2020 World Championship
Sara Weaver
(IG: @sweaverflies)
Sara started flying hang gliders in 2013, when she was 19 years old. She built her skills slowly over the next 3 years, taking long breaks from summer flying to finish college. Sara used my college scholarship money to buy her first harness, and when she graduated, got a job and spent my summer saving for a WIlls Wing Sport2 135. Outfitted with her own gear, she immediately moved to Florida to work part-time and fly as much as she could. In 2017, after months of cross country flying practice, she entered her first competition, and found her true love in cross country flying.
Claudia Mejia
Claudia (aka “Maria”) discovered hang gliding during her senior year in High School. She saved for about 8 months, earning money as a retrieve driver and a Berlitz language instructor, until she was able to learn to fly. From the moment she heard what this sport was about, it was clear to her that this is what she wanted to do…what she could’ve never imagined is that it would become her entire life taking her places she never even dreamed of living or visiting and help her meet amazing people along the way! Ever since, she has managed to stay active as well as explore the various aspects of this sport and, at the same time, pursue her education and is currently working on her PhD project in Applied Linguistics.
Makbule Baldik
Makbule started flying in 2006 in Lookout Mountain. She had a loooong break after that first dream year of flying. Finally got back to it again in 2012 and started competing in 2016. The beautiful community of hang gliding keeps her coming back. And the thought of chasing clouds!
Anna Eppink
(IG: @annaofthesky Twitter: @annaofthesky)
Once years ago stumbled upon hang gliding as a kid at Kitty Hawk, but never had the opportunity to try it until years later. She settled for powered flight and began lessons as a teen. Later after moving to California, Anna finally learned to fly hang gliders in 2011 from the great John Heiney. She started competitive flying in 2014 where she flew to third place in the sport class at the Americus Cup. This will be her 4th open class competition and first World Championships. She also is an FAA certified flight instructor.
Want to send us words of encouragement? team@uswomenshanggliding.org
