You know the typical buzzwords that makes anyone look like they know what they are doing. A vario is an altimeter that indicates rate of climb and descent. An airplane with no motor. Webbing that joins the lines to the harness lines Thin Kevlar ropes that attach to the canopy. You can't just fly anywhere, there are some organised places with a launch and landing zone.
Most sites are capable of providing excellent flying in the right conditions.
WCSC has an on-line site guide at West Coast Soaring Club's Web Page . When the weather conditions at a site are conducive to a safe flight. An emergency landing zone somewhat short of the normal landing zone. If you hit a lot of sink after launch you might need to use the bail-out LZ because you cannot make it to the normal landing area. A flight which is straight glide from launch to the landing paddock.