Thank you to everyone who participated in our Sweet 2015 Sweepstakes, particularly those who learned about it by attending a showing of the USHPA Free Flight Film Festival and those who checked out our PreFlight Safety app. Although the sweepstakes winners have all been chosen, it's not too late to enjoy the film festival or learn more about preflight safety!
Congratulations to all our winners:
1st Winner: Thomas Hill
The very first name drawn was Thomas Hill. Tom chose the Ozone paraglider. He picked the Buzz Z5 in the blue/lime color scheme.
Tom is an H2 pilot from Tennessee. He learned to hang glide in 2013. While standing on launch recently he realized that biwingual pilots have a lot more flying opportunities, as evidenced by the paragliders in the air while he and his hang buddies were left on the ground. A few days later USHPA called with the news that he was that much closer on his path to paragliding!
He'll be starting paragliding lessons this spring with Flying Camp in Dunlap, Tennessee and is looking forward to flying when conditions are light OR strong.
Thanks very much to Matt Gerdes and Ozone for donating this prize!
Also, we look forward to the next generation who will soon be learning to paraglide as well!
2nd Winner: Chris Vennemann
Chris chose the Flytec 6030 flight instrument.
Chris also learned to fly in 2013. He's a P2 pilot from Southern California. He's been looking forward to taking his flying up a notch and had been researching flight instruments. Then USHPA called and his choice was easy: Flytec 6030 it is!
Thanks very much to Steve Kroop and Flytec USA for donating this prize!
3rd Winner: Tony Bayliss
Tony chose the Ozone harness. He hasn't quite decided which model yet, since he is saving up for the wing to go along with it. He plans to start his paragliding lessons up in Washington state in early 2017.
Thanks very much to Matt Gerdes and Ozone for not only donating this prize, but giving Tony some time to make his decision since he's not quite ready to start his lessons.
4th Winner: Summer Barham
Summer chose the KEEN Backpack (although the picture is not of her).
Summer is a P4 pilot in California and has been flying paragliders since 2005, having started as a teenager. She was having so much fun she convinced both her parents to learn to fly!
And while we were super excited to have so many new and prospective pilots winning prizes, it was nice to see some familiar names being drawn as well.
5th Winner: Hugh Roberts
Hugh chose the USHPA jacket.
Hugh is a P2 pilot from Arizona and he has been flying paragliders since 2014.
Clearly Hugh is feeling very gangsta in his new USHPA jacket.
6th Winner: Richard Thorp
Prize: USHPA Shirt
7th Winner: Jose Diaz
Prize: KEEN Shoulder Sling
8th Winner: Matt Hanson
Prize: USHPA Shirt
9th Winner: Josh Hockett
Prize: USHPA Shirt
10th Winner: Norm Lesnow
Prize: Donated for RRG Fund
11th Winner: Jim Asbury
Prize: USHPA Beanie
12th Winner: Hugh McElrath
Prize: USHPA Ballcap
13th Winner: Craig Wexelberg
Prize: USHPA Shirt
14th Winner: Justin Brim
Prize: USHPA Beanie
15th Winner: Paul Webber
Prize: USHPA Shirt
16th Winner: Lewis Seiden
Prize: USHPA Ballcap