HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 11 January | February 2019 getting better at it. It’s a mix of knowledge sharing, empathy and encouragement. On launch, we are inspired to see each other getting our gear ready confidently. We look out for each other, doing radio checks, finding that elusive tone squelch setting, encouraging each other for a solid launch or allowing each other to have a break. It’s a no pressure environment where deciding to fly is a personal decision. My helper and I are there to ensure that if you just need a reminder on how to do something, or a tip on how to get your launches spot-on, we are only a question away. To see the sky full of women pilots, flying like they own it, makes you realise gender plays no part in establishing what makes a good pilot. The actual flying, as most of us have worked out by now, is a very small part of the total time we spend on paragliding. When it’s either not flyable, or we have had our fill of flying for the day, we sit down and talk about the other aspects. We talk about the different instruments used and which are best for which stage of our flying. We talk about how we deal with strong, turbulent air and favourite hitch- hiking tactics. We talk about forecasting and the various tools to use, how to interpret them, which websites to cross-reference. We talk about wings and harnesses – which have worked for us and which haven’t. We talk about how to get conversations started at sites we are unfamiliar with and how to go about obtaining local knowledge. And then we make plans of how we are all going to keep in touch and retain that level of enthusiasm. The first Altitude with Attitude event for the 2018/19 season kicked off at Rainbow Beach. We had a total of seven women pilots who turned up to the little beachside town and we got to know each other at the local surf club that first night for dinner, alongside a group of local pilots who had thought the forecast looked pretty good too. They got us excited about the prospect of some good flying coming up and ensured we felt welcomed by the local club. The weather played ball and we had amazing conditions for the two full days of the event (Friday and Saturday). Predicted winds threatened to blow out on both days, but ended up giving us as much flying as we wanted (six hours each day!). Storms came through on Sunday which gave us time to have a talk about instruments before it was time to hit the road and make our way home. Of course, that’s a really basic summary of the event. It’s the personal stories that matter. Photos: Kirsten Seeto