Into the 21st century – 2000 to 2007

With a number of members caught by the competitive bug and with the club's own XC league firmly established Paragliding XC's began outstripping hang­gliding flights by a ratio of 15:1 (a sign of the times). This period also saw a temporary decline in the club's very active social scene, whether this was due to pilots becoming more competent and happy to seek adventure on their own or the simple pleasures of simply soaring our favourite sites seemed less alluring is debatable. A number of key movers also left the area or the sport which resulted in the Club being temporarily weakened. Thankfully the club was had a good tradition at being able to reinvent itself, and adapt to the needs of membership.

Although this was compounded when the Foot and Mouth (F&M) disease unexpectedly struck in 2001 with Cumbria being especially hard hit. The CSC responded positively, working with the local community, the authorities and endeavouring to see pilots through this difficult period.

While this enforced shutdown in flying activity was in place throughout the UK, Chris Scammell seized the opportunity to embark on an inspirational solo alpine 'vol-biv' paragliding adventure that saw him traverse nearly the complete Alpine chain of mountains, from Gourdon in the Alps Maritime region of France to Vienna in Eastern Austria. A distance of over 850km and with 605km covered in the air Chris's adventure caught the imagination and admiration of the Free Flight community.

The Club used this difficult time to move forward on other fronts such as the development of a new Club website, the work of Pat McVey; a revised Handbook & Site Guide, put together by Kate Smith, and preparations for a new style Lakes Flying Festival guided by Burkitt Rudd and latterly through the inspiration and determination of 'Gordie' Oliver the clubs' annual Lakes Charity Classic has evolved to incorporate a more of a party type event though its main purpose, still, to raise money for local good causes as well as to serve as a positive P R exercise for the sport as a whole.

2005 and it's the Club's 30th Anniversary commemorated initially, in a quiet and understated way with a gathering of past and present members where it all began back at the Globe Hotel, Cockermouth. Yet its the Summer Solstice when the Club really celebrated its history with a grand party and fly-in on the top of Bewaldeth with a number of past members being present and an open invitation to all to join in, word quickly spread around Keswick and the surrounding area that this was the party to be at. The Club now firmly has reinstated its social side with such innovative events, but also through regular coaching days during the summer months and interesting talks to while away the winter the club continues to evolve and mature, devising new mechanisms to reach out to this diverse group being continually tested. One obvious change being the use of the internet and so the quarterly(ish) club magazine 'Spolit for Choice' evolved from a lavishly colourful production into an amusing bi-monthly 'e mag' under the editor-ship of Ben Keayes, later to be taken on by Chris Field's dry wit. With other club news bulletins being compiled and distributed through the continued and tireless efforts of Simon Raven the membership continues to be kept well informed.

The Club continues to have a competitive and pioneering spirit with new site records being slowly extended by a keen few. A more obvious resurgence in this activity appears to have remerged during the last few years. With some audacious and inspirational flying by the likes of Ali Guthrie, 'Dangerous' Dave Ashcroft, Chris Scammel and Burkitt (Kitt) Rudd each have demonstrated the simplicity for the paraglider pilot to see new vistas from our launch sites.

Spring 2005 saw Ali and friends launch from Great Mell Fell in very blustery conditions. Ali managed to hang on in strengthening winds, crossing the Eden Valley quickly covering ground towards Newcastle. Unfortunately he infringed the airspace near Newcastle and as such his flight voided, nonetheless he supersedes Nigel Pages' record as being the longest flight by a paraglider or hang glider from inside the county at 95km. Recognising what possibly had been unlocked with this flight Kitt began exploring sites and slopes which were not as hemmed in by the surrounding hills in a bid to try and further the distance travelled through the use of thermals and the prevailing breeze. It was not until May 2007 that Kitt managed to better the 'unofficial' flight record which Ali had in effect set. Taking off from the once popular HG site of Brigsteer Kitt flew (via 3 turn-points) to land at Durham 101.7 Km with a best straight line distance flight from a Cumbrian site or hill now officially set as 95.3km. By the end of the following weekend he had repeated this feat a further two times from the same site landing on each occasion because of airspace restrictions. Surely it's not long before the straight-line distance surpassing the 100km mark.

In the summer of 2007 and as part of the LCC and now infamous annual Club party, it was decided to host the UK's first Acro over water competition and with a helicopter whisking the brave (foolhardy) competitors to a suitable launch site above Buttermere Lake, a dramatic and thankfully incident free spectacle entertained the crowds.

As we come towards the close of 2007 Club members once again appear to have been caught by the competition bug. Mike 'Cav' returned to set a new (national) declared Out and Return distance record along a similar route to which he chose for his previous (now surpassed) British out and return record. Cumbria Soaring Club has achieved the Top Club Award once more in the National Paragliding XC league (Team members, Martin Sandwith, B. Rudd, M. Cavanagh. and B. Keayes). Martin is also crowned National Paragliding XC champion for 2007 and with Kitt securing the National Weekend league trophy the Club once more has a healthy competitive spirit but also a revitalised and energised social scene.