Everybody needs a hobby in life.  For some it is gardening, others biking.  Whether collecting stamps, running, playing a musical instrument, or just cheering on the Broncos while sitting on the couch eating buffalo wings, everybody has one.  It is such hobbies that offer us escapes from reality, moments that keep us going through the lethal “day-to-day” grind.  For me, my escape comes packaged in ripstop nylon and string. A package of materials that magically expands into a dynamic wing that lets me soar high above the earth, no motors, no distractions, just the sound of rushing air hopefully pushing me upwards.  I call it my hobby; to others around me, including my wife they think it more of an addiction….perhaps they are right.

Over the last few weeks, my “addiction” has had me rather frustrated.  With spring comes “paragliding XC season” (a term I have never understood), and with it all the expectations of high altitudes and longer XC’s.  I have been lucky enough to log some great XC flights already this year starting as early as February, but with spring now upon us my personal expectations for each day have been higher.  When the expectations of the day far exceed the realities, my frustrations mount.  One such day left me sitting in a field looking up blankly at the sky it utter frustration.  It was not until the next day did I realize I was acting like an XC pilot, and thus have forgotten EVERY reason why I fly.

When one starts paragliding you are quickly confronted with the question of what “type” of pilot you want to be.  You are always surrounded by pilots talking about acrobatics (Acro) or Cross Country (XC) type flying and as you continue to learn, that question is always there….which do you want to be?  Four years and nearly a thousand mountain flights later I still do not know that answer.  Am I an acro pilot? Definitely not, but a set of wing over’s can sure be fun.  Am I an XC pilot? Not really, but I can lay down a fun, long, high XC across the mountains when I want to.  To me I fly because it is FUN.  I fly because it is beautiful high above the mountain peaks.  I fly because there is no other feeling like it on this earth.  I fly because it is my release from the day-to-day.  I do not fly to see how high above the -3 index I can get, or how many miles I can put behind me in a day.  I fly for the pure adventure of it all.  To be in the beautiful mountains, hiking, flying, more hiking, more flying, taking in the serenity, the view, the fresh air. I think myself more of an adventure pilot than an XC or Acro pilot…..because, quite frankly, I love the whole adventure!

I know nobody really reads this blog except my mom (hi mom), but if by some random chance you made it here and are still reading thanks for letting me vent and get myself mentally re-aligned.  No matter what hobby you pursue, may you do it with passion and enjoy the adventure of it.  If you too are addicted to that package of nylon and string called a paraglider, I hope to see you in the sky soon.