San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
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ABout the club

The San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, SDHGPA, is a hang gliding and paragliding club dedicated to the promotion and preservation of foot launched soaring (non motorized "free flight") in San Diego County. SDHGPA is a local chapter of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, USHPA. We work collaboratively with land owners and governing agencies at the local level to keep our primary flying sites open by maintaining, insuring, purchasing, regulating, and monitoring our launch sites and landing zones. Our guiding principle is that all foot launched pilots of hang gliders and paragliders alike share common goals and interests best served by a united effort to promote flying safety, education, and good community relations in San Diego County. We support hang gliding and paragliding at the national level through the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) and concurrent membership in that organization is the one and only club membership requirement.

Our Flying Sites: Here in San Diego County, we enjoy year-round flying in varied rural terrain. Do's and don'ts for launch sites and landing zones change frequently. If you have not flown at a site lately, we encourage you to contact one of the site representatives on the site pages and and read the Site Guides to get current information. All of our flying sites are sensitive to abuse and subject to closure at any time. In many tempting areas, we are not permitted to land; please do not endanger our sites by landing in illegal areas, by flying in an unsafe manner or by being rude to other pilots or the public. In general, exercise caution and consideration with regard to the local population and property. Avoid landing near livestock. Do not climb on fences; instead, go under. Stay on roads. Never damage or destroy property. Be unobtrusive and leave quickly if landing out in undesignated areas.


History: The SDHGPA is the Oldest and Longest Running Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and Organization in San Diego and Southern California originally organized in 1973.

For detailed Club History and History of motor-less Free Flight in San Diego that goes back to the 1930's, See: SDHGPA and San Diego Free Flight History.  
San Diego Free Flight History

Meetings: The club meets monthly to discuss issues related to our mission, discuss topics in general free flight and socialize. The meetings are held a variety of locations and all information can be found on the Club Calendar. For 2019 Default scheduled meeting date is Third Thursday of the month unless stated otherwise on the Calendar. Fly-ins are commonly scheduled in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. 

Radio Information: Members of the SDHGPA use 2-meter ham radios for communication. For safety and convenience, it is strongly recommended that pilots obtain their "Technician Class" amateur radio operator license, and fly with a radio. It is also recommended that pilots join the East County Repeater Association ham radio club, which owns and operates the Laguna repeater. Our New normal frequency is 145.525 Mhz.

SDHGPA Organization: ​
SDHGPA operates as a 100% Volunteer Organization.
The San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (Incorporated) is registered with the State of California as non-profit organization and Federally as a 501 (c) (7) Tax Exempt nonprofit organization.
Club Officers 2022:
President:             Steve Rohrbaugh   760-822-4007
VP:                          Jeff Brown              858-344-3846
Secretary:             Russ Gibfried
Treasurer/
Acting
Secretary:   Josh Gelb
Safety Officer:      Rob Eschbach         847-347-3667
Co Safety Officer:     Alex Gray
Member at Large:     Josef De Beer
Member at Large:     Robb Milley​
​Member at Large:     Ron Davis​
Our address: 
SDHGPA, P.O. Box 420973, San Diego, CA. 92142-0973
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Appointed Non-Voting Extended Board Positions 2022:
  • Social Committee: Josh Gelb (Lead), TBD
  • Website:  Steve Rohrbaugh, Russ Gibfried, Jeff Brown
  • XC Competition:      Jeff Brown /  Robb Milley
Site and Advisery Board SDHGPA Representatives
​Pilots in Command : (2022 update)
If you need/ or have site information,
please contact the following people:

Palomar                  HG: Jeff Brown         858-344-3846
                                 PG: Ron Davis           360-731-1987 /
                                 Robb Milley               805-990-5598
Big Black                  TBD
Horse Canyon        Kris Souther           619-300-2966
Laguna                    Jeff Brown - Butch Peachy
Anza-Borrego SP   Jeff Brown              858-344-3846
Little Black              Jeff Brown              858-344-3846 , 
                                  James Acres          
541-760-7503
Blossom Valley      Brad Stevenson
                                 Josh Gelb            760-803-9440
Otay                         Rob Eschbach    847-347-3667
Tecate Peak            Rob Eschbach     847-347-3667
XC Competition      Jeff Brown           858-344-3846
Torrey Pines (Not an SDHGPA site) Robin Marion (858) 452-9858
Advisory Board Representatives:
 
​
Black Mt Open Space Citizens Advisory Council:
  • Jeff Brown 
  • James Acres
  • Dave Metzgar
  • Anto Metzgar​
Torrey Pines Soaring Council:
  • Kim Mccoy
Blossom Site Preservation Information
  • Brad Stevenson 

SDHGPA Authorized Representatives: ​
To Issue USHPA 30-Day Affiliate Memberships to International Pilots holding IPPI Rating Cards:
(listed in contact order preference with those in bold being the primary issuers with membership forms readily available)
  1. Jeff Brown               858-344-3846
  2. Dave Metzgar         858-336-5391
  3. ​Steve Rohrbaugh
For more info on USHPA 30-Day Affiliate Memberships and International Pilot Requirements see topic under Membership FAQ.

SDHGPA logo
SDHGPA is a local chapter of 
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USHPA 
(United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association)
SDHGPA, P.O. Box 420973, San Diego, CA. 92142-0973