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Surfing and Soaring?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 1st 19, 12:26 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
son_of_flubber
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

Does anyone who's done both seriously care to contrast the two?

I've only read autobiographies of ocean wave surfers, but there seem to be some points of contact in terms of motivation, the experience, the quest, the immersion, the risk taking, the weather, the places, the compulsion, the high...
  #2  
Old February 1st 19, 01:09 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
David K
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Default 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
  #3  
Old February 1st 19, 01:19 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
son_of_flubber
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

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?
  #4  
Old February 1st 19, 01:32 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Scott Williams
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 5:26:39 PM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
Does anyone who's done both seriously care to contrast the two?

I've only read autobiographies of ocean wave surfers, but there seem to be some points of contact in terms of motivation, the experience, the quest, the immersion, the risk taking, the weather, the places, the compulsion, the high...


I have used the surfing comparison for a few years to modify a common sailing/soaring comparison. In 1981 to 1983 I was an Airforce Security Specialist stationed at Hickam A.F.B.. While my Surfing skill was never really good, soaring and surfing are both dynamic Moment by moment activities which involve extremes of success and potential (if not outright) failure. The gear required is elegant and beautiful in a form follows function way. In many ways both are solitary activities which also have a strong community, even culture. Both have a specific language. For me, a day of soaring is very similar to a day of surfing. You watch the weather, hoping to take advantage of a good day. You get prepared and usually meet up with kindred spirits with some small talk of the conditions and possibilities of the coming day. There is some initial grunt work, either paddling out or rigging and getting the glider to the launch position. Hooking your first get away thermal is exciting and builds your confidence for the day just like a good set of waves. Landing out and wiping out involves a similar degree of hazard, both to your body and your equipment.
There is one difference though, surfing can be a very tribal, territorial affair and if you ignorantly venture into waters 'belonging to locals' it might get rude. On the other hand, Glider pilots have a reputation for real hospitality.
The end of a soaring day and the end of a surfing day have the same sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, scaled by how good the day was after all..
Good lift,
Scott
  #5  
Old February 1st 19, 01:34 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

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
  #6  
Old February 1st 19, 03:39 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

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.
  #7  
Old February 1st 19, 04:27 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

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.)
  #8  
Old February 1st 19, 05:18 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 3:26:39 PM UTC-8, son_of_flubber wrote:
Does anyone who's done both seriously care to contrast the two?

I've only read autobiographies of ocean wave surfers, but there seem to be some points of contact in terms of motivation, the experience, the quest, the immersion, the risk taking, the weather, the places, the compulsion, the high...


1,400 hours in gliders but the closest I've come to surfing is some body boarding in Hawaii when I was a teenager so I don't know how accurate any parallels I can make would be:-)

I can tell you that "The Endless Summer" and "The Sun Ship Game" make a great double feature though.
  #9  
Old February 1st 19, 06:13 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 9:18:33 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 3:26:39 PM UTC-8, son_of_flubber wrote:
Does anyone who's done both seriously care to contrast the two?

I've only read autobiographies of ocean wave surfers, but there seem to be some points of contact in terms of motivation, the experience, the quest, the immersion, the risk taking, the weather, the places, the compulsion, the high...


1,400 hours in gliders but the closest I've come to surfing is some body boarding in Hawaii when I was a teenager so I don't know how accurate any parallels I can make would be:-)

I can tell you that "The Endless Summer" and "The Sun Ship Game" make a great double feature though.


Good choices.

I recommend https://smile.amazon.com/Divided-Sel...YY0XG22H5QQ2S4

Wishing you good health and the drive to live, and live well.

Frank Whiteley
  #10  
Old February 1st 19, 06:55 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Wyll Surf Air
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Default Surfing and Soaring?

I love both. I have been surfing for the last 11 years of my life (I'm 21) and soaring for the last 2.5 years. They have a lot of similarities, as many people have already mentioned: dependence on weather, solitary activities but with a community atmosphere...
One of the largest similarities, in my opinion, is the moment by moment decision making that is required for both. When riding a wave, or even when sitting and waiting for a wave, you are always making little decisions that have large consequences. Whether they be not getting the next wave, or falling on your next turn. Likewise, during any XC flight, there are lots of little decisions that again have large consequences. Whether they be skipping a week thermal or deciding to head in a specific direction. And they again have very large consequences. Obviously, they have their differences but I think that in many ways they are quite similar. Heck even rip currents that are often used by surfers to get back out to the takeoff spot act and look quite a lot like thermals do if they were 2 dimensional.
 




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