http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/07/mellow-days/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/10/women-with-wings-day-2-and-3-training-hard/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/10/women-with-wings-random-photos/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/12/women-with-wings-all-over-till-next-year/

Here McKerral writes:

Well, the votes are in: WWW2, held in Bright, Victoria, from 7th-11th March, was
a great success. The aims of the event were to increase confidence, skills and
to promote safe decision making in a fun, supportive, collaborative environment
without the pressure of competition. Skill improvement increases confidence, but
pilots lacking in confidence learn poorly; WWW2's rationale and structure were
to increase confidence so that learning and skills (launch, landing, cross
country technique) could more easily grow. Integral to this process was for each
pilot to recognise, accept and trust her own individual journey in flying and to
give her the confidence to resist the peer pressure and expectations (external
and internal) that so often divert us in unproductive directions. Paraglider
pilots flew (and flew away) from Mystic every day but one, while we hangies also
had exhilarating thermaling flights to cloudbase at Buffalo and Tawonga Gap,
plus multiple sleddies in silk at Mystic to practice those nil wind foot
launches and landings.

The thermals all week were soft and pleasant due to the amount of moisture in
the ground - and here in Australia everything is still so green - amazing for
autumn! The views were breathtaking in this alpine region - tarns, waterfalls,
massive rock faces, forests with tree ferns... glorious!

Forty six hang glider and paraglider pilots (just 8 hangies) attended, making it
the biggest gathering of female free-flyers ever in Oz. Pilots from SA, Vic,
ACT, NSW, Qld attended, plus visitors from NZ, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland,
but our two Far North Queensland and Western Australian hangies who registered
couldn't make it at the last minute because of travel costs, even though we had
arranged gliders for them to borrow, to avoid the expense of transporting their
own. Organisers of the next event should probably consider rejigging funding to
make it easier for the most distant pilots to attend.

I haven't revisited the personal best list in detail yet but at least fifteen
pilots, probably closer to twenty, had their very first inland/thermalling/and/or
cross country flights. Many pilots are successfully hooked!

We publicised the availability of check flights beforehand and at least six
pilots whose membership had lapsed rejoined/had check flights for this event
after not flying for 18-48 months due to accidents or fear issues. Many more
said the event had rekindled their joy of flying. The HGFA has made a profit on
its investment!

Most of the Paraglider pilots had multiple flights on the four out of the five
days that it was flyable, and many also flew an extra day before registration on
Sunday. Every attending pilot flew. Even to us hangies, the improvement in
paraglider flyinh technique was obvious comparing Monday and Friday on launch,
so CASA should be very happy with the outcome of their funding too. In fact,
there were huge across-the-board increases in both confidence and technique
amongst the Restricted and Intermediate pilots especially.

Oli Barthelmes was an amazing mentor for the more advanced hang glider pilots,
while Tony Barton was great for our newer ones; Tove Heaney polished up our
landings and was an inspiration just by being herself. Tove arrived without a
glider, rejoined the HGFA after a three year break on Monday morning, and flew
six different gliders during the week, starting with our spare Fun 190 for a
check flight to ease back into things; "I'll just go to the bombout," she said,
and we all laughed, because of course after cranking it to cloudbase she
immediately disappeared into the distance! I hear she flew a Litespeed3 when she
got home the following weekend. Tove's BAAACCCKKK!!!!! Yay!

We had many workshops scheduled on the understanding that these would fit around
flying; because we flew all day every day but one, a couple fell off the list,
but the introductory airspace/ safety session, Dealing with Fear, Secret Women's
Business and cross country theory workshops by Brian, Tony, Oli, Tove and Andrew
all went ahead. Craig Collings gave an incredible workshop on mountain cross
country flying, packed with information even for advanced pilots; John Chapman,
president of the Northeast Victoria Hang Gliding Club, ran a parachute repack
clinic. Lots of safety information gave everyone confidence.

We had asked pilots to bring video cameras, and passed them to drivers and
partners to video launches and landings each day. Kathryn then separated the
videos into paragliding and hang gliding, and we split into two groups to watch
them on the non-flyable day. This proved not only fun (who doesn't like to watch
themselves launching and landing?) But also invaluably instructional with
instant feedback on technique from our instructors and mentors as we watched
them together. The vids also allowed experienced pilots and instructors to
identify line issues with a number of paragliders.

In other workshops, we learned about glider tuning from Oli, who tried to get
Kathryn O'Riordan's Litesport flying more sweetly. Tove flew both Kathryn's wing
and mine and the difference in handling was significant. They both have the same
sail and carbon options, and soft tips. But at least Kathryn will now be
confident of a nicely tuned wing for the Florida comps. She won't know herself
in a glider that handles properly - watch out, competitors!

Day prizes at debriefs comprised Skypig, PB Star, Brown Trousers, Big Sista and
Koala Awards ;-). This allowed us all to learn from each others' triumphs and
mistakes in a fun and light-hearted way! WWW2 Trophies were: Flygrrl (by vote,
to the pilot whom we all aspire to be: confident, skilled, intelligent,
enthusiastic, positive, inspiring, supportive - basically someone who has their
flying shit together): Sonja Fardell, who received a Go Pro helmet cam donated
by Warren Windsports, Big Sista: Alex Bryse, Little Big Sista: Christa Texler,
Peregrine Award (Most Improved hang glider pilot): Brigitte LaFontaine,
Peregrine Award (Most Improved paraglider): GABRIELLE DAVIDSON, Eagle Award
(Best personal best): Gia Arbuthnott, (who had never thermalled, who was in less
than ideal equipment, and who had her first thermaling flight and cross country
in one day).

Injuries were one broken arm (hang glider) and one corked thigh (paraglider).
100% launches nil-3 kts wind for us hangies, 100% landings in nil. Zero broken
aluminum! But ironically if the aerofoil down tube had broken in what three of
us witnessed as only a slightly high flare and what looked a minor whack for a
petite pilot, the arm would not have. Of the paraglider pilots, about half were
Restricted rated, many with little or no inland experience, and many with only a
few hours logged, so Brian Webb's safety structure was highly effective.
Accommodation in Bright was cheap. As a group event we got a significant
discount at The Outdoor Inn. Camping AUSD$14/night, twin share cabins $19/night,
single cabins $23/night (per head). Hot showers, a camp kitchen with fridges and
all cookware and crockery, microwave, stoves, kettle etc: easy to prepare your
own food, no need to bring anything, just buy supplies at the supermarket when
you arrive - great for O/S pilots!

We employed three full-time drivers; one for the hangies and two for the
paraglider pilots.

Moyes, Airborne, Ozone, Supair, Gradient, Brauniger, One Small Planet and many
other flying-associated and local businesses donated prizes to our event. One of
our pilots was a publicist and we had 4 or 5 radio interviews; I'll also be
writing up the event for various magazines in the next few weeks. Check out
Kathryn O Riordan's blog
http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/ for pics and her take on the week.

Our budget was about $13,500 and we charged just $95/head registration for the
week. We could keep the price so low because we won funding from the HGFA, CASA,
and many state associations and clubs. 13 grand sounds a lot but we were paying
evening meals for all instructors, drivers and mentors, as well as their fees
and honoraria, plus travel and accommodation expenses where applicable, plus
fuel, bus hire - it's terrifying how quickly the expenses climb! Our surplus
after tense calculations over my spreadsheet gave us a slim $250, which will go
towards the committee's accommodation expenses. The instructors were extremely
generous in keeping their fees modest.

The committee will now go through the feedback questionnaires and fine tune the
programme and format - there are always improvements to be made and a glance at
the questionnaires raises some excellent suggestions - then bundle up everything
(budget, templates, registration forms, handbooks etc) and make the package
available to anyone anywhere in the world who wants to run a similar event. We
hold copyright of the logo but will make it available upon request to anyone who
is running a Women's only free-flying skills clinic (but not competition).

Despite a few naysayers who during the planning stages dismissed the value of
funding our event, the information from the president of the Women in Sports
Institute on attracting and retaining women in male-dominated sports has proven
to be spot on. The format of WWW2 was highly effective in attracting female
pilots to inland flying. Many new pilots enjoy flying cross country or tasks but
are intimidated by competition environments; indeed, many pilots of both sexes
never become interested in competition, but still want to improve their cross
country flying. The supportive, collaborative and fun environment of a Skills
Clinic provides a stepping stone in confidence and cross country skills for
those who feel they are not yet ready for competition, or those who simply
aren't interested in competition. With the inclusion of highly skilled mentors,
there is also plenty for confident, Advanced-rated pilots to gain.

The committee would love to see more of these events around the world.