I was attending the 1988 World Hang Gliding Championships in Bright, Australia. I had with me one of the very first paragliders of the Japanese brand FALHAWK.
I met Gin Seok Song who had an AIRMAN glider (this was long before he founded GIN GLIDERS!). We did a glide comparison from a hill under a blazing sun. I think I remember that I won…
Paragliding was beginning to intrigue many people and even the world’s best hang glider pilots! Bruce Goldsmith and John Pendry asked me to try my glider. This was done while soaring in a strong wind which even risked taking the light Monique who was with us!
I had the honour to introduce paragliding to Monique and to 2 great world champions (or vice-champions) in both disciplines: hang gliding AND paragliding a few years later!
Thank you, Bruce, for your kind dedication “to my first paragliding instructor” on my copy of your book “50 techniques to fly better”!
Eric Laforge
