JoeGreblo started hang gliding in the plastocene era of hang gliding (1972), and somehow managed to survive extinction. No sooner did he learn how to fly that he began teaching others to follow in his footsteps. Joe first began teaching at Playa Del Rey (now Dockweiler Beach), then Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Palmdale, San Bernardino, and anywhere else he could find smooth winds and a training hill. Joe, along with his original partner Rich Grigsby, decided at that time that they wanted to run a hang gliding business unlike any other at the time. Professionally, that is. It seemed to be quite a unique idea to have a real store front, with real employees that kept real business hours, remembers Joe, as it was common for the time to have lots of fun-loving young pilots operating hang gliding businesses out of their cars and returning telephone messages nightly from their answering machines.

Rich Grigsby ran the business, Joe did the teaching. Soon the school grew and Joe trained other instructors in the fine art of shoving people off of mountains.

Joe and Rich loved to compete as well, and did quite well both nationally and internationally (see article link). Joe loved cross country competitions and was a regular in the Owens Valley and southern deserts. In fact, both Rich and Joe earned 1st place titles at America's premier annual cross country competition, the Owens Valley X-C Championships. Both Joe and Rich went on to represent the good old US of A in various international contests.

In the 1980's and 90's, as housing development grew around Los Angeles, practical and convenient training hills and flying sites became harder and harder to keep preserved. Windsports students had to drive further and further to train, and these distant sites became much less visible to the general public. Student interest suffered and more southern California schools and instructors left the business.

As the business climate worsened, Joe's partner left the business for greener pastures. But Joe stuck it out, determined not to give up on the livelihood that he had grown to love. Although the numbers of students he was teaching was diminishing, Joe was able to devote more time to those that he had, improving the Windsports training program and earning the friendship and respect of his peers.

Year after year, Joe was elected as the USHGA Regional Director, devoting plenty of time to issues of politics, safety and training, promotion and site preservation. He also assisted the local clubs maintain access to such flying sites as Kagel Mtn., Crestline, Malibu and Big Sur.

Joe also found opportunities to offer his knowledge and flying talents to the film and television industry, flying or coordinating flying action for nearly one hundred major productions. You may have seen Joe's work on such films as John Carpenter's Escape From L.A., Columbia's SpaceHunter Adventures in the Forbidden Zone or Bruce Willis' Color of Night. TV shows included many episodes of Baywatch, Dukes of Hazzard, and Rescue 911, not to mention numerous TV commercials and MTV.

Today the sport of hang gliding is thriving and Joe is as happy and motivated as ever. His 13 year efforts to reopen one of this country's most efficient training sites has met with success and his classes are filling with smiling students.

There's not rest in site for Joe, as he continues to enjoy an active role in the teaching of hang gliding to anyone who's interested.

---

Kris Greblo started flying hang gliders in the Summer of 1976. The next year she met Joe Greblo at historic Dockwiler State Beach. A few years later she learned to fly trike style ultralights for an adventure in Japan and with that experience and her private pilot license , had an opportunity to fly a trike for an anti poaching effort at the request of the Ghana Dept. of Game & Wildlife. In the early 90's she became a pro stunt pilot for the film industry. Kris still finds time to fly her hang glider & trike plus a favorite rental Cessna 152. Kris has earned a seaplane rating & tail wheel sign off , and has dual areobatic time in some very cool planes. When you are out flying look for her overhead.

---