US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Physical Training for Hang Gliding
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All are invited to advance notes, links, tips, references, stories, etc. that tend to advance awareness of the physical training that may enhance the safety and enjoyment of various hang gliding niche activities. Depending on the kind of HG activity, varied physical powers may be more accentuated over others. All variations are potential post topics in this discussion/study thread. Needed? Wanted? Safety margin? Individual's needs? Special needs? Limited needs? Growing powers? Journaling? Measuring what matters? Plans? Places? Maintenance? Readiness? Injury notes? Warming up? Fatigue? Endurance? Coordination? Mobility? Agility? ...
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Stresses?
Strains?
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Safety?
Pace?
Intensity?
Variety?
Motivations?
Benefits?
Impairment?
Recovery?
Body mechanics?
Lifting methods?
Control methods?
Buddy systems?
Site safety?
Bugs, animals, bacteria?
First-aid?
Situational awareness?
Patience?
Nutrition?
Rest?
Sleep?
Review?
Does one have more than what what will be needed?
Testing?
Specific challenges?
Is one sitting too much?
Massage?
Breathing?
Hearing?
Stretching?
Tumbling?
Skin treatment?
Preparations?
Clothing for the physical aspects of HG?
Shoes?
Shade?
Hygiene?
Sickness?
Warmth?
Overheating?
Adjusting parameters?
Relief systems and schedules?
Hydration?
Medical reviews?
Standing?
Kneeling?
Effects of one's habits on HG needs?
Target performance?
Discipline?
Saying "yes" and saying "no".
Demands of the niche HG activity chosen?
Individual needs?
Healing rates?
Age effects?
All physical senses?
Methods?
Costs of chosen programs? Time. Travel. Money.
Attitude affects actions?
Habits?
Positions?
Extension?
Reach?
Time?
Timing?
Spatial awareness?
Feeling wind speed?
Sensing acceleration?
Endurance?
Strength?
Forces?
Posture?
Specific physical challenges, needs, limitations, workarounds?
Overworking? Balanced training?
Matching intensity and pace with training companions?
Places?
Tools? Equipment? Implements?
What may be done near Dockweiler Hang Gliding Flight Training Park?
Combining actions that enhance a site while advancing one's physical-training-for-HG activity?
Eye care? Goggles? Dust, sand, bugs, wind, sun? Glasses gear?
Helmets?
Spine?
Hands, fingers?
Neck?
How much does one weigh?
Cushioning?
Impact protection?
Risk management?
Situational awareness?
Safe-Splat arena?
Wing-running arena? Wings may be as small as a tiny dusty thread or as large as a __(??)_____.
Coordinate the physical with the mental! Look to mental training for hang gliding!

Sand as "implement" at Dockweiler State Beach for physical training

So, each HG site might have various ways to have implements for exercise.
This post is just about beach sand as an implement for physical training for hang gliding.
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Some miscellaneous notes:
1. Sand may be bagged into sturdy textile bags of various sizes. We are to leave the sand at the beach; the sand belongs to next users of the beach !
Just bagging sand is an exercise! Consider bagging sand that is in a bothersome site place. Then carry the bag of sand to a place where the sand will help others recreate more robustly. Sand on walkways and display concrete platforms, etc. are game for this exercise. Notice the excess sand that has built up around the hang gliding plaque; consider reducing the mound just north of the plaque; that mound has been building from shoveling sand off the plaque viewing concrete platform; well, that mound keeps spilling back; consider removing some of that sand.

2. A bag of sand may become a two-or-more-person toss toy. So play away from active hang gliding activity. Solitary sand-bag tossing could exercise overhead reach (flare muscless).

3. A bag of sand may become a buried anchor for a kite system; use the kite system to drop scaled gliders to test those scaled hang gliders. Do this in a manner that the gliders will land on the beach and not on the automobile road or bikeway; be near the wet sand near waves; drop from moderate alitudes so that the gliding ends with margin from bikeway and road. Doing such play exercises one's body and mind.

4. Long textile bags of sand may become wing-running platforms. More traction may be obtained compared to running in loose sand.

5. Bagged sand may be lifted in many ways; this may provide training for various muscles.

6. Lie in the sand and perform "sand angels" with movements of arms and legs. Push sand; pull sand. Roll whole body one way and then the other. Consider wearing goggles.

7. Crawl across the sandy beach. While doing such, consider removing trash.

8. Run backwards on the sand. Run sideways. Run forward. Skip on the sand. Alternate motions of running on the sand. Change speed. Wear sand bags and then do the various said actions as a progressive activity.

9. Have a drag screen; set bags of sand on it. Harness yourself to the arrangement with tethers. Drag it all using various postures: front, back, sideways. Drag the sand to remove deep tracks made by the lifeguard vehicles, police vehicles, birds, humans, hang glider pilots, etc.

10. When done, consider looking for depressions or holes in the HG LZ; empty the sand into those holes in order to smooth the LZ.