Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 1: January 2014 | Page 9

FLIGHT PLAN
HAVE FUN! We hear that often in the freeflight world, and one of the great aspects of
our sport is that it is up to the individual to
define what “fun” means. Just as at ski areas
where some like groomed runs while others
like moguls or the park, flying has many features from which to choose. Rarely does, “It’s
all good” actually apply in one’s life, but, in
the case of hang gliding and paragliding, it is
the perfect phrase for describing each of our
endeavors. Sled rides still hold their place
as being among the best flights of my life,
as do sunset flights in smooth air, and more
technical shots into the mountains. Really,
it is all good. And while our concepts of fun
may vary slightly, depending on a myriad
of unique factors, we all share the spirit of a
thrilling pursuit—flight.
The first issue of the new year mirrors
our shared passions and pursuits. C.J.
Sturtevant checks in with USHPA’s new
membership coordinator–Ashley Miller.
Ted Smith spent time in Europe this
year hanging with Alain Zoller who, after
suffering an accident while testing gliders,
put a stop to testing hot EN-D gliders,
sending the paragliding design world into
a halting slide. Ted reports back from the
frontlines on what happened.
Christina Ammon relates an amazing story about the children in Nepal and
Mexico who work around the free-flight
communities, folding gliders, to help sup-

port their families. Theories on the efficacy
of this industry abound, and Christina is
in a unique position to dig deeper into the
reality of the lives of these workers.
Gavin McClurg spent the entire
summer traveling the world and chasing big-air flying conditions in the hopes
of flying farther than he ever has. His
dedication paid off with successively
bigger flights, but the one for the books,
the longest foot-launch flight through
the mountains, ironically teed off right in
his own backyard! With the help of Jody
McDonald, adventure photographer extraordinaire, he douments the journey.
Claudia Mejia is back with a chronicle
of the distinctive Race of Champions
where Flytec puts up big money for the
best pilots to race for th