It's Scary...

That even when presented with the blank canvas of a Halloween pumpkin, I see hang gliders... Obsess MUCH?!

Entry: ob·sess
Function: verb

transitive verb : to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of

Happy Halloween from Ryan, Des, and Wings Over Wasatch!

Is a picture worth 1,000 words?

well, at least 110...

Read the last line of the flight summary...

3 Month Update/Back to Blogging!

It's been a while since I've posted any updates to this blog. Ok, more than a while... it's been pretty much all summer. But summer's craziness is on it's way out, and winter is rolling in with it's own crazy panache...

There's so much to blog about, I don't even know where to begin... for now, I'll just throw some videos up to show you what summer's been like around here...

Des buys a new car! from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

Ryan Spin and Loop from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

Ryan Spins from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

I'll update again, SOON!... but for now, here's a more recent video to tide you over... South Side flying a couple of days ago:

Hang Gliding at Point of the Mountain (South Side) from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

Da two Utes

Our friends Randy and Ali are staying with us until they can find a place here in UT. Yep, they're becoming Utahn's!

The newest additions to the great state of Utah

Saturday I got out of work early so we made a plan to go on an afternoon hike. I thought it would be cool to take them up American Fork Canyon, and do some hiking on Mt. Timp. I know a dirt road that wraps around Timp, and there's a big rock slide area that looked clear and easy enough to hike. Above the slide it looked like they're were some gully's that would lead up to the top ridge of Timp.

It's too bad there's no good views in Utah...

As we started hiking we were in good spirits, heavily debating the differences between a 'chute' and a 'couloir'... we decided the difference was minimal and Canada sucks.

SNOW!!! we went up to the chute to the right of the snow

As we made our way up the rocks got looser and looser, and the terrain got steeper and steeper. Before long we were fighting for traction, afraid we'd slide all the way down to the car. About this time we spotted some Mountian Goats, so we pressed on. They had no trouble getting traction... must be why they're called MOUNTAIN Goats and we're just 'bipeds'.

Big Goat, Little Goat... couloir?

We got as high as we dared, to the bottom of the gulley, and headed back down. The treck back down was nerve racking, doing more 'controlled sliding' than hiking... but we made it down safely. We ate our sandwiches as the sun set, and we headed home.

D-Rocket is all smiles at sunset

Beats sitting in the house, that's for sure! Welcome to Utah Randy and Ali :-)

Night falls on the Wasatch

Ryan South Side GoPro footage from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.

Aerobatics Clinic 2009

Wings Over Wasatch is proud to announce the Mitch McAleer Aerobatics Clinic will return to Utah, August 21-23! Back by popular demand, the 3-day clinic will build upon last year’s success. The goal is to educate each attendee on performing safe and progressive aerobatic maneuvers. This clinic is aimed at ALL aerobatic enthusiasts- from those looking to learn safely, to veteran upside-downers. Attendees can expect comprehensive instruction complete with video examples, equipment evaluation, video analysis and more.

The clinic will be held in the greater Salt Lake/Point of the Mountain area, August 21-23. Cost is $300 per attendee, with limited slots available. For more information, including a complete event schedule, or to reserve your slot, go to www.wingsoverwasatch.com.

No Rain in Hurricane (UT)

I've been working with a video producer who creates content for the Larry Miller Megaplex Theaters here in Salt Lake... he's creating a segment on hang gliding in Utah! Pretty soon you'll be able to go to the movies and, if you get there early, you'll see hang gliding on the big screen!!!

Road Trip!!!

Last week I gave a lesson to the segment host, and on Thursday Dan McMannus gave her a tandem flight (and flew with a video cam on board). In addition to those shoots, the video producer wanted to get some air-to-air footage, and wanted it to be over some of the breathe taking iconic red rock cliffs of Southern Utah.

Southern Utah... not scenic at all...

Friday a small group of pilots, along with a video crew, headed down to Hurricane, UT. The plan was for Dan to take the producer tandem, and throughout the flight the videographer could shoot aerial footage flying with the other pilots.

Heather posing with her Sport 2

The group consisted of Dan and Hildegard, Heather, Wes, Dave Gibson, and myself. After the 4 hr drive down, we scoped the LZ, then headed up top. The hang pilots set up their gliders, while the video crew set up their gear. Once everyone was ready- pilots launched 1 by 1, and easily climbed. As soon as Dangerous Dave launched the air show began. He was in his element, and having an inspired day... the film crew were loving it!

3D high-speed pass at the camera (on a crane, on left)

Later in the day Dan top landed so he could take the video producer up tandem for the air-to-air stuff. At this point conditions were strong... 10-15, probably gusting to 20. And this 'aint the South Side- it was rocky. With brush and cacti. Dan did a few fly-throughs and then lined it up and went for it. Dan executed the most extreme and technical slider I have ever seen. I was in awe of what I had just seen; I am still utterly impressed.

Dan's extreme slider, amazing!

Anyway, Dan and Eric (video producer) went up and shot some aerial footage. I haven't seen the footage yet, but between the red rocks, the clouds and sunset, and triple-D's flying circus air show, the footage should be astounding... I can't wait!

Dave getting upside down over the cliffs

Dave inverted in front of some red rocks

Dave buzzing Dan and Eric... should make for great footage!

When you plan a video shoot around something like hang gliding, you never know if it will work out... especially when that plan involves traveling 300 miles to an unfamiliar site. But the weather gods rewarded our faith with epic flights, footage, and photos. I wouldn't change a thing about the whole experience (except maybe next time I'll get to fly too)...

Perfect end to a perfect day

Done at the Deer

Deer Valley officially closed 1 week ago today... making it officially flying season in my book! On Monday I got a text from Dangerous Dave Gibson, saying the South Side was looking good. I was surprised to hear this from Dave- as he quits hang gliding every November and then typically doesn't get into it again until Snowbird closes.

Unable to pass up a good time, I told Dave I'd meet him there. He was nearly done setting up already, so I got started on my glider. I watched him walk up to launch, put the glider down, and start yelling about Jackson the dog sitting in front of him. He eventually made me come hold Jackson so he could launch... the guy nicknamed DANGEROUS Dave couldn't launch with a puppy at his feet. Yup.

After he launched I let doggie go and he began chasing Dave across the ridge, barking. Dave immediately went into 110 degree wingovers, exiting towards Jackson (and the hill!). Ballsy, considering this was his 'first flight' since the start of ski season. His nickname was re-validated in my mind.

3D getting radical on a South Side expression session

I fly, I fly!

Saturday I had the day off, and the forecast for the South Side looked decent. Having not flown since November, I decided it was a good day to get some rust off.

As I drove down the frontage road to the South Side, I noticed right in front of me was a familiar white van with a hang glider on the roof... John L and I drove up top and immediately started setting up. Winds were a bit light, but we were hopeful things would pick up.

Just as it started to get really good John Glime pulled in, and frantically started setting up too. John L and I supervised from above :-) Later into the morning, a bunch more hang pilots showed up. Most set up, but it died off before they got to fly. Some chose to fly down, some to break down.

Here is a video from today (thanks Liz for filming!):
Hang Gliding at South Side, Point of the Mountain
(click on the link to watch the video in HD at vimeo.com)

After flying a bunch of us went out for pizza and beverages, putting a nice finishing touch on the day. Then John Glime and I bumped into Heather and Adrian, and they invited us over for dinner... Adrian made a delectable dinner, and we just hung out and talked flying, life, and everything in between. Adrian also showed John and I his workshop, where he makes custom 'zagi' wings. He actually has a computer driven, automated hotwire machine- he just plugs in the dimensions and airfoil, and the machine automatically cuts the wing cores. VERY cool!

Fun Day on Sunday

I woke up with two texts from Des in my phone, one said "Did you want to go do a run?", and the other (referring to the avalanche forecast) "It's green... green means go!".

I was tempted to stay home and rest my feet, but unable to resist a good time in the great outdoors I sprung to life and got ready. She had to be back by early afternoon, so we were just going to do one quick run and head home.

Since it's so easily accessible, we decided to ski the southerly face of Cardiff Ridge, which is basically right next to Alta, overlooking the parking lot. The tour up was pretty painless, and there were lots of other 'backcountry enthusiasts' out today despite being overcast, flat light, and a bit snowy.

The run down was surprisingly stellar! We weaved back and forth a little until we found a good looking line down, then we laid our tracks on the hill. The snow was a little wetter than the infamous Utah pow, but still very nice. There was also a bit of sun crust maybe a foot or two below the surface snow, but that's to be expected on a south facing slope.

A little lower down I saw a nice line through some trees and asked Des to take my picture as I came down. I openly admit I'm vain like that, and love seeing myself do cool things like aerobatics or powder skiing... lucky for me Des was happy to oblige and set up below. I linked a few turns, which resulted in the below sequence :-)

There's something cool about ripping down a mountain
and leaving a cloud in your wake...

It was a great day to be on skis, and I'm really glad I went. As much as I enjoy resort skiing, there's something about the backcountry that hits deep in my soul. Probably has something to do with the feeling of exploration and the unknown... and the untracked pow :-)