Learning Paragliding

[mingram]

Hi All. I'm new to the group, but have met a few of you a couple of times. I live in Arlington and I've been itching to learn paragliding but I missed the East Coast weather window so I decided to take 2 weeks off to get my P2 and get geared up with Rob Sporrer at Eagle Paragliding in Santa Barbara, CA. We've had 4 awesome days with highs in the upper 60s! The wind on the training hill has consistently blown in SW 8-12mph every afternoon which has allowed me to get 30 flights in so far. We've been focusing hard on reverse kiting, spot landings, and a couple forward launches in the evening when it gets light. I got my first and second solo thermals yesterday and got a little over launch and did my first 360s! I'm finally relaxed enough to look around at the ocean and mountains and enjoy the view.

Yesterday was also a great day for mountain flying. My roommate Juho is on his 5th week of training and got to cloud base for the first time yesterday – his flight time was 30 minutes. Some of the pros were showing off, flying from the mountain (Skyport) to the training hill, thermalling over us, and then top landing the training hill. This place is magical. Rob and Kevin are awesome instructors and really good guys. It's raining so we're doing ground school today, but Tuesday and Wednesday look good for a tandem mountain flight. It's actually the rainy season here, but there should be plenty of good days left. I'm ready for bigger hills and longer flights!

I'm glad to see the hardcore hang pilots tearing up the snow at the Pulpit! I'm not sure I'm ready for the cold weather flying yet, but it's good to see others are! I really love practicing kiting so I'll be looking for good hills to practice that during the winter. Can anyone recommend good kiting hills near Arlington?

If anyone gets the winter no-flying blues, I highly recommend you visit Santa Barbara.

Matt Ingram

[pink_albatross]

Ha! Great to read this! I look forward to flying with you soon!
Kiting in Arlington... hmm... I dunno. Let me know if you find a good place, since I live in Arlington, too, would love to know where to have a good impromptu session.
-- ellis

[dbodner]

Dan Broxterman was practicing kiting in the field behind the main library before a club meeting. He even had me partaking of the evil pleasures.

[Flying Lobster]

SB is a great place to learn and fly. Tell Rob marc fink says "hi!"

marc

[mingram]

Thanks Ellis!  I got my P2!  The weather only allowed me to get 3 mountain flights from a pretty dicey launch for newbies, but the confidence I gained on the training hill helped me relax.  I connected with some lift on my first flight, but left it to ensure I could make it to the LZ.  The same day Matt "Farmer" Beechinor flew XC for 86km his first time at the site besting a hang pilot who clocked about 65km!  I have a lot to learn. 

Marc, Rob remembers you well and says hi.  

I'm ready for some east coast action! I'll be sending in my CHGPA membership forms tomorrow. Any observers willing to put up with the cold weather?

Matt

[pink_albatross]

Awesome! That's what I call the fast track!
Congratulations on your P2!
And yes, there is at least one observer who flies in the middle of winter
-- ellis (winter observer)