Creating clouds out of air is no longer a technique of proper Airbenders because it doesn't actually take any skill and requires a lot of brute force. Clouds, normally, are made of water. Airbenders can't manipulate water, so when they create the 'clouds', they're actually forcing air into a condensed form it's not supposed to take. Gliding on air currents, working with it's natural flow, is both easier and something only proper Airbenders can achieve.
The Original Air Nomads who cloud walked didn't know clouds were made of water and forced the air into 'clouds' to lift them were hamhanding the element much the same as the original fire throwers of Wan's Lion Turtle just tossed fire around instead of using it like an extension of their bodies.
The use of gliders and training of other Airbenders by the Sky Bison comes after his time in the world (or possibly during it, but not at his current canon point) and cloudwalking is the only method he knows to use air for flying. He recognizes that it is difficult and that regular clouds are made of water, but without any other concept for achieving the same effect, it's all he has.
Also, he really enjoys it.
Wan has figured out how to do it with the least amount of effort (for himself), but it does not change the fact that it's mostly brute force.
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Airbending
Creating clouds out of air is no longer a technique of proper Airbenders because it doesn't actually take any skill and requires a lot of brute force. Clouds, normally, are made of water. Airbenders can't manipulate water, so when they create the 'clouds', they're actually forcing air into a condensed form it's not supposed to take. Gliding on air currents, working with it's natural flow, is both easier and something only proper Airbenders can achieve.
The Original Air Nomads who cloud walked didn't know clouds were made of water and forced the air into 'clouds' to lift them were hamhanding the element much the same as the original fire throwers of Wan's Lion Turtle just tossed fire around instead of using it like an extension of their bodies.
The use of gliders and training of other Airbenders by the Sky Bison comes after his time in the world (or possibly during it, but not at his current canon point) and cloudwalking is the only method he knows to use air for flying. He recognizes that it is difficult and that regular clouds are made of water, but without any other concept for achieving the same effect, it's all he has.
Also, he really enjoys it.
Wan has figured out how to do it with the least amount of effort (for himself), but it does not change the fact that it's mostly brute force.