Taking the winter off...

[Scott]

Though it's not a decision etched in stone, I've come to the conclusion that I'm likely done flying for the winter. I thought I would be more motivated to fly in the cold...but now that winter's here, and I'm snowboarding and cross-country skiing, I realized I don't miss flying.

That's certainly not to say I'm quitting the sport---on the contrary, I'm looking forward to starting again in the spring. Just that I'm content with flying being a 3-season (or 2-1/2 season) sport.

Some have pointed to the importance of currency, and I agree---it is important. But I also believe I can remain in the sport safely as long as I'm willing to continue taking several steps back after the winter before moving forward again in the spring and summer. (See my little graph below.)

Ultimately, it means that my development and experience as a pilot will take much longer. But that's okay with me, because this isn't a race, and I have my whole life ahead for flying.

When I begin flying again, I plan to do it in an extremely safe, predictable, familiar, and comfortable environment. Hopefully I won't have lost everything I gained over the last season. (Some say it's like riding a bike---I guess I'll find out!)

I'll still be around though, watching the forum and working on the newsletter (in whatever form we make it). And if we have one of those unseasonably warm days (in the 60s or 70s) with perfect, laminar NW winds at 10mph...I might put the glider back on the truck! (But it would have to be a perfect day with my lack of currency.)

Scott

[Matthew]

Oh, for crying out loud. You live a half hour from Smithsburg. You'd rather go skiing on a weekend day when it's more crowded than the beltway at rush hour than come out and have great day playing on the training hill. You can fly your hang glider, your zaggi, go sledding and even XC ski.

Matthew

[mcelrah]

Scott -
Yours is a personal decision and I don't fault it. I do note a lot
of crashes in the winter - maybe something about the denser air and
more turbulence... Let me just say that there a lot of days with
temperatures in the 50s around here - last New year's Day it went to
60! Yesterday was a bit squirrelly on launch, but predominantly
straight in and there was abundant lift to 2000 over in broken
clouds. Had to work to get down over the LZ... - Hugh

[Spark]

Oh, for crying out loud. You live a half hour from Smithsburg. You'd rather go skiing on a weekend day when it's more crowded than the beltway at rush hour than come out and have great day playing on the training hill. You can fly your hang glider, your zaggi, go sledding and even XC ski.

Matthew

Less can be more ... or more can be better. It is a quality/quantity perspective thang ... er, one of them there 'personal choice' thangs, like Politiks, or Ree-ligion, eh?

I flew the 'Burg for two hours, then went skiing. Didn't bother with the Zagi, but it would have been fun too. I got to soar the new Ozone Buzz and top-land a few times. Got to watch Ken and and Bruce do some kiting practice.

Whitetail hasn't been too crowded. I was there yesterday and the lift-line-wait was less than 5 minutes. It's been awesome. In spite of the temperatures, the snow has been pretty darn good. The groomers (and the snowmakers - when it is cold enought) are doing absolute magic each night. The lifts are high-speed and designed to carry a significant capacity. I've really enjoyed Whitetail this season.

'Spark