Ridge Soaring

Ridge soaring – or “slope soaring” – is the earliest form of soaring - dating back to 1911 when Orville Wright stayed aloft for almost 10 minutes on the winds rising up the sloping sands at Kitty Hawk.  Bear in mind that, if there were no wind, his glider wouldn’t “fall out of the sky”, he would simply glide down the slope and land after a very short time - probably measured in seconds.  Air that is rising is what we call “lift”.  In the case with slope soaring, wind is forced to follow the contours of the land – moving upward when it comes in contact with a slope or a ridge – which would be higher.  A typical glider (or “sailplane”) descends through the air at 2 to 3 feet per second, while moving forward at around 50 mph.  If the “lift” being provided by the slope is equal to the glider’s rate of descent, the glider will maintain altitude; if the lift exceeds the “sink rate”, the glider will actually climb.  How high?  If the ridge is 500 feet high, one can expect to attain that same height above the ridge – 500 feet.  

In 1930, Elmira was chosen by the National Glider Association to be the official site for national soaring contests.  The topography of the Shehmung Valley was considered ideal because of the numerous ridges – facing virtually all points of the compass.  No matter which way the wind might be blowing, there was a ridge that would generate lift.  The first official national soaring contest was held at Elmira in September of that year.