Saturday the Rochester Area Flyers held their Check it Out program an introductory program for potential students. There was an incredible turnout with 22 registered and attending the program. The weather was cool, make that cold, due to the brisk winds but sunny so we found a sheltered area beside the Quonset hut out of the wind and Moritz did a most excellent presentation about the club, the school and hang gliding in general. After we broke up into groups and started first on the flats ground handling and running with the glider. As the students progressed we went over to the gentle slope at the base of the training hill and did some man tows with people on the wires and keel as the student ran down the slope. The final result was everyone got air, the lighter ones much more than others, and everyone went away with big smiles.
At the start I thought it would be blown out but the wind velocity turned out to be a blessing making launch speeds very achievable with the 10-15mph headwind. I ran to much and came away fatigued and showing my winters inactivity has put me out of shape but spring is here and many hill climbs to come will increase my conditioning. Here's to a good training season.
Afterwards Ron and I met at the Victor High School and pulled out the kite buggy and 5M kite to spend the rest of the evening till sunset zipping around the athletic fields.
The pic I gleaned off the RAF group from Lon is of an attentive class with Moritz doing his presentation and Linda and I modeling the latest in hang glide harness fashion.
