Hang Gliding Groups
Once you have gotten into the groove with your new hang gliding pastime, you probably want to find others who enjoy it as much as you do. This activity is not for everyone, so you may have found it a challenge to find a group, but they are out there. You may have to connect with people online in order to find a group close enough to you. There are a number of national groups that you might want to contact or even become a member of in order to learn more about hang gliding and the people that enjoy it. Hopefully this list, although by no means complete, will offer you a good starting point for your new hobby.
National Groups both in the US and ex-US
United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association: This organization was created in 1974 and its purpose has grown over the decades. They now concentrate on reaching out globally to teach people about the sport, educating enthusiasts about gliding safety, and working as a mediator between the world of gliders and the world of the Federal Aviation Administration. They are also dedicated to recording and preserving the history of gliding. Their main headquarters is in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association has chapters located all over the country. They have separated the U.S. into 12 regions, with each region having its own chapter. These chapters are not run by the USHGPA, they are run by members who just want use their own experiences to help others who enjoy gliding or who are considering giving it a try.
European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union: This organization is in Europe and is tasked with controlling the interaction between gliders and the regulators of the sport and the airspace they share, as well as Europe Airsports and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. They work with other localized groups to promote and ensure safe gliding practices, as well as keeping track of any accidents or injury. There are several committees under this main union, each dedicated to a different aspect of their goal. Chances are good that there is a chapter in your country.
Smaller Organizations
Many places around the world have groups that choose to get together and share their own gliding lives with other people who love the sport. Often, finding one is as easy as picking up a phone book. The list, unfortunately, is too extensive to post here.
These smaller organizations are typically just a collection of people who have arranged meetings and events that can be attended by anyone who glides. Because there is no actual governing body over gliding, they do not have to be registered with any specific group.
Finding a group of people with whom to share the gliding experience is not a hard thing to do, especially if you live in an area where gliding is popular. It is much more common in some locations than in others. Perhaps those with mountains may have more than those where the regions are relatively flat.
California is one place where gliding has achieved a pretty large following. You can occasionally find a group to join that is housed in a state where you travel to glide. You do not always have to be a local to be a member of the organization. Once you join a group, given how small the network is, there’s a good chance that a member in one may hold membership in another (in another state or another country). By all means, if you are traveling or moving, don’t be shy. Ask your new group to share details on another.
