long did it take you to figure that out? Tracy: It took me about 5 minutes to write down those 10 things. Lisa: That’s a good start, how about the actual tandem flight training, the air work portion of the short course? Tracy: Ok, here is a short list of the things that could be covered during the actual tandem discovery flight training portion: 1. Pre-launch check by instructor. 2. Launch, tow, release performed and explained by instructor. 3. Straight and turning flight demonstrated and explained by instructor. 4. Straight and turning flight practiced by student. 5. Landing performed by instructor. Lisa: How long did that take? Tracy: It took me about 3 minutes to
write that down. Here is a more detailed version: 1. HIERTow pre-launch check by instructor. 2. Launch performed by instructor and running dialog explanation by instructor during flight. 3. Demonstration and explanation of normal and out-of-position maneuvers on tow by instructor. 4. Identification of sites of interest that Lisa: How long did it take you to can be seen by air by instructor. figure that out and write it down? 5. Description of release from tow prior Tracy: All of about 2 minutes. Here is to release, followed by actual release from a more detailed version of that list: tow by instructor. 1. Introduction to instructors and other 6. Identification of landing field. students. 7. Demonstration and explanation of 2. Orientation to flying site and facili- straight flight control at normal (24 mph), ties. faster (28 mph), and slower airspeeds (20 3. Fill out required paperwork and mph) by instructor. 8. Practice of straight flight control at submit payment for short course. 4. Description of launch, tow, free flight, normal (24 mph) airspeed by student. 9. Practice of straight flight control at landing. 5. Description and preflight check of faster (28 mph) and slower (20 mph) airspeeds by student. equipment and safety systems. 10. Demonstration and explanation of 6. Fitting of helmet and harness. left and right turns by instructor. 7. Photo opportunity. 8. Demonstration and explanation of 11. Practice of partial and full circle left
and right turns by student. 12. Free flight practice of speed control and turns by student as time permits. 13. Landing pattern set-up and explanation by instructor. 14. Landing and explanation by instructor. 15. Post-flight Q&A and photo opportunity. Lisa: And how long did it take for you to figure out that more detailed list? Tracy: It took me about 10 minutes to write down those 15 things. Lisa: So, you were able to put together a basic curriculum for both ground school and air work for this short course in about 5 minutes, and a reasonably detailed version of the curriculum in about 15 minutes. Tracy: Right, it is not hard to do and it doesn’t take very long to do. To make it useful, an instructor needs to follow their teaching plan and provide a copy of it to their students. When a student knows what the plan is, it helps them to learn better and faster, and with more comfort and confidence in their instructor’s ability and level of professionalism. Lisa: Giving the student other written information in addition to that basic curriculum can be helpful. Along with the curriculum outline, an instructor could provide a general description of the course, time and location of training, names of instructors, cost, required or recommended textbooks, any required or recommended attire and eye protection, and general policies. Tracy: What you just described is called a syllabus. A simple online search using the terms “example syllabus” or “model syllabus” or “sample syllabus” will result in a multitude of examples available for instructors to follow. Many of these examples will also include “objectives” as an element of a syllabus. These may be called instructional objectives, course objectives, program objectives, lesson objectives, learning objectives, and/or performance objectives. Ideally, these should be stated as observable behavioral objectives that define cognitive, affective, and/ or psychomotor skills that are expected to be demonstrated by the student by the end of the lesson, course, or program. Lisa: A simple and straight-forward
way for hang gliding instructors to add objectives to their curriculum or syllabus, and for students to understand them, is to just list the requirements and skills that a student must demonstrate to get a certain rating. Obviously, it is helpful for a student to know what it is they are supposed to be learning to do. Tracy: If I were to add a list of learning objectives to a syllabus given to a student attending a short course for tandem aerotow discovery flight training, the list could be worded something like this: At the completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Explain the nature of the USHPA and his/her status as a student member of the USHPA. 2. Describe the general construction and safety features of a hang glider and harness. 3. Describe the general method of launching, flying, and landing a hang glider. 4. Demonstrate control of a hang glider in straight flight, partial turns, and full circle turns. 5. Appreciate the excitement and beauty of hang gliding. 6. Never forget the experience and tell others about the great time you had. 7. Proceed with a full hang gliding certification training program. It took me about 10 minutes to make that list. Lisa: That’s a good example. Giving students a list of objectives in addition to a list of topics to be covered will clearly let them know what the plan is and what they should be learning to do. Tracy: I hope that you noticed that the list includes objectives in the (a) cognitive, (b) affective, and (c) psychomotor domains of learning—which basically means learning things in terms of (a) knowing, (b) caring/feeling, and (c) physical performance, respectively. Lisa: Yeah, nice job. Some hang gliding instructors and many aviation Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) also provide a skills check-off list to their students. This sheet delineates specific skills to be learned, with columns or boxes used for noting by the instructor when the skill has been (a) demonstrated by the instructor, (b) practiced by the student, and (c) mastered by the student. It is a great tool used in combination with
a written curriculum so that the instructor and student can have an up-to-date record of the student’s progress on learning and achieving specific performance objectives. Tracy: A skills check-off list probably wouldn’t be very helpful for a very short course, like our tandem discovery flight training example, but is very helpful for a longer, more complex program. We use a skills check-off list for our Hang 1, Hang 2, Aerotow, and Scooter Tow training. It really helps us and our students keep track of their progress through the programs. Lisa: I hope that we have made it clear why having and using a written curriculum helps an instructor to teach better and faster. Now I also get the reason for word “Higher” to be included in the title of this article: “Higher Education: How to Teach Better, Higher, Faster.” As shown in your example curriculum and learning objectives, when a student takes their very first aerotow tandem instructional discovery flight—if conducted in smooth conditions with sufficient altitude—they will get a lot of hands-on airtime, get immediate and detailed feedback from their instructor, and learn a lot very quickly. For example, they will 20
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
already be learning to do 360-degree turns on their very first flight. Being able to do a 360-degree turn is considered a special skill beyond a Beginner or Novice rating and can take months or even years to learn, via solo foot-launch training. Tracy: One of the disadvantages of tandem aerotow training is that lessons are usually more expensive than foot launch lessons, because of the expense and operational cost of the aerotow and tandem equipment used and additional personnel that are needed. However, students can learn a lot very quickly because of getting more airtime and practice on each flight, and they can learn better, smoother, more precise, and more advanced flying technique very quickly because of having an instructor along with them on each training flight. Along with 360-degree turns, students will quickly learn other advanced skills, such as flight across a wide speed range, stall entry and recovery, soaring technique, speeds to fly for best gliding and soaring performance, and smooth and precise aerotowing skills—and be comfortable and confident at flying at high altitude and in mild turbulence. With tandem aerotow training, a dedicated student can learn to become a very competent solo novice pilot with
more advanced special skills in less than a week. That’s why it is better, higher, and faster. Lisa: Still, it can be a lot of fun learning on a hill, or other tow method beside aerotowing. Tracy: No doubt about that. Whether solo or tandem, on hill or by tow, a student can learn well and have a great time with a good instructor. The purpose of the USHPA instructor certification training program is to assure that students learn from good instructors. Lisa: Pilots and students should realize that good instructors, along with individuals who develop and maintain flying sites, are the true and often unsung superheroes of our sport. It takes a great deal of caring, dedication, personal effort, and, often, personal expense, to serve others in the ways they do, rather than to be served. Tracy: We’d also like prospective instructors to know that we offer hang gliding and aerotow tandem instructor certification training on a full-time basis during our Michigan flying season. Instructor candidates can train one-onone with us on their own schedule. Our school is part of the Dragon Fly Soaring Club, which is a non-profit organization. As such, we do not charge for instruction
and will not charge candidates for instructor certification training—although normal DFSC flying charges and club fees will apply. Come visit us, learn with us, and join the legion of superheroes. Lisa: Hey sweetie, you are my superhero. Now that we are done with this article, you wouldn’t mind doing a quick vacuum and taking out the trash, would you? Lisa is the Associate Dean and Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School, and is currently Chair of the USHPA Towing Committee. Tracy is a past Chair of the Towing Committee, and is currently Regional Director for Regions 7 & 13. He is also a FAAst Team Safety Counselor for the FAA Detroit FSDO area. They are both very active multi-engine commercial airplane and glider pilots, tug pilots, and tandem hang gliding instructors for the Dragon Fly Soaring Club at Cloud 9 Field (46MI), Michigan. Please feel free to contact them about towing related issues at cloud9sa@aol.com.
REFERENCES 1. “The Flight Training Experience, Making it work” and “Stop Dreaming, Start Flying.” Flight Training magazine, May 2011, pp.8 & 20. Digital issues available on AOPA web site: http://flighttraining.aopa.org/magazine/ 2. “How to Become an Instructor.” Process explained on USHPA web site: http:// www.ushpa.aero/instructors_how_to_become.asp 3. “General Requirements for All Instructors Being Certified or Re-Certified.” USHPA SOP 12-05.05C(5): http://www.ushpa.aero/documents/sop/sop-12-05. pdf 4. Origin of “Curriculum.” http://www.latinwordlist.com/latin-words/curriculum-6562753.htm 5. “Hang Gliding Instructor’s Manual.” by Dennis Pagen. Available from USHPA: http://www.ushpa.aero/store/
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The US National Teams
USHPA's 2011 XC RoCK STARS
by CJSTURTEVANT
I
f watching the world’s best free-flight Dozens of countries send their nation- flying in the worlds is hands-down the pilots going full-on with the latest al teams to these biennial FAI-sanctioned most personally enriching, skill-stretchand greatest state-of-the-art equip- world championships, and most of these ing, memories-accumulating flying expement fits your definition of vacation, then teams can count on support from their riences they’ve ever had. But that’s them, get yourself to Europe this July for an nation’s government to defray the cost of not us. entire month of Olympics-quality free- the competition. It falls upon our athletes In these days when hang gliding and flight XC racing. The paragliding world to finance their participation in the world paragliding are struggling to maintain championship is first up, in Piedrahita, championships, through fundraisers and our numbers and justify our presence at Spain, from July 3-16. Immediately fol- T-shirt sales and raiding their personal launch and landing sites all across the lowing is the hang gliding worlds, July bank accounts. These ten guys and one country, there are some strong community-based justifications for making sure 16-30, in Monte Cucco, Italy. (To follow gal could use some help! the events from home, go to http://www. Why should the rest of us care about our teams are going to the worlds with a usparaglidingteam.org/ and http://flytec. the USA’s participation in these world strong chance of coming out on top. Here meets? The team pilots will point out that are a few: com/worldteam/index.html.)
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Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
Hang gliding and paragliding activi- (that’d be us!) are typically more inclined ties are a lot more “visible” in other parts to support a winning cause. We who do it know that free flight is of the world than they are here at home. Our teams include only five or six pilots, the coolest sport in the world. Teams USA but, just as in the Olympics, those ath- are about to take on the world and prove letes represent the entire country. For two that the US pilots are among the most weeks, they are us, and their status is ours. skilled in the universe. Let’s give them If we have thousands of fans supporting our financial support—if you can pay for our national teams, how can free-flight be an airplane ticket, that’s awesome, but, if not, how about a pizza? Let’s take owneranything other than “mainstream”? As in any international sports event, ship of our teams! Let our team members the teams and participants who win ac- know they have a strong cheering section quire bragging rights not just for them- in the bleachers! Most of us can’t be there selves, but also for their country and their in person, but when you get your name sponsors. Our pilots coming out on top on the list of donors to the cause, the at an international event give hang glid- teams know for sure that you’re behind ing or paragliding a legitimacy that could them. Whatever you can chip in towards help alter the US public’s image of our each team’s goal of about $27,000 makes a statement that you’re a supportive fan. sports as “fringe” activities. There are several ways to get your name Every donation to the cause builds momentum. With strong financial support on that list. You can contribute directly to from the membership, the team members the teams online at http://www.usparaaren’t stressing about paying bills, and can glidingteam.org/ and http://flytec.com/ focus on flying. Focused pilots are strong worldteam/index.html. By late May or competitors, and potential sponsors early June, there should be information
on the USHPA website, http://ushpa.aero that will direct you to whatever fund-raising drives develop this spring. Paraglider team leader Rob Sporrer reminds us that we can support the teams throughout the year: “The best way to donate is when you renew your USHPA membership. You can enter a donation amount in the Tax Deductible Donation section of the renewal application. Your donation is matched dollar-for-dollar by USHPA, up to $500. Check the Paragliding or Hang Gliding Competition fund box on the renewal application, indicating that your specific wishes are for your donation and matching funds to go to the US National Team of your choice. The US teams need to educate and remind pilots to make their donations through the USHPA renewal application whenever possible since their donations will be matched by USHPA. And now, for something even better: In NPR Pledge Week-style, USHPA has acquired an anonymous donor who Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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will match individual donations, up to a total of $2000 for each of the 2011 teams, made via the Foundation for Free Flight’s brand-new National Paragliding Team targeted fund and National Hang Gliding Team targeted fund. The details are not solidified as this article goes to press in mid-April, but by the time this
magazine is in your hands, there’ll be inThe members of the 2011 US Hang formation on ushpa.aero and foundation- Gliding and Paragliding Teams thank forfreeflight.org explaining exactly how you, with enthusiasm, for your financial to make your tax-deductible donation di- and moral support. rectly to these targeted funds set up by the FFF. Support your favorite team (or both teams!) through the FFF and double your contribution—how sweet is that?!
IN THEIR OWN WORDS...
This year’s National Team members talk about why they compete, and why it’s so important to have the support of the rest of us.
Brad Gunnuscio, Salt Lake City, UT
“There has been nice momentum building over the past few years by US pilots on the competition world scene with numerous top-five comp finishes and task wins in both FAI Category 1 and Paragliding World Cup events. We were all proud to see Josh Cohn take home the 2010 PWC America’s title! I’m honored to be a part of the team this year, and will work hard to continue the momentum with a strong US showing at the FAI Worlds in Spain this July. At every site and within every USHPA chapter around the US, there are pilots who aspire to not only fly XC, but to race XC. Supporting our FAI World team is a great way to inspire these pilots to keep working for it and to show overall support for paragliding in the US.” Jack is the current US paragliding champion and won two tasks at the 2010 PWC in Chelan.
Josh Cohn, El Cerrito, CA
“Representing the US on an international level is an amazing opportunity and something everyone on this team has worked for years to achieve. The US racing program, due in part to the support from USHPA members for the former team, is on the precipice of taking a podium spot. Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping us realize what to the team is a life goal.” Nick was third in the US Nationals Series in 2009, second in the US Nationals Series in 2010, and second in the Paragliding World Cup in Chelan. He won the 2011 Paragliding World Cup America’s title in Colombia, after taking second in 2010.
“I took great pride watching in 2009 as Eric ‘The Badger’ Reed led the first four tasks of the Worlds in Valle de Bravo and the US team came in fifth. I took even more pride knowing that I’d contributed in a small way to their success through a donation (as well as moral support). I can’t promise we’ll do better, or even as well, this time, but we’ll sure try!” Josh won the 2010 Paragliding World Cup in Chelan, finished 2nd at the 2010 Monarca Paragliding Open, and was 1999 US paragliding champion.
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Jack Brown, Anchorage, AK
“I feel happy, lucky, and blessed to be a part of this team going to the 2011 Worlds. I know what it feels like to win a world championship task and I want that same kind of excitement and adrenaline again –not only do I want it, but I need it! As I look at the donor list on http://www. usparaglidingteam.org/ I see people I have flown with, people I have cried with, people I’ve laughed with and people I’ve lived life to the fullest with… and that’s something special. And when we take off on the first task at Piedrahita in July, I know we will feel all those people by our sides—their energy, their support—and that is a wonderful feeling!” Brad took the 1st place trophy, and won task 2, in the 2010 Monarca Paragliding Open in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, was the 2009 US Paragliding Champion, and finished first during one task at the 2009 World Championships.
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
Nick Greece, Jackson Hole, WY
Meredyth Malocsay, Fall City, WA
“Competition has taken me to sites I never would have flown, introduced me to pilots I would have never met and taught me things I would have never learned. I’m so grateful that our small community recognizes the value of competitions and how it helps grow and develop our sport. The advances in wing design over the past couple of years prove that whether you compete or not, if you fly a paraglider, you can benefit from what we learn through competition.” Mer started paragliding in 2005, was US female champion in 2008 and 2009, and in 2009 placed 4th overall (and 1st female) in the Rat Race. Dustin Martin, Phoenix, AZ
“I feel like our current team has evolved into an aggressive, wise, very tactical wolf pack that is easily capable of a group gold this year. We are at our best and getting better with each comp, and overseas events like the world meet are what put the polish on our collective skills. The best of the best will be there and they challenge us to go beyond the comfort of local meets and local sites. I feel fortunate to be part of the team at this point in its development, and I’m confident that all pilots can benefit from the trickle down technology driven by the competition machine.” Jeff Shapiro, Missoula, MT
“It’s amazing to have the opportunity to watch, learn from, and be part of a growing competition community of cohesive US pilots. In all of us is the drive to improve and learn, to discover new limits, to define and redefine perspective of what’s possible. To live in a time where people
are flying hang gliders over 400 miles and paragliders over 500 k’s is proof in itself that progression is continuing to inspire growth. I feel that competition brings out the imagination and creativity to help advance the sport, not only with improved equipment but also by breaking barriers of speed and distance. To be fortunate enough to help represent the US in the 2011 World Hang Gliding Championships inspires me to do the best I can in every way. We are a young team of good friends that have grown together and gained international experience to be competitive. Days have been won and lost but our drive to be a cohesive team working toward the podium is strong. I deeply appreciate the support by all of the amazing and like-minded friends in our community and will do my very best to contribute to the team and to US hang gliding in a positive and progressive way.”
Why do I love comp flying? It makes me a better pilot by scoring my decisionmaking abilities, plus it lets me see how I measure up to other pilots. There is no better feeling than winning a task and knowing you made the best decisions to get there faster or go farther on that day! I’ve only won a few times, but it’s a contagious feeling that you want more of! I’d like to ask our friends to give us a helping hand so we can make you proud to say you’re a US Team supporter.” Larry Bunner, Wrightsville, PA
“Competition has given me the mojo to improve my flying skills and the impetus to do my absolute best whenever I fly. It has been my dream to challenge my skills against the world’s top pilots, and, after 36 years in the sport, I am about to realize this opportunity. I’m honored and excited to represent the USA in Italy, and I’m looking forward to measuring my Derrek Turner, Fort Meyers, FL skills against the best hang glider pilots “I’m just a weekend pilot who really likes in the world. Your support is an essencomp flying, so I feel very fortunate to tial ingredient toward making this dream be on the team with these talented pilots. become a reality.”
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Flying Colombia's
Valle del Cauca by DavisSTRAUB
V
alle del Cauca, Colombia, a beautiful and friendly flying site south of the border, welcomes US hang glider and paraglider pilots, especially when the flying weather in the US is unfriendly. It is the site of an international hang gliding competition usually held in January and in January, 2011, was the site of a Paragliding World Cup (PWC) competition. In January, 2013, it will be the site of the PWC Superfinal. The Valle del Cauca (valley of the Cauca River) is also a department (state) in Colombia whose capital, Cali (Santiago de Cali), is located on the central-western side of Colombia. The valley is a large agricultural (mostly sugar cane) area situated between a western mountain range (largely deforested by the paper industry) and a higher eastern mountain range. The valley
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floor is flat and wide with numerous land- and cheaply. While Roldanillo is a great flying desing areas and paved access highways on tination, you’ve probably heard rumors both the east and western sides. Hang gliding and paragliding sites are about Colombia and Cali that make you located throughout the valley, but the reluctant to go there. Newspapers have popular sites near Cali are in the town of reported that FARC (the rebel group in Roldanillo, two hours north of Cali (the Colombia) is into kidnapping and that site of the international airport). There there is drug related violence. (Remember are six paraglider and three hang glider the Cali Cartel). You may be concerned for launches near Roldanillo, the site of the your safety on the ground. The US State Department says: “The major competitions. The Valle del Cauca offers excellent Department of State warns U.S. citizens of winter cross-country flying (and competi- the dangers of travel to Colombia. While tion) conditions when North American security in Colombia has improved signifipilots are grounded by their own winter cantly in recent years, violence by narcoconditions. With easy access from Florida, terrorist groups continues to affect some New York, and Los Angeles—using rural areas as well as large cities. The poColombia’s hang glider and paraglider tential for violence by terrorists and other pilot friendly national airline, Avianca— criminal elements continues to exist in all pilots can get to South America quickly parts of the country.”
I would suggest that the State Department warning could also be applied equally to the US. If for some reason you feel safe in the US, you should probably feel equally safe in Roldanillo and other hang gliding and paragliding sites in Valle del Cauca. I certainly didn’t have any reason to feel unsafe when I flew there. I also had great support from the local flying community. Daniel Velez Bravo, a Colombian hang glider pilot living in Bogota, writes: “The most important and valuable characteristic of Roldanillo and Colombia, and what we should be most proud of, is the people. Roldanillo, like the other flying sites of Colombia, is all about the people. The pilot community (especially the hang gliding community) in Colombia and the ordinary local people are always kind and available to give a hand to any foreign pilot. There’s always a smile, and somebody willing to help out unconditionally. Unlike what happens in Europe, the tourist is not a ‘plague,’ nor a ‘problem,’ but an interesting and fascinating stranger who does not speak Spanish and seems as extraordinary as a pink elephant. So, yes, foreign pilots can take great advantage of traveling to Colombia, because you will find yourself with a lot of positive attention and focus, in a place where you will become not another boring tourist, but a ‘VIP’ in this tropical place.” Other reservations about traveling to Colombia sometimes arise from tourists being afraid of getting ill from water-borne microbes south of the border. For example, this is what you often hear about Mexico: “Mexico is so notorious for travelers’ diarrhea it is often called “Montezuma’s Revenge” (Venganza de Moctezuma). The reason for this is not so much the spicy food but the contamination of the water supply in some of the poorer zones in Mexico. In most of the less-industrialized small towns only the poorest Mexicans drink tap water. The best policy is to drink only bottled or purified water, both of which are readily available.” I did not run into this problem flying in Roldanillo in March, 2011, and have not heard of anyone else having this as an issue. Even though South America seems far away, it is inexpensive to fly there, not much more than the cost of flying into Mexico City. Avianca will take your hang
glider without hassle for $120 and often at no cost on the way back. Avianca was the official airline of the PWC in 2011 and offered a discount coupon. Many other airlines fly into Cali. You’ll find that accommodations are inexpensive in Roldanillo. I stayed at a hotel with my own bathroom and shower for $10/night, right across from the Museo Rayo and next to the main church and square. Food is also inexpensive; you can eat typical Colombian meals for a few dollars in the local restaurants. The flying at Roldanillo is superb; the conditions are pleasant over both the mountainsides and the flats in the valley. The valley is green all year round, and January through March is one of the two dry seasons. The thermals are smooth and the winds light. Cloud base can vary from 3,000’ to 6,000’ over the valley floor at 3,000.’ I went to Roldanillo in March, 2011, to fly in the Hombres Pajaro, 2011. The name of the comp carries on the tradition started in 2009 at Canoa, Ecuador, of using the Spanish words for “birdman.” Twentyfive local and Ecuadorian pilots flew with me in this competition. I was under the wing of Mike Glennon, an international hang glider pilot who lives in Cali and has been flying in Roldanillo for twentyfive years. It was great being helped by a local connection who had encouraged me to come south to experience wonderful Colombia. Mike has a driver in Roldanillo who retrieved us for $2.50/pilot/day (5,000 pesos), one- tenth of the cost of a driver in
[opposite] The author on the north launch with a thermal next to him. [below] Daniel Velez Bravo displays the task on the map of the valley.
the United States. I assume that the paraglider pilots at the PWC were able to hire drivers for similar rates. Mike Glennon picked me up at the Cali airport, which is situated near the main highway (25) to Roldanillo, north of Cali, a very pleasant drive from the airport. (You don’t have to drive into Cali to get to Roldanillo.) You can also take the “back” or westside road (23) up the valley. We had our own rooms at the La Posada Hotel, the one hotel that featured hot water. Other nice hotels provided housing within a block-and-a-half. Roldanillo has a population of 30,000, but the business district is centrally located, with restaurants, internet cafes, ice cream parlors, bakeries, food carts, grocery, hardware, clothing and other stores within a short walk of the hotels. The main hang glider launch is one-half hour outside Roldanill, built up next to the western hillsides. The road is paved almost all the way to the launch, but four-wheel drive is required for the last quarter mile on the offshoot road leading directly to the launch. Some of the other paraglider launches (which I did not visit) don’t require four- wheel drive. Altogether, there are six paraglider launches and three hang glider launches near Roldanillo. But you’ll need a local contact to help you find them. The Hombres Pajaro, one of two international hang gliding competitions in
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Colombia each year, usually takes place in January. It was moved to March this year to accommodate the PWC and to encourage Ecuadorian pilots to attend. It also made it possible for me to attend after I returned to the US from the Australian competition season. The second competition, the Colombian Nationals, takes place in the other dry season in August, with even better conditions than January, but at a time that most North American pilots
are taking advantage of the good weather in the US. The new hang glider launch has a steep north launch and a moderately sloped south-facing launch; however, the breezes on launch are normally from the east. The launch is on the east-facing mountains and is an early launch, as are all the launches around Roldanillo. The launches near El Pomo near Cali are on the east-facing hills and are later launches.
Our routine was to get to launch before 9 AM and be ready to launch before 11 AM. My earliest launch was 10:26 AM. At that time I found 100 fpm just above the town after ten minutes of gliding east toward the valley. Cloud base was often below launch when we got there early in the morning, but would rise to above launch as the morning wore on. Often the cloud base was quite low until later in the afternoon. We usually found lift to be light near the launch and one could quickly get to cloud base given its low height, maybe a thousand feet above launch (at 7,000’). Flying north to the next ridge we would consistently find better lift and a high cloud base. It is easy to fly along the western mountain range, either north or south. The Pacific Ocean to the west is about 130 km away, and in the afternoon the sea breeze can come in and set up a strong western wind. This is why you want to launch and get flying early, before the west wind comes in. I only saw a strong sea breeze one day out of the seven that I flew there. Most often the winds are very light in the valley, allowing you to go either north or south from Roldanillo and come back to land at
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[opposite top] Mitch Shipley off the north launch. [bottom] Raul Guerra, Daniel Velez Bravo, Mike Glennon, David Brito Filho in the goal. [above] Pilots in the goal landing zone, the ultralite hangar.
the designated goal on the ultra- light field on the north side of the main east-west road coming in from highway 25 to Roldanillo. The competition consisted of tasks that went up and down the valley, not far from Roldanillo— with goal either not too far away after multiple turnpoints or back to Roldanillo. There were cu’s every day, and I bet that is the normal pattern. There would often be three layers of clouds, sometimes with total shade from the cirrus, but still it would be soarable. Apparently the soaring conditions are better in January, but we still had fine conditions. While I was there, piles of cu’s were over the mountain ranges and sparser cu’s out over the valley, flats and agricultural fields. Long ago hang glider pilots flew just along the western mountain range, but discovered there was no problem flying out into the valley because there was actually lift out there over those green, wet fields. Maybe the presence of cu’s in the valley clued them into that. Our tasks took us north or south in the mountains and then sent us out into the flats. I was able to perform a number of low saves out in the valley, finding more consistent, if not as strong, lift, there, compared with the hill- sides, even when the fields below me looked very unpromising as thermal generators. The fields were sometimes swampy, sometimes flooded from the river, and sometimes I was over the very substantial river. I was pleasantly surprised to find
how easy it was to get back up. The wide agricultural valley also offers the reassurance that you can always land safely if you don’t find lift. The fields are often full of sugar cane which, when it is high, is not the best place to land. Good luck getting the glider out. But there are plenty of fields with new sugar cane plants or fallow fields or pastures with or without cows. You’ll want to check out the roads before you land so you can see how to get retrieved. It was flyable every day, even the day that was cancelled because of a bit of rain in the morning. Four days counted for the competition. Even when it looked dark and totally shaded, it was soarable and tasks could be carried out. The day often improved, opening up to the sun. One day clouds coming from the west— from a little bit of over-development on the western mountains—shaded the final leg to goal, so only two pilots were able to make it. The competition was well-organized by Mike Glennon and well-scored by Daniel Velez Bravo (using FS). He quickly placed the results up on his blog each evening. The meet director was a local paraglider pilot. Both open class and sport class pilots flew the same tasks, but were given separate awards. The sport class pilots flew kingposted gliders. You can learn more about the Hombres Pajaro 2011 competition, including descriptions of each task and the flying each day, as well as lots of other detailed information about Roldanillo, Colombia, etc. at http://ozreport.com/hombrespajaro2011.
OPEN CLASS RESULTS Place
Name
Nat
Glider
Total
1
Daniel Velez Bravo
COL
Wills Wing T2C 144
3619
2
David Brito Filho
BRA
Wills Wing T2C 144
3561
3
Mitch Shipley
USA
Wills Wing T2C 144
3013
4
Raul Guerra
ECU
Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5
2623
5
Mike Glennon
COL
Moyes Litespeed S 5
2110
6
Carlos Mario García Londoño
COL
Wills Wing T2
1953
7
Gustavo Adolfo Jimenez
COL
Wills Wing TALON 141
1935
8
Davis Straub
USA
Wills Wing T2C - 144
1865
9
Oscar Morales
COL
DISCUSS 147
1781
10
Jorge Enrique Garcia
COL
Wills Wing T2
1739
SPORT CLASS RESULTS Place
30
Name
Glider
Total
1
Oscar Morales
DISCUSS 147
1781
2
Oscar Gómez
Wills Wing Sport 2 175
1668
3
Jose Alfredo Marin
Icaro 2000 Laminar
1517
4
Juan Camilo Marin
Moyes XS
901
5
norman campaña
Wills Wing XC 155
889
6
Andres Felipe Peña
Moyes Litesport 137
463
7
Jheison Fabian Pineda
Wills Wing Spectrum
331
8
Guillermo Balcazar
Moyes Litesport 5
193
9
Mauricio Tovar Nieto
Moyes SCX
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What is
Open Distance? by Kenneth Hudonjorgensen
Kristjan Morgan over 'Inspo' in the Wasatch mountains | photo by Matt Dadam.
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his year our organization is holding its first US Paragliding Open Distance (OD) Nationals. If, after reading that, your response is “What?”… this information is for you. The National Championships we have had in the past and will continue to have in the future are in the Race-to-Goal-format (R2G). This will be the first, of many, National Open Distance Championships. Approximately one year ago, some of USHPA’s finest met in Salt Lake City to revamp, renew, redefine and define anew, competitions within our organization. One of our new creations is an Open Distance Nationals, the first of which will be held Sept. 4-10, 2011, in Utah. I have hosted four USHPA-sanctioned open distance paragliding competitions at Snowbird and Inspiration Point in past years, and I love the format. USHPA’s definition is: “An open distance (OD) competition uses scoring based on a total distance measurement. It does not recognize a fixed goal.” The stated philosophy is: “Many accomplished pilots relish the adventure inherent in epic journeys over a distant horizon. It is the unknown that draws us: the serendipitous unfolding of events that shape the flight; the unique problems that arise; the challenges to our creativity. Each of us will have a unique experience: our own tale to tell. For many of us, cross-country is what first inspired us. It is what we seek to do at local sites with our friends. In this spirit, we have devised an open distance competition format. There is an emphasis on simplicity, inclusiveness, and freedom from encumbering restrictions. The guidelines are flexible and, purposefully, not overly specific, in an effort to accommodate the unique features of different venues.” This doesn’t mean that OD does not have any restrictions, parameters, rules and/or guidelines. There are still plenty of those, just fewer. I love OD because it is imbued with individual exploration and openness that goes far beyond what is available in raceto-goal (R2G) comps, although I love those for different reasons. The essence of XC is exploration, establishing routes that work and those that do not. Establishing the route from Olympus to the Point of the Mountain took less than a season for
Bill Belcourt, John Bouchard and me. Establishing the route from Snowbird to the High Uintahs in Utah took me seven seasons by myself. It takes longer to figure out anything in paragliding when you are alone. Having an XC competition at a site is a tremendous boost to the understanding of the site and its potential. One hundred pilots doing a task on one day is worth five or ten years of one pilot’s exploration. The OD venue should be a boon to the understanding and potential of every site that hosts an OD comp. More from USHPA: “Any task wherein the distance goal is undeclared and scoring is based on a distance metric will be considered a valid open distance format. The task committee may allow pilots to choose their own tasks on certain days.” Routes may be determined by pilots or fixed by a task committee, or a combination of both. “Multiple predetermined turn point cylinders {including triangles, out-and-backs and other geometries} may be included in a route, as long as no endpoint is declared. The day’s task may stipulate a starting gate or turn point from which measurement may begin.” To summarize: Open distance competitions offer no end point and no goal except to rack up as many miles as you can before sunset, stay as safe as you can, and have as much fun as you can, as long as it is legal. The task committee can also set an artificial sunset, in case we get in very long distances for too many days in a row, as happened the last time we had a Nationals at Inspiration Point, on seven valid consecutive task days. For example, sunset could be changed from 8:30PM TO 3PM to give competitors a break. (No, that doesn’t mean it will get dark at 3. Fortunately, we do not have that much power yet.) We will declare national champions in each class and also give second and third place awards for open, women, serial, over-55, and sport classes. That amounts to five national champion awards. Come and join us in this historic opportunity to participate in a first national event! For more information email Ken at twocanfly@gmail.com .
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On the Dunes at
Kitty Hawk
by SimoneSHORT
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[left] Bruce Weaver captured in a composite shot on the dunes of Kitty Hawk | photo by Wes Gutekunst.
October 24,1911 The sands of the Outer Banks glistened under sunny autumn skies. Orville Wright worked his way into his 32-foot span glider; its small seat and bracing wires made “mounting” the plane a chore. The wind was howling at 40 miles per hour and some of the bystanders, and perhaps the pilot himself, thought that it might have been safer today to remain inside. But at Orville’s command, his launching crew picked up the glider with Orville aboard and faced it into the roiling gale. Instantly, the updrafts of the wind supported the glider and soon lifted it higher than its launch point. Wright was soaring. Although the glider was descending through the air, the upward vector of the air rushing up the slope met or exceeded the descent of the plane. The speed of the glider going forward matched the speed of the wind, so to the spectators, who were barely accustomed to the notion of airplanes flying at all, it looked like hovering. To many it was a mystery. Orville had to wrestle with the controls to keep his little glider in the area of lift in front of the dune— no mean feat in such a light craft, with controls that were just being tested and were incapable of making large, quick directional changes. He was, however, able to keep it straight and level and make it recover from the upsets it encountered as the wind gusted around it. Minute-after-minute the glider soared in the challenging conditions; Orville landed almost ten minutes later, about 120 feet from where he had launched. As exhilarating as the flight may have been, it was time for a break. He had flown about 20 flights this day, logging 22 minutes in just three soaring flights, capped by his final 9-minute-45-second flight. Orville’s record flight was no fluke; in fact, during his two-and-ahalf week stay at Kitty Hawk, he recorded a number of amazing glider feats and new records. When the wind was moderate, the 1911 glider sailed down the dune, once gliding 637 feet over a “curved path.” Alec Ogilvie, British racing pilot and friend of the Wrights, made Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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[above] Pond skimming to the breakdown area. [below] Ryan Voight giving a helping hand during the Kitty Hawk Spectacular. Photos By Nick Greece.
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three long flights on October 17 in a ten-mile wind, measured at 359 feet in 14 seconds. The longest glide covering a distance of 473 feet on his longest flight. of 1902, flown by Wilbur Wright, was 622.5 feet in But on the 24th, Orville had succeeded in soaring 26 seconds and by Orville, over 500 feet in 1 minute “more than 50 feet above top hill” as he noted in his 12 seconds, climbing at times to an altitude of 60 feet. diary. Earlier in 1911, students from Darmstadt, Germany, To put these flights at Kitty Hawk in perspective, glided almost 1,000 feet down the south slope of the Otto Lilienthal had estimated his longest flight to be Wasserkuppe Mountain. But on October 24, 1911, a quarter kilometer (825 feet) in length in the 1890’s. Orville Wright succeeded in flying by far the lonThe longest flight of Chanute’s team in 1896 was gest duration soaring flight yet, a record that lasted ten years—until broken in Germany. An American did not exceed this mark until 1929. Orville’s flight showed the world that gliders were now sailplanes that could soar and stay aloft without engines. Thus began the modern sport of soaring. But the design of the 1911 glider was then and still is a mystery to many, providing fascinating questions. How did the design and Orville’s experience enable the glider to handle the gusty low-level winds of Kitty Hawk? Did it have more stability or controllability, or was Orville just lucky to keep the craft under control for almost ten minutes? Three separate groups are now looking for answers to these questions and hoping to reveal some interesting facts as the 100th anniversary of Orville Wright’s soaring flight approaches. Each of the builders plans to be part of the SOARING100 Celebration on October 21-24, 2011, at the Outer Banks, NC. USHPA is one of the major players.
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aircraft industry based in Wichita. In Maryland, Jim Dayton envisions his “Dayton Flyer” to be a lookaLittle is known about the glider that Orville Wright like with a modern control system, making it easier and Alec Ogilvie assembled in 1911. To duplicate to fly for today’s pilots. The third person, Rick Young, and recreate the “soaring machine” that started the from Virginia, plans to build an exact replica for disexcitement of the soaring movement in 1911 is not play, but is considering a second machine for flying. After deciding on the main features of the glider, an easy task. The Wrights left no drawings, but, fortunately, there are about 60 photos, Orville’s 15-page like the size of the “fuselage” and wings, all the detail diary, a few personal letters and lots of contradicting, work begins. Each of the various small parts needs but sensational, newspaper and magazine articles about the “secret flights of the Wrights.” Aeronautical knowledge and expertise in the form of computer-aided drafting, in conjunction with research, imagination and common-sense, is needed to interpret the various photos and available data in a meaningful way in order to recreate the 1911 Wright glider. Even though many good photos exist, none are dated. Studying what is available, side-by-side, one can see several changes in the structure of the glider, especially after mishaps. But we are reasonably certain of how the glider looked on October 24, as many newspapers published photos of the glider in flight. Three groups from different parts of the country are approaching the project of recreating the 1911 glider from different angles. The Kansas group consists of Ron Blum, Harry Clayton, Neal Pfeiffer, John Wells and David Wilkus, all members of the the Wright Glider A Century Later
[previous page] Dune gooning at its finest | photo by Nick Greece.
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dedication of National Landmark of Soaring No. 16, a program initiated by the National Soaring Museum, Elmira NY, in 1981. The purpose of this program is to identify and memorialize sites, individuals or historic events related to the national history of motorless flight. The live dune at Jockey’s Ridge State Park will be recognized as a significant site that helped promote the growth of the sport in the past, a tradition that will continue in the future. A brass plaque will be installed outside the Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Glider School, with a text that reads: The steady winds and gently sloping dunes of soft sand on North Carolina’s Outer Banks have been attracting soaring pilots since the early 20th century. to be painstakingly drawn up since little south of the sites where Orville and Alec The Wright brothers flew many pioneering glider flights at Kitty Hawk between contemporary information is available. flew a century earlier. 1900 and 1903, with Orville Wright reThe restored Vin Fiz, hanging high in the turning to set a 9-minute 45-second soarNational Air & Space Museum, provides SOARING100 ing record there in 1911. The area again some answers, but this airplane is not easily accessible for close-up measuring. The weekend of October 21-24, 2011, will achieved soaring fame when Francis The overall goal of each participant is offer a full program of activity, in addition Rogallo and others introduced hang glidto soar in a recreated 1911 glider on the to the opportunity of watching the repli- ing in the 1970’s. These same coastal winds and dunes continue to bring pilots weekend of October 21-24, 2011, at the cas fly at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park on Kick-off for SOARING100 on Friday from around the world to soar Jockey’s the Outer Banks of North Carolina, just afternoon, October 21, will include the Ridge today.
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The cost of this plaque will be underwritten by the Foundation of Free Flight and the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. The next day, Saturday, October 22, a “Soaring History Symposium” will highlight the early history of the sport. One of the invited speakers is Paul Dees, longtime hang glider pilot from the Seattle area who built and flew a Chanute-type glider replica in 1996 as part of the Landmark of Soaring No.8 celebrations in Gary, IN. A year later, he was one of the pilots to fly the Wright 1902 glider replica at Jockey’s Ridge. Several hang gliding pioneers will speak on Sunday, October 23. That symposium, called “History Makers Speak,” will be a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those interested in hearing about the development of hang gliding as a sport. The list of invited speakers is not complete yet, but Bill Liscomb, Mike Meier and John Harris have already agreed to participate. The Barnaby Endowment at the National Soaring Museum allows the museum to sponsor the prestigious “Ralph S. Barnaby Lecture,” given at various locations throughout the nation. This year’s 40th Barnaby lecture will be presented on October 22 at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. On Monday morning, October 24, the National Park Service will have a special ceremony to honor the actual centenary of Orville Wright’s 9-minute-45-second soaring flight. A cavalcade of soaring history will consist of a flying demonstration of vintage (from the 1930’s) and modern sailplanes and various hang gliders from the early 1970’s up to modern times at Wright Brothers National Memorial on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23. But throughout the weekend, hang glider flying will take place at Jockey’s Ridge, as usual.
JULY 11-16 • FLYKINGMOUNTAIN.COM Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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Colombia | photo by Carlos Alberto Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero 41
Wallaby Ranch
Spring Fly-In
and Wills Wing Demo Days
by Michael Robertson USHPA #1058
getting rolling with lots of pilots and sup- natural. During the video review of all port crews having arrived from disparate the landings, he involved everyone, asked his year’s annual Wills Wing Demo destinations.(gn) The bad news was that questions, focused on the fix of one or two Days in Florida, held at “The Ranch”, I missed the first day of Ryan Voight’s key points, was gentle and supportive of was another in the long line of won- fantastic landing clinic. According to all even the mild disasters and found a way to derful reunions. The hospitality, learning, who attended, it was the highlight of their start and finish each review with a positive food, people, and ambiance were stellar, as stay. As an instructor of instructors for statement. Wow! A++! usual, and, big bonus—we got to fly! forty years, I was hugely impressed with A one-line landing clinic summary The good news (gn) versus bad Ryan’s teaching techniques. Like his dad (for experienced pilots only it's a ¼ loop!) news (bn) scenarios: When I arrived on Paul, who assisted, (how’s that for every could be: Elbows back, keep flyin, keep Thursday afternoon, the event was just dad’s dream come true?) Voighter 2 is a flyin', etc., flare. Commit. HG being a
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[opposite] Wayne DeVilbiss launching. [left] Dave Aldridge filming Ryan Voight…who is filming landings for a landing clinic. [below] Carolina Castro & Malcolm Jones assisting a pilot prior to launch.
male-dominated sport, we do have commitment issues. Probably the highest accolade for Ryan came from Mike Meier, our co-host, who attended the clinic on Thursday (with low expectations) since it was blown out. With the myriad flights he's had and the orangutan-length arms he was issued (they reach below the knees), he was surprised, even shocked, that he had things to learn. Imagine how it was for the rest of us.(gn)
approach plan, coupled with slow airspeed. But a last minute flare (gn) ensured the glider would hang up in the branches and not drop heavily to terra firma. The pilot was quick to accept responsibility and shared the learning experience during the clinic, since the event was videoed. (more gn) Friday and Saturday provided hundreds of flights. The conditions made it challenging to stay up and many passed the test. I thoroughly enjoyed my 30 minNot all of the video footage of the pilot- utes on Saturday in a borrowed (Thanks, flights got reviewed as part of the clinic. Terry from Toronto) Sport 2 -155. I stayed Perhaps a couple of them should have above a topless in a weak-with-hot-spotsbeen. One really experienced, but not too thermal to 4000’ when he headed out current, hang 4 attendee put it in the trees upwind. There was considerable drift. I at the end of his second flight. (bn) As have a rule for these conditions: don’t much as we want to emulate the birds, I’d leave lift for what might be better lift. I suggest stopping short of landing in trees. broke it. My head overruled my intuition, The good news: the pilot and the bird were reasoning I had a better chance following unhurt. No marks on either! The bad the blade-wing before I was blown any news: the analysis clearly showed a poor further back. Wrong. His superior glide
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KICKIN' IT by Ryan Voight There are only a handful of “don’t miss” events in hang gliding, and the Wills Wing Demo Days is the top of that list. Every year Wills Wing teams up with Wallaby Ranch in Florida to host what is possibly the biggest annual event in hang gliding. The event, in a nutshell, goes like this: The Wills Wing crew load their truck and trailer with as many gliders as it will possibly hold—all the newest, latest and greatest goodies. They drive from Southern California to Central Florida, set up the gliders and welcome pretty much anyone with appropriate skills to fly them free of charge. But the “demo days” is just a small portion of the whole experience. Another aspect is the location: Wallaby Ranch is a pleasant break from reality! From the moment you turn onto 1805 Deen Still Rd and pass under the Wallaby Ranch arch, time stops and responsibilities fade away. This place could aptly be described as a therapeutic hang gliding retreat. You can stay on-site, eat culinaryquality meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and, oh… there’s hang gliding, too! Florida flying is every bit as good as you’ve probably heard. Anyone who doubts the Earth is round hasn’t flown in Florida! It is SO flat that by the time you get off tow, you can see the curvature 360 degrees around you. And, above, Florida gets the fluffiest, most perfect cumulous clouds you
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could imagine. I’m not sure if it’s the humidity or the low altitude or what, but thermals just seem to be bigger here, with mellower edges. Climbing is effortless, entirely enjoyable. Coming from the mountains of Utah, I would have been satisfied with the grass and nothing more. Wallaby has the greenest, golf-course-quality grass of anywhere I’ve ever flown. Many of the people visiting take their shoes off when they arrive and don’t put them back on until they leave—including me. I go from wearing ski boots every day to flip-flops; words don’t exist to express the pleasure. And what is an event, without the people who make it? Every year Wills Wing’s Mike Meier and Steve Pearson make themselves totally accessible to answer any question, no matter how trivial. I know I asked more than my fair share, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. Every time I attend this event I think I double my knowledge base. It was fun debating (getting schooled in) physics and aerodynamics with Mike! And Steve, Wills Wing’s chief designer, is the wizard of wings. ‘Nuff said. Besides the Wills Wing presence, the guest list of this event is practically a Who’s Who of hang gliding. From California’s Dave Aldrich, filming for his upcoming film, Dreaming Awake, to Wolfi from Austria and people from places allover-in-between. If you didn’t make it this year, mark your calendar and save up your airfare for next year! New this year was a landing clinic from Wings over Wasatch, sponsored by Wills Wing! When I say sponsored,
I mean it was open to anyone interested in improving their landings. And it didn’t cost a cent! Show me another hang glider manufacturer that does THAT! The clinic was very popular, with classroom sessions and video analysis of participant’s landings. I’m a bit biased (I was running the clinic), but I think it’s safe to say we widened people’s perspective on how to plan and execute their landings and determine what offers the highest probability for safe, consistent landings in a wide variety of situations. There was talk about having a repeat clinic at next year’s demo days, but it’s too early to say. The “main event” of the week is the party on Saturday evening, again sponsored by Wills Wing , and hosted by Malcolm Jones and his staff. A tasty BBQ dinner is provided for all in attendance, under one of those “event tents”. Speeches, awards, and films fill out the ceremony. Following the meal, Malcolm always kicks it in gear with a great live band, fermented beverages in copious amounts, and occasionally fireworks! Actually, this year there was live music EVERY night after the dinner meals! I’m sorry I have missed this event the past few years. Attending this year’s with a fresh perspective really made me appreciate how special this weekend is. The opportunity to test-fly a variety of gliders and sizes, back-to-back, without needing to stuff a single batten, is clearly the best way to compare them. I truly enjoyed this event and vow not to miss another. Next year, I’ll see you there!
[left] Lori Croft and Paul Harrison dancing. [sidebar] GLIDERS!! [below] Ken Westfall launching.
had been abandoned.(bn) I was bummed. Then I learned that ALL the trash now gets sorted by the collecting company. Super, eh? Even the beer bottles that miss the recycling bin get reused.(GN) We viewed movies during dessert. Some of the most gorgeous footage I’ve ever seen came from Dave Aldridge who’s been shooting stunning BIG lens helicopter stuff for his Dreaming Awake movie. allowed him to penetrate far enough, with With RIO to warm them up, these smooth sufficient altitude to get back up. Mine terrain-soaring scenes should blow audididn’t. After many minutes of 50 up, 100 ences away. How many times have I had down, I decked it. Great fun. One of my a tandem passenger say, “Ohmigosh, this favorite students, Steve Bellerby (learned is not scary, it’s surreal—just like my at 10 yrs old 25 years ago), accomplished dreams!?” Thousands. Maybe HG (and, a flight from Quest Air in time for the of course, PG) will realize its promise Saturday evening party on his brand new of helping lift humankind into the new T2C. He set out with a couple of really hot Aquarian age of peace and plenty. So the event is over. Most people have pilots in a quartering headwind but was alone when he landed. I’d say he has ar- left and it’s been raining continuously for almost twenty hours. The rain is bangrived in more ways than one! The Saturday night party saw standing ing so hard on the roof we can’t hear room only. The BBQ ribs were consumed well enough to present our new Novice in copious quantities by the carnivores Ground School DVD. (bn) But to the while, for the first time, we veggies had Ranch crew it’s a blessed relief to have a excellent fare as well. Seth Warren again break. Quiet calm has returned and they showed footage featuring Baby, the can relax.(gn) Super kudos to them and grease-gobbling biodiesel super-truck (el- their leaders, Malcolm Jones and Laurie ementstour.com) and sundry ecological Croft and to Wills Wing for making it all topics. Speaking of green—recycling, well happen. Again and again. the lack of it, had been a sore point for Keep it up. me here in the past. Last year Lori started a bin program, and, at first, I thought it
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Paragliding World Cup
Colombia by NickGREECE
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C
[previous page] Eric Reed and Brad Gunnuscio on their way to finishing first and second respectively in the Roldanillo Open. [above] Jack Brown on his way to launch. [below left] Loaded for launch. [right] Driving up to launch the strong rains the month before had washed out sections of the densely covered terrain. Photos by Nick Greece.
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olombia is the business! Plain and simple. It doesn’t deserve the lasting black mark that past negative press coverage, vis-a-vis the Ingrid Betancourt debacle, has left on this incredible South American country. Before I left the US, friends and family cautioned me in hushed tones about the possibility of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) capturing me whilst on a flying holiday. Should that occur, I responded, I might come out of the experience fifteen pounds lighter with a book deal. The rebels, who according to locals are drug suppliers utilizing the guise of communism to protect their coca operations, have been pushed back to the far reaches of Colombia, deep in the mountains. This is in glaring contrast to the problems with “narcoviolence” that Mexico currently faces. One still needs to mind their times of travel and take caution in major cities, but isnt this a wise practice in a number of often travelled lands? Roldanillo is a wonderful place to visit, full of people who genuinely want to interact and share the central plaza, no matter how late you decide to enjoy it. The flying is incredibly diverse—from throttling mountain-fueled climbs to wonderfully smooth flatland thermals in the valley. Launch is a well-manicured slope with the potential of hurling over 120 very aggressive comp-wing clad pilots into the sky in less than forty-five minutes. Many of the USA’s competition, and cross-country, cadre moved further south this winter to take advan-
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tage of two high-level events that were hosted backto-back by the Jimenez brothers. Hugo, Lucho, and Felipe Jimenez did a terrific job of welcoming pilots from all points to a site that is bound to set a high standard for both flying events and flying holidays. It’s an unspoiled flying mecca that delivers amazing options both in the air and on the ground. The food is solid, the tap water potable, the prices very reasonable, and the sky is flyable nearly every day. Roldanillo’s people warmly welcomed pilots to their wonderful valley, which— even during a year that broke all records for rainfall—allowed pilots to fly diverse and interesting tasks on each day of two competitions. The “100-year floods” wreaked havoc on the agriculture and people of Colombia for the month leading up to the events, but spared the meets. The only adverse effects for the visiting cast of characters were water-filled landing options and slightly diminished climb rates. International pilots arrived in Rodanillo in January of 2011 for the Colombian Open and the first race in the 2011 World Cup. The Open was a six-task race in rather tricky conditions. Eric Reed (USA) won the Colombian Open, Brad Gunnuscio (USA) placed second, and Xevi Bonet (ESP) came in third. Seiko Fukuoka Naville (FRA) won the women’s title with an impressive ninth place overall finish. The first leg of the 2011 Paragliding World Cup was held directly after the Open. With winter’s grasp still clinging to Europe, and its being the first event of the year for the World Cup, a strong 123-pilot
field turned up to race in the incredibly consistent Colombian skies. The weather for the World Cup was better than the prior week, with only two-out-of-six days seeing large down shifting necessary to make it through tough sections of the course. While the Roldanillo Open competitors flew in light conditions for a week, the practice days for the World Cup were exceptionally strong. Therefore, the first day of the World Cup caught many top competitors by surprise, as it turned into a slow grind through the middle of the course. Michael Sigel and Russ Ogden raced into goal, with Ogden crossing the line first and Sigel winning the day on leading points. In a demonstration of what the rest of the race would turn into for the top spot, these two battled back and forth in much the same manner for the next six days. Sigel would push out front, while Ogden would take a commanding position throughout the race and convert altitude to speed for the finish. Ogden, a test pilot for Ozone who won the US Nationals in Chelan last year, remarked on the flying in Roldanillo, “We had everything from weak and stable, to strong and racy. These types of conditions required frequent gear changing. The fact that the valley was flooded, and always quite tricky to cross, actually made it even more interesting. Climbing well, taking
good lines, and changing gears were the most important tactics, rather than just charging about at full speed.” Day two was a 138 km task that gave a grand tour of the area, including turn points previously unvisited. A control point was placed back in the main valley to keep pilots from a deep course line. Ironically, this placed me deeper, and, as luck would have it, lower than I ever had been in Colombia. The day was very difficult for many who were caught by huge patches of shade and leeside wind, and many pilots faced adventurous walks from their makeshift landing zones. Andreas Maleki flew the furthest, with Eric Reed and Peter Neuenschwander close behind. With over ten hours in the air in two days of racing, the third day was called with a Murillo flare of a nontraditional exit cylinder on one of the turn points and a racey shorter course in mind. Yassen Savov and Jack Brown smoked the whole field with a creative course line decision that placed them three minutes ahead of the gaggle that incorrectly supposed they were in the lead. Going into day four, Savov led the comp and was flying true to form on his new Boomerang 8. Day four shook up the standings at the top and saw a very technical course and stopped task. The lead gaggle blazed through the mountains, while some of those who had been left behind and low in relatively
[above] Launch.
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windy hills opted to take the valley line to a large turn point in the center of the valley, 50 kilometers down course. Michael Sigel ended up on a self-professed magic line, just before the task was stopped due to rain on course, and put an astonishing 10 km lead on the rest of the field, catapulting him to the pole position. Savov had pushed too hard, too early, and paid the price.
The last two days saw Ogden trying brilliantly to close the gap on first but eventually running out of time, even while winning day five and beating Sigel handily on day six. Ultimately, the lead was insurmountable and Sigel, very deservedly, won the first, and hotly contested, Paragliding World Cup in one of the most consistent and amazing locations for a flying meet in the world—Roldanillo, Colombia.
WORLD CUP RESULTS Place
Name
Nat
Glider
1
Michael SIGEL
CHE
Gin Boomerang 8
2
Russell OGDEN
GBR
Ozone Ozone prototype
3
Peter NEUENSCHWANDER
CHE
Ozone Mantra R10.2
AMERICA's CUP RESULTS Place
Name
Nat
Glider
1
Nick GREECE
USA
Ozone Mantra R10.2
2
Josh COHN
USA
Niviuk Icepeak 4NS
3
Michael VON WACHTER
VEN
Gin Boomerang 8
US Team from left to right: Jack Brown, Josh Cohn, Nate Scales, and Brad Gunnuscio.
American racing, while unknown to most of the world, has been growing for the last ten years. At the World Championships in Manila, in 2007, Tom McCune took 3rd place and Josh Cohn 8th overall. At the Worlds in Valle De Bravo, Mexico, each American male team member won a day. For the first time, US pilots, as well as pilots worldwide, have competitive access to top performing gliders. The American culture is one that promotes strong mentoring by the top pilots. As the newer pilots have matured under the tutelage of Bill Belcourt, Len
Szafaryn, Josh Cohn, Nate Scales, and many other gifted XC pilots, the pilot base has been able to learn and play off of a solid mix of instinctive and cerebral pilots who have been pushing each other on the national level to go faster and smarter for several years. Also, having a PWC in the US, where a few of the top European pilots ventured out of their home field, helped many US pilots gain valuable insight into racing on the international level. With our top pilots attending more international competitions than any other US crew in history, the experience needed to finish
well at top level meets will surely be earned in the next few years—especially when the 2011 Superfinal comes to Valle De Bravo, Mexico, the wintering area for all US competition pilots. Josh Cohn won the 2010 Continental Paragliding World Cup Americas title, with Nick Greece taking second and Jack Brown third— for a United States sweep of the podium last year. In 2011 Nick Greece took first, Josh Cohn placed second, and Jack Brown snagged fourth—for another solid showing at the World Cup level. The US still has a long way to go from demonstrating potential to finishing the game successfully. During the winter and upcoming season, US pilots will be working hard to fortify strategies, tactics, and teamwork to present a strong showing at the World Championships in Spain and the Superfinal in Mexico. However, at the end of the day US Team leaders remind their pilots, “It is all for fun, and the team who did as well as they could with the biggest smile is the real winner.”
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[this page, clockwise from above] Brad Gunnuscio throwing his wing around before the start of the Roldanillo Open which he took second place. The town plaza in morning light. Hambuerguesas con todo. Landing in the soccer field meant huge cheers and signing autographs for the locals while walking home. [opposite page, clockwise from top left] Mark Watts in a commanding position after grabbing a turnpoint and heading to the next. On the way to launch. Breakfast was at 7 and rides to launch started at 8. The terrain in Colombia is varied from red mountains to sugar cane and coffee fields in the flats. Fresh chips! Mark Watts flying over a section of flooded sugar cane fields. Photos by Nick Greece.
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ALEX by Eric Katzfey
KATZFEY
grade science project on the force of tornados. He built a special wind tunnel, y son Alex has been interested complete with a small model village, to in flight and in weather for as demonstrate the forces of the wind. He long as I can remember. At has also been interested in flight and, an early age he developed a fascination when he was just 12, asked to go for a for extreme weather such and tornados tandem paragliding flight at the Torrey and hurricanes. He studied these phe- Pines Gliderport in La Jolla, California nomena for fun and even did his fourth for his elementary school graduation gift.
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He came back from this first flight with a huge smile on his face and a desire to learn the sport for himself. Over the next couple of years he began pestering us for lessons but we felt he was still too young. After graduation from middle school last year he once again asked for a tandem flight. This time I decided to take a flight as well to see what this sport was all
[left] Alex getting ready for his first lesson. [above] Kiting with his new Skywalk paraglider.
about. After our flights I could see that, not only was this an awesome sport, but that he was truly serious about his desire to pursue it. The pestering about taking lessons had escalated, but it was also clear that Alex had matured to the point where we felt he could safely undertake the challenge. After consulting with the staff at Torrey Pines Gliderport we decided to enroll Alex into the P1 level training course. Since the equipment is provided by the gliderport, this looked like a great way to explore the sport without having to commit to buying all of the expensive gear. Based on how well he did in this initial lesson we would see how serious Alex really was about learning. So, at age 14, in the summer of 2010, Alex began paragliding lessons! Before the first day of lessons Alex was so excited that he could hardly sleep. We got to the gliderport and got through all of the necessary paperwork to get him enrolled. We met the instructors and were impressed by their qualifications and their professionalism. While we were a bit nervous about this whole thing we felt confident that he was in good hands. They spent some time discussing things with Alex but didn’t waste too much time getting him out and introducing him to kiting with
a real paragliding wing. When we came to pick him up at the end of the first day he was beaming! According to his instructors he was doing great and would soon be ready to try a flight on his own. I couldn’t believe how quickly things were progressing! The next day I dropped off Alex and went to work. I told him to call me if there were a chance that we would be going for his first flight. Sure enough, a couple of hours later, he called and said that he would be going. I rushed over to the gliderport and got to watch my son taking his first paragliding flight. I was scared, but then that turned to amazement, excitement, and pride after watching him take off, fly around, and then come in for a perfect landing! He made it look effortless on his very first flight! It quickly became clear that this was not just some passing fancy and that Alex has a true passion for paragliding. It also became quite clear that paragliding is not just about flight, but about weather as well. As he began to study the dynamics of the wind in order to better understand flight it became clear that this was a melding of his previous passion for weather and his new passion for flight. He loved studying the books about wind and weather patterns and often spent his time explaining to us all of the interesting new things he was learning. It was becoming very evident that we had made the right choice to get Alex involved with this sport. Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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“It quickly became clear that this was not just some passing fancy and that Alex has a true passion for paragliding. It also became quite clear that paragliding is not just about flight, but about weather as well.” Many parents who hear that our son is involved with paragliding think that maybe we are a bit irresponsible for allowing him to partake in such a dangerous activity. However, there are a few reasons why I think maybe the opposite is true, that it would be irresponsible for us to deny him this opportunity. Obviously, it takes some maturity to undertake an activity such as paragliding. It certainly can be dangerous if not approached with a healthy respect for the potential for accidents and knowledge about what constitutes safe flying conditions. It also means that one has to understand their abilities and not to proceed if the conditions are beyond what they are capable of safely dealing with. Part of this is the maturity and the intelligence of the pilot and part of this is the training and mentorship provided by the instructors. All of this was evident to us as we watched our son learn this new sport. I could see that the staff had taken Alex “under their wing”, and were not only providing him training in the basics of flight, but also instilling in him a greater sense of maturity and personal responsibility. The dangers of paragliding became evident a couple of weeks after Alex started his lessons. He was progressing quickly and had already received his P2 rating. He was now working on his P3 rating and he was venturing off on trips with the group to new areas around San Diego and beyond. We had also pur[left] Beautiful flight over the Pacific Ocean. [top] Packing up after a day of filming with the GoPro.
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chased all of the equipment for Alex. One day there was an incident involving a student. Alex was flying at the time and was right above it. Apparently there was some question of right of way as one pilot was coming in for a landing and the student was flying towards this other pilot. Regardless of who was at fault, the student reacted too late and ended up colliding with the other pilot. As he fell towards the cliffs below he attempted to deploy his reserve chute but it was much too late for that. He hit hard and started sliding down the cliff face. Luckily his equipment became entangled and stopped him from going all the way down the cliff. Since all students are in radio contact with the instructors my son could see and hear everything going on as he flew above it. After being rescued by the San Diego Cliff Rescue team the student was pulled to safety and brought to the hospital. Thankfully, the student was not too seriously injured, but it certainly gave all of us a first hand view of what can happen. As Alex continued his flight lessons
he began to fly at other locations. One spot is called Blossom Valley and is a place known for thermals. Alex had never experienced the thrill of flying in thermals and was completely stoked after his first taste of this type of flying. He immediately asked for a variometer to help him fly in thermals and maximize his exposure to the lift. Since this was an expensive piece of equipment we asked him to put it on his Christmas list. He also wanted to start filming his flights and asked for a “GoPro” camera that he could mount on his helmet. This, also quite expensive, went on his birthday list. However, we buckled on the camera, and told him he could have his birthday present early. So now we got a better view of all of Alex’s flying action through the lens of the new camera. Alex took footage from the camera and made some videos that he posted on his facebook account for friends and family to view. The reaction was incredible! Everyone was amazed at what Alex was up to and our pride grew. He was really blossoming as a person with this new
sport! And I can’t begin to say what a great bunch of folks he has been introduced to in the local paragliding community. Alex got his P3 certification in record time and can now go fly whenever he wants at the gliderport. Unfortunately, the wind hasn’t been so good over the winter months and Alex hasn’t been able to fly much. However, he is “chomping at the bit” to get out there and fly once the conditions improve. He monitors all of the wind reports very carefully in hopes that the conditions will be favorable. His grandparents bought a radio controlled glider for his birthday present so we take that out to fly when conditions are not good enough for the paraglider. And as Alex looks toward his 16th birthday at the end of this year he can’t help but get excited about all of the new flying opportunities this will bring. I think that Alex has found a true passion in this sport and I am not only proud of him, but think that it is really a very postive activity that will help him greatly in life.
Do You
to Fly? If you love to soar, then you’ll love skydiving! Celebrate the U.S. Parachute Association’s 65th anniversary by taking the leap! Spread your wings, and explore the sky in a way you never imagined! LAMBERT
To find a skydiving center near you, visit www.uspa.org. USPA and its 33,000 member skydivers enjoy and promote safe skydiving through parachute training, rating and competition programs. USPA represents parachute jumping from aircraft and helps keep skydivers in the air.
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GALLERY
[previous page] Moonscape. Kristjan Morgan, looking down on the Colorado River above the Southern Utah desert. [right] Mini flight Park. [opposite top] GoPro shot high over the South Side. Enjoying winter thermals. [opposite bottom] Kristjan Morgan signaling his “OK� high above the Southern Utah Desert. Photos by Kristjan Morgan.
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[right] Alex Cuddy | photo by Glauco Pinto.
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[right] Red mystic night loop. [opposite top] John Heiney brought out one of his favorites to the vintage hang glider fly in at Torrey Pines. [opposite bottom] All kinds of people and types of birds showed up at Torrey Pines for the Rio movie promotion. Photos by Nick Greece.
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2010 Paragliding State Distance Records Last year, eight new paragliding state distance records were set in seven states. The number of records and states differ because the record was broken twice in Indiana, once at the beginning of the season and, again, at the end. What’s good to see is the increased geographic spread across the country over the past year. In 2009, the Midwest saw the most action; only one of the record flights was in the West. But this year the West returned with three big records of over 200 km. Also, this year hill-launched records outnumbered tow-launched (indicated by /T) by five-to-three. Two of the record flights were done on Gin gliders (Boomerang 6 and Boomerang 7), including the fastest flight— Andy Macrae’s— that averaged 39 km/hour. Below are a few comments and links to more information about the new state records. And, as always, you can find the complete list of paragliding state records on the USHPA website. http://www. ushpa.aero/comppgstaterecords.asp. The list of state distance records set in 2010 follows: 6/20/10 | ARKANSAS Britton Shaw 18.1 miles, 1hr15 from Mt. Magazine MacPara Magus 6 Details about Britton Shaw’s flight. http://www.paraglidingforum.com/ leonardo/flight/342043
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5/02/10 | FLORIDA Andy Macrae/T 115.5 miles. 4hr46 from La Belle Gin Boomerang 6 Blog post by Andy Macrae about his Florida record at http://web.mac.com/ macraeandy/Site/Andy_Macraes_Blog/ Entries/2010/5/3_1st_Impressions.html
by Steve Roti
will report more good flights.” Details at http://www.xcontest. org/world/en/flights/detail:flyb oy0871/17.10.2010/17:09
7/24/10 | TENNESSEE Luis Rosenkjer 38.2 miles, 3hr16 from Walden’s Ridge Gradient Avax XC3
8/17/10 IDAHO Nate Scales 148.5 miles, 8hr03 from Bald Mtn Ozone Mantra R10.2
Details on Luis Rosenkjer’s flight at http://www.paraglidingforum.com/ leonardo/flight/360433
Newspaper article about Nate Scales at http://www.mtexpress.com/index2. php?ID=2005132827
8/26/10 | UTAH Bill Belcourt 159.2 miles | 8hr01 from Jupiter Gin Boomerang 7
5/29/10 INDIANA Mantas Makaras/T 54.7 miles, 4hr12 from Nappanee Apco Vista Details on the first Indiana record of the year by Mantas Makaras at http://www. xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:ma ntolinis/29.5.2010/16:19
Bill Belcourt, on breaking his old record: “Yeah, it was a bit crushing to take over 2 hours longer (minimal tailwind) to fly only 5 miles further than my 10-yearold record that was set on a serial glider (an Ozone). Oh, and it was only a 45mph tailwind. I was not wanting to do that again…. “
10/17/10 | INDIANA Jaro Krupa/T 56.6 miles, 4hr08 from Nappanee Sky Country Mystic2
8/02/10 | WYOMING Chip Hildebrand 137.2 miles, 6hr19 from Phillips Ridge UP Edge
Jaro Krupa, on breaking the Indiana record in mid-October: “Flight impressed me also because it was so late in the season. I didn’t take camera with me; I just snapped a picture when I landed and noticed how low the sun was :-)) Hopefully, next year I
Chip Hildebrand says, “We had a big day here in Wyoming on Aug 2nd. Three of us flew over 100 miles: Jon Hunt, former WY record holder; Josh Riggs, former WY record holder, a student of Jon Hunt; and I, also a student of Jon Hunt.”
Books | Films | Apps | Sites
NewRELEASES HANG GLIDER PILOT PUBLISHES USHPA member and magazine contributor, Mike Vorhis, has written and published his first fiction novel. “ARCHANGEL is the culmination of eleven years of work and the realization of a life-long dream,” Vorhis says. “Reviewers have told me the subtle romantic friendship interwoven through a high suspense, high intensity thriller is an addictive potion.” Vorhis reports that the characters were conceived of a melding of traditional values, a romantic view of people and life, ancient warrior code, and my incurable love for the Outdoors. And of course the story wouldn’t be complete without a healthy dose of soaring flight. Vorhis’ thriller, ARCHANGEL, is available in the Amazon Kindle store, the Barnes & Noble Nookbook store, and the Apple iBookstore. For more information go to www.vorhis.com.
DON’T MISS OUT. BE SURE TO RENEW.
Be sure to renew your USHPA membership before it expires to take advantage of online renewals and participate in the USHPA Green Initiative. Online renewal is only available to current members. Expired members will not have access to online renewal.
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Contributing Member Participate in elections! Receive the monthly magazine!
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DISPATCH
C A L E N D A R
&
C L A S S I F I E D
SANCTIONED COMPETITION June 5-11 Highland Aerosports Flight Park,
Ridgely, MD. East Coast HG Championship. Race to goal. Requirements: Advanced H4, (H3) with meet director approval XC, turbulence, AT ratings, previously flown in a USHPA aerotow comp or have written approval (before registering) from meet director, GPS. Prize money awarded based on number of competitors. EntryFee: Class 1/5 $450 early, $500 after 4/15. Sport class $375 early, $425 after 4/15. More Information: Highland Aerosports, Inc 410-634-2700, hanglide@aerosports.net, or www. aerosports.net.
June 19-25 Woodrat Mt, Ruch, OR. The Rat Race. Race to Goal. P3 minimum requirement, USHPA membership, helmet, reserve, radio capable to transmit & receive on USHPA frequency. Race trophies for top three open, serial, sport & women. Sprint trophies for top three serial, sport & women. Entry Fee: $395 postmark 4/15; $495 4/15 - 6/19. More Information: Gail Haley - MPH Sports MPHsports@charter.net, or www.mphsports.com. JULY 4-9 Chelan, WA. Chelan Classic National Open Distance Championship. Come fly in the the first National Open Distance hang gliding championship in the world class flatlands of Chelan. National title awarded to winner. Chelan is fun for the whole family with great camping on the river. More information contact the Cloudbase Country Club, or Steve Alford, at airczr@hotmail.com. JULY 11-16 Moore, Idaho. The 2011 King Moun-
tain Hang Gliding Championships will be held again in the amazing Big Lost Mountains of Idaho. Come fly big distances with fun and challenging tasks with some of America's most dedicated mountain pilots. For more information go to flykingmountain.com, or contact Connie Locke at connie@lockelectric.com.
JULY 11-16 King Mountain, Idaho. Open distance
XC. Requirements: H4 or H3 w/sponsor, parachute reserve, helmet. Entry Fee: $1oo prior to June, $150 after June 1. Registration starts Feb 2011 and ends July 11. Prizes: Trophies 1-3rd in Open & Recreation class. More Information: www.flykingmountain.com.
JULY 24-30 Monroe Peak, Ritchfield, UT. 2011 Paragliding US Nationals. Race to goal. Requirements: P3 w/turbulence sign-off, reserve & back protection. Trohpies. Entry Fee: $325 before 5/1, $375 after. More information: Stacy Whitmore 435979-0225, stacy@cusa.com, or stacy@cusa.com. August 14-20 Big Spring Airport, Big Spring, TX. Big Spring US Nationals. Safe, Fair & Fun Race to Goal. Requirements: H3, aerotow, current experience. Trohpies. Entry Fee: $350 by 6/1 More information: David Glover 405-830-6420, david@davidglover.com, or www.endlessthermal.com.
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AUGUST 14-20 Hearne Municipal Airport, Hearne, TX. Lone Star Nationals PG. A natioal level flatland race to test the potential of hosting a large scale national tow event in the USA. Requirements: P3, tow sign-off, tow bridle. 10% of all entry fees go to prize money. Top three overall & top female. Entry Fee: $250 before 7/1, $350 after 7/1. $150 tow fee. More Information: David Prentice earthcog@ yahoo.com, or www.earthcog.com. SEPTEMBER 11-17 Francisco Grande Golf Re-
sort & Hotel, Casa Grande, AZ. Santa Cruz Flats Race. XC race to goal. Requirements: H4 or foreign equivalent, aerotow rating, xc & turbulence signoffs, extensive experience on glider to be flown in comp. 3D GPS. Max 60 entrants. Trophies and day prizes. Entry Fee: $275, tow fees TBA. More Information: Jamie Shelden 831-261-5444 naughtylawyer@gmail.com, or santacruzflatsrace.blogspot. com.
SEPTEMBER 4-10 1st US Nationals Open dis-
tance Championship at Inspiration Point (Squaw Peak Lookout), Utah. Open distance as per USHPA OD scoring system. Requirements: P3 w/turbulence sign-off, reserve & back protection. Trophies Entry Fee: $325 before 6/1 $375 after. More information: opendistancenationals.com, Ken Hudonjorgensen, 801-572-3414, twocanfly@gmail.com, or twocanfly@gmail.com.
NON-SANCTIONED COMPETITION JULY 18-22 Golden, BC. Canada’s premier racing event at one of the best XC sites in the country. It is sure to be an awesome week! More Information: Brett Yeates 250-421-0670, 2011cannats@gmail. com, or https://sites.google.com/site/2011paraglid ingnationals/.
FLY-INS June 3-5 Glassy Mountain, SC. South Carolina Springtime Fly-In, at Glassy Mountain near Greer, SC. Come and enjoy flying and competing (spot, duration, X-C, balloon toss, etc.) at this beautiful south-facing mountain. Plaques awarded to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in all competitions (except balloon toss). $20 entry fee for competition flying and $10 for fun flying. Fly-In T-shirts are available. (Due to tree restrictions at launch, paragliders cannot be flown at this site) More Information: Paul Peeples 828-885-2536 pbrannenp@ msn.com, or http://www.southcarolinahanggliding. com/. June 17-19 Jackson Hole, WY. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY. AeroFest 2011. Hike and Fly, Spot Landing, and XC contests. BBQ, Party and Raffle. Discounts available on lodging and lift passes. More information: Scott Harris 307 690 8726 scott@jhparagliding.com, or www.jhparagliding. com.
JuLY 4 Lakeview, OR.The Umpteenth Annu-
al Festival of Free Flight will be held on the 4th of July weekend. In addition to the Sugar Hill air race and spot landing competitions, this year registered USHPA pilots will have the thrill of choosing a doll for the new "Barbie Drop." The Pilots party will be held at the Feeley's and fireworks will light up the sky to close out this fun family fly-in. This is a fun time for both hang glider and paraglider pilots, along with their family, friends and pets. For info contact Caro at 541-947-6040.
AUGUST 13-21 King Mountain, Idaho. Glider Park Safari. Annual Idaho event just east of Sun Valley. Hang Gliders, Paragliders, Sailplanes, and Self Launching Sailplanes are all welcome. Awesome glass off and cloud bases at 17’999. Fly to Montana or Yellowstone. Campfire, Potlucks, Star Gazing, Hiking, Mountain Biking and Fishing. Free camping at the Glider Park. Call John at 208-4077174. Go to www.kingmountaingliderpark.com for directions and more info. See the pictures from prior Safaris in our gallery.
clinics & tours MAY-OCTOBER Michigan. Dragon Fly Soaring Club, Cloud 9 Field. Free basic, advanced, tandem instructor training. Full-time instructor training center, your schedule. Free instructor training! Normal DFSC flying/rental costs apply. See Hang Glide University info at http://dfscinc.org.
AUGUST 4-9 Over-the-water Maneuvers Clin-
ics in Northern California with Eagle Paragliding. America’s top all-around acro and competition pilot Brad Gunnuscio will be coaching with our state of the art towing set up. Visit www.paragliding.com , or call 805.968.0980 for more information.
SEPTEMber 16-26 Italy. Join us for Eagle Paragliding’s Italian Dolomites SIV and XC Tour. This tour starts with a three day SIV clinic at Lago de Garda in Italy. We travel to the Dolomites and other flying sites in Italy flying XC routes. Your tour guides will be Rob Sporrer and Brad Gunnuscio. More information: www.paragliding.com, or 805-968-0980. september 24-25 Utah. Mountain Flying and learning how to pioneer a new site in Utah with Ken Hudonjorgensen. More information: 801-572-3414, or twocanfly@gmail.com, or www.twocanfly.com. SEptember 29 - October 4 Over-the-water Maneuvers Clinics in Northern California with Eagle Paragliding. America’s top all-around acro and competition pilot Brad Gunnuscio will be coaching with our state of the art towing set up. Visit www. paragliding.com , or call 805.968.0980 for more information. OCTOBER 7-9 Owens Valley, CA. Thermal and Cross Country Clinic with Eagle Paragliding. Many pilots are sure to get personal bests. View photos and videos from our last clinic at www.paragliding. com, or call 805.968.0980 for more information.
may 15 - june 15 Peru. Touching the Andes of Peru Tours. Join Jeff Cristol and Adventure Tour Productions for our annual paragliding tour to the Andes of Peru. From Huaraz in the northern cordilleras to the famous flying near Cuzco visit the high mountains of Peru with Jeff Cristol who intimately knows sites throughout the country. Please visit www.paraglideperu.com, www.adventuretourproductions.com/articles/touchingtheandes.htm and www.adventuretourproductions.com/articles2005/ sacredvalley.htm to read about these adventures and for any questions or to reserve a spot:(970) 729-0078, or write jeff@adventuretourproductions.com
NOVEMBER 7-8 Santa Barbara, CA. Tandem Paragliding Clinic with Rob Sporrer of Eagle Paragliding in Santa Barbara, California. Classroom and practical training at our world class training hill. Visit www.paragliding.com, or call 805.968.0980 for more information.
JUNE 3-5 Jackson Hole, WY June 3-5, Jackson
november 8-15 &/or 17-24 Iquique, Chile.
Hole Mountain Resort, WY. Instructor Certification Clinic presented by Scott Harris. More Information: Scott Harris 307-690-8726, scott@jhparagliding. com, or www.jhparagliding.com.
JUNE 9-14 California. Over-the-water Maneu-
vers Clinics in Northern California with Eagle Paragliding. America’s top all-around acro and competition pilot Brad Gunnuscio will be coaching with our state of the art towing set up. More information: www.paragliding.com, or 805-968-0980
june 18-19 Utah. Mountain Flying and learning how to pioneer a new site in Utah with Ken Hudonjorgensen. Phone: 801-572-3414, or twocanfly@ gmail.com, or www.twocanfly.com. july 1-4 Richfield, UT. Paragliding Pre-Nation-
als xc and competition clinic. More information: Ken Hudonjorgensen at twocanfly@gmail.com, or 801572-3414
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NOVEMBER 4-6 Santa Barbara, CA. Instructor Certification Clinic with Rob Sporrer of Eagle Paragliding in Santa Barbara, California. This threeday clinic is open to basic and advanced Paragliding Instructor candidates, and those needing recertification. Visit www.paragliding.com, or call 805.968.0980 for more information.
Fly sites w/Ken Hudonjorgensen and local guides. A great trip to what many pilots consider to be the best place to fly in the world. More information: 801-572-3414, or twocanfly@gmail.com, or www. twocanfly.com.
November 19 - December 5 Iquique, ChileWhere can you ride thermals everyday of the year? Only in Iquique! Soar endless sand ridges high above the Pacific Ocean until you are tired, thirsty, and hungry, then land on the beach next to our 4 star hotel! Your guides, Luis and Todd, have been Iquique competition champions multiple times and have pioneered many new sites and XC routes, including the longest flight in Chile! Join them on a paragliding trip of a lifetime where most pilots collect more airtime and pilot skills in one week than they normally would in an entire year! With over 16 years of guiding experience in Iquique, they guarantee you will fly everyday, or get money back! More details at: www.paraglidingtrips.com Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 12 Southern Peru and Iquique, Chile. 2 Countries, 9 PG Environments, 1 Gagillion Flight Hours. +MTBing, Sandboarding & Machu Picchu. Combine the essential with the up-and-coming on our integrated fly-&-travel adventure through the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu, Iquique and Southern Peru. More Information: Pete Rognli 307-200-4912 pete@radventuretravels.com, or http://www.radventuretravels.com/peru-iquique.
FLEX WINGS
STAINLESS STEEL! $10
www.ushpa.aero/store
A GREAT SELECTION OF HG&PG GLIDERS (ss, ds, pg) -HARNESSES (trainer, cocoon, pod) -PARACHUTES (hg&pg) -WHEELS (new & used). Phone for latest inventory 262-473-8800, www.hanggliding.com Dream 222, HPAT 158, NOVA 190, 4 harnesses, 2 helmets, 1 parachute, Flytec vario, many misc
accessories. All $2500, or part out. Contact: ddlofty@hotmail.com, or 503-728-1322
BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT Instructors Needed - Full or part time basic/
advanced hang glider instructors. Lodging available. Please contact Greg at Mountain Wings in Ellenville, NY 845-647-3377 mtnwings@verizon. net
Life Insurance for Pilots - Inexpensive life insurance is indeed available to U.S. Residents that will protect your loved ones with complete coverage, Term or permanent life. Includes coverage while Hanggliding or Paragliding without exclusion. Call 619-721-3684 or email doug@8financial.com for more information. Ca. ins lic 0b18364
SCHOOLS & DEALERS ALABAMA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - The best facilities, largest inventory, camping, swimming, volleyball, more. Wide range of accommodations. hanglide.com, 877-HANGLIDE, 877-426-4543, hanglide.com.
CALIFORNIA AIRJUNKIES PARAGLIDING - Year-round excellent instruction, Southern California & Baja. Powered paragliding, clinics, tours, tandem, towing. Ken Baier 760-753-2664, airjunkies.com. EAGLE PARAGLIDING - SANTA BARBARA offers
the best year round flying in the nation. Awardwinning instruction, excellent mountain and ridge sites. www.flysantabarbara.com, 805-968-0980
SPOT MESSENGER! $149.95 www.ushpa.aero/store
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Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
FLY ABOVE ALL - Year-round instruction in beautiful Santa Barbara! USHPA Novice through Advanced certification. Thermaling to competition training. Visit www.flyaboveall.com 805-965-3733.
FLY AWAY HANG GLIDING - Santa Barbara. Best
hill/equipment, glider shuttles up hill, tandems, sales, service, 20 years experience, Instructor Administrator Tammy Burcar. 805-403-8487, www. flyawayhanggliding.com.
THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - PO Box 151542, San
Diego CA 92175, 619-265-5320.
Mission Soaring Center LLC - Largest hang
gliding center in the West! Our deluxe retail shop showcases the latest equipment: Wills Wing, Moyes, AIR, High Energy, Flytec, Aeros, Northwing, Hero wide angle video camera. A.I.R. Atos rigid wings- demo the VQ-45' span, 85 Lbs! Parts in stock. We stock new and used equipment. Tradeins welcome. Complete lesson program. Best training park in the west, located just south of the San Francisco Bay Area. Pitman Hydraulic Winch System for Hang 1s and above. Launch and landing clinics for Hang 3s and Hang 4s. Wills Wing Falcons of all sizes and custom training harnesses. 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. 408-262-1055, Fax 408-262-1388, mission@hang-gliding.com, Mission Soaring Center LLC, leading the way since 1973. www.hang-gliding.com
TORREY PINES GLIDERPORT - This historic site,
established in 1928, offers all of the services you need. We provide USHPA certified instruction, advanced training, equipment sales, tandem flight instruction, paramotor instruction, SIV clinics, cross country clinics, tandem instructor clinics, paragliding instructor clinics, and a fully staffed cafe. We also have an extensive glider sport shop offering parachute repacks and full-service repairs. We are importers for Paratech, Ozone, Skywalk, Independence gliders and are dealers for all brands! We also carry an extensive certified used inventory of gliders and harnesses. We are the primary Ki2Fly dealer, and also carry AustriAlpin, Crispi, Black Hawk Paramotors, and too much more to list! Check us out online at: www.flytorrey.com, or give us a ring at 1-858-452-9858.
WINDSPORTS - Don’t risk bad weather, bad
instruction or dangerous training hills. 350 flyable days each year. Learn foot-launch flying skills safely and quickly. Train with professional CFI’s at world-famous Dockweiler Beach training slopes (5 minutes from LA airport.) Fly winter or summer in gentle coastal winds, soft sand and in a thorough program with one of America’s most prestigious schools for over 25 years. 818-367-2430, www. windsports.com.
COLORADO GUNNISON GLIDERS – X-C to heavy waterproof HG gliderbags. Accessories, parts, service, serving. Instruction ratings, site-info. Rusty Whitely 1549 CR 17, Gunnison CO 81230. 970-641-9315.
FLORIDA FLORIDA RIDGE AEROTOW PARK - 18265 E State Road 80, Clewiston, Florida 863-805-0440, www. thefloridaridge.com.
GRAYBIRD AIRSPORTS — Paraglider & hang glider towing & training, Dragonfly aerotow training, XC, thermaling, instruction, equipment. Dunnellon Airport 352-245-8263, email fly@ graybirdairsports.com, www.graybirdairsports. com. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Nearest mountain training center to Orlando. Two training hills, novice mountain launch, aerotowing, great accommodations. hanglide.com, 877-HANGLIDE, 877-426-4543. MIAMI HANG GLIDING - For year-round training
fun in the sun. 305-285-8978, 2550 S Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133, www. miamihanggliding.com.
Quest Air Hang Gliding - We offer the best
instruction, friendliest staff, beautiful grounds with swimming pool, private lake and clubhouse, lodging, plus soaring in our super-famous, soft, Sunshine State thermals. Come fly with us! 352- 429- 0213, Groveland, FL, www.questairhanggliding.com
WALLABY RANCH – The original Aerotow flight park. Best tandem instruction worldwide,7-days a week , 6 tugs, and equipment rental. Call:1-800WALLABY wallaby.com 1805 Deen Still Road, Disney Area FL 33897
GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Discover why 5 times as many pilots earn their wings at LMFP. Enjoy our 110 acre mountain resort. www.hanglide. com, 1-877-HANGLIDE, 1-877-426-4543.
HAWAII PROFLYGHT PARAGLIDING - Call Dexter for friendly information about flying on Maui. Fullservice school offering beginner to advanced instruction every day, year round. 808-874-5433, paraglidehawaii.com.
MICHIGAN
TENNESSEE
Cloud 9 Sport Aviation (hang gliding
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Just outside Chattanooga. Become a complete pilot -foot launch, aerotow, mountain launch, ridge soar, thermal soar. hanglide.com, 1-877-HANGLIDE, 877-426-4543.
equipment), North American Soaring (Alatus ultralight sailplane and e-drive systems), Dragon Fly Soaring Club (hang gliding instruction), at Cloud 9 Field, Webberville, MI.More info: (517) 223-8683, Cloud9sa@aol.com, www.DFSCinc.org.
TRAVERSE CITY HANG GLIDERS/PARAGLIDERS
Put your knees in our breeze and soar our 450’ sand dunes. Full-time shop. Certified instruction, beginner to advanced. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. Visa/MasterCard. 1509 E 8th, Traverse City MI 49684. Offering powered paragliding. Call Bill at 231-922-2844, tchangglider@chartermi.net. Your USA & Canada Mosquito distributor. www.mosquitoamerica.com.
NEW YORK AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS INC. - New location at 77
Hang Glider Road in Ellenville next to the LZ. We service all brands featuring AEROS and North Wing. Contact 845-647-3377, mtnwings@verizon.net, www.mtnwings.com,
FLY HIGH, INC. - Serving New York, Jersey, and
Connecticut areas. Area’s exclusive Wills Wing dealer. Also all other brands, accessories. Area’s most INEXPENSIVE prices! Certified instruction/ service since 1979. Excellent secondary instruction! Taken some lessons? Advance to mountain flying! www.flyhighhg.com, 845-744-3317.
Let's Go Paragliding LLC - Paragliding flight school offering USHPA-certified instruction for all levels, tandem lessons, tours, and equipment sales. www.letsgoparagliding.com, 917-359-6449. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK Cooperstown,
New York. Serving the North East since 1978. We have the best training hill in New York. Dealers for Wills Wing, and others. Trade-ins welcom. www. cooperstownhanggliding.com, 315-867-8011
INDIANA CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION -
Michigan
See Cloud 9 in
MARYLAND HIGHLAND AEROSPORTS - Baltimore and DC’s
full-time flight park: tandem instruction, solo aerotows and equipment sales and service. We carry Aeros, Airwave, Flight Design, Moyes, Wills Wing, High Energy Sports, Flytec and more. Two 115-HP Dragonfly tugs. Open fields as far as you can see. Only 1 to 1.5 hours from Rehoboth Beach, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia. Come Fly with US! 410-634-2700, Fax 410-634-2775, 24038 Race Track Rd, Ridgely, MD 21660, www. aerosports.net, hangglide@aerosports.net.
Paraglide Tandem – Spring, summer, fall, paragliding instruction in the MD, VA, WV area. Beginner through T-3 training. World-wide tours. Contact Peter 304-596-7442 or pchumes@gmail. com
NORTH CAROLINA
TEXAS FlyTexas / Jeff Hunt - training pilots in Central Texas for 25 years. Hangar facilities near Packsaddle Mountain, and Lake LBJ. More info: www.flytexas. com, (512)467-2529
UTAH CLOUD 9 PARAGLIDING - Come visit us and check out our huge selection of paragliding gear, traction kites, extreme toys, and any other fun things you can think of. If you aren’t near the Point of the Mountain, then head to http://www.paragliders.com for a full list of products and services. We are Utah’s only full time shop and repair facility, Give us a ring at 801576-6460 if you have any questions. Super Fly Paragliding – Come to world
famous Point of the Mountain and learn to fly from one of our distinguished instructors. We teach year round and offer some of the best paragliding equipment available. Get your P2 certification, advanced ratings or tandem ratings here. We have a full shop to assist you with any of your free flight needs. 801-255-9595, info@superflyinc.com , www.superflyinc.com.
WINGS OVER WASATCH HANG GLIDING - Salt Lake / region 4 area. Certified HANG GLIDING instruction, sales, service. World class training hill! Tours of Utah’s awesome mountains for visiting pilots. DISCOUNT glider/equipment prices. Glider rentals. Tandem flights. Ryan Voight, 801-5992555, www.wingsoverwasatch.com.
VIRGINIA BLUE SKY - Full-time HG instruction.
Daily lessons, scooter, and platform towing. AT towing part time. Custom sewing, powered harnesses, Aeros PG , Flylight and Airborne trikes. More info: (804)241-4324, or www.blueskyhg.com
KITTY HAWK KITES - FREE Hang 1 training with purchase of equipment! The largest hang gliding school in the world. Teaching since 1974. Learn to fly over the East coast’s largest sand dune. Year round instruction, foot launch and tandem aerotow. Dealer for all major manufacturers. Ultralight instruction and tours. 252-441-2426, 1-877-FLYTHIS, www.kittyhawk.com
Paraglide Tandem – Spring, summer, fall, paragliding instruction in the MD, VA, WV area. Beginner through T-3 training. World-wide tours. Contact Peter 304-596-7442 or pchumes@gmail. com
OHIO
WASHINGTON
CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION -
Michigan
See Cloud 9 in
PUERTO RICO
AERIAL PARAGLIDING SCHOOL AND FLIGHT PARK - Award winning instructors at a world class
training facility. Contact Doug Stroop at 509-7825543 or visit www.paragliding.us
FLY PUERTO RICO WITH TEAM SPIRIT HG! Flying tours, rentals, tandems, HG and PG classes, H-2 and P-2 intensive Novice courses, full sales. 787-850-0508, tshg@coqui.net.
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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WEST VIRGINIA Paraglide Tandem – Spring, summer, fall, paragliding instruction in the MD, VA, WV area. Beginner through T-3 training. World-wide tours. Contact Peter 304-596-7442 or pchumes@gmail. com
Gunnison Gliders - X-C, Factory, heavy PVC HG gliderbags. Harness packs & zippers. New/used parts, equipment, tubes. 1549 CR 17 Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-9315
INTERNATIONAL
OXYGEN SYSTEMS – MH-XCR-180 operates to 18,000 ft., weighs only 4 lbs. System includes cylinder, harness, regulator, cannula, and remote on/off flowmeter. $450.00. 1-800-468-8185
BAJA MEXICO - La Salina: PG, HG, PPG www.
SPECIALTY WHEELS for airfoil basetubes, round
FLYLASALINA.com. by www.BAJABRENT.com, He’ll hook you up! site intros, tours, & rooms bajabrent@bajabrent.com, 760-203-2658 COSTA RICA - Grampa Ninja's Paragliders' B&B.
basetubes, or tandem landing gear.(262)473-8800, www.hanggliding.com.
PUBLICATIONS / ORGANIZATIONS
Rooms, and/or guide service and transportation. Lessons available from USHPA certified instructors. USA: 908-454-3242. Costa Rica: (Country code, 011) House: 506-2664-6833, Cell: 506-89508676, www.paraglidecostarica.com
SOARING - Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $64. SSA, PO Box 2100, Hobbs NM 88241. 505-392-1177, ssa.org.
MEXICO - VALLE DE BRAVO and beyond for hang
SERVICE
gliding and paragliding. Year round availability and special tours. Gear, guiding, instruction, transportation, lodging - all varieties for your needs. www.flymexico.com 1-800-861-7198 USA
PARTS & ACCESSORIES FOR ALL YOUR FLYING NEEDS - Check out the
Aviation Depot at www.mojosgear.com featuring over 1000 items for foot-launched and powered paragliding, hang gliding, stunt and power kiting, and powered parachutes. 24/7 secure online shopping. Books, videos, KITES, gifts, engine parts, harness accessories, electronics, clothing, safety equipment, complete powered paragliding units with training from Hill Country Paragliding Inc. www.hillcountryparagliding.com 1-800-664-1160 for orders only. Office 325-379-1567.
RISING AIR GLIDER REPAIR SERVICES – A fullservice shop, specializing in all types of paragliding repairs, annual inspections, reserve repacks, harness repairs. Hang gliding reserve repacks and repair. For information or repair estimate, call (208) 554-2243, pricing and service request form available at www.risingair.biz, billa@atcnet.net.
TOWING 1984 18ft 9in Correctcraft ski nautique 2001 with trailer. set up with elec wench and take off platform for boat tow hang gliding. Contact: 269-979-4356, 269-965-7092, elsablanton@sbcglobal.net, or 269-963-1221
WANTED WANTED - Used variometers, harnesses, parachutes, helmets, etc. Trade or cash. (262) 4738800, www.hanggliding.com.
CLOUD 9 REPAIR DEPARTMENT - We staff and
maintain a full service repair shop within Cloud 9 Paragliding; offering annual inspections, line replacement, sail repair of any kind (kites too!), harness repairs and reserve repacks. Our repair technicians are factory trained and certified to work on almost any paraglider or kite. Call today for an estimate 801-576-6460 or visit www.paragliders. com for more information.
Get your annual inspection, repair or reserve
repack done quickly and professionally. Super Fly does more inspections, repairs and repacks than any service center in North America. Call or email for details and more information. 801-255-9595, info@superflyinc.com.
Introducing the new USHPA custom Visa Platinum Rewards Card.
The card with Flare. Submit your own image or choose one of these custom USHPA Platinum Rewards Cards.
Use your own photo.
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Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
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F E B R U A R Y
HANG GLIDING
2 0 1 1
RTNG REGN NAME
CITY
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RTNG REGN NAME
CITY
H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-4 H-4 H-4
Las Vegas San Jose Mountain House Modesto Santa Barbara San Diego Long Beach Bloomington Richmond Lookout Mtn San Antonio Montreal, Qc Las Vegas San Francisco Berkeley Lakewood Santa Barbara San Diego Bloomington West Lebanon Richmond Lookout Mtn San Antonio Montreal, Qc Las Vegas Miranda Eureka Stateline Fremont San Diego Ozark San Antonio Grapevine Las Vegas Lompoc San Diego
NV CA CA CA CA CA CA IN VA GA TX
NV CA CA NV CA CA MO TX TX NV CA CA
CITY
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
Haines Port Alexander Anchor Point Portland Walnut Creek Palo Alto Palo Alto Los Gatos
AK AK AK OR CA CA CA CA
P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4
San Mateo San Diego Garden Grove West Hills Los Angeles Vail Twin Falls Watertown Dublin Northport Haines Port Alexander Anchor Point Walnut Creek Palo Alto Palo Alto San Diego Garden Grove San Diego West Hills Glendale Twin Falls Watertown Dublin Northport San Francisco Henderson Petaluma San Francisco Palo Alto San Diego Woodland Hills San Diego San Diego Cottonwood Hts Logan Salt Lake City Albuquerque Draper Wilson Twin Falls Jericho Woodbridge Dublin Vancouver, Bc Renton Belmont Los Angeles Everett
2 2 2 2 3 3 3 7 9 10 11 13 2 2 2 3 3 3 7 8 9 10 11 13 2 2 2 2 2 3 6 11 11 2 2 3
Rolla Manning Jr Dirk Chubbic Diosdadd (don) Macasaet Terry Strahl Kevin Lamkin Colin (roland) Sykes Michael Soultanian Laura Heft Eric Surber Charles Matthews Mike Atkinson Camille Girard Rolla Manning Jr A J Dinger Ali Rawaf Alvin Fernandez Kevin Lamkin Colin (roland) Sykes Laura Heft David Kano Eric Surber Charles Matthews Mike Atkinson Camille Girard Rolla Manning Jr Debbie Vosevich Ronald Den Heyer Jessica Williamson Ananth Vikram Bommireddipalli Colin (roland) Sykes Kelley Brow Mike Atkinson Christopher (kit) Martin Rolla Manning Jr James Zender Colin (roland) Sykes
NV CA CA CA CA CA IN NH VA GA TX
Allen Sparks David Yount George Hamilton George Hamilton Zac Majors John Heiney Greg Dewolf Daniel Hartowicz Steve Wendt Daniel Zink James Tindle Steve Bernier Allen Sparks Harold Johnson Barry Levine Greg Dewolf Zac Majors John Heiney Daniel Hartowicz Daniel Zink Steve Wendt Daniel Zink James Tindle Steve Bernier Allen Sparks Joe Weeth Joe Weeth Harold Johnson Eric Hinrichs John Heiney Melton Hair James Tindle Joel Froehlich Allen Sparks Tammy Burcar John Heiney
PARAGLIDING RTNG REGN NAME
P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1
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1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
Kris Miller Ryan Martin Jake Soplanda Janice Keeley Norman (scott) Macleod Thanh Nguyen Silver Keskkula Joseph Denicola
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Greg Lasalle Elena Portnaya Mher Sarkissian Adnan Reguieg Casey Kringlen John Harlow Miles Daisher Alex Sander De Souza Dwight Scarborough Peter Tast Kris Miller Ryan Martin Jake Soplanda Timo Ertz Thanh Nguyen Silver Keskkula Elena Portnaya Mher Sarkissian Greg Mills Adnan Reguieg Kirk Shastid Miles Daisher Alex Sander De Souza Dwight Scarborough Peter Tast Patrick Shanahan Pierre-jean Beney Matt Egidio David Mcmillan Silver Keskkula Mike Branger Christian Spannhoff Elena Portnaya Mark Meyers Michael Haberstock Todd Sherman Jamie Kulju Carlos Cox Jeff Peo Mark Mol Miles Daisher Jan Passion Dan Tomlinson Dwight Scarborough Guy Herrington Theodore Sopher Stewart (kevin) Hester-chow Dietrich Schuhl Roberto Cardoso
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CA CA CA CA CA CO ID MA OH NY AK AK AK CA CA CA CA CA CA CA AZ ID MA OH NY CA NV CA CA CA CA CA CA CA UT UT UT NM UT WY ID VT VA OH WA CA CA MA
Jeffrey Greenbaum Steve Stackable Rob Mckenzie Bruce Kirk Jonathan Legg Thomas Keough Chris Santacroce Luiz Fernando Costa Nick Crane Rob Sporrer Kevin Lee Rob Sporrer Chris Santacroce Jeffrey Greenbaum Jeffrey Greenbaum Wallace Anderson Steve Stackable Rob Mckenzie Bradley Geary Bruce Kirk Carlos Madureira Chris Santacroce Luiz Fernando Costa Nick Crane Rob Sporrer Jeffrey Greenbaum Chad Bastian Rob Sporrer Kim Galvin Wallace Anderson Robin Marien Rob Sporrer Steve Stackable Bob Hammond Jr Kevin Hintze Jonathan Jefferies Jeffrey Farrell T Lee Kortsch Jonathan Jefferies Scott Harris Chris Santacroce Jeffrey Greenbaum Elisabeth (ellis) Kim Nick Crane Dion Vuk Mark Chirico Kim Galvin Stephen Mcgarva Marcello De Barros
Russel Ogden on his way to taking second at the PWC Colombia. | photo by Nick Greece Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
75
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MAGAZINE COLLECTION 1971-2008
HG & PG MAGAZINE ARCHIVES ON DVD | $30.00 38 great years of free flight fun Within these pages you’ll find the evolution of foot-launched flight from the first days of bamboo dune-skimmers to the modern variety of hang gliders, paragliders and rigid wings. Each PDF file is one complete magazine, just as originally published. Pages with color have produced as color scans, the rest scanned as black and white images. Blemishes or imperfections are present in the original source magazines, some of which were the only known copies remaining.
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technology evolve. Learn how sites have opened and closed. 1971 - 1973 Low & Slow 1972 - 1976 Ground Skimmer 1976 - 2003 Hang Gliding 1993 - 2003 Paragliding 2003 - 2008 Hang Gliding & Paragliding
Get to know the old school. Future issues will be available on an update disk. Compilation copyright. 19742008, US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association. All rights reserved. Other material republished by permission of copyright holders. Please don’t duplicate or reproduce this work without permission. For limited reprint permission (club newsletters, etc.) contact the USHPA office at 1-800-616-6888 or E-mail: info@ushpa.aero Pages scanned and indexed by Scandoc, Inc. of Aracata, CA. www.scandoc.com. Cover design by Gregory Gillam, greg@gillamdesign.com.
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78 |
Connections
by Steve Messman
that two American “hippie types” literally walked into my office and offered a new ’ve said before that I really don’t be- type of recreation to American soldiers: lieve things happen for any particu- hang gliding. Connections. lar reason or with any supernatural In 2000, my wife and I (the same intent. Sometimes, though, things happen woman I hated way back when) were that cause me to rethink that belief. driving a motorcycle across the United “Connections” is one of those things. States and back from Washington state. My dad and mom met each other in Somewhere during that ride, we were sit1948. They lived and grew up about 40 ting at a restaurant overlooking a beach, miles from each other during a time and and the coolest thing I had ever seen in a place when no one drove 40 miles to swooped right past our balcony table. I anywhere except to buy seed for crops. They didn’t shop at the same stores. They didn’t attend the same schools. They didn’t even worship at the same church. But as it happens, they did, as young adults, work for the same people. That’s how they met. A perfectly improbable connection that resulted in me. I met my wife-to-be in 1958. We did grow up in the same town. We went to the same public school. We shopped in the same stores. Our families even spent weekends together at the lake. I hated her back then. She was rude. She was a knowit-all. She was bossy. And, she couldn’t Coco Santacroce | Photo by Chris Santacroce play cards worth a darn! As we grew older, we avoided each other to the best of our abilities. In 1971, after we had not seen discovered that it was a paraglider, came each other for a number of years, I was home, got on the internet, and found walking in the alley behind her house: a Tiger Mountain. Beautiful connections. direct path that I followed to meet my dad I can’t possibly count the number of at a job site. Carol was sitting in the swing connections that have happened in life on her back porch and said, “Hi.” What just to bring me to this place and this follows is history; what remains is yet to point in time. It’s difficult to imagine how be written. A strange connection that hap- things would be different if any particular pened…by accident? connection had not been made. What if I In 1974 or thereabouts, I was sta- had not met Carol in the alley that aftertioned at a military training facility that noon? What if my sons had decided to go was cradled in southern Germany’s Rhön to different colleges and what if they met Mountains. Those mountains housed one different women? What if those unions of the largest glider facilities in the repub- had not resulted in the grandchildren I lic of Germany. It was also right there enjoy today?
I
78
Hang Gliding & Paragliding | www.USHPA .aero
Likewise, I can’t imagine how life would be different if two long-haired Americans had not walked into my very military office. How strong was the connection that day Kim decided to start the flying club? What if Mike had not joined, and what if he had not so actively recruited others? How would life be different if I had never met or never had the opportunity to fly with Ken, or Joe, or Jim, or Wayne, or Paul, or………….? How wonderful that those hundreds of connections that “just happened,” got me out of Indiana and brought me to this state and it’s glorious mountains, gave me the special gift of flight, introduced me to my circle of flying friends, kept me in the air on weekends, and maybe even on weekdays. How wonderful that each and every one of these connections happened at all. If any single connection had not been made, the odds of my existence are infinitely small. If I did exist in some alternate life, the chances of my meeting two hippie pilots, of learning to fly, of seeing that paraglider, of finding an instructor at Tiger Mountain are even smaller, probably somewhere between infinitesimal and nonexistent. Truthfully, the odds of making any such connection are so small that it is easy to believe they happen on purpose, by someone’s intent. I don’t know if they do or not. I only know that regardless of how they happen, by intent or by random accident, an understated fact is that connections make life interesting. Connections surprise us with all of life’s gifts: love, family, hobbies, friends. In my case, and probably in yours, connections introduced us to the thrill of flight, to the greatness of flying friends, to the damp mist of clouds, to the depth of personal challenges, and to the eventual truth of dreams.
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