The Future of Our Sport

[Scott]

Yes, a grandiose title, but it's true! If you haven't yet, I recommend everyone go and check out the Powerpoint presentations online at the links from the Oz Report:
http://davisstraub.com/OZ/toc.php?9.170#0

To quote....

As part of this effort, one of the members of the committee, Martin Beresford, invested a great deal of effort to analyze the current state of the sport and to consider the operational issues and opportunities facing USHGA. Martin has an incredible skill set in business, finance, and marketing (he is a successful consultant, financial whiz, and now retired executive.)

The bottom line (unless this guy in misinformed) is that all the numbers in the sport---as well as USHGA---are going down. Fewer ratings, fewer sites, fewer new pilots, fewer manufacturers, less R&D...all down. Among other recommendations, Beresford says...

Annual Operating Plans to include plans to strengthen central support of local activities in three areas:
?Local PR and image building
?Development of schools and instructors
?Site development and retention

6. All the above to include USHGA ?How To? Manuals and other training material

7. Develop high-exposure/low-cost PR programs, using high level media contacts (probably using a professional PR agent)

14. Support local clubs in finding ways to develop pilot population in sectors of relatively low HG/PG penetration, e.g:
- ?flatland? areas
? women pilots

In other words, we need to promote the sport more! It's been said in the past that "we don't promote our sport to the general public, just amongst ourselves." If that's true, it's not helping us much.

I don't know squat, and I don't have all the answers. I'm also not suggesting the club hasn't already done anything to help, and I know this is always an issue, and has probably been discussed a lot before. This presentation just brings the current situation into focus, and I believe "thinking globally and acting locally" (in other words, not relying on USHGA to save the sport) is a good thing for us to do as a club.

Any comments? Ideas? I'm willing to help out in the way I'm most able---writing, advertising, web design, etc.

Scott

PS - Because they're sort of a pain to view on the web, I've emailed Beresford to ask if I could get the Powerpoint files directly so it's easier to reproduce, read, whatever...

[Scott]

One more "PS"...Mark, I think this general topic is important enough to warrant a "Sticky" position in the forum...not because it's mine! But because it's important to the club and the sport...just my opinion.

Scott

[jimrooney]

> One more "PS"...Mark, I think this general topic is important enough to warrant a "Sticky" position in the forum...not because it's mine! But because it's important to the club and the sport...just my opinion.

Please dear lord no.
Instead, how about just grouping together all the other endless debates... wheels/helmets/ratings/towing-footlaunch/namechange/PGvsHG/PoweredHarnesses/etc.

I've even got a name for it...
"Rants" or maybe "The Soap Box"

[Matthew]

Scott,

I'm always trying to sell stories on Hang Gliding and Paragliding. I had a piece that included hang gliding a couple of months ago in Metro Sports. I have a piece in Virginia Living this month that includes Hang Gliding and a blurb on flying tandem in the September Washingtonian. Most of the fares and festivals with hang gliding displays don't really do much to promote the sport. The thing that would really sell hang gliding would be a movie. The video game generation doesn't read magazine and newspapers.

Matthew

[Scott]

Matthew---yes! I know you've done a lot, and that's awesome. A movie would be great...or (at least) a highly-polished, professionally produced documentary. There have been lots of fantastic videos made about the sport (including Josh Criss's film)...but alas, none have employed production standards high enough to be accepted by television broadcasters (not knocking the makers of those films---rather, I think the TV stations have unnecessarily high production standards).

Jim, I hear you. But I don't know if just filing it away as an endless debate will help in the long run.

There's an old saying, "People don't see the writing on the wall until their backs are against it." I'd hate to think that'll be the case with our sport (e.g. nothing done 'til we've lost half our sites, have only one instructor left, and all our gear comes from overseas).

I apologize if this horse has long since been beaten to death and is now stone cold dead. Like I said, unless the numbers are wrong (which is possible), all past discussions and actions might not have helped much...so should we keep trying?

Scott

[Scott]

Here are a few questions for area instructors (and I'll ask Steve Wendt too since I don't think he reads the forum)...

1. Do you advertise your school/flight park outside of flying-related publications? (If not, maybe this is an option?)

2. If so, are there more/other general public periodicals that you'd like to advertise in?

3. Could you afford any more advertising? Or is cost the limiting factor? (Could the club help fund regular ads in---for example---the weekend section of the Washington Post, like all the rafting outfitters do?)

4. Would any of this help? Or do you think everyone in the region who wants to learn to fly can easily find you?

5. Could you handle more students than you typically have? Or are you maxed out?

-----
I'm just curious, and certainly don't mean to imply that the future of the sport depends on flight school advertising. (But it might help!) I know that Steve W. sometimes wishes he had more students...but I don't think he advertises many places (if anywhere) outside the USHGA magazine classifieds.

Scott

[brianvh]

I typed "hang gliding instruction virginia" into google and Blue Sky came
up 3rd, and the first 2 hits were obviously just article references (the
OZ report, etc.).

Following standard procedure for dealing with the public, I then typed in
"hanD gliding instruction virginia" and though blue sky did not come up,
enough references to "hanG gliding" came up that people should figure it
out.

If we just get the sport into public consciousness, I don't thing extra
specific advertising is necessary any more.

If someone would just volunteer to fly their glider into the white
house...

Brian Vant-Hull
301-646-1149

[MikeBalk]

Someone raised the idea a while ago, get Lance Armstrong involved. It would
bring public attention to the sport, and is a sport he would probably enjoy.
Has anyone done this? Does anyone know Mr. Armstrong? Has anyone suggested
this to USHGA?

More publications: The cover of the PA tourism magazine has an HG flying
from Hyner View. It is a topless with a red top surface. Anyone know who
it is?

Matthew has written lots of great articles. Have any new students come to
the sport because of these or other articles? If not, how did people get
involved and why? I've always dreamed of flying, and saw my first glider in
1978. That was what got me into the sport - I had to look for it, I didn't
even know it was being done in the VA area.

Think about how and why you got involved in PG and/or HG. Can we use that
info to generate additional interest? (for example, if your father was an
HG pilot, and that is why you are an HG pilot, then the answer is obvious.
Father more children who can then become HG pilots.)

-Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott [mailto:sw@shadepine.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 1:35 PM
To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
Subject: The Future of Our Sport


Here are a few questions for area instructors (and I'll ask Steve Wendt too
since I don't think he reads the forum)...

1. Do you advertise your school/flight park outside of flying-related
publications? (If not, maybe this is an option?)

2. If so, are there more/other general public periodicals that you'd like to
advertise in?

3. Could you afford any more advertising? Or is cost the limiting factor?
(Could the club help fund regular ads in---for example---the weekend section
of the Washington Post, like all the rafting outfitters do?)

4. Would any of this help? Or do you think everyone in the region who wants
to learn to fly can easily find you?

5. Could you handle more students than you typically have? Or are you maxed
out?

-----
I'm just curious, and certainly don't mean to imply that the future of the
sport depends on flight school advertising. (But it might help!) I know that
Steve W. sometimes wishes he had more students...but I don't think he
advertises many places (if anywhere) outside the USHGA magazine classifieds.

Scott

[Flying Lobster]

I've never once had a student come to me as a result of advertising or the TV specials I've been featured in. Rather, students seek me out becuase its a burning desire they've always had and they finally discovered somebody in Maine can teach them. Advertising for me is simply a matter of maintaining name recognition.

The real problem, as I see it, is not one of advertising or public perception--but how to develop the notion of soaring like a bird in a way that creates a special drive to persue this dream. There will be setbacks, inconsistent weather and significant financial obstacles to overcome, so this desire and persistence has to be strong enough to get people through the beginning.

The equipment and tools for training are better than ever--yet there appears to be stagnation in the sport. I think this also has to do with trends in our society towards instant, easy gratification as opposed to working towards a long-term goal (especially one as esoteric as soaring free).

I believe, for one thing, that reaching out to a younger demographic will yield better long-term health for our sport. I'm currently teaching a 14 and 18 year old, the costs are a significant obstacle for them. Surprisingly, their parents are very supportive of them persuing the sport.

I laugh about the "instructor of the year" program. Not because that I doubt whether or not an instructor deserves recognition, but in reality I believe that ANYONE who devotes themselves to being a good instructor is an instructor of the year! In general it is a difficult task to remain consistently enthusiatic about--especially when you make a realistic financial assessment of return on investment. So ask your local schools and instructors--ALL OF THEM--what you as a local pilot and club can do to help them. More than any other factor--the instructors and schools are the future of the sport. (next in the list is new site development, which is rather pitiful).

marc

[Scott]

Though I've had years of advertising experience, I'm not a demographics/media placement expert. I'd think the standard approach would be to...
a) identify our demographic (e.g. people with some disposable income)
b) identify publications most read by those folks (e.g. Washington Post, Washingtonian magazine, Smithsonian, whatever)
c) identify publications with the greatest circulation/market penetration
d) get ads in those publications!
Again, I don't think print advertising is the "answer," but it's a fact you get what you pay for. Free ads in the "Local Village Flyer" with a circulation of 450 are a waste of time. A $500 ad in the Weekend section of the Post might not be.

Another idea: approach local variety/outdoor shows (like Maryland Public Television's "Outdoors Maryland" about doing a segment on hang gliding.

Another idea: approach some of the area's biggest outdoor schools (like Calleva Outdoors) about adding hang gliding to their lineup---in a special arrangement with local instructors and schools.

Another idea: Contact area colleges/universities about getting a hang gliding club going, or adding flying lessons to the school's intramurals list, or whatever.

Another idea: for next year's Kite Festival, let's get advance clearance to do some truck towing on the mall! Hey, they might let us!

Another idea: let's find some inner-city kids to give tandem flights to---the media would be all over that! (I know---sounds cynical, but hey---it would work, and it would be a blast for those kids...) Ditto for handicapped kids.

Another idea: pursue the gliders-in-malls thing (like the one last year or year before that didn't work out, but it's still a good idea).

Another idea: get some nice, professional signage at the Pulpit by Rt.30 (maybe on the bar's property?) with info on the clubs, contact, whatever---just something that passing drivers will notice.

---
I know all this stuff takes time, effort, money...but does it make sense to at least come up with a club-approved list of PR outreach methods (maybe in order of preference) and then just start working on them one at a time? (Is there already such a list?)

Scott

[Scott]

The real problem, as I see it, is not one of advertising or public perception--but how to develop the notion of soaring like a bird in a way that creates a special drive to persue this dream.

I agree Marc...but the way you develop that notion is through marketing and public relations---that's what they're for! Remember: marketing doesn't just mean a boilerplate print ad with name, address, phone, web, etc. When done well, it means a unified, memorable message presented in a variety of ways, all of which, collectively, can be inspirational and move people to action!

I think this also has to do with trends in our society towards instant, easy gratification as opposed to working towards a long-term goal (especially one as esoteric as soaring free).

Yeah, I agree. But maybe that's the start of a PR campaign: something based on the concept that "the best rewards in life aren't easy," which has worked well for the Marines (e.g. "The Few, The Proud")

I believe, for one thing, that reaching out to a younger demographic will yield better long-term health for our sport.

Yes! I think high schools, private schools, and colleges are a good opportunity. Home schoolers too---because they pride themselves on being different and outside the mainstream.

Scott

[rancerupp]

Someone raised the idea a while ago, get Lance Armstrong involved. It would bring public attention to the sport, and is a sport he would probably enjoy. Has anyone done this? Does anyone know Mr. Armstrong? Has anyone suggested this to USHGA?

Mike, that was me. No I don't know him, but I'll pursue this and let you know where it goes.

Rance

[brianvh]

All except the last one have been done, Scott.

Unfortunately for the "outdoors maryland" segment, the wind was howling,
and it made hang gliding seem like more of a daredevil sport than was
useful. But if you watch the opening segment, you will often see Matt
launching off High Rock. They loved it.

Brian Vant-Hull
301-646-1149

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005, Scott wrote:

>
> Though I've had years of advertising experience, I'm not a demographics/media placement expert. I'd think the standard approach would be to...
> a) identify our demographic (e.g. people with some disposable income)
> b) identify publications most read by those folks (e.g. Washington Post, Washingtonian magazine, Smithsonian, whatever)
> c) identify publications with the greatest circulation/market penetration
> d) get ads in those publications!
> Again, I don't think print advertising is the "answer," but it's a fact you get what you pay for. Free ads in the "Local Village Flyer" with a circulation of 450 are a waste of time. A $500 ad in the Weekend section of the Post might not be.
>
> Another idea: approach local variety/outdoor shows (like Maryland Public Television's "Outdoors Maryland" about doing a segment on hang gliding.
>
> Another idea: approach some of the area's biggest outdoor schools (like Calleva Outdoors) about adding hang gliding to their lineup---in a special arrangement with local instructors and schools.
>
> Another idea: Contact area colleges/universities about getting a hang gliding club going, or adding flying lessons to the school's intramurals list, or whatever.
>
> Another idea: for next year's Kite Festival, let's get advance clearance to do some truck towing on the mall! Hey, they might let us!
>
> Another idea: let's find some inner-city kids to give tandem flights to---the media would be all over that! (I know---sounds cynical, but hey---it would work, and it would be a blast for those kids...) Ditto for handicapped kids.
>
> Another idea: pursue the gliders-in-malls thing (like the one last year or year before that didn't work out, but it's still a good idea).
>
> Another idea: get some nice, professional signage at the Pulpit by Rt.30 (maybe on the bar's property?) with info on the clubs, contact, whatever---just something that passing drivers will notice.
>
> ---
> I know all this stuff takes time, effort, money...but does it make sense to at least come up with a club-approved list of PR outreach methods (maybe in order of preference) and then just start working on them one at a time? (Is there already such a list?)
>
> Scott
>

[Scott]

All except the last one have been done, Scott.

Whoa! Not to dismiss that, Brian, but is that it? It's all been done, and nothing worked, game over? (Just like that?) I'm imagining that for any one of these items (or the variety of others we could come up with) there is a wide range of extents/methods...as well as a wide range of possible results.

Are we going to just forget about something just because we tried it once and it didn't work? (I'm assuming it didn't work, because generally when things work, people say "That worked great! Let's do it again!" (Again, that's not directed at you Brian! )

Scott

[brianvh]

It just seemed that you were stating things as if we had never thought
about them, or worked on them. Give us all some more credit than that!

Brian Vant-Hull
301-646-1149

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005, Scott wrote:

>
>
> Quote:
> All except the last one have been done, Scott.
> (end of quote)
>
>
> Whoa! Not to dismiss that, Brian, but is that it? It's all been done, and nothing worked, game over? (Just like that?) I'm imagining that for any one of these items (or the variety of others we could come up with) there is a wide range of extents/methods...as well as a wide range of possible results.
>
> Are we going to just forget about something just because we tried it once and it didn't work? (I'm assuming it didn't work, because generally when things work, people say "That worked great! Let's do it again!" (Again, that's not directed at you Brian! )
>
> Scott
>

[ChuckPyle]

Gotta admit, although I'd long wanted to learn to fly, it was the "Virginia is For Lovers" advertisement for the state that featured a hang glider in flight among other Virginia "assests" that got me to actually take the next step in finding Silver Wings.

[hepcat1989]

Here's a thought- WE ARE A DYING BREED! When I was a youngin we used to attend "play hard university", PHU. I mean outside all day thinking up fun shit to get into. You know, until your mother came out yelled your name,and drug your ass inside for a bath, or hosedown first, whatever the case would warrent. I don't hardly see that spark anymore. It's sad but true.Everyone around my area knows I fly, but no takers. They think i'm crazy,or stuff like that.We fly, We know why ,and We know what got us into it. It wasn't no advertising that I read ,or had seen that got me into it. I needed to get up!!!! Not so many people have that need anymore. Safe, and secure seems to be the trend. The plan began........I searched on my own for instuction.The numbers are going to continue to fall off.It's a trend. I'm not trying to piss on anyone's wheaties, but just being realistic... Shawn.

[Scott]

It just seemed that you were stating things as if we had never thought about them, or worked on them. Give us all some more credit than that!

Nope, not the case at all Brian---I know you guys have done a lot! And I'm not suggesting any of it was wasted...though I'd love to know how well it worked. Was anything documented? Were there specific results we could point to? (Again---just curious---not pointing the finger at anything/anyone!)

To restate: I saw the latest round of numbers on the sport from USHGA, and they look bad for the future of the sport. So I'm just starting the conversation again here (to parallel the conversation they're having there), asking what's been done, and looking for discussion, ideas, and a way to move forward on continuing the effort!

Scott

[drice21037]

One easy thing to do that I should have done a few weeks ago was to take some
handouts with me to Oregon Ridge. There are always people with questions
there. If I had thought of it, I could have given info to 3 or 4 people. It's
not much but every little bit...

I think the Lance Armstrong idea is awesome. Could we get Cheryl Crow to
perform at one of the fly-ins next year?

Dave

Quoting Chuck Pyle <clpyle@hotmail.com>:

>
> Gotta admit, although I'd long wanted to learn to fly, it was the "Virginia
> is For Lovers" advertisement for the state that featured a hang glider in
> flight among other Virginia "assests" that got me to actually take the next
> step in finding Silver Wings.
>



___________________________________________________________
This mail sent using ToadMail -- Web based e-mail @ ToadNet

[Scott]

Here's a thought- WE ARE A DYING BREED! When I was a youngin we used to attend "play hard university", PHU. I mean outside all day thinking up fun shit to get into. You know, until your mother came out yelled your name,and drug your ass inside for a bath, or hosedown first, whatever the case would warrent. I don't hardly see that spark anymore. It's sad but true.Everyone around my area knows I fly, but no takers. They think i'm crazy,or stuff like that.We fly, We know why ,and We know what got us into it. It wasn't no advertising that I read ,or had seen that got me into it. I needed to get up!!!! Not so many people have that need anymore. Safe, and secure seems to be the trend. The plan began........I searched on my own for instuction.The numbers are going to continue to fall off.It's a trend. I'm not trying to piss on anyone's wheaties, but just being realistic... Shawn.

Way to say it Shawn! I agree with the PHU stuff---that was my childhood! I hope you're wrong about us being a dying breed...or we'll all end up sewing patches on our 20-year-old wings and prayin' they'll last one more flight!

Scott

[drice21037]

I feel the same way. I've had lots of friends say they're interested but so
far not a single one of them has done anything about it.

Then I realized that while it hasn't happened to me, all my friends got old.
Is it the same with the people who really are as young as I think I am? Maybe
all we have to do is convince them that skateboards are lame and that 'catching
some air' can mean more than they've ever dreamed.

My daughter is about to enter that demographic so I'll keep you posted as I
question her friends.

Dave

> Here's a thought- WE ARE A DYING BREED! When I was a youngin we used to
> attend "play hard university", PHU. I mean outside all day thinking up fun
> shit to get into. You know, until your mother came out yelled your name,and
> drug your ass inside for a bath, or hosedown first, whatever the case would
> warrent. I don't hardly see that spark anymore. It's sad but true.Everyone
> around my area knows I fly, but no takers. They think i'm crazy,or stuff like
> that.We fly, We know why ,and We know what got us into it. It wasn't no
> advertising that I read ,or had seen that got me into it. I needed to get
> up!!!! Not so many people have that need anymore. Safe, and secure seems to
> be the trend. The plan began........I searched on my own for instuction.The
> numbers are going to continue to fall off.It's a trend. I'm not trying to
> piss on anyone's wheaties, but just being realistic... Shawn.

[brianvh]

I think that pretty much nails it, Shawn. Video games are destroying
america more surely than the commies did or the terrorists are.

I thought this had been moved to a different forum?

Anyway, the outdoors maryland segment matthew organized was perhaps the
high point of advertising, but I've never heard any new pilots mention
that it made an impact. Too bad - beautifully produced, all the schools
mentioned, in-the-air cam, the works. But then, Matthew doesn't look like
Lara Croft, tomb raider, even if he does have cuter butt.

Brian Vant-Hull
301-646-1149

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005, hepcat1989 wrote:
>
> Here's a thought- WE ARE A DYING BREED! When I was a youngin we used to
attend "play hard university", PHU. I mean outside all day thinking up fun
shit to get into. You know, until your mother came out yelled your name,and
drug your ass inside for a bath, or hosedown first, whatever the case would
warrent. I don't hardly see that spark anymore.

[Scott]

I've talked to people who had the distinct impression that hang gliding (or paragliding) were simply beyond their reach...that it was just WAY too advanced/wild/crazy/technical a sport for them to do.

I know that these people wouldn't feel the same way if they just watched one of John's classes, or watched a scooter tow lesson with Steve.

SUGGESTION: I'd like to assemble a collection of testimonials from people, with a focus on the "I thought I couldn't do it, but I really did it!" angle. Testimonials---both in print and in video---are much more powerful than mere information.

If you have a story that might convey "If I can do it, you can too!" to someone, then please send it to me! (Or if you want me to give you a call so you can just tell me your story, I'd be happy to do that too. Just let me know!)

This would be a powerful addition to a revised brochure---which I'd be happy to produce.

Scott

[rs54263]

>> SUGGESTION: I'd like to assemble a collection of testimonials from
people, with a focus on the "I thought I couldn't do it, but I really
did it!" angle. Testimonials---both in print and in video---are much
more powerful than mere information.


You might want to talk to Linda and Charlotte Baskerville. I have
great photos of her first flight experience, and if ever there was
someone to represent the "If I can do philosophy", I'd have to say a
9-year old girl is it.

~Ralph

[Matthew]

You think we're a dying breed... I read an article in the Post a few weeks ago about sailing. It's down something like 90 percent from 25 years ago. Even the big sailboat manufacturers that are still in business now build 90 percent powerboats. People want instant gratification these days.

Getting Lance into hang gliding or having a movie (a big dumb hollywood blockbuster... not a documentary) would excite the masses and create a temporary influx into the sport for a few years.

Matthew