Flying with no engines

My first time gliding was Saturday just past and it was quite different from what I expected. When I say gliding I mean gliding in a thing that looks a bit like a plane, not hang gliding.
Being winched up was quite an adrenalin rush as you go from 0 - 100km/hour in 3 second, then pulled up in the air at a 45 degree angle until about 1500 feet before releasing from the cable.
Then you are free, the only sound is that of the air rushing past around you. Fortunately we managed to get into a few thermals and climbed another couple of hundred feet.
Gliding is so peaceful after the initial winch, but very much depedent on the weather.