What a time to be alive! As we battle the unseen demons and viruses of our day and do our best to navigate the social gauntlet, I am in awe of the wonderful community that surrounds us. It is full of positive messages of persistence, hope and faith. Like all things, the positive seems to be equally met with messages of failure, despair, and fear. As I have been wading through this landscape of words, I have often turned my thoughts to the paragliding community. This family of humans who collectively share in the most amazing gift, that of free-flight. It is a passion that we all pursue, but often with different voracity as we channel our energy through individual lenses of experience and expectations. Like the world around us, it is full of amazing people willing to share, lift, and inspire. And in like contrast, the positive is often met with those who wish to criticize, complain, and dictate.

Across the landscape of my life I have learned there are two types of people in every community group. Those who build, and those who destroy. There are amazing people in each group, so one is not inherently good, nor the other inherently bad. I have found it is just a matter of personal perspective. Community is so important and is the vehicle that can advance free-flight in a positive or negative direction. To be successful this community needs people who build, and not just destroy. It needs to be a space where discussions can happen without judgement, ridicule, or public shaming. It needs to be a place where people are willing to actually share sound advice, not just offer a critical opinion.

The Wasatch Free Flight Group has been around since 2011, and was started with the hopes of providing a safe place for pilots. A place to come share, discuss, and ask for advice in a non-confrontational, safe, and positive environment. I am reminded of the scene in the cartoon classic Bambi when our main character, while learning to walk, stumbles around the forest floor amidst his neighbors an peers. When a youngster rabbit named Thumper says in a voice loud enough for all to hear “he doesn’t walk very good does he?” After which his mother sternly reminds him of a lesson learned earlier in the day. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” Here in the Wasatch Free Flight Group we like to do our best to follow “Thumper’s Law” by offering only positive, constructive advice. New pilots, as they are “learning to walk” should never be publicly shamed for making a poor decision, sharing a lesson learned, or asking what may be a simple question.

As we continue to build the Wasatch Free Flight community I want to thank each of you that have contributed with your building spirit. Those who write articles, comment, and donate financially to help keep this website going (always needed). We are equally thankful to those who reach out with a question, ask for advice, or simply display the WFF sticker on their car or helmet. Thank you to all of you in the community who are helping build this amazing mountain flying community. It is my hope that as we meet each other on the mountainside, or in the social media landscape, that we are friendly, kind, and always follow “Thumper’s Law” in all aspects of our flying pursuits, and within our free-flight community.

Be safe out there my friends, and I will see you somewhere high above the Wasatch.

(If you find the articles, advice, or mentorship helpful, will you please share a comment and/or share the link on social media. Likewise if you want a WFF sticker, just let me or Josh know and we can get you one…or ten).