Gaze: Fix the Axis Before Deciding
Before even pressing the brakes or shifting your hips, your gaze sets the trajectory. A clean turn starts with the eyes: look at the exit, not the center of the thermal. This aligns your spine and posture toward the outside of the turn. This habit eliminates jerks and prevents your body from tensing up during rotation. The classic mistake in a thermal is fixating on the entry point or blindly following the wing. Stay mobile: scan the horizon, identify a fixed landmark at the exit, and keep your focus there. Your brain will naturally adjust your posture.
Shift Weight: Lateral, Not Vertical
Lateral tilt prepares the wing for rotation. Shift your weight to the side you want to turn on while maintaining a neutral posture. The goal is not to lean excessively, but to create a gradual imbalance that the wing will compensate for. Avoid jerking your hips or upper body. Every movement must be fluid, extending naturally from your spine. If the wing resists or begins to stall, your weight shift is too abrupt or misaligned. Return to center, stabilize the wing, and repeat with more smoothness. Weight acts as a trigger, not a permanent control.
Hand Management: Coordination and Release
Once the axis is set and weight shifted, your hands take over. Apply light pressure on the brake toggle of the turning side without locking it down. The idea is to help the wing engage the turn, then gradually release pressure to let the wing find its balance. Many pilots maintain constant pressure, which heavies the turn, degrades climb performance, and tires the arms. A clean turn feels like no struggle: you feel the wing turning around its axis without jerks or a latent stall. If climb weakens, check if you are pulling the brakes too hard or if your gaze has lost its target.
Field Vigilance
These three elements are not mastered in a single session. Work on them incrementally, always in calm conditions that match your current level. Regularly assess fatigue, gear setup, and local weather shifts. Progress relies on observing your own sensations rather than comparing yourself to other pilots. Prioritize safety margins and adjust your pace to the reality of the day.
Fly safe,
Cyrille MARCK and the Rid'Air/CEM team
