Last week's story, pics, and video...

After 15 years of hang gliding, I'm still having so much fun and continuing to fly new places. Last week, Rodrigo, Rudy, Nari and I made good use of the 25 knot NE coastal breeze.  Flying less competitions and now instructing more can have it's advantages:  -You get to play on the beach!  "Dune Gooning", which is soaring the low sand-dunes, is a great aspect of hang gliding that many pilots never get the chance to try.  My friend Rudy Gotes, who's been flying 31 years, finally had his opportunity...and loved it.

Above: Rudy Gotes, of Mexico, soaring the 900 millimeter sand-dune in the Airborne Fun 190 hang glider

Photo below: Nari (Japan) fine-tuning his skills in his Airborne Fun 160

Many of my students often wonder if they will be disadvantaged by flying a "floater" (single surface glider).  The answer: No!  Generally, owning a floater gives you more freedom because the forgiving control characteristics allow pilots to fly more sites and varied conditions.
Also important for successful dune gooning is a slow flying hang glider
so you don't fly out of the narrow lift-band when your soaring and
turning at a low and technical site.  When viewing the video (below),
you'll see that my left turn (back towards the camera) needed to be a
tight one to stay UP and in the lift.

Floater hang gliders are
hot-items as many advanced pilots are now buying the latest generation
single-surface gliders, like the Airborne Fun, Northwing Freedom, and especially the Moyes Malibu (my favorite, and made right here in Sydney, Australia).

Above: Mexican pilot, Rodrigo De Obeso, flying like a bird above the bushes

Video below:  Boogie at the Beach: Getting UP and gettin'-down!   Filming and editing work by Rodrigo.