is this considered a sport?
Yes, a competitive air sport
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport
how long do gliders stay in the air They can stay airborne for several hours. what is gliding? It is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. who created the first glider? The Germans when? In  the 1920s and 1930s how do they fly? Through air that is ascending as fast or faster than the glider itself is descending, thus gaining potential energy. what's the fastest they can go? UNANSWERABLE so you mean they use lift to fly? Yes, ridge lift, wave lift etc. how are they launched? Different methods, namely aerotowing, winch launching, bungee launch etc. what's the maximum distance they have flown? Up to 1,000 km what do you do to land? The pilot will 'land out' - choose a location where he can land safely without damaging the glider, the pilot, or property such as crops or livestock. has anybody thought of using an engine on them? Yes, some gliders are fitted with small power units and are known as motor gliders.
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Gliding [SEP] Introduction
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word "soaring" is also used for the sport. Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s. Initially the objective was to increase the duration of flights but soon pilots attempted cross-country flights away from the place of launch. Improvements in aerodynamics and in the understanding of weather phenomena have allowed greater distances at higher average speeds. Long distances are now flown using any of the main sources of rising air: ridge lift, thermals and lee waves.