Discussion from the paragliding forum. See:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=p307763

Seems to be a large group of very talented soaring people that the SSA
and BGA doesn't reach well. Many of the boomers who started jumping
off hills in the 1970's are getting tired of climbing the hills
carrying a big bag.

We do get a large and frequent number of paraglider types thanks to
Chris Santacroce in Salt Lake City (and other's) references. Lots of
folk lore out there regarding sailplanes (or maybe we deserve it) -

Certain comments re-surface over and over about glider club
environments, costs and misconceptions about "90% social, 10% flying",
"takes a year to get your license", "mostly racing glass", etc, etc.

If you know a hang glider or para glider pilot to share a sailplane
flight with they can explain quite a bit about the physics and
structure of a thermal they explore at 25 km/hr with a tight, tight
turn radius. My husband and teen daughter traded winch sailplane rides
for two pay-out winch paraglider flights to 3,000 AGL. Daughter loved
it. Husband didn't care for the aerobatics on a "piece of cloth", but
very rewarding to watch these people do a save and back to altitude
from half a pattern altitude.

KAREN