Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 3: March 2014 | Page 15

ous nominators cited his positive,
friendly, cheerful attitude, and his love
for paragliding, as major qualifications
for this Instructor of the Year award.
“His passion comes through in his
teaching methods, and students always
leave the training hill with a smile.”
Jesse has clearly brought into the
paragliding community a well-trained
cadre of enthusiastic and safetyoriented pilots, and in recognition of his outstanding instruction,
USHPA names Jesse Meyer the 2013
Paragliding Instructor of the Year.

Hang Gliding Instructor of the Year
Mitch Shipley was nominated by both
entry-level students and by experienced
and “lapsed” pilots who came to him
for refresher instruction. Pilots of all
skill sets identified Mitch’s thoroughness, patience, breadth of material
covered, ability to make complex subjects understandable, and willingness
to share personal experiences relevant
to the student’s situation as reasons for
naming Mitch Instructor of the Year.
Several students found Mitch’s classes
“demanding and incredibly thorough”
but added that Mitch’s teaching style
made his lessons challenging but not
intimidating. “He taught me to be
vigilant, to make safe decisions and,
through his infectious love the sport,
never to lose sight of how magical hang
gliding is,” said one student. Another
said, “Safety is his first priority, and he
imparted that aspect as a non-optional
approach to flying hang gliders.
Team Challenge participants, both
up-and-coming pilots and experienced
XC flyers, benefited from Mitch’s
teaching and mentoring sessions during
the 2013 event. He “gave of his vast
knowledge and experience in the form
of clinics with video reviews and lectures on everything from landing and
launch techniques to XC planning and
execution.”
Mitch designed, constructed and

You are invited to Fly a Sailplane Today
(FAST). Purchase a voucher (only $139.00)
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You receive:
• 30 minutes ground lesson
• 30 minute flight lesson
• An instructional book
• A glider pilot logbook
• Introductory 3 month membership in
The Soaring Society of America, Inc.
• A copy of Soaring Magazine
So, Fly a Sailplane Today!

www.ssa.org
Phone: [phone]

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE

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