Ride and Glide

We look forward to posting regular reports from Paul Tolson as he embarks on his ambitious Ride and Glide.  — Ed.

Choices – as most cross country glider pilots know, life and a good flight are full of them.  I was one once. A number of factors, including advancing middle age spread meant that I haven’t  been active in the sport for the last 10 years. A subscription to S&G my only link. Approaching the big 5-0 a decision needed to be made. Lose the ‘spread’, re-enter the sport, buy a nice Club Class glider, and try to win ‘the Nationals’, or ….. do this other thing – the one that had been lurking around in my subconscious since teenage years.

Paul Tolson

With my chances of winning ‘the Nationals’ being very slim, the choice was made. I would attempt a journey around the world. Like any good cross-country task, it had to be challenging. Out went the motorbike, in came the bicycle. Then an idea – combine my two greatest passions in life – travel and gliding – try to visit everywhere gliding regularly takes place on the planet, by bicycle.  Now that would be a worthy challenge for the latter half of my life – maybe even impossible?  Professionally, for the last 10 years, I have worked with people with a wide range of disabilities, so the next choice was easier. I will be raising funds for the aid organisation Handicap International (www.handicap-international.org.uk) and different charities that enable those with disabilities to glide. I will be supporting Aerobility. (www.aerobility.com) for the first stage of my journey, through Africa.

Another choice was that I want try to use the journey to raise the ‘profile’ of gliding. I aim to work with the gliding centres/clubs I shall be visiting and use the ‘unusual’ nature of the journey to gain them and the sport some ‘media interest’. I have a ‘Learning’ section on my website, which will include resources about gliding, and am linking in with schools in the UK and abroad. I will also be giving talks and presentations along the way, incorporating a section on gliding.  It feels good to be setting forth on a ‘cross country’ task once again, although a little different in nature. You are invited to ‘come along for the ride’, see www.rideandglide.co.uk.

  9 comments for “Ride and Glide

Comments are closed.