copy from another thread
Joining a sailplane club is likely the least cost entry into flying. My solo licence cost about $3k Cdn including 40 tows, 40 plane rentals ( various ) club membership, insurance and instructions.
You do have some club duties but I joined early August and was solo in Sept and still a few weeks of good flying into October.
Now prices are up but still the least cost to a formal pilots licence that can easily transform to power ( for much much greater cost ).
IF you decide to expand beyond club flights then the costs can get much higher but even clubs can arrange wave soaring adventures.
I think the record for height for a sailplane is some 76,000 feet …yeah you read that right.