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The IMSAFE acronym covers basic fitness to fly.
Fitness to fly varies on what you're trying to do. If you're looking to have a float around the local area the required fitness level is minimal. As long as your eyes and brain work your physical fitness required is just enough to be able to manipulate the contols. Basically if you're safe to drive to the airfield you should be able fly.
If you're going on longer flights and going cross country you need a higher level of fitness. You need be able to maintain a high level of attention to keep soaring safely and efficiently for the duration of the flight. As soon as you tire your soaring ability will degrade. So some sort of physical endurance fitness becomes useful. Walking, jogging, running, cycling, etc.
Don't forget that your performance is affected by your diet, hydration, etc. Being properly prepared with water and food for longer flights is important. Being comfortable in the glider will reduce fatigue. Being properly rested before the flight will improve endurance. Appropriate clothing for the conditions. Good ventilation. Sunglasses. These things can all contribute to better performance.
If you're going cross country, you're going to land out. You need to be able to move your glider on the ground. Flying in the Southern Alps you're likely to be landing out on airstrips. These are often narrow. Once you land you should clear the runway. Taxying off is unwise. You should land, stop, get out of the glider and move it to a suitable location so the runway is clear for other gliders who need to land or for the towplane to come for a retrieve. If you can't do this you shouldn't be flying cross country.
There are airstrips that we regularly use that aren't road retrievable. If you land on one of these and can't clear the runway then there will be no retrieve for you. Maybe you'll have to spring for a helicopter to bring in a helper.
Your options are, get an easy to move glider so that you can move it around, hit the gym to build your strength so that you can move your glider, or fly a two seater with a fit pilot who can move the glider with your assistance. Or have a fat wallet and a friendly helicopter operator.
Briefing prepared by Phil Plane.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License