I really enjoyed watching Nene Rotor's video of boat-towed hang
gliding in Brazil. The nice, placid lake waters, no helmet, itty-bitty
lake-style pontoons and laid-back music.
Flying offshore in saltwater conditions of the sometimes gnarly, shark-infested
conditions of the Gulf of Mexico requires a bit different style and equipment.
Here at Paradise Hang Gliding, Inc. we utilize a larger boat to tackle big
waves, larger pontoons for heavy tandem loads in big waves, hydraulic lift to
get heavy loads out of the water before the sharks start circling, and hot girls
working the flight deck. Not to mention personal flotation devices, helmets, and
a myriad of other safety and water rescue gear.
I always do a solo check-flight before each day's tandems, but seldom shoot
video. Here is a short one from a while back in the pre-GoPro days. Check this
one out and see how we rock year-round here in south Florida. Not in HD, but
crank up the volume, and then ask yourself: What does The World (of hang
gliding) Need Now? Better marketing? More students? Coverage of major contests
such as aerobatic meets on cable TV sports programming?
