KEYT New Years Mesa Event

The Mesa training hill in southwest Santa Barbara, California, now known as Elings Park, was first flown by hang glider by David Butz in December 1971. It has been used continuously for hang gliding since. No site in the world used for hang gliding has been used, uninterrupted, longer than the Mesa. It is the finest and most flyable site I am aware of anywhere in the world.

I first flew the Mesa in early 1974 and each New Years Day since pilots have gathered their to celebrate the new year of flight. This news piece was probably New Years Day of 1983 or 1984. By that point in time I had become adept at persuading the local television stations of the newsworthiness of the activity that took place on New Years Day and had an easy time getting them out to cover our event.

In rough order of appearance are the following pilots either on the ground or in flight; Kalani Farrar, Chris Duscharme, Ken de Russy, Chris Duscharme, Kalani Farrar, Brian Porter, Kevin Hart, Brian Porter, Joe Baltz, Ken de Russy, Larry Lorrance, and Jim Graham. If I have misidentified anyone I hope to be corrected.

As can be seen this particular New Years celebration drew a large crowd and many cars can be seen parked on Cliff Drive.

http://www.flyaboveall.com/elings/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• mesa eilings park
• hang glider
• hang gliding
• santa barbara
• KEYT
• Ken de Russy
• Chris Duscharme
• Kalani Farrar
• Kevin Hart
• Brian Porter
• Joe Baltz
• Larry Lorrance
• Jim Graham