Student Focus – Milly

At Rise Paragliding we don’t have customers we have family members.

This week we introduce Milly Wallace, Known to many as the Paragliding Pixie she certainly adds some magic to our courses, she’s a full time Paragliding Instructor in the USA, known to many and loved by all.

You’ve trained with Rise over many seasons, what keeps you coming back?

I feel safe and when I feel safe I grow.
I came to Rise to push past a long term fear of full stalls. My first 2 weeks with them they helped me build the skill foundation I needed, filling in SIV program gaps and setting me up for success with stalls. I feel that same rhythm has continued into my 2 courses of acrobatic training with them. There is something so nice about coming back to my coaches and picking up where we left off the previous course. For me that takes away a ton of anxiety and stress. I feel so lucky that I found these guys, I am a better solo pilot, tandem pilot and instructor thanks to the work they put in with me helping me grow my skillset and achieve my dreams and goals in paragliding.

This Years Goals?

I plan on working getting parachutal helis dialed and work on twisters and misty. Then I need to invest some time on G force tricks and hopefully start building a skillset for some combos. Overall this year’s goal is to have fun and do the best I can do.

Where will you Paraglide this year?

This year I have flown in Mexico, Utah, local sites in California, mainly flying at my current home site Torrey Pines gliderport and I will be going to Turkey this fall for my 5th rise course. Hopefully a trip to some sand dunes will also happen.

What harness and glider do you fly?

My acro equipment is BGD Epic Freestyle xs and air g Emilee 20m. My harness is the change gravity NC harness.
My XC set up is a BGD Lynx 2 and Gin Genie Lite 3 harness.

When not Paragliding what do you do?

I like to create artwork on many mediums, tend my flower garden, onewheel on the beach, watch movies, snowboard and go on drives in the car and hang out with my spouse.

One piece of Paragliding advice for the year ahead?

“Comparison is the thief of joy”
We are all on our own flying journey so don’t compare and just do you!

“Milly has been amazing to work with and an absolute inspiration. There is a tendency in the sport for instructors to stop learning or taking other courses, Milly is an exception to this rule and she continues to perfect her craft away from the school. Not only has this helped her develop her flying and mindset, but it is a wealth of experience she can take back to benefit her students. We love Milly.”

Jack Pimblett