Welcome to soaring, Ed! The seasonality of the sport depends a bit on your location. There are three main types of lift that gliders use: thermals, ridge, and wave. Thermals tend to be good during spring, summer, and sometimes fall, depending on the area. Ridge and wave lift depend on wind, and can be found at any time of year, depending on the area and topography. Winter is generally regarded as the off season for soaring, but at least in the Western US, we sometimes get great wave days.