USHGA Paragliding Vol13/Iss8 August 2002 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

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June.2002 Longest flight ever in a hang glider Longest flights ever in a paraglider Longest flights to a declared goal Fastest 100 km triangle,Flexwing

438 miles: Mike Barber 240 and 263 miles: Dave Prentice and Will Gadd 321 miles: Pete Lehmann and Mike Barber

Bo "Hillbilly" Hagewood

Five flights Five- g-rearguys Five varios ... All Flytec Sitting left to right: Rhett Radford, Bo Hagewood Standing left lo right: Andrew "the Driver" Holupka, Mike Barber, Pele Lehmann, Russell Brown, and Gary Osoba

Dave Prentice jlys 240 breaking prevoius paragliding record, gets back al 5 a. m. the next day and lows up Will Gadd. WiJJ returns the favor by flying 263 miles. Will Gadd, high over the Texas bill country, on bis way lo a new record-263 miles. photos by Will G2dd and David Glo,er, WRE Organiz.er

We congratulate Mike, Pete, Dave, Will, Bo and all pilots who strive to do their best.

(io Tet1111 flrted YT EC :::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

352-429-8600 • soo.662.2449 • www.flytec.com

PARAGLIDING • AUGUST 2002

CAUENDAR OF EVENTS

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

INCIDENT REP.ORTS

FLYING THE PAMPA CROSS by David Salmon, photos by Pavel Seksi

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

PARA PERU 2002: FROM MEGATROPOLIS To MEGA NOTHINGNESS artick and photos by Stefanie Brend/ andJimmy H4ll

TORREY FLIGHT FEST 2002 by David and Michelle Jebb, ,photos by Maya Jebb

DISCLAIMER OF

WARRANTIES IN PUBUCA-

COVER: Kiting on the smooth sand dunes in the desert ofsouthern Peru. Photo by Stefanie Brendl. See story on page

24.

COMBINING HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING MAGAZINES by USHGA Executive Director Jayne DePanfilis

PHOTO GALLERY A continuation ofour Para Peruphoto essay.

AUGUST

2 00 2

TIONS: l 'he material presented here Is published as part of an inf<>nnatlon dissemination service for USRGA members. The

USHGA makes no warrandcs or representations and assumes no liability concerning the validity of any advice, oplnlon or recommendation t!XprellSed in the material, All individuals relying upOn the matedal do so at their own risk. Copyright © 2002 Unlted States Hang Gliding Assn., Inc . .All rights re,,~ed to Paragliding and individual contributors.

Gil Dodgen, Managing Ed/tor/Editor-in-Chief, Gi/Oodgen@aol.com Steve Roti, Contributing Editor Dave Pounds, Art Director Will Gadd, Dennis Pagen Staff Writers Office Staff Jayne DePanfilis, Executive Director, jayne@ushga.org Jeff Elgart, Advertising, jeff@ushga.org Paul Defranco, IT Administrator, paul@ushga,org Sandra Hewitt, Member Services, sandra@ushga.org Natalie HillSley, Member Services, natalie@ushga.org USHCA Officers and Executive Committee:

Jim Zeiset; President, jimtgreen@aol.com Mark Ferguson, Vice President, mark@rmparagliding.com Russ Locke, Secretary,russ@lockelectric.com BIii Bolosky, Treilsurer, bofosky@microsoft.com .REGION 1: Bill Bolosky, Mark Forb-;,s, REGION 2: Ray Leonard, John Wilde, Tim West. REGION 3: David Jebb, John Greynald, Alan Chuculate. REGION 4: Mark Ferguson, Jim Zeiset. REGION 5: Frank Gillette. REGION 6: James Gaar. REGION 7: Bill Bryden. REGION 8: Doug Sharpe. R~GION 9: Randy Leggett, Felipe Amunategui. ReGIO.N 1O: Tiki Mashy, Matt Taber. REGION 11: RR Rodriguez. REGION 12: Paul Voight. DIRECTORSAT LARG!:: Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen, Russ Locke, Steve Kroop, Chris Santacroce. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Aaron Swepston, J.C. Brown, Ed Pitman, G.W. Meadows, Bob Hannah, John Harris, Larry Sanderson (SSA), Dave Broyles, Gene Matthews, Ken Brown, Rob Kells, Liz Sharp, Dan Johnson, Dixon White. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS: Art Greenfield (NAA). The United States Hang Gliding Association Jnc. is an air sports organization affiliated with .the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representa.tive of th.e Fe(jeration. Aerooautique Internationale (PAI); of the world governing body for sport a\!ii;ltiqn. The. NAA, whi<;h represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FAl-related paragliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. PARAGLIDING magazine is published for paragliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest iii the .sport, apd to provide an edl1cational forum to advance paragliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, photos and illustrations concerning paragliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, self-addressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notificatio~ must be made of submission to other paragliding publications. PARAGLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Assodatiqri and .publi· cation do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. PARAGLIDING editorial offices (articles and photos only): 31441 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Suite A-256, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, phone (949) 888-7363, fax (949) 888-7464, e-mail: Gi.lDod en@aol.com, ALL ADVERTISERING AND At'MRTI INQUJR'JBS /\i\UST 8E SENT TO USHGAHEAO T~RS'JN COLORADO SPRINGS. The l;JSHOA is.a fr!emberccontrolled sport organization dedicated to,1hli!•explilration,and promotion of all facets of unpo~li!red ultra)igl,t flight, And to th.e education, training and safety of ltS.,f'\1erribership. Membership is open to ariyone inteiested;in t.his realm of flight Dues for full memper,,hip are $59:QO.peryear (of which $15.goes to.the publication .91 Par1;1glidlndJ, ($70 non-U.S.); subscriptlop,rates only are $35.00 ($46 non•U.S.). Cha11ges of address should be,sent six weeks in advanc!l, including name; .USHGA,number, .previous and new address, and .amailfng label from a recent Issue. PAAA~UQING,(1$SN 1Qi:19,1846) is published 11 times a year:i Jan.., Feb:, N!aicli1 April; June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., N011., Oec. py,t~e l,Jnited States Hang Gliding Associ~tlc;,n,. ln~.,,2l9W, .!2olor.ado Ave., s.ulte 104, Colqr11do Springs1 !2Q.~Q90~.(719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632,6417. PERIO[:\fCAL POSTAGE is paid at Colorado Springs; lii:O:arrdat.additional mailing offices. POSTMAS1ER: SENO CHANOE OF ADDRESS TO: PARAGl'.IO!NG, P,O; BOX 1330, Colorado Springs, CO

80901-1330:

AUGUST

2002

VOLUME

FOLLOW THAT THERMAL, TRIGGER! Dear Editor, In response to the well-thought-out and authoritative discussion of the origins of thermals by Peter Gray (Hang Gliding and Paragliding, May 2002), I would have to state that being authoritative in one's statements does not enhance their validity. I agree that there can be no surface tension in the air. Furthermore, I agree that describing hot and cold air as oil and water is a poor analogy. However, to dismiss the concept of thermal triggers out of hand is going too far. The fact that full mathematical proof is not available does not make the concept of thermal triggers invalid. The existence of planets and other objects in our solar system was hypothesized before it was completely proven. I will start with the most indirect mechanism by which hot air may suddenly rise in an organized fashion: The ground and air is heating in a field of standing wheat. The wind is blowing over the top of the wheat and amber waves shimmer, as can be observed from the air. Hotter air is trapped near the ground, and is in fact leaking through the top of the grass. The problem is, it is quickly whisked away and mixed. When the wind slows near the surface, the air is able to rise in an organized and possibly workable fashion. This is a passivetype trigger. A tractor acts by a more direct method. The soil has been heating in the sun. Depending on the type of composition, it may be heated above the ambient temperature for up to six inches of depth. The tractor stirs this soil up and into the air near the surface. The particles impart their excess heat to the surrounding air in a fairly

13, ISSUE #8

rapid fashion. Sometimes dust devils occur directly behind a tractor. I will not argue that this is the best kind of thermal release, but I have made quite a few low saves in a field mixed up by a tractor. Years ago, pilots flying Chelan Butte came up with the idea of asking their drivers to race up and down a dirt road in hopes of breaking a thermal loose. I have not seen this work, but if triggering a thermal were impossible, I suppose this would create no unfair advantage. Finally, many pilots have had the misfortune of falling into an unnaturally still field in the heat of the day. Shortly after pulling the nose of the glider out of the sand, the wind whips up and the pilot looks up to see one or more other pilots thermaling in the result of his misfortune. I've been there. You could call me Trigger, but I'm not going to give you a ride back to your car. Dave Little Olympia, WA

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SPRING, TROPICAL THERMAL SITE - FULL-ON MIDDAY CONDITIONS A 45-year-old beginner pilot with 40 flights launched his DHV 1-2 glider from a popular site at roughly 2,000 feet to fly to an LZ well known by locals for its extremely active air. An out-of-state visitor, he had been introduced to the site the day before by helpful local pilots who had explained to him the roughness of the LZ. On the day of the accident his family had driven him to launch after a local pilot let him through a locked gate in order to fly alone. The entire site is in a large bowl in the lee of huge volcanoes, which block the prevailing wind and permit powerful lee-side thermal activity. There are a few LZ choices in the bowl but they are all potential sources of thermal release, and it is common for local pilots on final approach at 100 feet AGL to encounter thermals capable of taking them back up to cloud base. The end of this pilot's flight was not observed. He was found by his family, very severely injured in the usual LZ. His family helped him our of his harness and were preparing to put him in the car to take him to the hospital when local pilots arrived. They suggested making him as comfortable as possible on the ground and called an ambulance. Shortly thereafter the pilot stopped breathing and the local pilots continued CPR until the paramedics arrived. The pilot was found to have severe internal injuries including aortic rupture, which would have precluded survival even had he had immediate surgical attention. The pilot was found with his wing laid out behind him without any riser twists. He was a little downwind from the usual spot, suggesting a stall or spin aborting the final approach. He had impacted on his side and his harness padding had not been of any use. He did not deploy his reserve. The harness had no damage, scratches, etc. The deceased was a commercial airline pilot and an all around adventurer, climber and kayak.er. On the one hand it is easy to urge all of

us to check with local pilots prior to flying anywhere; there is simply no way to intuit the details of a site without their knowledge. However, it was a day on which locals were getting ready to fly and may only have warned this visitor to be careful of the turbulence. Of course, we have no way of knowing what actually happened. It is clear that very active LZ's are best approached extremely vigilantly in active flying mode. Safety demands precision countering of all attitude changes. This relatively new flyer may have been coming in slow, as a fixedwing pilot might be inclined to do, or just not reacted optimally. The most important take-home lesson may simply be that some sites are more difficult than they look. The geography of the site is relatively benign looking to the untrained eye, but at midday in May it is exceptionally active and merits enormous respect. It consists of small, leeward, downsloping lawns interspersed with fields of black lava rock baking in the hot sun. It would be no place in midday for a low-airtime pilot. Unfortunately, the only way for the beginner to find this out is to talk with the locals and for them to be forthright and sanguine. More careful new pilots often choose never to fly a new site except under the supervision of a local instructor. This site is rated P3. It is difficult for hospitable locals to warn visitors clearly enough while they are introducing a site, and hard to advise a P2 not to fly. It can also be hard for a beginning pilot to accept advice like that. It all looks so different in retrospect. Midday landings in strong thermal conditions are obviously serious business, but serious injuries also result from mistakes while flying in benign conditions as is the case in the next scenario. COASTAL RIDGE LIFT, LIGHT CONDITIONS A relatively experienced pilot was flying low along sand dunes in light coastal ridge lift. Only a few feet off the ground and over sand he figured it would be safe to experiment with deeper bralce application, so he pulled down about four or five more inches and looked up. Everything looked good. Then he let it back up to normal, took a second wrap, and pulled down to his shoulPARAGLIDING

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ders with light pressure. Still only about five rescue by helicopter was requested. The pilot regained consciousness within five feet off the surface of rhe dune and gliding along he initiated a turn, but now chinks he minutes bur was very disoriented. He may have forgotten about the second wrap. described severe pain in the midsection of his body, mid/lower back and neck. The Because of the sceepness of t:he dune, he rescue helicopter arrived within 15 minutes went from five feet co about 30 feet very quickly. As he was turning he describes feel- and he was airlifted co a trauma cenrer. The ing that he was getting our of the lift band. final medical report included: concussion, He pulled down more on the right brake co multiple vercebral fractures, pelvic fracrures, cracked spleen, cracked liver. Amazingly, cum further, stalling the wing. He fell about 20 feet, sustaining vertebral fractures this pilot walked our of the hospital after and a neck strain. seven days. J l,e serious11ess ofthe The pilot is fairly If the impact experienced and was had not been directly injuries described reminds on the back protection flying a DHV 1-2 us rdjust how serious Jl.yi11g and air bag the injuries wing. He considers himself cautious. am be and how it becomes could have been far worse. The pilot was Gliding along a sand more difficult to ascertain dune in light lift can be reportedly flying well just what happened as the a true joy and certainly chat day and had is not recognized as a attended many maneuinjuries become critical. high-risk aspect of our vers clinics, and had spore, bur flying coo never suffered a single slowly contributes co several serious accimishap. His glider was a new DHV 2 wing dents each year. Our modem wings reach but he had made 10+ flights on the actual minimum sink well above stall speed, so glider. there is no advantage co flying slowly. The Flying close co the hill and scratching in thermal conditions was absolutely a factor. loss of lift the pilot described may have been partially due co flying too slowly and The pilot does not remember anything about lase l O minures of the flighc, and the the impending scall. The saying goes: speed cause of the initial surge and apparent stall and altitude - always keep some extra in the bank. are unclear. le is also unknown if throwing his reserve would have been a viable option considering the low altitude. From the INLAND T HERMAL SITE, MO DERdescription, it appears that he may have ATE T HERMAL CONDITIONS An experienced pilot had been flying for held the brakes coo deep for coo long durapproximately an hour in moderate thering recovery from the from surge, resulting mal conditions. After several climbs co near in a seal I. Flying a relatively new wing could cloud base he flew out from the mountain have contributed co the misjudged recovery, for abour a mile and returned on glide co buc flying coo close co the terrain to recover the hill, arriving 200' co 300' below the from thermal turbulence is the obvious lesridge top. Here he began co ridge soar on a son. The seriousness of the injuries described steep, grassy fuce, making two passes before he was observed co undergo a very large reminds us of just how serious flying can and aggressive from surge. The cause of this be, and how it becomes more difficult to is unclear, bur it usually results from a stall ascertain just what happened as the injuries or deflation in the turbulence at the edge of become critical. While we may never know a thermal. The piloc appeared co be trying jusc what happened, pilot-induced sralls co regain control of a wing thac looked may have contributed co each of the acciinflated. He impacted the hillside on a rock dents. Being aware of your wing's airspeed outcropping while looking at the glider and is an essential piloting skill, and stalls conobviously crying co make input. Upon hittinue ro be a preventable contributor to ting the hill he bounced and fell down co a injury accidents. Help keep others informed about safer flying by reporting ravine about 100' below the point of impact. 911 was called immediately and air your accidents. • P A R AGLIDING

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race came to a very exciting final round with Ryan bearing Steve Cox who was flying an Advance prototype. Overall ic was a Joe of fun, with good flying and fast racing. (See the article on the Air Races in this issue. - Ed.) One thousandth Oasis- On May 16, the I ,OOOth Oasis went out of the factory. Oasis production starred lase October, only seven months previously.

Oasis on 1Vfor Football World CupAt this writing the 2002 FIFA World Cup is well under way in Korea and Japan. A TV ad, which promotes the World Cup (made by che successful Korean company Daewoo Srock) shows a 30-second clip featuring a Gin Oasis and her pilot taking off and flying. The ad is shown each time a football march is featured on the main Korean channels (KBS, SBS, MBC) - chat's three times per day! Who is the pilot co become pare of football history? None other than the girlfriend of our Korean Sales Manager, Kyurae. Contact: Super Fly, (801) 255-9595, www.4superfly.com, info@superfly.com.

FINESSE PLUS

Marion in the Mexican PWC Oanuary 2002), Super Fly (Gin American importer) pilors have been motivated ro succeed. Here are the competition results from the Southern California Paragliding Open, the first major competition of the year.

Open Class 1. David Prentice, Gin Boomerang

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2. Len Szafuryn, Gin Boomerang RFE

3. Josh Cohn, Windcech Quarx 4. Bill Belcourt, Gin Nomad 5. Ryan Swan, Gin Boomerang RFE 6. Eric Reed, Gin Nomad

Serial Class I. Zach Hoisington (13th overall), Gin

Oasis

Gin Gliden Boomerang RFE racks up another victory- Ryan Swan, Super Fly, lnc.'s customer service manager, won the Torrey Pines Air Races in San Diego recently in the Open Class. Ryan was flying his Boomerang RFE Comp (Large). T he threeday race consisted of a one-mile course with multiple runs and head-to-head competition. Over the three-day evenr, Ryan's average speed was 59 km/hr. T he Open Class

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compartment/sides/side protector of the harness, preventing the possibility of losing any parts stored in either of the back compartments. The harness is based on the same webbing structure as the Finesse and is certified byDHV Apco also offers the Finesse Plus with a Cygnus airbag. In addition to all the regular protectors (airfoam, side protector and lexan plate) it has an integrated airbag which significantly increases pilot protection. It is the first airbag-equipped harness that doesn't look like a hammock with a large balloon attached to the back, creating extra drag. The harness is available in SIM and LI.XL sizes. Contact: www.apcoaviation.com, tel: 011 972 4 627 3727.

NEW PARAGLIDING WORLD RECORDS

n June 20, Super Fly team pilot Dave Prentice flew 240 miles (386 kilometers) to set a new unofficial world distance record at the 2002 World Record Encampment in Zapata, Texas. Dave got on tow late in the morning and landed 45 minutes earlier than he needed to. If he had been in the air the extra 1.5 to 2 hours he thinks 300 miles would have been possible. David was flying an Ozone Proton GT Small. Then, on June 21, listening to Dave's words of advice, Super Fly team pilot Will Gadd got on tow early the next day. Actually, Dave Prentice returned from his X-C flight at 5:30 AM and towed Will up as soon as it looked good. Talk about team work and sportsmanship! Unfortunately, Dave's record stood for less than 24 hours as Will Gadd flew 263 miles (423 kilometers) to set yet another world distance record. Will was flying a Gin Gliders Boomerang Medium. Congratulations guys! Currently, these records are unofficial until the FAI paperwork is submitted and accepted, which will be no problem. For more information visit info@4superfly.com. Look for more in the next issue of Paragliding.

JONATHON HOVIS EARNS FIRST DIAMOND SAFE PILOT AWARD

he USHGAwould like to congratulate Jonathon Hovis of Battle Mountain,

AUGUST

2002

There are a lot of stuff tarps out there. So when we decided to build one, extra attention was given to durability and convenience. Once you use a Fly Trap, you'll agree this is the best.

WEATHER DIMENSIONS METEOROLOGICAL SYSTEM

he new Weather Dimensions meteorological system is an exciting new way to monitor weather. A stylish, flat screen displays all of the essential elements of current weather in real time, 24-hour, seven-day or even full-year trend graphs. Four graph charts on the screen are easy to read and cleverly integrated, with a gust rosette showing speed and direction, a real -time gust meter, rainfall measurements, sunrise/set, tides and geographical coordinates. The Weather Dimensions system efficiently illustrates the relationship between different weather factors. For instance, when a low-pressure system arrives, you watch the barometer change, the wind speed increase, precipitation accumulate, the temperature drop (with deviations from seasonal norm indicated), and more, all together on the flat-screen display. Weather data are supplied by wireless instruments that can be remotely located on a rooftop, launch, or LZ. The instruments are durable and unobtrusive, allowing them to be placed almost anywhere. The system is absolutely perfect for monitoring weather at your home or local flying site, as the information it provides is equal to or greater than that which is provided on broad-scale media forecasts, customized to your exact location. Complete systems include all wireless instruments, flat-screen display, hardware and sofrware, and options such as the ability to upload or download information via the Internet and print charts are available as well. Complete systems start at around $1,500. For more information contact: www.WeatherDimensions.com, (866) 932-4278 (toll free).

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big ears, a comfortable hiking backpack, T-shirt, speed bar, riser bag, internal stuff bag and manual. For more information on any of these products contact: Mike Eberle, North American Paragliding, Inc., (206) 320-9010, napi@fun2fly.com.

VIX GmbH, led by Michi Kobler, is ~leased to announce that North American Paragliding, Inc. is their new U.S. distributor for XIX paragliders, harnesses and other accessories.

W1wA1n TREK HARNESS This new harness is for pilots looking for an alternative to heavier and heavier paragliding equipment. Together with designer Peter Wild (mountaineer and pilot), the newest patented development from XIX elegantly transforms a paragliding harness with integrated Cygnus airbag into a comfortable backpack. Innovative simplicity and comfort, with no reduction in safety, provide the ideal harness for trekking excursions. The standard WildArt Trek weighs only 8.36 lbs., and a lightweight ripstop-nylon version, the WildArt Trek-Light, weighs only 5.5 pounds. Eicher harness will eliminate the need for your current harness, back protection, backpack, glider stuff bag and reserve container.

New from Swiss-based XIX is the Inter 2. Designed as an intermediate glider, the Inter 2 has a D HV 1-2 rating and was designed for a balance of performance and safety. The glider comes with a backpack, speedbar, riser bag, internal stuff bag and a three-year warrantee. FLIGHT DESIGN STREAM

German-based Flight Design announces that the Stream is now certified in three sizes for pilots weighing from 121 to 286 lbs. According to the manufacturer, the glider combines precise and easy handling with excellent performance, has little tendency to overshoot or hang back on takeoff, and stabilizes over the pilot with very little input, even on flat launch areas and in zerowind conditions. The Stream was designed for ambitious recreational pilots and for those interested in cross-country flying. This glider may be considered an excellent alternative for pilots who want high performance but the security of a DHV 1-2. The Stream comes with a three-year warrantee, standard split A-risers for easy

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ircotec's new oftware is now available for download at http://www.aircotec. net. TN Complete 1.4.0 now replaces TN Comm,TN Review and Baro master 2000. The software includes a complete logbook. TN View freeware 1.5 is now online and allows you to open IGC files and analyze flights of other pilots. Transfer flight data via serial communications with conversion from PWC data to IGC with encryption (G record), drag and drop, clipboard, automated grid, and more. For more information visit U.S. Aircotec's website a thttp://www.aircotec.net.

n the article "Discovering Kas" by Kim Galvin, in the June issue of Paragliding, the Mike referred to in the first paragraph is Kim's husband, not Mike Eberle of Turkish paragliding fame. We apologize for the error.

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I Specializing in ALL TYPES I of paragliding & power chute Repairs * Re-packs * lnspectio;Js

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Paul Hamilton 6553 Stone Valley Drive Reno, NV 89523 USA

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PARAGLIDING

Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, date, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later than six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets.

COMPETITION UNTIL NOV 15: 2002 Region Nine Yearlong X-C Contest. The yearlong contest is to honor longest individual flights of the year on any day between February 15 and November 15. Classes for Rookies, Sixty Miles, Open, Rigids and Paragliders. Entry fees $10 and $5 respectively. Contact: Pete Lehmann, lplchmann@aol.com, (412) 661-3474, 5811 Elgin St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. UNTIL DEC. 31: The Michael Champlin World X-C Challenge. No entry fees or pre-registration requirements. Open to paragliders, hang gliders, rigid wings and sailplanes. For more details visit the contest's Web site at http://www.hanggliding.org or contact: John Scott (310) 447-6234, fax (310) 447-6237, brettonwoods@email.msn.com. AUG. 9-11: Inter-mountain League Meet, Jackson, Wyoming. AUG. 23-25: Intermountain League Meet, King Mountain, Idaho. Organized by Nate Scales. The cross-country events arc three days long with two open-distance days and one race-to-goal. Entry fees are $25 and go back to the competitors as prize money (or are used to pay drivers when volunteers aren't available). Contact Nate Scales at (208) 720-6165 for additional details or to volunteer to help. AUG 31-SEPT. 7: USHGA-sanctioned Snowbird X-C competition. Register early; space is limited. Contact: Ken Hudonjorgensen, 474 E. Tonya Dr. Sandy, UT 84070, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net,www.twocanfly.com. SEPT. 20-28: 2002 US. Paragliding Nationals Cross-Country Competition This 100-mile-long, 20-mile-wide valley has a AUGUST

2002

history of providing conditions for amazing altitude gains and long-distance flights. Many cross-country records achieved by sailplanes, hang gliders and paragliders have begun in the Owens Valley! Join the best paraglider pilots in the world for a week ofX-C flying and competition in the big air of the Owens Valley! Contact: Chad Bastian (805) 895-2133, or Lee Anne Norris, http://www.flyaboveall.com, leeanne@flyaboveall.com.

FUN FLYING AUG. 31-SEPT. 2: RMHGA's Brad Koji Memorial Fly-In, North Park, Colorado, for both hang glider and paraglider pilots. North Park is located near the Colorado-Wyoming border, around Walden and Cowdry, West of Ft. Collins. The site offers launches facing several directions. Required ratings are H2/P2 and up. Aerotowing and scooter towing available. The spirit of the fly-in is to mentor, coach and assist pilots of every skill level, and to learn from each other. There is an X-C event with an amazing traveling trophy that will go to the weekend's winner. For more details visit www.rmhga.org. SEPT. 14-15: 12th Annual Pine Mtn. Fly--!n, Pine Mm., Bend, OR. Contact: Bill Taylor, (541) 408-2408, www.desertairriders.org. SEPT. 22: Womens Fly-In. Time for women to fly together! Men can fly after they drive the women up to launch. Friendly competition: duration, altitude, accuracy. Hosted by Wings ofRogallo flying club in Milpitas, CA. Mountain site at Ed Levin Park. P-l's and H-l's with instructor. H-2's and P-2's are sponsored by intermediate or above pilots. Contact: Kathy Wilde at wildeblu2@attbi.com, or Carmela Moreno at skyhighwoman@yahoo.com. OCT. 19-20: Fourth Annual Octoberfest at Baldy Butte. Both HG and PG pilots are welcome to this 2,000' AGL flying site that takes every wind direction.

Baldy has seen a lot of use over the last few years, and X-C records are routinely being set and broken. The site is located on private property, and requirements include a site-specific waiver, USHGA membership, P2/H3 rating, and a yearly site fee. (For this two-day event the site fee will be waived for any out-of-state pilot or local pilot checking it out for the first time.) Guides will be on hand for pilot briefings starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday. Potluck Saturday at dusk in the LZ where camping at no extra cost is available. Contact: Rich Hass, richh@nwnexus.com, or Mike Eberle, napi@fun2fly.com.

CLINICS, MEETING, TOURS UNTIL AUGUST 28: Paraglide in France, 10-day tours, $499. Sites such as Chamonix, Megeve, La Clusaz, St. Andre and many more. Details at: www.skyingout.web.worldonline.cz/home.htm. Contact: skying.out@tiscali.cz or call Ladio Novotny 011 420 606406952. UNTIL OCT.: Two-can Fly Clinics/Competitions, Point of the Mountain and Utah mountain sites. AUG. 9-11: Three-day maneuvers (safety) clinic, $550. AUG. 13-15: Three-day maneuvers (safety) clinic, $550. AUG. 17-19: Three-day maneuvers (safety) clinic, $550. AUG. 31-SEPT. 7: Snowbird Cross-Country Competition, $330. SEPT. 28-29: Mountain flying, $200. OCT. 4-7: Instructor training, $400. OCT. 5-6: Instructor recertification, $200. OCT. 12-13: Tandem (T2 & T3), $200. OCT. 17-19: Lake Powell maneuvers camping clinic, $550. OCT. 20-26: Lake Powell maneuvers clinic (deluxe with Houseboat), $1500. JAN. 4-11, 2003: Valle de Bravo trip with Academy instructors Ken Hudonjorgensen and Kevin Biernacki. Contact: Two-can Fly Paragliding, 474 East Tonya Dr., Sandy, UT 84070, phone/fax (801) 572-3414, hudonj@qwest.net,www.twocanfly.com.

THROUGH OCT: Jackson Hole

Paragliding, WY clinics and courses. Jackson Hole has evolved into a Mecca for paragliding activities, and Jackson Hole Paragliding can help turn flying dreams into reality with their quality instruction and guide service. Three-day Maneuvers Training Courses at the Palisades Reservoir. Aug. 12-14, Sept. 20-22, $550. Tow Tuesday. One-day Maneuvers Training Course, every Tuesday throughout the summer at the Palisades Reservoir, $200. InterMountain X-C Challenge at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Aug. 9-11. Pilots meet for lessons every morning at 7:45 at Nick Wilson's at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort aerial tram. Contact: (307) 690-8726 www.jhparagliding.com.

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THROUGH OCT.: Dixon's Airplay Washington, a.k.a. the "Ranch" (near Wenatchee) will reopen April 20 for the summer season through October. Specializing in new pilot instruction. Each instructor works with only one or two new students. Excellence in instruction with complete training in weather, flight dynamics, kiting and much more. Learn at a private flight park, no crowds, perfect grassy slopes, drive-up 360° launches from 20 to 1,800 feet. Limited weekday and weekend space available. Make reservations early. Complete paragliding store and service center. Contact: dixon@paraglide.com, www.paraglide.com, (928) 526-4579. THROUGH NOV: Paraglider Network and Andre Gupta Alps Tours for novice and better pilots. Non-flying companions and aspiring pilots welcome on some tours. Tours include overnight accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, local transportation, lifrs to launch, retrieval, Geneva airport pickup and drop-off, and services of an English- and local language-speaking certified guide pilot. Introductory tandem fli ght for non-pilot friends. P2, five-day course, $350. Contact: www.paraglider.net, freeflight@wanadoo.fr, (703) 273-0123, 9-5 M-F EDT. AUG. 30-SEPT. 8: St. Andre !es Alpes, St. Vincent les Forts, a flying Mecca. Details to come. MID-

SEPT.: St. Hillaire de Touvet flying carnival. Details to come. OCT.: Festival du Vent Calvi, Corsica. Details to come. NOV. 9-NOV. 17: Flying in the south of France and over Monte-Carlo. Details to come. THROUGH DEC.: Dixon's Airplay Arizona open all year (near Flagstaff). Specializing in new pilot instruction. Start out right with thorough training in meteorology, kiting, flight dynamics and much more. Only one or two new students per instructor. Wide-open, 360° drive-up launch sites from 20 to 1,200 feet. Limited weekday and weekend space available. Make reservations early. Complete paragliding store and service center. Contact: dixon@paraglide.com, www.paraglide.com, (928) 526-4579. THURSDAYS: Torrey Pines Gliderport paragliding talk show on Internet radio, airing weekly on wsradio, Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Hosted by Gabriel and David Jebb, open to a worldwide audience. Call in roll-free at 1-800-3270061 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-760-4764111 for the world audience. Surf to www.wsRadio.ws and click under the "live" section. Contact: David Jebb, Director of Operations, 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, San Diego, CA 92037, (858) 452-ZULU (9858), www.flytorrey.com SEPT. 10-13, 14-17: Two back-to-back AirPlay thermal/X-C clinics, four days each, in Arizona. Minimum P-2 rating, at least 100 flights and reserve required. Instructors will rake you tandem if needed, and offer advice by radio. They will also clinic you thoroughly on weather, active piloting, reserve use and all the latest ideas about thermaling and X-C flight. Clinics are restricted to four students for careful supervision. Sites are mostly drive-up. Large, air-conditioned, comfortable trucks. Help arranging lodging and carpooling. The fee is $890 for each four-day clinic or $1,600 for all eight days. Contact: dixon@paraglide.com, (928) 526-4579.

PARAGLIDING

SEPT. 29-0CT. 6: Oludeniz, Turkey tour. Join Mike Eberle of Worldwide Adventure Tours and North American Paragliding, Inc. for his third rrip co che warm and beautiful Mediterranean sea and Babadag's Father Mountain. Enjoy a week of endless soaring, exploring ancient sites, aod just relaxing on the beach. This trip is excellent for any intermediate or advanced pilot, or even a newer pilot who is looking co further his soaring skills and increase airtime. NOV. 23-DEC. 2: Chile tour. Join Mike Eberle on another adventure into the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. This X-C trip is designed for the strong intermediate or advanced pilot who is looking co sec personal-best X-C records. Warm up with some casual coastal flying and then quickly move on co serious distance flights. Call today, as chis trip usually books by lace summer. For more details on these tours, or co suggest and create your own tour, contact: (206) 320-9010, napi@fun2f1y.com. OCT 18-20: Fall 2002 USHGA Board of Director's meeting, Orlando, Florida. Events co take place in the evening at both Quest Air and Wallaby Ranch. Meetings at the Ramada Inn off of 192 and 14. Contact: www.ushga.org, (719) 632-8300. OCT. 20-NOV 3: Tour to northern India. Fly the Himalayas, the sire chat produced the paragliding world ouc-and-recurn record for seven years and hosted the 1984 World Hang Gliding Competition. Manali and Billing are renowned for consistent alpine X-C conditions. This year has seen 120-km out-and-returns and 60-km flights with gains co 6,000 meters. Visit Rohcang Pass, 500-year-old castles and Paracrek in che Manali wildlife preserve. Brush up on your chermaling and X-C skills with Dale Covington and local flying guides. Visit Tibetan settlements in Bir and Dharamsala. $1 ,600 includes food, lodging, all transportation within India and guides. Contact: Big Sky Paragliding, www. bigskyparagl idi ng.com, 1-800-782-

9204, (801) 699-1462.

AUGUS T

2002

OCT. 23-27: Orlando-Tampa, FL P2 Course with Chris Santacroce utilizing tandem, cowing and powered paragliding. For chose firmly commined to becoming the best possible pilots they can be. This intensive course will equip participants co fly successfully throughout the world. Contact Super Fly, Inc., Chris Santacroce, at info@4superf1y.com, (801) 255-9595 co reserve your spot. OCT. 25-27: Ninth Annual Baja Thermal Clinic, "El Original," Hosted by Air California Adventure, Inc. Escape co Mexico and enjoy three days of luxurious thermal flying and three evenings of happy hours and poolside lectures. Hone your flying skills, work on thermal technique, or cake a cross-country flight to the beach. Package includes breakfasts, d iscounted stay at the Baja Seasons Resort, shuttle co and from the coastal flying ridge, and daily instruction from David Jebb and the Torrey Pines Gliderporc staff. David has been flying in Baja for over 10 years. Designed for Novice through Advanced paraglider pilots. Bring your family and make it a vacation for everyone! Contact: Torrey Pines Gliderporc, info@flycorrey.com, (858) 452-9858. NOV. 14-16, 17-18: ITP and Tandem with Dixon White. Comprehensive Instructor Training Program for ftrsttime instructor candidates and recertification, Santa Barbara, CA. Nov. 14-16 wich a tandem clinic, for T-1 through T-3 che 17th and 18th. Contact: dixon@paraglide.com, www.paraglide.com, (928) 526-4579. NOV. 24-DEC 8: Fly Nepal 2002. The mosc stunning and exotic flying sire imaginable! Fly near three of the highest peaks in the world with huge birds. Gentle and consistent thermal conditions appropriate for novice chermalers with good canopy control. Guidance from Master-raced instructor Dale Covington, logistics handled by Nepal expedition specialise Kellie Erwin. $1 ,800 for rwo weeks in flying paradise. Contact: Big Sky Paragliding, www.bigskyparagliding.com, 1-800-7829204, (801) 699- 1462.

Fly1ngpMtne Pampa-Cross

THE EDUCATION OF A NEOPHYTE CROSS-COUNTRY PILOT edro Tirado, a USHGA P4 paraglider pilot and Region 9 Observer, advised me via e-mail of an opportunity co fly cross-country in the "Pampa-Cross" ca.mp organized by Luis Rosenkjer, an experienced Argentinean paragliding pilot and insrruccor. The ca.mp is located at Cacriel, a small oil and gas town, in rhe heart of the arid Pampas region of Argentina.

GETTING THERE The best fare I could find on the Imernet was via OrbitL.com: a return trip from Baltimore co Chicago and a separate return rrip from Chicago to Santiago, Chile. The coral fa.re was $780 ($205 plus $575). The plan was ro Ay our para.gliders near Santiago for a couple of days at the beginning and end of the trip. From Samiago we would catch a six-hour night bus ride to Mendoza, Argentina, where we would fly during the day. Thar night we would catch another 10hour night bus ride co Carrie! in the heart of the a.rid Pampas, ready co fly our fi rsr day at Pampa-Cross. Dutifully 1 followed the instructions ro be at O'Hare airport 3 hours in advance of departure. Check-in cook only 30 minutes, coo soon for United Airlines co assign a gate for the first leg of the crip co Miami. Eventually United assigned a gate, and I sac there for rwo hours while they changed the type of plane carrying us to Miami three rimes. The final plane had enough sears, bur not enough first-class and business-class seats, so the passengers went through yet another line to get new boarding passes with clifferem sear assignments. The 5-hour flight co Mia.mi was unevem-

ful. After an hour in the Mia.mi airport, the plane cook off at midnight for Santiago, an 8-hour Aighc. They served a full meal after takeoff, which I had the sense co decline. Although Santiago is almost directly south of Mia.mi, there is a rwo-hour rime shift; undoubtedly due to daylight savings time adjustments. The plane arrived at Santiago's modern airport on time at 10am. I paid the $61 fee ro enter Chile. The USA has recently adopted a new high-tech visa enabling it to check visitors against a global database of undesirables. Applicants for a visa co visit the USA a.re charged to pay for the new system. Understandably, Chile reciprocates by charging visitors from rhe USA and Canada a similar fee. They insert a page into your passport indicating the fee has been paid. It lasts for the life of the passport, up co 10 yea.rs. What would I do if Pedro were not at the airport co meet me? When I reached the immigration station, sraffed by a charming young lady, she called out to a nearby policeman who verified I was David Salmon. Somehow I had missed gercing the visitor's entry form. No problem, the immigration officer produced a form and filled it out for me co sign. Ir is not normal for a visitor to have a police escorr, so she assumed I was a VTP. My police escort, Marcos, accompanied me through the rest of the process, the reuieval of my bags and getting them Xrayed. He led me co a nice Mercedes car in the parking lot. Marcos did not speak English, bur he gave me a letter from Pedro. The note explained char Pedro was tied up in meetings with Chilean officials, and that they had sent the police officer to meet me so that Pedro clid

P-\RI ()\:I AUGUST

2002

not have to break away. Marcos would take me to the Tempo/Rent Apart hotel in Providencia, where Pedro would contact me after his meetings.

SANTIAGO The sky in Santiago was bright blue, and it was warm with low humidity. What a breathtaking contrast with the cold, overcast and gloom I had just left in Chicago. Snowcovered mountains in the distance gave way to nice broad boulevards with bright-green European trees and some palm trees in the foreground. Due to the language barrier, Marcos and I spoke little on the way to the hotel, but he pointed out some of the significant buildings we passed. Ac the hotel the clerk spoke English, so I asked him to ask Marcos ifl should pay for his services. The answer was: "Certainly not!" Marcos parked the car, waited while my bags were stowed in my room, and then walked me down the street to a bank where I used my bankcard to get some Chilean currency, 10,000 pesos for $125. Satisfied I had no further needs, Marcos bade me farewell. Pedro later told me that Chilean police are competent and professional. They act negatively to offers of bribery (for example, by arresting the perpetrator and roughing him up on the way to jail). Pedro managed to free himself of meetings in the afternoon. We had a delicious lunch in a nearby restaurant and Pedro drove me to the Vizcachas paragliding site in the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range. The site is a nice ridge with an open, gravel-covered launch area. If you gain 200 meters above the launch you can transition across a valley to the next ridge, which is higher. If you gain altitude there you can transition to yet another higher ridge. We had a nice flight in good thermals for over an hour, landing at 7:00 pm so Pedro could malce a dinner appointment. 1 wandered through the mall by myself looking for a place to have dinner. I was equipped with my reading glasses and a Lonely Planet Spanish phrasebook. Warned about pickpockets, my wallet contained only some local currency and a credit card. There were lots of pubs and restaurants to choose from. A young, dark, handsome Chilean accosted me, showed me a menu, and led me to an outdoor table. He was intense and efficient but spoke not a word of English. He looked at me so intently and repeated Spanish sentences so deliberately, that I was ashamed that I could not understand a word.

Following his advice I entered an order. After he left I worked my way through the Menu Decoder of the phrase book and discovered to my dismay that I had ordered pork loin and rice. I prefer vegetarian food. Later the waiter came back to find how I wanted it cooked. Without success, I pored through the phrase book trying to find "well done". (Later I discovered "muy hecho" .) Another waiter with a little English was called over and he pored through his own notebook of translations from Spanish to German, Italian and English. Neither of us could find the words to communicate with the other. Seizing my opportunity, I asked if I could switch my order to chicken and mashed potato. It was not a problem. I knew how to order a beer (cerveza) and later the phrase book gave me "La cuenta por favor" to request the check. It was 9000 pesos with a 900-peso tip added. I gave the waiter 10,000 pesos (about $12.50). He shook my hand and bade me farewell. I discovered that not knowing the language is not an insurmountable problem if everyone is good-natured about it. On the other hand, knowing a few key words pays big dividends (eg "came" is meat, "pescado" is fish).

FLYING AT SANTUARIO DE LA NATURALEZA Pedro and I met up with Jens Tannen, a paragliding instructor, and his charming wife

Mane, as well as Marcelo Pairoa and Nacho Joannon. Jens, Marcelo and Nacho are three of the top five pilots in Chile, all of them members of the Chilean National Paragliding team. They have competed in many international events including the last Paragliding World Championships in Pingzgau, Austria. We all drove up the rough road to Santuario de la Naturaleza. The wind was funneled through a saddle at the normal launch site and too strong. We climbed up the hill to a higher face, where the wind was lighter but about 45 degrees cross. A crosswind launch from the steep, grass-covered slope was tricky, but Nacho, Marcelo and Jens got away, then Pedro and I. From launch I gained some height and traveled down the ridge looking for lift. At one stage I was low and Jens guided me via radio to the best landing site. He had selflessly stayed behind the others so he could watch over me. At the last moment, about 30 meters from the ground, I felt substantial lift and soon was able to circle it all the way up to 1,500 meters AGL. The conditions were strong but not excessive. Once, at the top of a thermal, I suffered a major frontal collapse, which got my full attention for a moment. Unfortunately, I was out of synch with Pedro. While I was high and in a good position to follow Jens, Marcelo and Nacho, he was dealing with a bad cycle oflift back at the launch site. Later, just as Pedro got high, I

PARAGLIDING

tried to transition over a valley to the next ridge. I found massive sink. Soon it was clear I could not clear the next ridge and I was forced to turn down the valley. I was sinking so· fast I could not clear the trees to reach a landing site, but as I hoped and expected, there eventually was enough lift to reach a field of thistles where I landed in turbulent air. Now Pedro was high and eager to go, but I was on the ground. By radio he told me to find my way to a nearby shopping center. I packed up my glider in the warm sun and trudged down a dirt trail to the road. I was alone and without my Spanish phrase book. To my great good fortune the road at the end of the trail was a place where taxis waited for fares. None of the drivers there spoke English, but I managed to convey my desire ro reach the Dehesa Shopping Center. After reading the USA state department advice on traveling, I decided to dress down in my paragliding travels. That I succeeded in this was evidenced by the taxi driver's concern chat I had some money. I remembered 'tengo pesos" ("I have pesos") from Pimsleur Spanish 1 which reassured him. Off we went. The fare was only $2.50 for the eight-kilometer trip. I found a nice place to sit at an outdoor cafe, ordered some carbonated mineral water ("agua mineral con gas") and relaxed. After a while Pedro hailed me on the radio, I described where I was, and he soon found me. The two of us caught a cab back AUGUST

2002

to Jens and Mane's apartment where we showered. Mane plied us with delicious homemade strawberry juice as well as bread and cheese. Later Jens got back from his flight. Although he had stayed behind the others while watching over me, he caught up to them and passed them, going about 70 km and venturing into mountainous terrain he had not flown before. I was disappointed at my premature landing, yet exhilarated by the flight I had accomplished and the thought of the possibilities to come.

MENDOZA Pedro and I caught the bus to Mendoza, Argentina, which left on time at 11 :30 pm. The bus was modern with comfortable seats that reclined further than airline coach seats. The fare for the seven-hour drive was only $11. Soon I was asleep. I woke briefly as the bus climbed up the pass through the Andes Mountains, and the bus was dark. Outside, the moon was full and bright, the stars luminous. The bus turned, turned, turned, laboring up, up, up. I could see spectacular, wild, snow-covered mountains on the left, and then on the right. The bus climbed an invisible rail suspended in space below the peaks. Around 2:00 am we stopped at the Chilean exit point. Unfortunately, our bus followed two others. We crowded into a large room crammed with chaotic lines of people. Eventually, customs processed the other

buses, the people left, and our busload was formed into an orderly line. Our passports stamped, we continued on the bus. Soon we stopped again at the Argentinean entry point. We were herded into a cavernous open building and joined another chaotic mass of people crowded around two immigration booths. There was snow on the ground outside and the air was cold. Many travelers were smoking (fortunately, no one smoked while on the bus). Skinny wild dogs wandered around and defecated on the paved floor of the building, enhancing the surrealism of the scene. After a long time the other busloads of passengers were processed and our passports were stamped. The bus drove to the other side of the building for the final hurdle customs. We laid all of our belongings on a set of long, low tables. The customs officer carefully checked the bus for anything left on board then went along the tables. Pedro's explanation of our trip was sufficient to get us through. Some passengers had to open their bags for inspection. We loaded everything back on the bus and slept for the two hours until we arrived in Mendoza at 6: 15 am, just after sunrise. We purchased tickets for the bus leaving at 7:30 pm the same day for Catriel. The fare was $30. We took a taxi to the Termas de! Challao hostel, near the paragliding site of Cerro Arcos. We spent the morning lounging around the pool and wandering down the road to inspect the large, stony landing field. At 2:30 pm we went to the landing zone, paid a five-dollar fee and mounted a Mercedes Benz "Unimog," a military truck, along with a rowdy bunch of Argentinean hang glider and paraglider pilots. The road was very steep and very dusty. The passengers sitting in the back of the truck loudly clamored for attention as they competed with their stories of past adventures. At the top we surveyed the area, and Pedro and a friendly Argentinean took turns explaining the site to me. The wind was light and Pedro and I watched the locals to see how they took off and where they went. Eventually the wind died and a large cloud obscured the sun. Pedro got his turn and took off using a small puff of air. I set up behind another pilot who waited and waited for perfect launch conditions. Satisfied that he would never take off, I moved to the side and prepared for a forward launch if I got a puff of air in my face. Instead, the wind blew the wrong way. I was concerned about getting down by 6:00 pm so we could catch the

bus to Caaiel. A local pilot who spoke some English told me the truck would not go down unril much later, as the drivers and pilots had nothing better to do than wait at the top of the hill unril dark. It was up to me to launch. Finally, there was a little puff of air in my face. I hauled the glider in the air and sprinted for the edge, but the glider didn't come up straight. To a chorus of calls from the onlookers I had to abon. A helpful pilot carried my wing back to the launch and laid it out, but then he pulled my glider aside, insisting that another pilot who had newly arrived should go first. I fretted as the pilot fiddled with his equipment and a nice breeze started up the hill. As he delayed and delayed, the wind became ideal, and I fretted more and more. Finally I took matters into my own hands. I Straightened my wing, lifred ic and took off. Since clouds obscured the sun, there was very little lifr and I landed 11 minutes later, glad not to be crapped on top of the hill. Shonly after, as Pedro and I showered at the motel and made ourselves ready to catch the taxi to the bus terminal, the sun returned. Wistfully we observed three paragliders high in the air above us.

•.1 •

I !I

II,

The towing operation.

~· llli1

j,•,

: 1

ARGENTINA Argentina, with a land area of2.8 million square kilometers, is the world's eighth largest country. In South America only Brazil is larger. From the early 19th cenrury, European immigracion was promoted. The immigrants displaced the nacive people and brought their domestic animals, plants and weeds, transforming the natural environment. Argentina now has about 36 million people and Spanish is the official language. The country resembled Australia and Canada in the early 20th century but it has been governed poorly and has not kept pace with those countries. In the 1970's and early 1980's a disastrous military dictatorship ruled unril it lost prescige and power after the Falklands War debacle. Since then the country has been ademocracy, but still ruled ineptly. A monstrous foreign debt has been accumulated. Currently unemployment is high and Argentineans with qualificacions are leaving the country in a steady exodus. Lately the country is featured prominently in world democracy. Without fail, the Argentinean people I mec were charming. charming. One of the saddest and most pathetic things I ever saw was that of che proprietress of the hotel where we stayed in Catriel, sweeping excess dust and stones

from the dire road in front of the building. She wanted the hotel to be as nice as possible, but had very limited means to accomplish her goal.

DAY I AT PAMPA-CROSS Pedro and I caught the bus at Mendoza at 7:30 pm. It was a comfortable doubledecker and we slept quite well. At 5:00 am the conductor woke us at our destination, Carrie!. We caught a taxi to the PampaCross base, located in a campground. Everyone was asleep. Lacer we met the other pilots. There were three people from Gradient, a paraglider manufacturer in the Czech Republic: Ondrej Dupal, a founder of the company and the chief rest pilot; Milan Karninecek, a test pilot; and Pavel Selesi, a pilot and photographer. The Pampa-Cross team assembled by Luis Rosenkjer and his partner Alex Pachoki included Ariel, Javier, Guillermo, Gonzalo and Juan, towing crew; Mauro, cook; Pedro (hencefonh called APedro for Argencinean Pedro), retrieval. Almost everyone on the Pampa-Cross team was an experienced paraglider pilot, passionately committed to flying. Ariel and Javier were not only pilots buc also instructors. Several members of the team alternated days between working and flying. That first day the wind was too scrong, but we drove for hours through the desert in a valiant attempt to find a location with less wind. We finally stopped and set up to fly. I was ready first, probably because the other pilots were unenrhusiascic about the conditions. I raised my glider six or seven times but the wind was coo strong, cross and gusty for me to control it long enough to take off. A couple of rimes I had the wing in posicion for a few seconds, but the towline tension came on coo slow to pull me into the air. Ir was not the first rime my efforts have entertained a group of pilots, so I was not overly dismayed. Ac 6:00 pm, after we had driven almost all the way back co the campsite, the wind calmed down. I got two launches in calm air and a couple of short flights. Ir was good co gain some experience with the Pampa-Cross cowing system. Dinner was served at 10:30 pm, following which Pedro and I gratefully recired co our $IO/night hotel co sleep in a bed for rhe first rime in three days.

THE ARID PAMPAS From the ground the desert is featureless. PA R AG LIDIN G

From the air, the higher the better, the desert becomes a mosaic ofsubtle patterns. The horizon stretches to infinity, broken in only two directions by distant mountains, one set snow-covered. From the ground, slight changes in elevation are occasionally evident. From the air the ground appears completely flat, making it very difficult to identify potential thermal triggers. A patchwork of dire roads and tracks crosses the desert floor in straight lines. For a desert, th.e Pampas was remarkably green in overall appearance, apparently due to significant rainfall two months previously. The unusual extent of green growth may have had an adverse effect on thermal generation. In spite of the overall green color, the growth is sparse. Usually it is not difficult to find a path through the bushes, which only grow as high as cwo meters. Some of the bushes have wicked thorns, but there is essentially no cacrus. If you land on the desert floor away from a road or track, you should drop the canopy in the most open spot you can find. With a bit of luck it will not be difficult to pick your glider out of the bushes. The desert environment is very hard on your equipment. The surface of the takeoff area always consists of dirt and stones. Often there are small shrubs and twigs to deal with as well. When you leave the Pampas, dust will coat every available surf-ace of everything you took there.

AUGUST

2002

DAY 2 AT PAMPA-CROSS A north wind was forecast and we traveled

70 km north co a suitable launch sire. The wind rurned our co be variable and we switched the launch direction several times. I spent the day coping with various problems. Frequently, with a reverse launch, I found char the towline stripped my instruments from their position, attached with Velcro co the top of my reserve parachute mounted in front of my harness. Just after launch on one flight, I cried co return the variomerer ro its correct position so f would know when I had reached the recommended 300- meters above ground before releasing from the row. While I was distracted, a gusr of wind carried the glider dangerously off course. I was coo slow ro correct and the row crew cut the towline. That was an embarrassing error on my part, ruining a perfectly good row, and causing a delay in operations while the crew retrieved the severed portion of the line and repaired it. Luis told me char I needed to master control of the glider with one hand, so I could turn and thermal competently, leaving my other hand free to work with equipment, or do anything necessary. While you are being rowed up you muse quickly correct any deviations from course, and while you are flying in the desert, the air is rarely sufficiently smooch char you can rake both hands off the controls. On another launch the vario was in place but nor switched on - a simple problem co correct ifl could fly competently with one hand. On yec another launch I used poor judgment in monitoring the location of the rowing truck as it reached che end of the available road. I waited coo long for a good thermal, delaying until the truck had co stop. I released in sink and soon had co land. Fortunately for me, as I gained experience in rowing, the day was nor good for crosscountry flights. The experts gained altitude co 2,200 meters AGL, bur the wind carried chem into a big area of sink and they did nor gee far.

THERMALING TIPS Early in the trip I had difficulty staying with rhe desert thermals. Sometimes I was astonished co make a full turn in good lift,

only co find char the next turn was complerely in sink. I had nor experienced this kind of catastrophic loss of a thermal before. Aware tl1ar I had a lot co learn, I asked the experts for advice. Luis told me char flat land thermals are nor anchored co a rrigger point in the same manner as mountain thermals. Although I was nor consciously pushing upwind while rhermali.ng, the consensus was chat I was consistently fulling our of the thermals on the upwind side. Ondrej cold me chat one

The trio in formation flight.

P A RA G LI DI NG

does need ro push upwind a small amoum even with flarland thermals. He suggested a push upwind every third or fourth turn, rather than a push upwind on every cum in a mountain thermal. Luis also cold me chat you lose about 20 meters of altitude relative ro the air on every cum. Therefore, you are always traveling in a fresh supply of air and you must be very willing to search in a new direction for the best lift. Desert thermals often consist of large, confused areas of life with many AUGUST

2002

advice stood me in good stead several times later in the week. Pedro cold me how to continually be aware of the wind direction, even at high altitude, by watching the ground speed indicated by the GPS. He also advised me co mm harder in thermals. l found that chis advice helped me stay in better contact with cores of lift so I was less likely to lose them. Luis stressed the need to be very patient about staying with lift. The desert thermals are big, but the areas of sink are also big. A rule of thumb from Ondrej is that the distance between thermals is about two and a half times the height of the thermals. So, if you are able to gain 2,000 meters above ground, be prepared for a five-km space between thermals. The logic of the dictum "never leave lift" becomes clear. Luis pointed out char it is much better to be in moderate sink (one m/sec.) than heavy sink (six m/sec.) and chat you need co be sensitive to degrees of sink as well as degrees oflift. When in heavy sink he advised traveling fast downwind at 45 degrees co the direction of the wind, co maximize the chance of finding another thermal. Luis emphasized that you must take full advantage of bubbles of strong lift. When you encounter a core oflift, slow down as much as you can and turn as hard as you dare. The sky was cloudless the entire rime I was at Pampa-Cross, buc chose who had been there before said that there are usually clouds co guide you co life. Luis told me that when there are clouds you cannot use chem effectively as a guide co finding lift cores. Luis commenced chat he had often unless you are in the cop third of the disobserved Ondrej searching about in the tance co cloud base. In the bottom twogeneral area of a thermal for better lift, and thirds it is best co look co the ground for frequenrly being successful in finding it. guidance. He asked Ondrej co explain his thought I appreciated all of the advice and used process. Ondrej's advice was to fly a lot and it co the best of my ability in the time learn co chink like a bird. remaining. Luis cold me char when you lose a thermal you most likely have fallen our of it Next month: Towing operations and more either upwind or downwind. If it is a good Pampa-Cross flying adventures. • thermal it is important co search upwind or downwind and cry co find it again. This

FROM MEGATROPOLIS TO MEGA NOTHINGNESS artide and photos by Stefanie Brend! andJimmy Hall

Earlier this year we headed back to South America in search ofsomething new in flying. Peru seemed like a good place to find just that. We could have never guessed how strange and unusual it would really be, as you will see in the following two-part photo report.

PART 1 - BIG CITY SOARING As soon as our feet left the ground, what had been an oppressive, soul-consuming, nightmare of a place, turned inco a complete and ucter joy co fly over. Having been imprisoned in the city's overcrowded mass of noise, people, pollution and traffic, taking flight was freedom. When chinking of flying sites, a chaotic city of 11 million people does not find itself at rhe top of the list. Before setting off on our fuse trip to Peru, we knew there was flying in Lima, the country's capital city. We had expected it co be so-so ridge soaring, where we might enjoy a short afternoon flight as we hurried around the city preparing for adventures in more remote parts of the country. What we had nor expected it co be was a lifesaver. Looking at the phocos you can imagine how it might be fun co soar over the city. But what you cannot imagine is how it feels ro fly there after being trapped in ic. What had been hell when we were in ic, rurned inco bliss when we were above it. Once airborne, rhe noise and the traffic were still plainly audible, bur it was almost like music. So relieved to no longer be in ic, the sounds and sires of the massive city became a pleasure to sec and hear. Tn a sore of selfish way, we silencly mocked the poor suckers slill buried below. Of course, we would again be in the same position, but at least, because of che flying reprieve, we would be there with our sanity somewhat intact. Ar chis rime it was hard to imagine char we could find anything bur chaos in Peru, bur we were proven wrong as we escaped the city and headed south imo the desert. PART 2 - FROM MEGAT ROPOLIS T O MEGA N OT HINGNESS As soon as we lefr the outski res of Lima, a drastic change became apparent. High rises turn inco suburbs, then inco slums, which stop abrupcly and give way ro an inhospitable desert landscape. The traffic and noise seem crapped inside with the masses. We were happy co leaveir all behind. Soon we found ourselves cruising along the lonely screeches of PanAmerican Highway with thousands of

miles of nothingness ahead of us.

LEss Is MORE IN THE PERUVIAN D ESERT

The nights were completely silent, and other than scars and che moon, no lights could be seen in any direction. The days were hoc, duscy and windy. The afternoons were as perfect as one could imagine. When the midday dust devils became less frequent, we would drive from dune co dune until we found one chat suited our needs and whims. Out came the gliders, off went the shoes, and until it became coo dark to see, we would frolic in an enormous sandbox char seemed custom-made co our fancy. At night we would camp in the same place. In the morning we would load up and set off in search of our next personal Aying sire. In chis manner we traveled from one lonely sire co another, all the way from Lima, Peru to northern Chile. This part of Peru muse be one of che most flyable places on earth. The desert seems co go on forever and rhe lack of trees or bushes means char you can launch anywhere. The lack of ocher pilots, or people for char maccer, means char if you are just traveling in a random manner and taking what comes along, as we were, you will be pioneering mosc of the sires char you fly. We found numerous places co Ay, every one very different from the ochers, a variety you would nor expect in an arid desert. By far our favorite sire was our sea of dunes. And our dunes they certainly were. We were so alone chat food scraps left out did not even accracc bugs. By normal paragliding parameters our flights sucked, low and shore in distance, but chat did nor maccer a bit. Soaring in the warm air of a desert evening, and skimming our bare feet across the unmarked sands of dunes char had never seen another pilot, was as fun as any flying we had ever done.

Photo essay continues on page 39.

TORREY FLIGHT FEST 2002

.,__ _,,,,, he flying community abroad was uniquely represented as well, with pilots from Korea, Germany and Switzerland. Michael Liebermann and Stefan Leybold, the Fly Mike founder and Fly Mike guru, respectively, showed up from Germany to not only show off their products but to show off their skills as racers. The two German flight suit makers also provided an entourage of California "Fly Mike Girls" who sported their brand-name boots and flashy flight suits every day at the Flight Fest. While these girls were exceptional at attracting the attention of pilots, Swiss champion X-C'er, Steven Cox, was turning pilots' heads in another way. As a competition and test pilot for Advance, Steve had all eyes on him as he competed for the first time in a U.S. speed race. Steve did not let the spectators down as he finished in second place in the Paragliding Open Class Division.

On May 1-5, 2002, Torrey Pines Gliderport hosted the largest biwingu,al hang gliding and paragliding speed racing event since the inception ofthe GliderportAir Races. Approximately 20 paraglider pilots hailingftom Utah, Wyoming, "Washington, and, ofcourse, California, made up the greater portion ofracer home states. The Open Class Division consisted of gliders certified as DHV 2 or above (intermediate, performance, or competition). There was also an alternate division, Serial Class, which was composed of certified DHV 1 or 1-2 gliders (beginner or beginner intermediate). In both classes the pilots were weighed by Torrey instructor Gabriel Jebb to make sure they fell within the placarded weight range. Gabriel ran both of the paragliding divisions and felt that "having two classes allowed recreational pilots to fly for experience and fun and the more serious-minded, competitive sport pilots to

push their limits dose to the ground." Each racing event was conducted with two individual "timers," one start and finish judge, two pylon judges, one scorekeeper and several set-up helpers. Racing contestants accumulated points which were subsequently totaled to yield the final top three contestants for each class of racers for the three-day event. ' This year the course was much shorter and faster, enabling a more exciting race than any other year. The four-mile track allowed racing participants, as well as spectators, to analyze each contestant's race per-

P AR AG LID ING

----···-

Place PG SERIAL CLASS DIVISION 1ST Josh Meyers (Ai1wave Sport) 2ND

Robin Marien (Independence Dragon)

3RD

Ki Hong (Gin Oasis)

1ST

PG OPEN CLASS DIVISION Ryan Swan (Gin Boomerang)

2ND

Steven Cox (Advance Proto)

3RD

Rob Von Zabern (Nova Argon) Meeting ofthe minds - Korean-born Ki Hong (le.ft) and Switzerland's Independence manufacturer, Stefan Kurrie. A bird's-eye view ofFlight Fest 2002, with the Red Bull

tent, Cliffhanger Cafe and the Torrey Pines Gliderport shop in sight.

Enjoying some R&R and relaxing between races. Two hang gliding race contestants relax while Steve Cox (right) gets suited up before competing.

AUGUST

2002

forma11ce and strategies. Torrey Pines Gliderport offered spectators an amazing view of paragliding and hang gliding racing in a most electrifying environment. Another new addition co the event was a gross cash purse. The combined hang gliding and paragliding prize money rocaled over $7,000 in cash, as well as $ 1,000 in sponsored prizes. While winning the prize money was a very attractive goal for many of the pilots, racer Robin Marien stated, "If you don't cake it seriously, you'll do better in the long run." Robin cook second in the Serial Class Division and shared the secret of his success as being his "focus on the cask at hand" while "good sportsmanship was a plus." The good spirits of all the pilots may have been attributed to the good mood of the "Wind Gods," because the onshore westerly breeze never ceased blowing. Steady, dynamic ridge lift was provided by

winds averaging 8 ro 15 miles per hour ( 13 co 25 km/hr.), which was the daily norm. These winds alJowed pilots co race low and close co the ridge. Often, racers would compete well below the ridge co gain a fuster lap time, but those who finished were required to do so above the ridge. Despite all the low flying that cook place over the final three days, racer "Big Air Bobby" Motsinger contested that it was "extremdy safe and well managed." The first two days of the five-day event were primarily designated as practice days. All window rules were relaxed (that's right, no whistles) and the entire ridge was ablaze with gliders racing up and down the ridge from early morning until sunset during the five-day event. George Oobrev, a non-racing P3 pilot, noted that what impressed him when he was flying in the air "was the good vibes of all the good pilots." He obviously was happy co find char the sky was not a

heated baccJeground of machismo champion pilots, as he had expected that ic might be prior co such an event. The races were held in conjunction with dealers and manufacturers who exh ibited the lacesc in flight gear and accessories under giant, crisp white cents. Some of the exhibitors included: Suunco, Gradient, FexAmerica, Critter, Bandit Mocors, Aerolighc International, Cloud 9, Paratech, Fly Mike, Moyes America, Wills Wing, Super Fly, Advance, Arizona Ultralight, Independence Gliders, Paraglider magazine and Center of Gravity. The major purpose of chis year's event was nor just to Ay new equipment bur to test, discuss and learn directly from the manufacturers and dealer representatives about the newest advances in free-flight gear. Pilot attendees could demo and cesc gliders, and fly at the Gliderporc for only cen dollars per day. The race course covered a mere one mile (1.6

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F.xhibitors p/,ayed a major role at Torrey Flight Fest 2002. km), leaving approximately three and a half miles (six km) for tesc-Oying gliders. With such divine opportunities available, the Torrey skies were frequently Jefr speckled with multi-colored gliders as far as the eye could see. Regarding the p lethora of pilots and dealers, Meghan Tweedy, a new paraglider pilot, had this co say about her Flight Fest 2002 experience: "As a student, 1 was thoroughly impressed with the site and had a great time every day. Tgot to see and demo all the equipment chat is out on the market today. I also was able co interview some pilots and ask a ton of questions. l definitely want to race next year. 1 chink this is a great way for paraglider people co gee together and share their knowledge and experience, and just have a lor of fun." Bobby Motsinger agreed with Meghan and added that he was ecstatic about how organized and diverse the event was. This year's Flight Fest amacted extensive television and media coverage, although noc quite as much as cine neighboring Torrey Pines golf course did during their Buick Invitational. Also, a portion of the entry fees was donated co a local charitable organization, Becky's House, which a.ids victims of domestic violence. Torrey Pines Gliderporc hopes co attract even more meclia and racers nexc year, and co double the amount of money they raised chis year for charity. The evening entercainmenr was

AUGUST

20 0 2

unbeatable, and there were parties almost every night. Thursday night was devoted co the exhibitors and event staff, who spent the evening in a downtown high-rise for a "meet and greec," with views of the San Diego harbor. Afrerward, pilot gossip revealed chat certain pilots, perhaps of Germanic descent, as well as certain Torrey natives, went carousing on the downtown screecs co make the night even more memorable. On Friday night there was a giant rotisserie setup and an all-you-can-eac buffet on the Torrey cliffs - talk abouc clining with a view! The following evening was hosced by Red Bull, who served up the tastiest tacos and house grooves from a popular local DJ, for all the pilots, their families and friends. The final Sunday night was awards night ar Ono Sushi (owned and operated by a local pa.ca.glider pilot). 1n addition co the awards presentation ic included sad farewells and goal-setting for nexc year's speed races. With great wind conditions and events during the day, and activities every night, Flight Fest 2002 was an awesome evenc co be a part of Torrey Pines Gliderporc looks forward co seeing the same people back next year as well as many new and eager faces.

For information on how you can race, exhibit or volunteer at Flight Fest 2003, call 1817-FLY-TEAM (359-8326). - Ed. •

Combining Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazines by Jayne DePanfi!is, USHGA Executive Director

f prepared for my job as the Executive Director of the USHGA, I realized char no amount of preparation would eliminate the need to make a scary leap of faith into the great unknown. I had driven all the way from Lookout Mountain, Georgia co Colorado Springs, Colorado, only to be confronted with that uncomfortable feeling one often associates with change. I arrived in Colorado Springs with a few days to spare and navigated my way to the USHGA office a day or so in advance, just to be certain I would not be lace for my first day of work. Preparation for the dreaded first day paid off, and I arrived on time. The leap of faith paid off as well, and now I smile at the thought of having allowed the anxiety and discomfort associated with this change co have affected me that way. Today, it is very difficult to recall these thoughts and feelings because they were not realistic; they were based on emotions I had conjured up in my mind. I was worried about things that never happened, situations that did not present themselves, and a.II for nothing. I feel much the same way about most of the fears concerning a single Association publication. An unfounded fear of change is one way to justify nor making a change that might be for the better. Steve Rori, a Washington paraglider pilot, Chairperson of the Paragliding Accident Review Committee, guru for the USHGA database and valued member of the Editorial Task Force, recently e-mailed the following two quotes. The first one is by Georg Christoph Lechtenberg: "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better." A quote by Mahatma Gandhi followed that one: "We must become the change we want to see." This wisdom provides the inspiration requited to manage the process of combining the USHGA's separate publications into one monthly magazine. The title of this new monthly publication will be Hang Gliding and Paragliding magazine, and we expect to publish the fuse combined issue in March 2003. The official count of eligible voter survey cards was delayed until July 1 to be certain that USHGA had received all of the voter survey

USHGA Combination Vote - 2002 Should the USHGA combine HANG GLIDING and PARAGLIDING Magazines into one magazine?

Votes For Combinin&916 VotesA11ainst Combinin&282

Total Votes 1,198

PARAGLIDI NG

cards postmarked on or before the publicized deadline ofJune 5, 2002. We implemented extreme measures to be certain that this count was an accurate one. We entered each USHGA member number and corresponding vote into a spreadsheet that enabled the staff to determine that each vote satisfied the criteria for an eligible vote. The voter survey card had to include a USHGA member number, the USHGA membership had to be current, the current member had to vote for one or the other of the options, and the voter card had to be postmarked on or before June 5, 2002. A card was deemed ineligible unless all of these requirements were met, and the spreadsheet report enabled us to make sure that each vote was unique and counted only once. As you can see from the chart that accompanies this article, the USHGA staff was also able to match the USHGA member number with the member's division type. The official count of eligible voter cards totaled 1,198. There were 916 eligible votes in favor of combining the magazines compared to 282 eligible votes opposed to the combination. This represents a three-to-one vote in favor of combining our two magazines into a single monthly publication. Votes in favor of combining the magazine were comprised of 526 votes from hang glider pilots, 295 from paraglider pilots and 95 from pilots who are members of both flying divisions. Votes opposed to combining the magazines were comprised of 197 votes from hang glider pilots, 76 from paraglider pilots and nine from pilots who are members of both divisions. (The USHGA staff also counted an additional 52 ineligible votes that were not included in the official count because they were postmarked after June 5, 2002. There were 35 ineligible votes in favor of combining the magazines and 17 opposed.) All eligible voter cards postmarked on or before June 5 will be included in the drawing for prizes to take place on July 4, the results of which will be announced in the September issue of our magazines. There were only five voter cards postmarked on or before June 5 that could not be counted because the membership was not current, the member number did not exist or the member had voted for both options. We are pleased with the number of eligible votes. USHGA received a 10% return, and while this may seem like a small percentage to some of you, such a return is in fact better than average, a good return when you consider that about five percent of most association's members choose to actively participate in decision-making processes. It is a fact of association management that most members are content to pay their dues and receive the expected benefits of membership. Some members have criticized USHGA for implementing a public-relations campaign in favor of combining the magazines, while others have criticized USHGA for not providing a thorough analysis of the issues concerning this vote. It is important to begin with the end in mind, and having stated that, the USHGA Publications Committee outlined a public-relations campaign concerning the possible combination of the magazines last October at the fall Board of Directors meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was one of the bestattended Board meetings by the general membership in quite some time, and it was during the Publications Committee meeting that I provided a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of combining the magazines. The Committee determined that USlfGA members should be permitted to vote again on this important issue. The

AUGUST

2002

Committee supported the PR plan as a way to inform USHGA members about this vote. Interested pilots who attended this meeting also supported the PR plan and the need for the membership to vote on this issue. The USHGA Publications Committee outlined the public-relations campaign in this meeting, and it began with an announcement by Dan Johnson, Chairperson of the Publications Committee, in his "Product Lines" column last November. Aaron Swepston and Gil Dodgen co-authored an article expressing their views from the perspectives of Art Director and Editor, while the Executive Director's article provided views from a business perspective. Jim Zeiser, USHGA President, offered insights concerning some of the delivery issues involved with producing two monthly magazines. Finally, a full-color page ad announcing the May test issue and vote was published in the March and April editions of both magazines. USH GA printed a few letters to the editor expressing the contributors' positive reactions to the possibility of one magazine. An anonymous member summarized some of the pros and cons of one monthly magazine in his article. This member advocated voting according to your conscience. The USHGA staff, including the editorial and design staff, did not receive a single article discussing opposition to the combination of the magazines. The staff received one or two letters to the editor opposing the combined magazine and these appeared in print immediately. USHGA is publishing one letter of opposition received at the end of May, and this letter will appear in the July magazines because we did not receive it in time to publish it before the final vote count. Why did these contributors wait until the end of May to publicly oppose a single monthly magazine when votes had to be postmarked on or before June 5, 2002? The USHGA staff did not discriminate against the opposing vote. The staff observed that a number of USHGA members who contacted the office after the voting deadline to express their concerns about one magazine failed to cast their votes - and this, by their own admission. They did not take the time to vote even though a stamped card had been included in their magazine for their mailing convenience. This was a vote about whether or not USHGA should combine two monthly magazines into a single publication. This was not a vote about whether or not you enjoy sharing flying sites, or feel good about some of the inconveniences associated with sharing a limited number of good flying sites. Voters had to rise above these feelings and vote according to whether or not they believed there was enough merit to the idea of combining the magazines. For those of you who voted, this was not necessarily an easy task. As a Novice-rated hang glider pilot who enjoys aerotowing in smooth conditions, and a pilot who flies with "big wheels" on my glider because I prefer to roll in on landings, I was already limited in my flying options and I had to rise above my bias about sharing flying sites to vote my conscience about the magazines. I also evaluated the process by which paraglider pilots became members of the USHGA for the first time during the early to mid1990's. This evaluation took into consideration the context in which the process occurred, and it seemed as though USHGA did not begin this membership process with the end in mind, or that this "end" was no longer relevant to our current situation. It made sense for paraglider pilots to publish their own magazine

when they were members of the United States Paragliding Association. However, paraglider pilots were becoming members of the United States Hang Gliding Association, and for good reason. It was necessary to consider the possibility that the way in which this "merger" took place perhaps led us to believe that "separate" was better. Paraglider pilots and hang glider pilots had become accustomed to separate publications, because they had in fact been members of different organizations. Separate magazines helped to facilitate this merger or union, at least until the paraglider pilots became assimilated into the organization. The USHGA represents the interests of free-flight enthusiasts, and, in fact, the number one suggestion for an alternative title for the combined publication was Free Flight. The suggestion of Free Flight as an alternative magazine title indicates that it was a good idea to ask members to vote on this issue again. The popularity of this title indicates that the members who voted believe that the Association has evolved beyond the need for separate publications. I might suggest that, in an effort to evolve as an organization dedicated to the principles of free flight, we are also reaching back to our roots as free-flight enthusiasts in an effort to bridge the gap of"disconnect" that was created when we decided that separate was better a few years ago. I met USHGA member number 30, Bob Chase, at the Soaring Society of America Convention in Ontario, California, in February of this year. Bob approached the USHGA booth for the first time carrying a bundle of newsletters under his arm. He was very protec-

tive of this bundle, and explained that these were original copies of the Low & Slow newsletter booklets published in the early 1970's by Joe Faust of Santa Monica, California. I reviewed these newsletters during my lunch hour, and later, Bob promised to make copies for me. The newsletters were entertaining and informative. They were written by imaginative and witty "birdmen." The introductory statement included in the premier issue of Low & Slow in March of 1971 emphasizes the following: " ... Dare to fly daily. Dream. Bring your personal notes to this gathering place. We need each other." The Low & Slow mission statement includes the following instruction: "We are to grow with the needs and ideas that will ensue on our adventure." !fl extrapolate from the goals expressed in the L&S booklets, these goals are pertinent today:

I) Fellowship 2) Enjoyment 3) Advancement of the science of mechanical, free flight in the realm of minimum total cost 4) Encouragement of effective dreaming about free flight 5) Complete sharing of ideas ... the lowering of inhibitions that keep us from letting others really enjoy the miscellany of our deep self... such miscellany that may give ochers a foundation for discovering really fresh vistas about soaring and other modes of free flight 6) Development of a literature that gives us all a set of keys to the many mansions of motorless and free transcendental flights 7) A regular development of the methods and technologies that per-

Ir Your USHG/\ Membership I:xpires On 08/31 /02 We Need To Receive Your Renewal BY AUGUST 20th

Or yoo will miss the Sept. Magazine.

irYour USI l(i/\ Membership Expires On 09/30/02 We \Iced To Receive Your Renewal BY Sl!PT. 20th Or you will miss the October Magazine.

PARAGLIDING

tain to the construction of systems of free flight which remain possible for a person with a very limited budget of time, money, space, mobility 8) Being a voice for "half-baked" ideas ... in order to bare ideas that might otherwise have been lost concerning free flight Topics covered in Low & Slow included soaring, gliding, hang gliding, slope soaring, slope gliding, earth skimming, ground-effect skimming, air man skiing, manned kiting, everyman's glider, high joyreturn gliding, guided parachutes, synthetic thermal makers, all-age near-home gliding, and an interdisciplinary approach to advancing the development of minimum flight. The list of topics is actually beyond the scope of this article, but I wonder if these birdmen would have differentiated between hang gliders and paragliders and their pilots the way we did when paraglider pilots joined the Association in 1993. While some may argue that we have evolved into two completely separate sports since these newsletters were published, I maintain that we cannot afford to evolve into two completely separate sports, and that we cannot afford to give the public the impression that we have evolved into two completely separate sports. Perhaps our focus has become too limited in our ambition as birdmen and free-flight enthusiasts. Pilots argue that publishing one magazine for paraglider pilots and hang glider pilots is like publishing one magazine for skiers and snowboarders. I disagree. We simply do not have the luxury of the vast numbers of participants to compare ourselves to the participants in these other sports. Massive numbers of participants fuel growth and provide

for effective lobbying. Massive numbers of participants provide a potential for abundant retail sales. Massive numbers of participants support the production of a greater number of consumer publications and allow for differentiation. The market for these sports has grown to the point where differentiation became both possible and profitable. However, the growth of our sports has not reached the point where it makes sense to differentiate us as two separate kinds of pilots flying two different types of motorless wings. This differentiation will not serve our interests as an association even though indi-vidual members may feel that it serves their interests in attempting to maintain separate flying sires. We need to focus on securing existing flying sites, obtaining new ones, and creating new pilots. We need to create more biwingual pilots. One publication will demonstrate that we are a unified group committed to such goals. The Association's publication should not discriminate against types of motorless flight. Hang gliders and paragliders evolved from the same desire to create a low-cost means of personal, free flight. Founding pilots shared their dreams of flying with each other in one venue. Hang Gliding and Paragliding magazine should be the place where we can say to each other, dare ro fly daily, dream, and develop really fresh vistas about soaring and other modes of flying. The USHGA will gain a great deal by publishing one monthly magazine. Combining our magazines will allow us to combine our voices, and our friends will be able to hear us better. II

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SAVIEl 10% off order of 2-booksor more SAVEi 10% off order of book and video combinations Sport Aviation Publications, PO Box 43, Spring Mills, PA 16875 Tel/Fax: 814-422-0589 - E-mail: pagenbks@lazerlink.com Visa and Mastercard accepted

GUST

2002

PARAGLIDING ADVISORY: Used paragliders should always be thoroughly inspected before flying for the first time. If in doubt, many paragliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them ro inspect. Annual inspections on paragliders should include sailcloth strength tests. Simply performing a porosity check isn't sufficient. Some gliders pass porosity yet have very weak sailcloth. You don't want your glider simply falling apart, especially with you dangling underneath. BUYERS SHOULD SELECT EQUIPMENT THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR SKILL LEVEL OR RATING. NEW PILOTS SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM A USHGA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR. PARAGLIDERS ADVANCE EPSILON 3/28 - · DHV 1-2, 90-107kg, custom green w/blue leading edge. Advance Winner harness (large/tall), backpack, R2 reserve (new), all only 6 hours, crispy (moved to FL), RELM MPU32 radio & harness. Paid $5,616, buy all for $2,800, free quickship. Wing (954) 755-9192, WingJazz@aol.com BANDIT 986-1550.

POWERED PARAGLIDERS FLY 130 - Brand new, never used $3,495 OBO. (214) 695-1666, albertovoli@yahoo.com PARAPOWER USA - New paramotors and wings. Special motorparagliders, designed with safety and easy handling: Silex & Dudek. Perfect balance between motor, harness and glider. Engines: powerful, quiet, reliable Solo 210. Made in Germany. Great prices. (630) 595-9346, www.parapowerusa.com HARNESSES Advance Sigma 4, like new $1,400. Edel Adas S, excellent, blue $1,300. Airea tandem, harness, reserve, 20 flights $1,800. FreeX Flair S, harness, reserve, vario $1,500. www.aircorec.net/f1yhawaii.htm GIN BANDIT - Medium, 87-105kg., turquoise, JOO hours $1,000 plus shipping from Hong Kong. JF Tremblay at mywife@attglobal.net GRADIENT BIONIX - 140-210kg., <45hrs $1,250 OBO. Guillermo (970) 544-3758, franchu@msn.com

Small $1,000. Matrix, small $1,500. (707)

EDEL ATLAS - Large, excellent, yellow, 20 hours $899. SupAir harness $199. Reserve $199. ADI radio $149. Helmet, large $99. (516) 431-5453 vince_donohue@yahoo.com

ITV PROXIMA-· Small, DHV 1-2, <5 hours $1,500. SupAir Evo-Side harness plus reserve, excellent, small $400. Edel Balance harness, small, excellent $250. (707) 480-5548, sarahayag@cs.com WINDTECH SERAK 27 - Medium, DHVl-2, like new only 2 flights $2,350. (214) 695-1666, albertovoli@yahoo.com

THIN RED LINE ALPINE - Hardly ever used $200 plus shipping from Hong Kong. JF Tremblay at mywife@attglobal.net EMERGENCY PARACHUTES AUTHORIZED CHUTE REPAIR - And service center for APCO, Elan, Chiron powered parachutes and UP /Perche/Independence paragliders and more! We have a full-time loft available with quick turn around for small to huge repairs and annual inspections. Ship your chute to MoJo's Gear Ltd. Co., 1475 CR 220, Tow, TX 78672 Attn: REPAIR or INSPECTION. Include a note about the service(s) you require as well as a contact phone number and email. We will contact you with an estimate prior to starting the work. Office: 915-3791567, www.mojosgear.com

r------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM 50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum Boldface or caps: $1.00 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs: $25 per column inch. (phone numbers: 2 words, P.O. Box: 1 word, E-mail or Web address: 3 words) photos: $25.00, line art logos: $15.00 (1.75" maximum) DEADLINE: 20th of the month, 10 weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., September 20 for the Nov. issue). Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations or refunds allowed on any advertising after deadline. Ad insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit card. Please enter my classified ad as follows:

Number of months: ___________ SECTION O Paragliders O Emergency Parachutes 0 Parts & Accessories O Business & Employment 0 Miscellaneous O Powered Paragliders O Videos

OTowing O Schools & Dealers 0 Ultralights O Publications & Organizations OWanted O Harnesses

Begin with ________ 2002 issue and run for _ _ __ consecutive issue(s). My D check, D money order is enclosed in the amount of$ __________ NAME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~

ADDRESS: CITY: PHONE: _ _

STATE: _ _ _ __

Number of words: _______ @$.50 =____

Number of words:

I I I I

. - - - - @$1.00 =

USHGA, P.O Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901 (719) 632-8300 fax (719) 632-6417

L-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------38

PARAGLIDING

ERU Peru has endless potential for any kind offlying: High Andes, deserts, rainforest, coastal soaring, long distance, thermal sites - you name it, and you can probably find it. All it takes is time, selfsufficiency and a high tolerance for hear, dust and driving on rough to nonexistent roads. If you would like to check out more photographs or need contact info for flying in Peru, go co our website: www. seatoskyproductions.com.

SCHOOLS & DEALERS

COLORADO

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ARIZONA DIXON'S AIRPLAY PARAGLIDING - Dixon White: USHGA's Instructor of the Year! Airplay: Top ranked school for years and featured in the best selling videos "Starting Paragliding", "Weather to Fly" and the "Art of Kiting". The perfect beginner training areas at both our Washington and Arizona locations. Arizona's "best" beginner season is September through May. Washington is open May through September. At both locations drive-up to 360 degree treeless and rock.less launches. Land in wide open fields, enjoy many flights each day! Limited access to the Flight Parks reduce traffic and crowding. Excellent individualized instruction with state-of-the-art lesson plans and equipment. Comprehensive ground schooling with an emphasis on micrometeorology. Great new/used inventory, specializing in Windtech paragliding gear, repair center, and superb customer service. In ARIZONA or WASHINGTON appointments are required. PO Box 2626 Flagstaff, AZ 86003. (928) 526-4579 www.paraglide.com or dixon@paraglide.com CALIFORNIA AIRJUNKIES PARAGLIDING - Join KEN BAIER for your "Pursuit of Paragliding Excellence" in the land of year-round, excellent paragliding: Southern California and the Baja. Courses for Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Instructor ratings. Powered paragliding, soaring and maneuvers clinics, guided tours, tandem and towing instruction and special events. USHGA certified. Handling the latest equipment. Call (760) 753-2664 for information, airjunkies@worldnet.att.net

FLY ABOVE ALL - Experience year-round paragliding instruction in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA! Our friendly, experienced staff offers hands-on, personalized, radio-controlled lessons. Enjoy soaring the best training hill in the Western US and when you land, shuttles will whisk you back to the top for your next scenic flight. USHGA certified, solo, tandem and powered paragliding instruction, equipment sales and tandem flights. Visit our Website at www.flyaboveall.com or call at (805) 965-3733.

642-0849, www.flyawayparagliding.com

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OJAI PARAGLIDING- Ojai is Southern California's best kept secret. Year-round, great soaring in this beautiful valley surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest. Near Santa Barbara and Ventura. Great cross-country possibilities. Courses for beginner to advanced pilots. Motorized paragliding, guided tour and tandems. New and used equipment, 12 years in the business! Tel# (805) 646-9660, info@flyojai.com, www.flyojai.com

MAUI WOW WEE - Proflyght Hawaii, first school in Hawaii, located on Maui, is now under new ownership. The best just got better. When it gets cold in the north, Maui is the place to fly, explore, relax and/or learn to fly. Team Proflyght sports an incredible training facility, wonderful year-round weather, 1,000' training slope, 100' to 7 '000 vertical descents off Haleakala Crater (10,023'). Toll Free 877-GO-FLY-HI. Visit our website WWW.PARAGLIDEHAWAII.COM

MEXICO - Year-round, summer in Monterrey, winter in Valle de Bravo. 1-800-861-7198,

PlySantaBarbara.com

EAGLE PARAGLIDING - We are an Airplay sister school, and teach the same high quality program which has made Dixon's Airplay a top ranked school for years. We specialize in beginner instruction. SANTA BARBARA caters to paraglider pilots of all levels. Our training hill is unparalleled, and offers year round instruction, equipment sales, SERVICE, and support. By appointment only. www.FlySantaBarbara.com (805) 9680980."

TORREY PINES GLIDERPORT - Come soar in San Diego! This family owned and operated flying site offers USHGA certified instruction, equipment sales, tandem flight instruction, motorized pg/hg instruction, parachute repacks, repairs, and site tours. We also have an extensive pg/hg outfitting shop and dining with a view when you eat at our own Cliffhanger Cafe. Importers for ADVANCE, PARATECH, AVA Sport Accessories, Crispi boots, Center of Gravity helmets, Fly Mike flight suits, Gut Stuff gloves, and AustriAlpin carabiners and dealers for most other brands. Check us our online for sales and questions at: www.flytorrey.com, or call roll free at 1-877-FLY-TEAM. Also, tune in to the Internet Paragliding Talk Show at www.wsradio.ws every Monday 9-11:00 am (PST).

FAX your classified ad, membership renewal or

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, foot launch and tow. 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. Visit our paragliding school in Jackson, Wyoming. Call Tracie at (307) 739-8620.

merchandise order: (719) 632-6417. We gladly accept VISA, Amex and MasterCard. AUGUST

2002

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PARTS &ACCESSORIES

MONTANA HIGH PLAINS PARAGLIDING - Superior quality paragliding equipment, excellenr prices, and friendly service. On the web at: http://hometown.aoLcom/hiplainz or phone (406) 458-86.36. -- ------- ----------

NEVADA ADVENTURE SPORTS - Carson City, Sierra tours, tandems, sales. (775) 883-7070 http://home.pyramid.net/advspts ---- ------- ------- ------

I-IILL COUNTRY PARAGLIDING INC - Learn complete pilot skills. Personalized USHGA certified training, ridge soaring, foot & row launching in central Texas. MOTORIZED PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTION & EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE. (915) 3791185. 1475 CR 220, Tow TX 78672.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS, INC. !'TI' II SUMMER SPECIAL $99.95 - Free Express S&H

KITE ENTERPRISES - Slope, stationa1y winch, payout winch training, sales, rentals and repair. Wills Wing, Firebird, Gin, Ozone. Dallas, I'ort Worth and north (972) 590-9090, www.kite-enterprises.com

NEW YORK -

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AIR SPORTS USA -- Lessons, service, equipment. Paragliding, hang gliding, powered paragliding, trikes. Phone (718) 777-7000, WWW.FLYFORFUN.NET NORTH CAROLINA

SUPER FLY PARAGLIDING ACADEMY - The Paragliding Academy is the nation's foremost paragliding center offering comprehensive pilot training programs, powered paragliding instruction, tandem flights, maneuvers training, towing training/certification, and tandem

pilot training. The Paragliding Academy is the closest shop ro Point of the Mountain, open year round and is supported by the Super Fly, Inc. distribution and setvice center

just

minutes

away.

Instructors:

Ken

Hudonjorgensen, Scotty Marion, Kevin Biernacki, Dale Covington, Bo Criss, Ryan Swan, Jeff farrell and Chris Santacroce. (801) 816-1372 www. paragl id ingacademy .com.

USHGA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTION Powered Paragliding•Tuwing•Foot!aunch 1tlndem• EquipmcntoSaleso Service

SOUTHERN SIGES - MOUNTAIN FLYING and POWERED PARAGLIDING instruction, sales and service with full-time shop, 1 hour north of Charlotte. 7 beautiful flying sites nearby. (828) 632-6000 WWW.SOUTHERN SKIES.NET

• ORDER ONLINE AND SAVE • \\'later/Dust Resistant Push BLmon • Field Replaceable Finger Switch • Heavier Gauge Wire/Improved Plugs • Increased Strain Relief at ALL Joints

DIXON'S AIRPLAY PARAGLIDING - Please see our classified ad under Arizona. www.paraglide.com

HOLE

Extra finger switch $19.95 w/purchase. Dealer inquiries welcome. Call (785) 843-1842, mikedillon@flightconn.com. MC/Visa. Visit our website at www.flighrconn.com FOR ALL YOUR FLYING NEEDS - Check our rhe Aviation Depot at www.mojosgear.com featuring over 1000 items for foot-launched and powered paragliding, hang gliding, srunr 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 800664-1160 for orders only. Office (915) 379-1567. HAVE EXTRA EQUIPMENT - That you don't know what to do with. Advertise in the Paragliding classifieds, $.50 per word, $5 minimum. Call USHGA for details (719) 632-8300, ushga@ushga.org or fax your ad with a Visa/MC:, fax (719) 632-6417.

SOUTH CAROLINA ----------------------

JACKSON HOLE PARAGLIDING - Come to Paragliding Paradise and enjoy alpine flying at its absolute best. Ten sites in a ten-mile radius including the 4,139' aerial cram. Jackson Hole Paragliding offers scenic tandem flights, beginner through advanced instruction, mountain rhennal clinics, x-c clinics, n1aneuvers train-

THE MID-ATLANTIC'S - Most experienced paragliding school. All USHGA Ratings from beginner to advanced. Thermal/XC tuition, tow-winching & maneuvers specialist, and National/lnrernational guided tours. Contact us for a list of in-stock new and used equipment and/or to inquire about our training programs. Flying sites in North Carolina and Virginia. Call us at (803) 448-7254 or visit our web site: www.midatlanticairsports.com

ing, aerobatic demonstrations, scooter, truck, and boat rowing. The Jackson Hole Paragliding team features advanced instructors Scott Harris and Tom Bartlett, x-c masters Jon Hunt and Chip Hildebrand, world class aero-pilots Matt Combs and Ranyon D'Arge, tow tech Randy Alfano, and videograpber Demian McConnell. Call ro set up a vacation package tailored to improve your flying skills and to build your confidence. (.'307) 690-TRAM (8726) flyrun@wyoming.com www.jhparagliding.com

New: To Fly, Discover Paraglidingvideo in stock, $9.95. Free shipping in the U.S.

·---------------------------------------~

PARAGLIDING

--------- -----

IS IT SOARABLE? - Be sure with a USHGA Windsolc Made of 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, UV treated, 5'4" long w/11" throat. Available colors fluorescent pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/white. $39.95 (+$4.75 S/H). Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. !lox 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330. (719) 632--8.'lOO, fax (719) 632-6417. VISNMC accepted.

THE ART OF PARAGLIDING - By Dennis Pagen. HOT OH THE PRESS!!! Seep by step training, ground handling, soaring, avoiding dangers, and much much more. 2/4 pages, 248 illustrations. The most complete manual about paragliding on the marker. $34.95 +$5.00 s/h. USHGA, PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. (719) 632-8300, fax your MC/Visa/ Amex to (719) 632-6417, www.ushga.org, ushga@ushga.org *NEW* PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL - lly Dennis Pagen, available through USHGA. Covers: Learning to teach/Teaching to learn; school organization; teaching beginners; teaching novice;

weather considerations and much more. 140 pages packed with illustrations. $15.00 +$5 s/h. USHGA, PO Box 1.l.-lO, Colorado Springs CO 80901. (719) 6328300, fax your MC/Visa/ Amex to (719) 632-6417, www.ushga.org, ushga@ushga.org MINI VARIO - World's smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0--18,000 ft., fast response and ?. year warranty. Great for hang gliding too. ONLY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, 92Tl5. (714) 966-1240, www.mallettcc.com MC/Visa accepted.

SOARING - Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. rull membership $55. Info. kit with sample copy $3. SSA, P.O. Box 2100, Hobbs, NM 88241. (505)

VIDEOS TOP NAVIGATOR - Flight computer 05/2002 USO $950. (808) 895-9"/72, http://www.aircotec.net/ topnavigaror. h tm

Classified advertising: new for your equipment and cash in your pocket, What a deal! Your ad is read by more than 4,000 paragliding enthusiasts, Advertise with us today,

TO FLY: DISCOVER PARAGLIDING TODAY USH(;A's 7 minute promotional video, now only $9.95 PLUS FREE SHIPPING (in the USA). 1-800-6166888, www.ushga.org

*NEW-JUST IN* SUPER FLY HARD by Super Fly. A worldwide flying adventure film featuring Chris Santacroce, Rob Whittall, Othar Lawrence and Pablo Lopez. Filmed at the most beaucifol flying locations in the world-Hawaii, Switzerland, Turkey & Utah. This films shows the beauty of flying, the latest aerobatic maneuvers and an introspective look imo why we fly. 40 minutes $35.95 *NEW* SPEED TO FLY with Jockey Anderson. A complete video guide to cross country paragliding. Great air-co-air and in-board footage with Jockey as he takes you around the world, providing flying rips and interviewing the top pilots. Covers thermaling, decision making, competition flying and speed co fly. 70 minutes $39.95 *NEW* A HIGHER CALLING by Dawn Treader Productions. Winner "People's Choice Award" at the Banff Moun rain Film Festival 2000. A stoty of six friends attempting to fly cross country together as a group through western Nepal, where finding launches & landings becomes a daily routine. Become immersed into the Nepal culture upon eve1y landing. Superb editing. 45 minutes $32.95 PARAGLIDER GROUND HANDLING & THE ART OF KITING, by Adventure Productions. Learn techniques and tips for easy ground handling with this instructional program. Get in tune with your glider and improve your flying skills while on the ground. Various wind conditions are covered with the successful and proven indusuy-scandard techniques of Dixon WhiteMaster rated pilot, USHGA Examiner and USHGA's PG Instructor of the Year. This is for the beginner, intermediate & advanced pilot who wants to do some brushing up on his skills. Be a master of your paraglider. 44 minutes $36.95 (now available in DVD). IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN By Adventure Productions. Searching for the perfect mountain, perfect flight, and the perfect experience that challenges our essence and satisfies our quest for adventure. This paragliding odyssey takes you to St. Anton, Austria; Garmisch-Parrenkirchen, Germany; Sun Valley, Idaho; Point of the Mountain, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Features in-air footage, aerial maneuvers, and local pilot tours. 44 minutes $36.95. BALI HIGH, by Sea to Sky Productions. A paragliding adventure film. Great flying and a great adventure on che exotic island of Bali, Indonesia. A result of wild imaginations, weeks of filming and three unsupervised pilots in a land of serious fun. Great flying footage. 38 min $29.95. WEATHER TO FLY, by Advenrure Productions. A much needed instructional/educational video on micrometcornlogy. Dixon White, Master pilot and USHGA Examiner, takes you through a simple step-bystep process showing where co acquire weather data and how to interpret it. For pilots of any aircraft. Learn -----------

AUGUST

2002

about regional & local influences and how to determine winds aloft and stability. "Weather To Fly" is an over-all view packed with useful derails and includes great cloud footage. A straight-forward presentation that is easy to follow. 50 min. $39.95 (now available in DVD). STARTING PARAGLIDING by Adventure Productions. Covers basic preparations, weather, proper attitude, ground handling & those first exciting launches. 30 min $29.95. Call or fax USHGA (719) 632-8300, fax (719) 6326417, please add +$5 domestic s/h for 1-2 videos, add $6 for 3-4 videos (Int'l orders, email us at ushga@ushga.org for shipping charges.) Great to impress your friends or for those socked-in days. Order online at www.ushga.org! MISCELLANEOUS VIDEOS, BOOKS & APPAREL- Call USHGA for your Merchandise order form (719) 632-8300, fax (719) 632-6417, email:ushga@ushga.org,www.ushga.org DON'T LEAVE YOUR GROUND-BOUND EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. SELL IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate for classified advertising is $.50 per word (or group of characters) and $1.00 per word for bold or all caps. Phone number=2 words, PO Box=2 words, weight range i.e. 137-185lbs=2 words, web site or email address=3 words. MINIMUM AD CHARGE $5.00. A fee of $15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. LINEART & PHOTO SIZE NO LARGER THAN 1.75" X 2.25". Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs are $25.00 per column inch. Please make checks payable to USHGA. Send to: PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE, Classified Advertising, P.O. Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330 (719) 632-8300 or fax (719) 632-6417, email jeff@ushga.org with your Visa, Amex or MasterCard. DEADLINE FOR THE DECEMBER ISSUE IS SEPTEMBER 20 TH. --------

STOLEN WINGS & THINGS GIN BOLERO & PARAGLIDING GEAR - Stolen May 17th, 2002 from car at REDMOND, WA. Bin Bolero, blue, X-small. SupAir Eva harness, small red/black w/tan trim & rear mount reserve container w/extra velcro strips along both sides of the reserve container area, it also has black clips attached to the tops of both shoulder straps. Gin SS 30m2 reserve parachute (inside the harness). Tree kit. Contact Annie Sohn, (425) 493-2289, asohn@combimatrix.com SOL AXIOM - stolen with Toyota truck in Salt Lake City, Utah in late March 2002. Wing is size small, purple with pink stripe along the underside; also Sol Charly harness (small/medium), grey Leedom helmet, Flytec vario, reserve. All items were packed in a homemade black and green PG backpack. Contact Damion Mitchell, (801) 518-0768 or dzmitchell@hotmail.com

with a car SALT LAKE CITY, UT around December 31, 2001. Both slightly used. Also blue, medium Woody Valley Express air bag harness, reserve, and black open face Lazer Helmet. Contact Ryan Swan, (SOI) 2559595, ryan@4superfly.comwww.4superfly.com ADVANCE EPSILON 3 - Lost along Hwy 395 just outside VICTORVILLE, CA on August 14, 2001. Has a gold leading edge with a small (3-4 ") patch near the center; also blue SupAir Eva top harness, helmet, vario, etc. Contact Jason Gilbert (530) 318-7288, jg !lberr@hotmail.com FIREBIRD IGNITION - Large. Stolen in the BELLINGHAM, WA area in early August 2001. Yellow, with black Edel Hero harness with RS2 rese1ve; black full-face Edel Helmet. All items were packed in a black Edel backpack. Contact Matias Rudback (360)647-8485, rudbacm@cc.wwu.edu ARCUS - Large, Stolen/lost in the MARSHALL PEAK/SAN BERi'\fARDINO, CA area in early August, 2001. Blue, serial #0764, w/blue SupAir harness. Contact Matthew Sill (646)528-4569, mwsill@hotmail.com STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to USHGA members. There is no charge for this service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in (719) 6328300, faxed in (719) 632-6417, or emailed ushga@ushga.org for inclusion in Paragliding & Hang Gliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders are recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.

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By Dennis Pagan

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Productions ........................... 12 Aerolight USA. ....................................... 37 Apco ........................................................ 9 Critter Mountain Wear .......................... 11 Dixon's Airplay ...................................... 47 Flytec ....................................................... 2 Hall Brothers ......................................... 36 High Plains Paragliding .......................... 14 Independence ......................................... 34 Mojo's Gear ........................................... 32 Rising Air ............................................... 12 Skyco Sports .......................................... 32 Sport Aviation Publications .................... 37 Sup'Air ..................................................... 9 Super Fly, Inc. .......................... Back Cover Thermal Tracker ...................................... 6 Torrey Pines Gliderport .................... 15,36 USHGA ....................... 5,8, 10,14,33,36,46 Wills Wing ............................................... 7

Plus $5 S/H In the USA. 't~AR~JWJCi!i Ta T~AC:H T~ACHWJ@ TO LMRN ' @i:':MOOI OR@AJ 112'ATIOr J ' TEAC:Hlf\l@ BEGlr,lf•Jrn@ ' rnAe1c1111c" 1mv1c:E s1<111 s ' WEATH6R 'esor~§IDffiRATIONS ' 1Hf! WII\J@ lf'.1 THE AIR ' 'it~'lt:tRMIHJIATI§ ]0 ADVkil~em II 18TRUC:TION

Send to: USHGA PO Box 1330 Colorado Springs CO 80901 1-800-616-6888 www.ushga.org

GIN BANDIT - Small purple wired stripe and GIN BOLERO, medium white wired stripe STOLEN along ~---------------------

PARAGLIDING