This picture was taken in 1974 at Pismo beach California. The breeze was absolutely perfect – flowing up a huge gentle sand slope from the ocean. I was helped by friends to launch – they held up the tail. I took just a few steps and my feet left the sand. I flew very slowly forward as the sand hill dropped away from my feet. I flew about 50 feet forward and gained about 50 feet over the sand. Then, as a test, I pushed the control bar out just an inch or so and the nose went up and my forward motion stopped! I was floating above the sand motionless. I pushed the bar out a little more and was elated to find the entire glider moving straight back and up to about 100 feet over the spot I was on when I took off.