HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 9 July | August 2019 barriers they may have experienced in the past. The Ladies Day Out was an inclusive, open and positive experience for all pilots. It was great for all to see so many women on launch and everyone had a big smile on their face. Some did sleddies, others ridge soared and a few got away cross-country. Kirsten Seeto’s Women’s Fly-ins have also been a successful addition to our flying calendar. They aim to bring women together and provide opportunities for skill development and sharing in a supportive environment of other female pilots. I do not know of any sport where one gender makes up less than 10% of the total participation rate and which does not provide additional opportunities to grow the number of participants and to provide equitable measures to support that growth. An example is netball, a fiercely female dominated sport. Netball men’s teams are provided with extra opportunities to enter and develop their skills in the sport. All football codes are providing funding and support to the growth of women playing their code. The Women’s Fly-ins are a welcomed event, providing meaningful connection and support to maintain women’s involvement in the sport. The direct correlation between event participation and increased competition participation was evident as all of the 2019 Wings Out West tow competition female participants had attended one of Kirsten’s Women’s Fly-ins. Our sport has a wonderful opportunity to grow not only female participation, but to highlight our elite and their achievements. Recently, Kari Ellis shared a reflection that attitudes are positively changing at the top competition end of our sport. Far more respect and support of the top female paragliding pilots has been obtained, perhaps as a result of their amazing achievements. It is encouraging to hear that the top female competition pilots are treated as pilots without the disparaging and sexist comments that had been noted by many over past years. Some argue that we should just let our flying do the talking. Perhaps, that is the case for the elite women in our sport – once we achieve and demonstrate flying competence, greater respect and inclusion will be achieved. Personally, I just don’t think that is enough, or that women should have to rise above the barriers faced each weekend on launch, in competition representation, on social media chats groups and posts, rather than challenge and change those attitudes to create a safe, inclusive and supportive flying environment for all. Many have challenged my experience of the barriers women face in our sport. I have rattled off lists of sexist and uncomfortable experiences myself and other female pilots have encountered withmixed responses. Some argue if you can’t stand up for yourself or ignore sexism, you shouldn’t fly. This itself creates a barrier and demonstrates that this isn’t a ‘blame the men’ article either. There are amazing men and women in our sport who foster an inclusive environment on launch, competition and online. My flying crew are made up of great male pilots, many of whom have encouraged, mentored and supported my development as a pilot. We fly together, we share together and we compete with each other regularly. It has been interesting to hear some of their perspectives and growth in understanding inclusivity. I have challenged some of the appropriateness of their jokes, comments and attitudes, I have told them the stories of women on the hill, and they have offered overwhelming support of an Inclusivity Champion for women in our local club. As we go to print, there is only one woman, Yuko Sano, registered to compete in the Hang Gliding World Championships in Italy this July, in a field of 125. Yesterday, there were only three women, including myself, on launch in a field of over 20 pilots on an autumn day in Canungra. I want to acknowledge the women in my club who showed me that paragliding is indeed a women’s sport – Kate Baker, Alex Bryse, Ali Cawte and Sonya Fardell. I have only been flying for three years this coming September, and seeing these women on launch for the Queensland Championships, flying competitively and fiercely in their own right has encouraged me to go for it too. I want to acknowledge the pioneering work and mentoring Kirsten Seeto has provided in bringing women pilots together. I want to thank and cheer the men who encourage and support pilots within our clubs. Continue to be brave, challenge the sexist comments, understand we want to feel like we belong too. Thank you to all the women who ventured to the Ladies Day Out and for maintaining new friendships and encouraging each other to fly. Shout out to Jan Smith in the Northern Rivers Club, for her many years of mentoring and encouraging women in our sport. Credit to Kari Ellis, for her achievements and humility in flying the flag for Australian women in our sport. Let our love of flying and adventure bring us together as pilots. Alex Bryse flew to Rathdowney from beautiful Beechmont Photos: Marnie Jane Jan Smith, 69 year old and a grandmother, about to launch Later that day, Jan flies tandem with her daughter Freyja