From the Editor

It is the middle of March. Spring has finally come, with pink cherry blossoms alongside the roads, yellow mustard flowers in the vineyards, and snow still blocking the road to Elk.

There has been some flying activity - trips to McClure Beach, Funston, Ed Levin, and Elk. There has been nothing to really crow about, but some of us have been able to keep the faith.

Now, with the warming weather, we should be hearing more flying stories. Mt. St. Helena may be do-able shortly - at least there's no snow on the visible west side. Hull will probably hold out until Memorial Day, as it usually does. But, there's towing! At the end of this month, at Crazy Creek, there will be two weekend's worth of tow clinics and tows for those of us who already have our sign-offs. Click over to the Club Calendarfor the details.

Don't forget to come to the club meeting (same place) on Thursday, 3/22. Mike Vorhis will be there to give us some inside info on both speed gliding and the new national ranking system, now in effect.

Sonoma Wings is in the news, again.

It started last month with the Hang Gliding magazine article on King Mountain that featured a centerspread of Ernie over King, and several other photos taken by club members. Sonoma Wings was also mentioned in the article.

Then last week, three local newspapers - The Healdsburg Tribune, The Windsor Times and the Sebastopol Sonoma West Times and News - carried a story about Sonoma Wings that featured the same photo of Ernie over King, and a shot Andy Long took at the Grade. The article was very favorable, with a subtitle of "Sonoma Wings Hang Gliding Club takes members soaring to new heights and adventure"

And now, the new issue of Hang Gliding Magazine - the March issue - has a story by Leo Jones on the Sonoma Wings Go-For-It competition. Leo did a fine job of mentioning by name as many of us as he could, while spelling out how the Go-For-It has encouraged us to do more XC.

As ususal, I beg, implore, and beseech you to contribute to this, your newsletter.

--ernie camacho - 3/14/01--