[Rick Masters]

      In the old days, hang glider pilots had to depend on weather charts and forecasts in hopes of finding the best places to fly. We would look for areas of low pressure crossing to our north, study dew points and lapse rates and wind patterns, and make an educated guess as to where the best flying might be. Sometimes we were even reduced to grovelling before sneering sailplane pilots.
      Despite all these efforts, we were often wrong. But today, this is no longer necessary.
      Today we have suicidal, low information soaring parachutists flying inland mountain sites in the heart of summer to show us where the best conditions are. Simply by looking at news reports of paragliding accidents, we can determine with absolute certainty the best places to fly our hang gliders. Now, some will say, Oh, there goes Rick Masters again, making fun of paragliders, but no, I am dead serious. This is as near a perfect weather prediction system as has ever been devised by man.
      Think of all the wind dummies on hang gliders, over the years, who have wasted their day by testing conditions for the dedicated cross-country pilots on the hill. You may have been one, left sweating dejectedly in the LZ, knowing that if you had only waited another 20 minutes, you would have caught that magic moment and been on your way. No more! Now wind dummies, too, can strap on oxygen tanks and GO FOR IT because paragliders are marking the best venues by splattering themselves all over the countryside. Summer has arrived!
      Simply by noting in news reports the location and time of death, hang glider pilots will know in advance where the best thermals are likely to be the next day. Toss those weather reports in the garbage. You don't need them anymore. You've got self-delusional, suicidal paragliders, now, thinking paragliders are just like hang gliders - even better!. And best of all, they're always going to be there. They're not going to listen to anybody! They are there for you. The term "wind dummies" hardly does them justice - they are taking the term to an entirely new level.
      Looking for a booming day? Watch for reports of high altitude thermal collapses, attempted deployments, and multiple fatalities. Those are great days. But don't be fooled. The very best days are often those when paragliders can't even get very high due to "extreme" ( ) turbulence (which we know as crank and bank, or shut up and hang on). They end up littering the slopes and drawing helicopters like flies - another benefit - because multiple helicopters indicate the best days of all. Don't tarry. Rock 'n roll up to 18,000 feet in those boomers and GO FOR IT!

[Rick Masters]

Father's Day Weekend: Lookin' Good! - June 20 & 21

Sunday was a moderately good day for hang gliding inland from the Mediterranean coast of Spain along an arc between Gibraltar and Andorra, with two paragliding fatalities from collapses (one in Spain, #1324, and one in France, #1325) and two crashes resulting in broken legs (both legs) and multiple fractures. Northern Italy may have shown a little promise, with both legs broken and a fractured pelvis. Central France also showed promise of things to come with a fractured pelvis. Brazil, despite approaching winter, may be presenting declining thermal potential with only one fatality on Saturday, #1323.

Overall, conditions seem to be improving.