We have two flying associations in our area. The South Coast Paragliding Association is made up solely of paraglider pilots, and the Santa Barbara Soaring Association is made up of both hang gliders and paragliders.

The SCPA (South Coast Paragliding Association) is one of our local flying clubs, and the members meet at 7pm on the second Wednesday of the even calendar months. The annual membership to the SCPA is $30. You can get directions to the next club meeting at the club's web site (www.scpa.info). The SCPA is made up of pilots of all levels who love the sport and the camaraderie that comes with paragliding. The agenda at the meetings is to go over topics important to the flying community. We make sure we are all on the same page and aware of threats to flying sites and landing zones. We do our best to continue growing the sport and protect the sites we have been using over the years. The meetings are an opportunity to meet other pilots, and share flying stories as well. The business of the meeting usually lasts 30-45 minutes, and the fun and socializing follows. Visit the website and discussion board where you can test your weather prediction skills and check the board at the end of the day to read the posts to see if your predictions were accurate.

The SBSA (Santa Barbara Soaring Association) is another local flying club, and has been around for over 20 years, and was originally made up of hangliders. Paragliders joined the club when paragliding arrived on the South Coast. The SBSA meets the first Thursday of every month at Rusty's pizza at the corner of Carrillo and Bath at 7:30pm. The annual membership to the SBSA is $25. The business at the meetings usually lasts about an hour, and is followed by entertainment and socializing. The SBSA has been in front of the city council over the years dealing with flying issues. The club organizes activities to Big Sur, the Owens Valley, and other flying destinations every year for club members. Visit the web site www.sbsa.info to get info on scheduled flying events and trips.

We encourage you to complete the supplied application forms for both clubs, and mail a check to become a member of both clubs. Paragliding attracts an eclectic group of people, and the meetings are really a good time.