SKYSURFERS Hang Gliding Oldies

This film was taken at Blue Mountain ski resort, Collingwood Ontario, Canada in 1973 I beleive by students from the University of Toronto. Just recently a friend Bob Langer mentioned that he had a copy of the video and sent it to me so I have posted it here for our Hang Gliding buddies to see. If anyone objects to my use of this video, please let me know and I will remove it from KZbin.
Bob Grant

[@mikekelsey6777]

I started flying in 1973 in Southern California. I am now 68 and still flying. The hang gliders of today are greatly advanced in performance. I have had some short cross country flights of 60 to 80 miles highest altitude of 11,000 ft. Of all the various sports in which I have been active... Hang Gliding is the only sport that has not injured me. I now fly the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

[@nikoskerkira401]

Very good. Goodmorning from Greece.

[@davidmasland5627]

That's my time I flew from 1976 to 1995 loved it bets years of my life. Started with a Pliable Moose quit w/ a Comet . still have the glider.

[@huffdaddy3845]

It's hard to imagine a time when a 360 was a risky maneuver. I'm so glad these guys did what they did , and we all owe them tremendous gratitude for the sport and equipment we have today.

[@kenzoeddie6972]

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[@bryanclark2404]

@Kenzo Eddie instablaster ;)

[@kenzoeddie6972]

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[@kenzoeddie6972]

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[@bryanclark2404]

@Kenzo Eddie happy to help :)

[@raprockprof]

There it is at the end. Made by Anthony Hall at Film Arts with Richard Wells editing. I'm Anthony Hall and I 'm delighted to see "Skysurfers" has made it into the era of You Tube. I did the photography on a 16 mm Canonscoopic. I wrote the script, chose the music, recorded the commentators, etc etc. I'd say it was more like 1977 or so when I made "Skysurfers." I pulled together the different elements at Don Haig's Film Arts in Toronto. Bill Whitehead read the script. I think he was also the scirpt reader of CBC's "The Narure of Things" in those days. My then-brotther-in-law, John Lang, appears prominently in the film. So does my younger brother, Andy Hall, appear as one of the hang gliders. My dad, Jim Hall, who died in 2009, does one of the comments. We pretended he was a hang glider. I noticed Murray Koffler, who started Shopper's Drug Mart as part of his meteoric career, appeared in a cutaway shot at Craigleith Ski Club. There is a longer version, about 24 minutes. The film sold well widely throughout several countries including South Africa. I'd appreciate hearing the story of how it became this digital item. If you have a story to share please contact me at [e-mail].

[@skydogsports]

Hi Anthony: I see that you posted on my KZbin channel and that you made the film Skysurfers. I was one of the participants doing the 360 turns which was a big thing in those days. I am still Hang Gliding and you can check it out at - kzbin.info?user=cdnskydog&view=video Thanks and I hope that you don't mind my uploading your video to KZbin. I was really excited to see the old movie and thought that the rest of the Hang Gliding community would love it. Best wishes, Bob Grant - London, Canada

[@bobbylangs]

Anthony, Great that you've been found but too bad the 16mm version of this is still missing. It's such a well-made film it would be a shame if this is the only copy that survives. It's a VHS recording off a TV broadcast circa 1980, and then copied VHS-VHS at least once or twice to thoroughly degrade it :) (hey, tapes were expensive back then!) The film mentions Bob Grant by name and since he's an active participant in my local HG scene, I sent him a copy. It's the long version but Bob cut it to 15min for youtube. Did a nice edit, too. The reason I think 1973 is that by 1977, gliders were much evolved, helmets were everywhere, and the notion of the scary 360-degree turn already seemed a quaint relic from our origins. Talking NY state now... could Canada have been that far behind, eh?

[@raprockprof]

I've got a print of the 16 mm. 24 minute version I think. I did a whole history thing and filmed birds soaring in the Niagara Gorge in the middle of winter. I also filmed a dewd constructing a flying contraption, something slightly more than a kite.

[@oreaaita-ioa2156]

great film :)

[@StarfieldRailway]

Thanks to both of you. Good work.

[@alexmarkelov7339]

“He’s going to attempt very risky 360 maneuver”🤦‍♂️ That was an amazing generation!))

[@tomhaskett5161]

Lovely bit of history! It reminded me of how noisy Rogallos could be, as the trailing edges fluttered in the airstream.

[@portnuefflyer]

I started flying in '72, and was lucky enough to get lined out by Dave Kilbourne. Still flying today, but LSA type bushplanes, landing on mountains and such, averaging about 200 hours a year. At least once a year I shut the engine done and do some dead stick ridge soaring, over 3 hours is my longest, not bad for a big tired airplane.

[@skydogsports]

Sounds like You have had a fun life.Best wishes, Bob

[@arthurcayer6630]

Glorious. Simply glorious.

[@penrynbigbird]

So nice to see our history capture on film.

[@HGAviator]

I started flying in late 1978 / early 1979, and This looks like 1976 0r earlier. In 75 or 76, I saw a Bill Bennett commercial on T.V. advertising the sport of Hang Gliding. That's what got me hooked. I was 15 or 16 years old.. I had to try this. So fast forward to late 78 / early 79 . I was 18 years old. I took lessons from WindSports (formally, Southern California School; of Hang Gliding. Joe Greblo and Rich Grisby taught my to fly. By that time reserve chute were being used.

[@asunlovingmom]

They are great guys.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

That was my first experience back in 1974/5 in the UK, some of the kites we flew were 'experimental' ie it was the first time they'd flown...! Thankfully they did fly.

[@joefaust777]

Excellent, Bob! Thanks for all the saving and sharing you have done for so many decades! Top drawer! Thank you, Anthony Hall !!!

[@overback2328]

I got started late, back in '78. I always watched you old dudes on TV and always wanted to try it. I did and never forgot it. I fly ultralights now but began with them with the Pterodactyl. Thanks to all you Pioneers and a Big Thank You for the video!

[@anthonyjames2378]

I made that video. Much of the photography took place on a single magic day at Blue Mountain near Collingwood.

[@Mm2isafungame]

Hey its 2023 (:

[@billcallahan9303]

@@Mm2isafungame No kidding! I'm 74 now & everything in my body hurts. Don't laugh! You'll be there too...if you make it this far! :)

[@billcallahan9303]

@anthonyjames2378 You did a fantastic job Anthony! I'm 74. Got started because of enterprising, forward thinking people like you. What did you use? 16mm? I got started with the first instant cameras...a Polaroid B&W. My aunt let me use her wind-up 8mm. Then I got my own Hi8 & up from there! Great job! My hat is off to you!

[@kenwebster5053]

Oh, that brings back the memories.

[@weflyuniv]

Glad to see yet another very early film of our history secured and made available. It is an exceptionally well done film containing none of the ignorant and hysterical characterizations that we came to expect from so much salacious and sensational news coverage then. It is intelligent, informative and conveys the magic that we experienced as new aviators., And, incredibly, NO ONE said anything stupid! How lucky is THAT? Thanks Bob! Ken de Russy Hang Gliding Museum Collector Guy Anacortes, WA

[@timothyconover9805]

I lost it when he began a SECOND 360 TURN! 😱😱😱🤣

[@scottw550]

I hiked up with just one other pilot and soared Blue Mountain during the winter for over an hour in 76. I remember Bob Love of Brampton made gliders and flew then a Centennial Hill in Etobicoke.

[@elcigomes7544]

DA VINCI 👍👍👍👍👋👋👋👋👋

[@cbifilms1]

I have the whole film on 16mm as well, 24 minutes. I am pretty sure I see Michael Robertson in there, who was my instructor

[@Pudpilot]

Very, VERY cool vid from the early days of Hang Gliding!! Thanks Bob

[@rogeriolopes6297]

Beautiful!

[@MySOGA]

Dammit Bob, I was trying to get to bed before midnight ... and then you go and post that darn video. Good stuff. Terry from Toronto

[@instinctwindsports]

That is an amazing video Bob! I love it! It should be sent to Blue Mountain for their archives...maybe they will change their minds and let us fly there again!

[@ahmdabdallah5811]

What Is Islam? Islam is not just another religion. It is the same message preached by Moses, Jesus and Abraham. Islam literally means ‘submission to God’ and it teaches us to have a direct relationship with God. It reminds us that since God created us, no one should be worshipped except God alone. It also teaches that God is nothing like a human being or like anything that we can imagine. The concept of God is summarized in the Quran as: { “Say, He is God, the One. God, the Absolute. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him.”} (Quran 112:1-4) Becoming a Muslim is not turning your back to Jesus. Rather it’s going back to the original teachings of Jesus and obeying him

[@sergelamarche]

That's a flash from the past! I'll link to it for historical record. It is a great overview of the state of the art at the time. I hope the exact date of recording and broadcasting will come up.

[@goodteacup]

I bought a Rogallo with my little brother called the Pliable Moose in 1980, we wanted to be Wilbur’s! 225$

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

​@skydogsports >>> Great video...👍👍

[@SkyoutCartoons]

wow bob ,,, ( two palendromes in one.. he ! ) Jules here. I did some toons for your book.. you go back a long ways man.. I didn't get started till 83.. those old gliders were un-fir-giving.. that is those fir trees wouldnt give if ya landed in em.. ha.. I'm just getting back into flight mode after 6 years off.. feeling nervous for some reason.. these vids remind me that terra firma ,, is quite hard in deed. gotta watch those 360s man.. they're deadly .!

[@jwm239]

"Stram Lift Film Arts" is a palindrome.

[@jeffevans3193]

I bought my Rogallo from the back of Popular Mechanic's in 73' the tubes came but the sail didn't and I already had plans on vagabonding Europe. Tell me that wasn't a sign. However I did make a flight two years later. Big hill south of St. Louis got it up the hill brother who had been enjoying my kite gave me some flying tip's into the wind I ran realizing my feet were dangling then it happened. In those days we had a bar to sit on with seat belt and I didn't tighten it up very well, so yep the seat ended up under my arms so out I flew people yelling of course I heard nothing all I saw were little people waving they're arms,lol! Then then kite who had really been in control turned back to the hill. All in all it was quite abit of fun I thought until the hill got closer and closer and I realized soon I'm going the smack my ass into thank God a sandy soft Hill. I hit got wire burn but that was about all. Me dad said wow your lucky. Never flew it again. I figured it just wasn't in the cards.

[@cbifilms1]

I have the original film on film!

[@bertold12345]

Thanks Anthony :)

[@HGAviator]

bobbylangs, Are you familiar with the Bill Bennett commercial I mentioned to in my last post? If so, do you know of anyone that might have a copy or know where I might be able to view it?

[@LonMcClure]

Hi Bob! Glad you put this up. The Eaglets we train on aren't too much more advanced than the Ragollo's shown here. In fact, they are obviously direct decendants! Lon McClure Rochester Area Flyers

[@EdKrisiak]

Crash on 5:09 looked odd. It appears the pilot corrected but the glider did not.

[@craigmavis8285]

That's an old one Bob....where was your helmet?.....cheers

[@christopherphillipskeates290]

all they needed was billow dive sticks to reinflate the sail during luffing and reflex i the keel for bar pressure and they are ready to go again cheap and repairable .. skeatesy

[@viagro1980]

oh man, no helmet no chute... very, very brave!

[@davidmasland5627]

Hell no we were soaring mountains in Pennsylvania for a good while before those safety features..

[@peterpadazopoulos2954]

Hang gliders no longer fly from Georgian Peaks, but paraglider pilots do, not from ski hill thou.

[@user-oy9dx2nh2n]

Прошло 11 лет и теперь совсем другие крылья

[@user-gx9nf5ho1b]

مرحبا ممكن ترد