It's a honor to teach people to fly and a pleasure to hear the giggles and laughs that are released when they take their first flights. Being a part of that is special.
I have been teaching students to fly since 2002.
My own first class was back in 1987 at a site called Dillon Beach up in northern Marin County. I had a great time but was in college and fiscally challenged so continuing with instruction wasn't possible. I thought however that it was an amazing experience and knew I just had to do it again and thought it couldn't be more then a couple years before my next lesson. It wasn't however until 1992, five years later that I would fly a hang glider again.
For your entertainment as well as your enlightenment, I'm sharing a poem that Becky(my wife) and I wrote about gripping too hard. I think you'll like it.
Enjoy!
When your grip is too tight
You can’t feel what you’ve got
You can’t feel when you’re flyin’
You can’t feel when you’re not
With such a tight grip
Your senses can’t take it
You don’t know the timing
You’ll just have to fake it
Time to get sum! And what a time to do so. When I arrived at the training hill this last Sunday March 20th I discovered that the blossoms were indeed sprouting everywhere. The deluge of rain we have been getting this last winter from El Nino has helped to trigger an amazing proliferation of wild flowers. I have been hiking a lot in the Monterey area including the Ventana Wilderness and Big Sur and have noticed most defintely a change however I never expected our training hill which sits within a ranch where cattle graze to be blossoming as well.
One of the coolest things I think a pilot can do is fly with a family member. Chien and his 12 yr. old son Jared are doing just that. It was with great pride as an instructor that I was to be their first hang gliding instructor. Jared was only 11 at the time and the youngest student I have had yet to teach.
The wind is perfect for teaching hang gliding, that’s what! Tres Pinos is situated in a valley where the air is smooth with consistent, light winds that funnel straight up through the valley and curve up and over the gradual sloping training hills. Our training site has a landing area that is a mile long and half a mile wide.
Having students with a great attitude, having great conditions, and a beautiful lush green flying site to fly at is pretty much a recipe for success.
This last Sunday I had such a day. It wasn't an unusual day and neither were the flights.
MAY 24 & 25TH, 2020
Come visit us at our booth at the San Ramon Wind Festival.
We are replacing our fleet of WillsWing Condors on the training hill with the New WillsWing Alpha! 180 and 210.