Stewart Kissel wrote in message ...
Fair enough-

Although our poster from Texas has written of his experience
in these things with what I assume would be strong
thermals, I still have to wonder how they do taking
the big-G hits that are not uncommon in strong conditions.
As I stated in a previous post, I only really see
them about in the mornig taking sled rides.




Stewart,

As I am an experienced paraglider pilot and actively seek out the "Big
Air" I typically don't launch till 10 or 11 o'clock.

While sled rides are fine for students, newbies and the less
adventuress you will typically find that the seasoned pilots opt for
stronger conditions.

Granted, we do fly a flex wing and there comes a point where the air
is simply too big to fly. I personally have not found that limit and
I have flown on some of the biggest strongest summer days that you can
find in the Houston, TX area. In reference to big-G hits.....

I love them! The bigger the stronger the better! It just tells me
that I am going to need to turn RIGHT now and TIGHTLY to stay in the
core. More than once I have flown into lift so hard that there was an
audible pop as the wing loaded up and it felt like God had reached
down and snatched me up by the risers!

Rest assured, while you may have only seen a few guys taking sled
rides in the morning; there is a whole lotta guys and gals who look
for and exclusively fly the "big air". These same people are setting
some unbelievable world records with an aircraft that you can fold up
and carry under your arm.

Gus Rasch
DK-GT/Octane
Pitts S1S / N21JF