New to Hang Gliding

Hi My name is Tim. I am a 28 year old video store owner in Summit Counter Colorado (home of the Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain ski areas). I have always kind of wanted to try hang gliding but 3 days ago I dreamed about it and since then I cant stop thinking about it. I have already found some very helpful web sites which I've put in my new 'hang gliding' favorites folder. As you might have guessed I have many questions concerning HG.

Were is the most reputable HG school near me (I am 70 miles west of Denver)? How long does it normally take to get someone who knows nothing about HG(me) to the novice level? How active is HG in Colorado compared to other parts of the USA? I live at 9100' altitude. Are there any problems (other than the cold) with hang gliding at this altitude? What about hang gliding in the mountains? is this done very often? Is it considerably more hazardous than flying over flatter ground?

Thank you for your response, and I look forward to getting to know some of you Tim

Depends upon your motivation. Minimum time on training hills in preparation for 1st mountain is probably around six days.

very. though towing is allowing alot of activity in rest of country.

Oops! Hit wrong button, continued answer: Yes, thin air is harder launch and land in.

Yes, the best flying is in the mountains, lotsa rising air. Sort of, depends on what you want to do and how close landing fields are.

Carefull, hang gliding is a cult

If you can't get killed, it's not a sport.

Actually, just north of you at William's Peak is a launch with a LZ right next to the lake. Had some of most memorable flight there on both HG and PG. Pat Caulfield

Check out the Rocky Mountain Hang Gliding Assoc. at www.ushga.org.

I have just obtained a secondhand Beamer paraglider reserve chute, without packing or service instructions.

Anybody have a source (preferebly Internet URL) of the owner's manual and/or repack instructions - or a source of a photocopy in Australia?

Thanks Mike Cleaver (Canberra, Australia)