U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

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Gliding & Paragliding
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Good Morning America's Ginger Zee at Lookout Mountain Flight Park: Watch as Ginger Zee takes off at Lookout Mountain Flight Park! Did someone say, "solo first, then tandem"? Click here to watch!

2011 Annual Report Available: Please feel free to log in to your member account to view the USHPA 2011 Annual Report and full financial information. View it here.

PWC added to USHPA Sanctioned Competitions in 2012: 2012 PWC (Paragliding World Cup) Sun Valley Idaho R2G (Race to Goal) PG received USHPA sanctioning at the 2012 Spring Meeting. Learn more here: http://www.paraglidingworldcup.org/view/tour

Spring 2012 Board Meeting March 22-24, Colorado Springs, CO: Thank you for joining us for the Spring meeting and Awards Ceremony. The Spring 2012 summary will be available for download in the Members Only section of the USHPA website this week.

Region 2 Run-off Election Results: Patrick Hajek has been elected as the 2012-2013 Regional Director. Mike Jefferson had 97 votes with 42% of the region total and Patrick Hajek had 133 votes with 58% total. Thank you to both candidates for participating in this process and enduring the duration of the final results. Thank you to the members for attempting our first online voting system using this new method as well as waiting patiently for us to get the process sorted.

Fall 2011 Board Meeting Minutes AVAILABLE: Click here to log-in and view.

Chelan XC Open 2012 (PG) added to Sanctioned Comps: Click here for changes to the Sanctioned Events including the July 8-14th addition as well as updates to the dates of other national and regional events.

UPDATE*** 2012-2013 term Regional Director Elections: Region 1 - Mark Forbes; Region 2 - Josh Cohn and a run-off election will be scheduled for Patrick Hajek and Michael Jefferson after a tie (see full results in the news section); Region 3 - Rob Sporrer and Corey Caffrey; Region 4 - Ken Grubbs; Region 5 - Don Lepinsky; Regions 6/11 - David Glover; Region 9 - Dan Tomlinson; Region 10 - Matt Taber and Bruce Weaver.

Thanks to all the candidates who participated, and to all of the members who took the time to fill out and send in a ballot. We're moving toward having on-line elections for next fall, which should make it even easier to cast a ballot. Thanks also to Robin and Beth at the office, who counted and cross-checked the results. Full results will be emailed to the members shortly. - Mark G. Forbes, USHPA Elections Committee Chairman

2011 USHPA Award Winners Announced: 2011 Best Promotional Film - Ryan Voight; 2011 Bettina Gray Photography Award - Sanders Crater; 2011 Chapter of the Year- Hawaii Paragliding Association; 2011 Commendations - Greg Babush, George Baskette, Dan Buchanan, Carl DiPiero, John Gallagher, Greg Gillam, Dan Gravage, Harold Johnson, Larry Jorgensen, Ty McCartney, Robert Reynolds, Keith Riemersma, Jason Shapiro, David Wheeler; 2011 Exceptional Service - Ken Howells; 2011 Hang Gliding Instructor of the Year - Andy Torrington; 2011 Newsletter / Website of the Year - NASA Flyer (Northeastern Air Sports Association / Mountain Wings); 2011 Paragliding Instructor of the Year - Pete Michelmore; 2011 Presidential Citation - Lisa Tate; 2011 Presidential Citation - John Dickenson (special additional award)

Oregon Field Guide Covers the Rat Race: The Oregon Field Guide put together this great video on the Rat Race and paragliding. From great interviews, to understanding what competitions are really about, paragliding has its day in this well-crafted short film that ends with an experience by the narrator, who was really well informed on how to talk free flight. Great job and congratulations to Gail and Mike Haley for having such a great piece to add to the legacy of the Rat Race Competition. Watch it here: Watch the video starting at the minute 10:40s or this link may work too

New York Times features Able Pilot Military Veterans Paragliding Camp: Watch it here or check out the Sunday, September 4th edition of the NY Times.

USHPA Hang Gliding Training iPad App (FREE): June 1, 2011-Announcing the development of a mobile hang gliding safety iPad app available worldwide through Apple's App store. The new app focuses on pre-flight safety, skill development and flight techniques for all levels of hang gliding pilots. More on the news section: http://www.ushpa.aero/news.asp?id=171

US Winners at Paragliding World Cup Comps in 2011: Nick Greece took home the Columbian PWCA USA Champion in early 2011. See his profile page with videos here: http://www.paraglidingworldcup.org/user/17368

Jack Brown, took home the first place at the Korean World Cup in Mun Gyeong, South Korea in May. Learn more at: http://vimeo.com/24255208.

Emergency Procedures - The best way to handle an emergency is to be prepared before one occurs. To learn more read Gary Trudeau's article Being Prepared or read Recommended Emergency Procedures or print the credit card-size flowchart.