Occasionally some hang glider pilots tell me that they're interested in becoming a tandem pilot and want share the passion of free-flight. I understand the feeling, and can help.

Above: Living the dream, flying high above some big surf at Stanwell Park

First advice:  Don't just go for good...Strive to be an AWESOME tandem pilot. And to do that, you need to truly engulf yourself into hang gliding, which will take lots of time, travel, and money.

You should be able to safely fly many sites, gliders, and conditions.
The best training I can suggest is to fly your topless race glider in cross-country competitions. The demanding aspect of controlling a high performance glider in rough air is great training. And mentally, you'll grow as you observe weather changes and get rewarded and let-down by your decisions.  You're getting ready when you start to feel like a bird as you regularly read the sky, and can comfortably land your comp glider at goal, and in tight landing fields during changing wind conditions.

Flying your socks off and starting to show some success at XC competitions will show you're starting to understand things and also have learned some patience.  Patience doesn't come easy, and most of us have to work for it.  

People skills are a must.  Flying the comps won't help you much here.  Not sure, where you're going to pick this up...  But, you've got to connect with each client on many levels:  making sure they really know what to do, and also that you're aware of what they want out of their flight.

If not already, start getting into methodical preflight procedures while you are flying solo.  -You don't want any bad habits carrying over to the tandem glider.  You can later easily add the tandem specific checklist to your own.

So, the solo assignment (Fly-Travel-Compete) is challenging, but so much fun.  You'll meet some amazing friends along the way. If you are seriously up for it all,  then becoming a SOLID hang gliding tandem pilot is a reality, and I can get you through the rest of the way, and formal training.

I'll get into some tandem tips and specifics on another post one day in the future.