SKIING HANG GLIDING

Hang gliding is an individual sport in which pilots fly a lightweight, motorless aircraft known as a hang glider. When hang gliding, the pilot usually glides off of the edge of a cliff or hill, gliding at about 20 to 30 mph. When looking for a place for hang gliding, gliders typically look for slopes that face the wind and are free from obstructions. Once in the air, the pilot relies on rising air masses to stay in the sky, floating on pockets of air called “thermals.” The only way to steer in hang gliding is by the pilot shifting his or her weight in the glider. Because changing direction is so heavily reliant on arm strength, being able to hang glide successfully requires strong arm muscles to maneuver the glider. Nearby hang gliding facilities include Mission Soaring LLC in Fremont and Mission Soaring Center in Milpitas, both offering hang gliding

With more and more people realizing the thrill that comes from sports, adventure sports have quickly gained popularity over the past decade. Also known as action sports, adventure sports involve a combination of high speeds, heights, specialized gear, and more, further adding to the risk factor that allures many. To inform and interest readers with adventure sports, the Smoke Signal compiled a few of the many popular adventure sports that MSJ students can, and have experienced, as well as the many resources around the Bay Area to do so.