Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 2: February 2014 | Page 27

C.J.: I seem to have greater bump tolerance than George. He
likes scratching close to the trees; I prefer to be stinkin’ high.
He’s not interested in competition, but was a fabulous support
crew for me and the US women’s hang gliding team. George
tends to be a bit braver than I am about going XC over treecovered terrain with the closest decent LZ a long way away.
Are there challenges to flying as a couple?
George: It’s always been hard not to voice my concern for
C.J. when she is willing to launch and fly in difficult conditions. Mostly I’ve managed to keep my mouth shut and just be
the best ground crew I can be.
C.J.: Keeping our equipment reasonably current (I still fly
a hang glider as well as a paraglider) is a financial challenge.
Regarding time investment, we’re lucky that our individual
“passion” for flying seems to have evolved pretty much in sync,
so rarely does one of us have a compelling need to fly while the
other would rather do something else.
What advice would you give to other flying couples?
George: I’d be concerned if they weren’t equally “in” to
flying, or if one was critical of the other. Support for each
other in the sport is equally as important as the support that
each spouse exhibits for other aspects of the relationship.
C.J.: Don’t be so passionate about getting airtime that you
lose sight of what you’re really passionate about: Doing things
you enjoy together. We were quite focused on flying for 20
years or so, but we’re diversifying more now, and returning to
some of the activities we’d set aside when we started flying.

Justin ♥ Becky
Becky and Justin Brim met in college and later l V&