Hang Gliding/Paragliding
High Adventure
Company Information: 4231 Sepulveda Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92404
Phone: (909) 379-9095
Website: www.flytandem.com
Flying Site: 5500 Ben Canyon, San Bernardino, CA 92407
High Adventure is operated by Rob & Dianne McKenzie, since 1974, 7 days a week, year round (weather permitting). They provide USHGA Certified, personalized instruction and service at Andy Jackson Airpark, in San Bernardino, California. They maintain a full-service repair shop and their office is just minutes away from one of the best flying sites in the world, Crestline/Marshall Peak.
High Adventure offers highly professional tandem instruction in both hang gliding and paragliding. Tandem instruction is where the instructor and student fly together in the same glider. It is commonly accepted as the "best" way to learn to fly gliders, and you actually get to take the controls in an organized lesson. Rob and Dianne have conducted over 8000 safe tandem flights in their over 30 years in the business, and are known and respected worldwide.
Hang Gliding vs Paragliding
Hang gliders fly in a prone, superman position, while paragliders are more upright (like parachuting), where the harness allows for flying in a sitting position. Paragliding is more convenient and easier to do, so they say...
HANG GLIDING - Back in the 60s, the first hang gliders were created by a couple of water skiers who, apparently bored with gliding on top of water, wondered what it would be like to fly above the water. They hooked themselves up to kites, got back on their water skis and the boat pulled them into the air! Much trial and error (and many, many bumps and bruises!), resulted in the modern hang gliders in use today, which are now being launched from mountains instead of on water!
PARAGLIDING - Paragliding began over in Europe by daring individuals who took pleasure in both the thrill of skydiving and that of jumping off of cliffs high in the mountains! The first few attempts involved basically nothing more than parachutes attached to the backs of the jumpers. Numerous modifications and improvements over the years has resulted in the modern, high tech paragliders in use today. 
Paragliding has a steeper learning curve because paragliders fly at slower speeds. Hang gliders are faster, but they rely more on the environment than do paragliders. Finally, paragliders do not necessarily have to be launched from a mountaintop (although they can be), but hang gliders have to.
