SAFA Skysailor Magazine

17 September | October 2021 SKY SAILOR keep clear-headed enough during manoeuvres to listen to or follow instructions, which may be a worse risk than the unlikely event of getting into a situation where they might be needed. But, as hard as this might be to hear, you may then ask yourself if this is the sport for you, because it can get real in any flying situation or location. If you want to fly thermals and go XC in rowdy air, you’d be crazy not to do a SIV. We all want to improve our flying – chasing better gliders, better gear, reading books, watching videos – but for me, the knowledge I gained of what my glider and I are capable of while still staying safe will have a greater impact on my flying than all those other trinkets. I’ll still assess each day and site as I always have, but I’ll be far more comfortable in the air if things get punchier than expected, and I’ll be comfortable knowing I’ve done what I can to minimise as many risks as possible. The improvements and benefits of a SIV investment far outweigh the minuscule gains achieved from a new wing or instrument. I’ll be going back for more. get blown over the hill into the lee... I’ll take the radio-guided asymmetric over water with a rescue boat at the ready any day. That’s where my line is. Having said that, I don’t think SIV is for everyone. If you’re the sort of pilot who’s happy boating up and down the hill in a sea- breeze or on a mild day inland and have no aspirations to ‘send it big’, you might be fine never doing SIV. Although it wouldn’t hurt... If you’re someone who avoids risky situa- tions all the time, you may not want to do a full-stall. You’d need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’d also need to get comfortable with the fact that you might one day find yourself in deep shit while flying. If you’re a panicky sort of person who has ‘frozen up’ in sticky situations before (a car crash, an accident, etc.), then you might not be able to Spiral Photos: Brad Harris