Women's Hang Gliding Festival On Lookout Mountain

     Hang gliding isn't a sport just for men.
     The number one hang gliding school in the U-S sits on top of Lookout Mountain and boasts a number of women pilots.
     They banded together this weekend for the first women's hang gliding festival.
     WDEF News 12's Mandy Odom has the story.
     Women from around the nation took flight this weekend over lookout mountain.
     Beginner Laura Averitt says, "It's the most exciting thing I've ever done in my life."
     The Lookout Mountain Flight Park sponsored it's first Women's Hang Gliding Festival.
     Owner Matt Taber says, "We have the highest population of women pilots here than anywhere in the U.S."
     He says hang gliding can be hard for women because of the weight needed for a safe glider,but he says they are working on making it easier.
     Instructors have been teaching Laura Averitt from Nashville for the past two months.
     She says, "It's a challenge to really get into the glider and hold it up properly and stand properly. So, that it's off the ground. So, that you can have a successful launch."
     Taber says anyone with a reasonable fitness level can learn to hang glide.
     He says it's statistically as safe as driving in your car.
     You can start out flying tandem with someone and starting learning by yourself on the training hill.
     Taber says, "Everybody should try it as least once, and many people if they try it once, they'll continue on."
     Laura says, "One of the things they say in hang gliding is you go where you look and it's true. As soon as you look down, you're heading for the dirt and that's not fun."
     Laura says hang gliding is very rewarding.
     She hopes to be able to launch off the top of the mountain soon and maybe one day compete.
     She says seeing some of the top women pilots in the world this weekend encouraged her that she can do it too.
     Laura says, "Once you get in the air the first time you'll never go back. No matter how challenging it is or how difficult it is. You just remember that first time you're in the air. You're never going to go back. You're gonna keep coming. You're gonna love it. Absolutely love it."
     On Lookout Mountain, Mandy Odom, WDEF News 12.
     Taber says this weekend's festival was huge success.
     The school plans to make it an annual event.