Chris McKeon wrote:You know I read these posts stating things such as; The Sport of Hang Gliding is Dying, Pilots are doing things to split the Sport of Hang Gliding, How things should be done to repair the Sport. Then here I am trying to generate interest in My possible next Fly-In.
Chris, I admire your motivation to create a Fly-In meet. It's a cool thing that you could do for the people who are already in the sport. But that kind of a fly-in won't bring anyone new into the sport. The sport will continue to die.
I like the idea that Craig suggested earlier:
Craig wrote:Here is a challenge Chris, write a song, video and edit yourself, playing your acoustic guitar, to show people how inspired you are to fly your Predator again, on your amazing journey. Doesn't have to be fancy or "longwinded", to tell a story.
Saving the sport of hang gliding will require reaching out. Music and video are very good tools. I think that a cool hang gliding song could be added to lots of hang gliding videos. It doesn't have to be a great song ... just better than hearing 5 minutes of wind blowing on a video. I think you should take up Craig's challenge. Besides, setting up a fly-in requires other people. In my experience, it's very tough to count on other people. But you can count on yourself. So be sure to do at least some things that don't depend on anyone else for success.
Chris wrote:Well as of now January 2022 I can say that the Day when I am back to feeling, moving, and thinking like I used to is coming.
I think that is very very very cool. But remember that even if you fully recover, you'll be fully recovered 10 years older than you were 10 years ago. Every 10 years is much harder on us than the previous 10, so be prepared to be recovered as a 60-something year old and not as a 50-something year old. That difference is important.
Clint Eastwood said it very well: "A man has got to know his limitations."