Surfing and Soaring?

I surf, ski, and soar. Its all the same, the thrills and risks at times are different or comes at different intensities, but I agree the people that really pursue those passions are cut from the same cloth. The only two contrasts I can think a

Cost. 2 decent boards, couple wetsuits and a full tank of gas and you can surf all year up and down the Southern California coast for years. Take that same stuff overseas to Australia or Philippines for the same plane ticket it would cost you to fly overseas without the expense of shipping your own glider or finding one to rent.

Physical aspect. You can fly and fly well for as long want until you heart literally stops working. Skiing and Surfing it seems like the physical aspect of it catches up where you can't do some stuff you were able to do before. I've never heard of someone saying they couldn't catch a thermal cause they literally couldn't move the stick fast enough.

"Barbarian Days" is a well written book about surfing if you are looking for another suggestion.

David

On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 7:09:30 PM UTC-5, David K wrote:

"Barbarian Days" is a well written book about surfing

I was reading "Barbarian Days" when the surfing/soaring parallels struck me. Any other book suggestions?

On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 7:20:02 PM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 7:09:30 PM UTC-5, David K wrote:

"Barbarian Days" is a well written book about surfing

I was reading "Barbarian Days" when the surfing/soaring parallels struck me. Any other book suggestions?

Close to what you are asking. Best movie ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuVDrpl1tIY
Wonder if you could fund a sailplane racing lifestyle

I'm a Midwesterner and never been on a board but my guilty pleasure is surfing documentaries and movies. I've always seen the parallel between those in tune with the sea and those in tune with the sky. Kindred spirits for sure.

I've been fascinated by surfing since the sixties, when it burst on the World's consciousness via films like "The Endless Summer" (1966) and continuing through other amazing works ("Riding Giants," 2004, and "Step into Liquid," 2003). But, as a desert rat in New Mexico, surfing opportunities are nonexistent. However, riding the incredible ocean of air in a hang glider or sailplane has captured the essence of riding along with Nature's power. And a thirty second ride on a killer wave doesn't seem to match (in my mind, at least) the four to five hour experience at high altitude, covering hundreds of miles over diverse terrain.

Downside to surfing: Having to paddle out for ten minutes to catch another thirty second ride. Also: Drowning, Sharks, Jellyfish.

Downside to soaring: Bikinis rarely seen at the airfield. (However, this could also be a blessing, considering the age of the participants and their crewmembers.)