HG pilots Who have Flown Dockweiler over the years

[Neil Larson]

Dockweiler Beach , the place has a natural gravitation for those who live anywhere in Los Angeles. Mainly because it is easily accessible via Imperial Hwy. . Over the years , now about 60 and counting, I have observed the place... used by inner city citizens from Compton, Watts and further into East LA. and locals from outlying South Bay "Burbs" of Westchester, Venice, Lawndale, Lennox and Hawthorne. Dockweiler was always the back-up spot to surf when we would cruise all the way down to San Onofre or up to Santa Barbara in search of the perfect wave.... driving home we could always rely on good old Dockweiler (D&W) for a surfable set.
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Dockweiler seems to be one of those Over Night Success Stories, we have all heard about form Hollywood, but the simple fact remains , D&W is one of the most revered Hang Gliding locations in Southern California for over 55 years !
Perhaps Joe Faust may be able to help out here on this thread ... But I can begin a working list of some rather well known pioneers of Hang Gliding who used D&W for many HG flights ....Including Dr. Francis M. Rogallo .........
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A partial list of "Celebrity" Hang Glider friends who used to fly with sand sneakers (*) signifies witnessed flight by me!
Dr. Francis M. Rogallo
Richard Miller
Volmer Jensen *
Joe Faust *
Taras Kiceniuk *
Bob Lovejoy
Dick Eipper *
Mike Riggs *
Bob Keeler *
Dave Cronk *
Madhava Das *
Kas DeLyse *
Art Bean *
Steve Pawling *
Marty May *
Frank Colver
Matt Colver


-------- please add known pilots of Dockweiler , * that you have witnessed

[JoeF]

Working file, alphabetical by last name will be updated as possible, as many are yet to be posted.
There list at WorldHangGlidingAssociation.org for FDGS does not distinguish "those who have flown" ... except maybe vicariously or in like spirit.
http://www.WorldHangGlidingAssociation.org/FDGS/index.html

[Frank Colver]

Chris Price's name should be there. I can't remember if I ever saw him at Dockweiler but he was at Torrance Beach so he must have been at Dockweiler also. He also did the first cross country from Kagel which was around 30 or 35 miles (I think it was Kagel or was it another peak?).

Somebody may remember seeing him at Dockweiler.

His best advice to all HG pilots was: "Always land standing up, into the wind". Said from the podium at a meeting of the SCHGA at the SoCal Gas Co. meeting room in downtown LA, sometime in the early seventies, after someone talked about downwind landings.

FC