The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

---- » I I -- Godan - ms RN EM SA ise me em ia 14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 25, 1992 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Hang gliding is gaining in popularity By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Hang gliding is one of the most beautiful things one will "ever experience in their life- time, said Michael Robertson, owner of High Perspective. Every year he teaches 200 people to fly, many right here on Lake Scugog. Local residents may have caught a glimpse of Mr. Robert- son's business as he offers his "Art of Sky Sailing" in Port Perry. Every weekend and often dur- ing the week, High Perspective teaches people how to hang glide by towing kites behind a truck. The equipment on the truck is much like a fishing reel, "but with about 3,000 feet of rope," he said. The reel is mounted on the back of the truck which acceler- ates to about 30 m.p.h depend- ing on head wind and down wind. The kites are taken to about 2,000 feet above the lake. "A lot of people are scared thinking about it, but once they are up there it is relaxing," he said. Mr. Robertson said he gets frustrated with the reputation that the sport receives. "People think of it (hang gliding) as scary, dangerous, but it is just the opposite, itis the most beau- tiful experience. It is a mellow, supportive feeling, not an inse- cure one at all," he told the Port Perry Star. As a hang glider with 20 years of flying experience, Mr. Robert: son 1s very safety conscious about his sport. = "It'is not a crazy, dangerous _sport. There are less accidents than on a ski hill. In all my years of instructing, the worst acci- dent we have ever had is a brok- en ankle," he said. The sport can be favorably compared with downhill sking and scuba diving in terms of safety. With these sports, care- lessness and irresponsibility can result in serious conse- quences. We believe that proper train- ing and education provide the basis for the full enjoyment of free flight with a minimum of risk, he said. Experience is something Mr. Robertson has plenty of. He is a pioneer in ultralight aviation, a world champion pilot and lead- erin education in hanggliding. He has performed, taught North America and Europe. He is the Head of the Instruc- tor Standards Committee of the Hang Gliding Association of On- tario and is a director of the Hang Gliding Association of Canada. He has also developed two copyrighted systems for _ flight education. Mr. Robertson, an ex-air force pilot did not find the excitement he needed flying civilian air- craft, and began flying kites be- hind boats. He now teaches courses on the sport of hang gliding and has also performed in flying shows. In May 1988, Mr. Robertson He said it is a predominately male-oriented sport, but a new form of paragliding is catching on with women in Europe. Anyone more than 75 pounds can hangglide as itis not a sport of physical strength or endu- Janos but one of skill and relaxa- ion. and competed throughout In May 1988, Michael Robertson, owner of High Perspective, was one of two hang gliders who flew off the CN Tower in Toronto and landed at the Toronto Island Airport. Mr. Robertson offers courses on hang gliding and has performed in flying shows. Please see story for more details. Sky High Perpective spends a lot of the winter months on Lake Scugog teaching the "Art of iling". Owner Michael Robertson brings more than 20 years of flying experience to the lake. Please see story for more details. was one of two hang gliders who flew off the CN Tower in Toron- to and landed at the Toronto Is- land Airport. It was the kick-off to the Diet Pepsi Taste Drive. "That was the most successful public relations event ever launched," he said. A Claremont resident, Mr. Robertson loves to tow kites on Lake Scugog. "We love the open space, and do about 99 per cent of our towing on it (Lake Scu- gog)," he said. The reason Scugog was cho- sen is it is laminer here which means there are no obstructions from high spots, it is very smooth, he said. Winter is the best time for hang gliding as the smooth air and light wind make it a smooth ride. "I haven't spoken too much about the beauty of the sport. It is hard to describe what it looks like from thousands of feet above the land, except that it is tranquil, beautiful and relax- ing. One of the most beautiful sights one will every see," he said. Mr. Robertson said hang glid- ing is becoming one of the fast- est growing sports in the world, with thousands of new people taking to the skies every year. There are an estimated 30,000 hang gliders world-wide both men and women. High Perspective offers com- plete hang gliding instruction from beginner to instructor lev- el. Courses are H.G.A.C. certi- fied and employ a balanced ap- proach with both theoretical and practical instruction. Grad- Turnto Page 15 CORN and PELLET BURNING STOVES Clean, Natural Fires 'with Automatic Controls 1) 'Frenlore Plus' 900 Hopkins St WHITBY "6 A4AaA DLO-S1 YY,