Mark James Boyd wrote:

Soaring had a survey, and I filled it out. I suggested
the covers be more exciting and varied. Gliders doing
aerobatics, parachutists out of gliders, motorgliders
towing another glider, glider formations doing aerobatics,
big gaggles, thermalling with a paraglider or hangglider,
multi-tow with three gliders, auto-tow launch, etc. The
kind of stuff that ISN'T a picture of a white glider
and "scenery."

You know, if I were the guy in that 1-26 I'd be really proud of that
painting on the latest cover. Its really quite nice. But its a bit
bucolic for the younger crowd (even me).
I was looking at a recent REI catalog directed straight-as-an-arrow at
the sort of demographic that soaring would appeal to. Late 20's into
50s, active with money. Lots of actiony pics, pans, soft focus up close
"healthy 30 something" models. Not what you see in Soaring. Aerial
shots of Lasham? Yawn. Actually, the shot accompanying the article
that I was complaining about to start this evil thread is the best one
in this issue.
(irony not lost :-) )

Two of my club's best "new to us" pilots are
former hang glider pilots who have switched to rigid wing
and enclosed cockpit. Yep they're 50+, but it seems
like a natural progression. But to get younger
glider pilots, more exciting stuff is needed.
Get some exciting Soaring covers, vary it up a bit at your
club, go wild! Perhaps a Soaring Rave?

I don't know. Ecstasy and soaring? :-)
Don't get me wrong. We should try to attract hang/paragliding pilots
young and old, as well as power converts. Aviation is a small field to
pick from though. Soaring needs to attract new people never involved in
aviation to break from the ever-aging population in GA. REI can market
to them. So can we.

Shawn

P.S. This summer, I'm going to pursue some different styles of soaring
photography. See what I can do that's different from the norm.