SAFA Skysailor Magazine

30 SKY SAILOR July | August 2024 by Carol Liang Welcome to the Sunny Coast, SE Qld. While the general public might know the area for famous surf breaks at Noosa or notable crags across the Glasshouse Mountains, our pilots get intimate with the region from a totally different vantage point. Imagine gliding along miles of pristine beaches while spotting whales over the ocean at Teewah, dipping your toes in the sand for endless foot drags in the dunes of Rainbow Beach, or scratching on the face of Mt Ngun Ngun… only to bomb out next to the station and catch a train to the nearest brewery for a consolation prize. This paradise is home to our newly SAFA affiliated club, the Sunshine Coast Free Flyers. With 160 members and counting, our club is dedicated to fun, camaraderie, mentorship and inclusivity. Although we all technically fly solo (with the exception of tandems, of course) we don’t see flying as a solo sport. We believe in sharing adventures and wisdom, joining forces to get pesky wings out of trees, and debriefing at the pub after an epic XC flight. Our community of pilots don’t just fly together – we enjoy life together. For new pilots, the Sunny Coast is home to two paragliding schools run by instructors who live and breathe flying with the full support of our club. Like us, they are passionate about growing the sport and helping new pilots get Meet the Sunshine Coast Free Flyers Club