Himalayan Odyssey 2011

At this very moment, a couple of paraglider pilots are doing something special. They are truly exploring areas of Western Nepal that have not been seen from their perspective - or with the degree of difficulty.

I knew Bay Area pilot, Eric Reed was headed to India for the trip last month, but I had not stayed on top of events because frankly, these guys aren't the 'PR' kinda guys. I tuned in today to find that Brad Sander and Eric are the only pilots continuing East on their quest to "Vol Bivouac" from Himachal Pradesh, in Northern India, across Nepal to Pelling, Sikkim, India. I can (and do) only imagin the amazing scenery and epic struggles as they fly-hike-camp-repeat their way across the most imposingly beautiful terrain on the planet.



View Himalayan Odyssey Paragliding Expedition Route in a larger map

This is serious adventure and I wish I was there. To stay tuned, go to http://www.himalayanodyssey.org/ and explore their site -

Eric Reed's Track - Click image for larger view

The live-tracks are using SPOT units to broadcast position information. I am very glad to see that these units are working reliably in obviously extreme conditions. I recommend SPOT units for anybody flying XC.

Here is Eric's Live-Tracking Page, which can be viewed at http://www.himalayanodyssey.org/spot_eric.html


Good luck Brad and Eric! I'll buy the beer to lubricate the best stories this summer.

Tim

Cayucos 3/5/11

Fun Day at Cayucos - We had a fairly strong East until 1PM then it came in from the ocean with some convergence.  I launched early and paid for it with a short extended sled-ride.  Jack launched a bit later and got teased with some lift along the highway.  I drove Jack up to his car and decided to fly again.  The winds were much brisker and Northy.   I launched and got hammered until contacting some good convergence over highway 1.

Coming if for landing.
Photo by Buzz Morasca

Coming if for landing.
Photo by Buzz Morasca
Click for larger photo

After 40 minutes or so of flying along the shear zone, I landed on the beach.  As I came in for landing, Buzz caught me with his camera.  Thanks for the cool shots Buzz!

Tim

Winds of Change

It's the off-season in the Northern Hemisphere and there is a noticeable shift in the winds.  This competition season will be interesting at worst and exciting at best - There are many changes coming this year.

CIVL Plenary 2011
Our Sport is evolving.  As always, change brings with it some insecurity and controversy.  What are the unintended consequences of good-intentioned rules and regulation?   The PMA, DHV, and BHPA all are proposing changes to the rules at CAT 1 competitions that would restrict the use of prototypes and/or uncertified wings.  The logic is that there are meaningful minimum safety certifications required for harnesses, helmets, and reserve parachutes - How can we possibly exempt the wings from all but the minimum inspections while saying that we are trying to increase safety?  And I must say, I agree with this logic. . . although I do worry about unintended consequences . . .

It's important to ask questions to define and weigh a couple of the goals of our competitions -

• Are we striving to provide a venue that allows for a competition that is pure competition between pilots, with an acceptable intrinsic margin of safety guaranteed by specified, restricted, equipment ( as in a Serial Class Only, One Design, etc.) or,
• Are we striving to provide a venue that is a proving ground for new technology that may help the sport by providing better performance and safety through better design?

Until now, our relatively immature sport has been trying (fairly successfully) to include both of the above goals in our competitions.  These goals are now being found (by some) to be mutually exclusive, however.

I want to see our equipment evolve further.  It's very exciting to see the performance and handling of the modern wings improve year-over-year.  But does the inclusion of these wings in ALL competitions satisfy the first goal?  These are only a couple of the issues - 

For more discussion, with top-ranked pilots from all over the world, view this post on the PG Forum.  

I think we will, eventually, see some restrictions in equipment in all competitions except the PWC (the PG equivalent of Formula One).    I know this option has idealistic roots and may not be feasible in a market as small as this sport; but I truly believe this route is best for the sport.

Other News -

RAT RACE 2011

The Rat Race  June19th-25th will actually be two competitions in one.  There will be a "SPRINT" version for newer pilots, those on lower performance wings, and those who just don't like flying for more than 3 hours.  The tasks will be structured so as to have the two fields occupying the same air, along their separate courses, while the sprint task will be shorter and less into wind.  I think the enjoyment level for many of the newer pilots will go up since getting to goal provides a smile.  I like the idea of this format and hope it is successful in reality.

As always, the Rat Race will have a mentoring program that is geared to help those who are new to the sport.

LONE STAR NATIONALS

Held in Hearn Texas, the Lone Star Nats  Aug. 14th-20th is breaking new ground for paragliding in the US.  It will be a tow competition - Every pilot will be towed up to altitude, prior to the start, by one of the many tow-rigs.  This is being met with some resistance because everyone who's towed has a memory of one fiasco or another - often involving panic, long delays, or just frustration.  The thought of having 8 to 12 winches towing up 60-100 pilots, in the hot sun, has many of us thinking that the hardest hurdle in the comp will simply be getting into the air.

But I'm an optimist.  I'm hoping to be able to make it to this comp because, if it's successful it will open the doors for a whole new type of competition and thousands of miles of unexplored XC territory.  I'm actually pulling for Dave Prentice and his crew.  They know they're under the gun and they appear to be working hard to provide a safe and efficient operation.

It's going to be interesting - But why shouldn't it be?  It's Paragliding!

Fly Safe - Tim

MDO 2/20/11

Today was a good day at MDO. I got back from my 8-day trip and was very happy to get back into the air. It was a beautiful day with 10 pilots on the ridge. Fortunately it was a large enough lift band that it allowed all to fly without stress.

Direct link for full screen view - http://tinyurl.com/mdo22011

Nova Dasalla - First US Pilot to Infinite

Nova Dasalla is a Bay Area pilot that has been on a quest for years.  He's had his struggles and his successes, but he has shown that a goal and a positive attitude is what it takes to make your dreams a reality.

Here is a short video of Nova's journey. It also shows why I don't do acro.

Tim

Nova Dasalla - acro paragliding - "Infinite Stumbling" from avonorca on Vimeo.

Whaleback Improvements/Fundraising

All photos courtesy of Scott Harding www.scottharding.com

I'd like to pass along some info regarding the ongoing improvements to Whaleback (near Mt. Shasta, California) and the need for additional funding to make the project successful.  I've been in contact with Scott H. of the Rogue Valley HG/PG club and he indicates that many generous donations from clubs and individuals have helped the club approach their goals for the launch site and LZ improvement projects.  They have applied for a matching funds grant from the Foundation for Free Flight and will make their presentation to the FFF in the next week or two.  

Click photo for larger version
Photo by Scott Harding

I've never flown this site, but hope to this season.  The conditions are very conducive to long XCs that cover beautiful pristine scenery.  The project will improve the launch area by enlarging the set-up area considerably and providing a larger launch area and a launch towards the SW. Your donations go to one of the most active clubs, when it comes to site improvement/relations in the US.  For complete information, and a link to make donations, visit: http://rvhpa.org/news/whaleback-launch-improvements/ 

The Future configuration of Whaleback launch

Please consider donating funds to this project, if only to guarantee the site's future and your ability to fly the site in the future. Donations from the community are the only way such a project can succeed.

Donations made in the next week or two will count towards the hoped for FFF matching grant.
Please do your part to improve this amazing site.

Tim

Cuesta Today

Today turned into a nice day for flying, and Dan, Dave M., Jeremy, Adam & I all got a good taste of the best of Winter Cuesta. . .

We got to the top around noon and were greeted by light Easterly puffs.  Birds were working weak lift in front, so we were encouraged.  Within 30 minutes the light East had filled in and all the birds, all the flies, everything disappeared for an hour.  We ate & told stories until things got still and the birds reappeared.  Around 2pm it finally looked better, so Adam & I got suited up. He grabbed his hang glider since he could do a no-wind launch easier than the rest of us.  He launched well and sank out immediately to 200' below launch.  Soon he contacted a good, if rough,  thermal and climbed to 4000'. 

Meanwhile, I was standing in the chute ready to go and waited at least 15 minutes for a puff.  Finally I got a very light puff, allowing me to get in the air and immediately climbed to 4500 and that was it.  The conditions on launch improved and all got off well.  It was quite cold at altitude but the lift was abundant and smooth above about 2500'.  It was possible to move around quite a bit and I followed a weak lift line Northwest at a bit of an angle to the ridge for a couple miles before falling off the bubble and heading back to home turf again.  When I headed out to the LZ it was quite lifty so I flew all the way to Hwy 1 and still had enough altitude to head back to the LZ.  I thought about landing at Dave's (I had 1600' over the Hwy) but he's out of town and it just wouldn't have been the same without a ginger beer to celebrate. . .

Top of climb for Adam & me was around 5300' and it was good to see the models proven correct. . . It wasn't looking too good there for a while & I was worried that I'd cried wolf too early in the season ;-)  Congrats to Dave M on popping his Cuesta cherry and the guys on sticking with me for 2 hours for the payout. 

My Flight track is HERE.  I've got some cool video of the fun, but haven't figured out an adequate way to edit it without losing most of the quality.  Today I'll take stills and have some pics.

Tim

Click-and-Control Interactive Heli Video

For the best experience, click the "Full Screen" Icon.
Tim

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia - Task 6

Today must have been some serious racing.  Speeds today were over 30KPH and there were 87 in goal.  Marcus Malmqvist was first on the UP Edge XR, followed by Yassen Savov (Boom 8) and Andreas Malecki (Mantra R10.2) and Josh Cohn (Niviuk Proto) and Charles Cazaux (Mantra R10.2).

Overall leader Michael Sigel placed 21st today, scoring 891 points and holding on to his cumulative lead.


No tasks will be dropped during this PWC so what you see is what you get.


Cumulative results are In this .PDF file

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia - Task 5

Today's task was 123Km and conditions were finally suitable for some racing.  The top pilots had average speeds of  28KPH. Today's Top-10 were:

1  0051 Russell OGDEN GBR
2  0147 Xevi BONET DALMAU ESP
4  0017 Andre RAINSFORD ZAF
5  0039 Primoz SUSA SVN
6  0053 Russell ACHTERBERG ZAF
6  0020 Michael SIGEL CHE
8  0101 Lucas BERNARDIN FRA
9  1717 Primoz PODOBNIK SVN
10 0009 Raul PENSO VEN
10 0319 Yassen SAVOV BGR



Nick Greece is the top US pilot at 9th, and Josh Cohn is at 13th in the cumulative ranking.
With two tasks remaining, this is proving to be a great opening competition for the 2011 season.  The top-10 pilots are on Gin Boom 8's and Ozone R10.2s.  Niviuk is represented by Josh in 13th and Stefan Wyss in 14th.  This year is looking like a very competitive year for the manufacturers who are striving to push the performance limits.



Cumulative Results are  in this .PDF file

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia - Task 4

Another tough day in Colombia.  113Km. task with no one in goal..  Michael Sigel was the only pilot to make 100K, which will cinch first position for him.  Since today's results aren't out yet, this is speculation, but some quick computation yields this unofficial ranking overall:

1. Michael SIGEL
2. Russell OGDEN
3. Peter NEUENSCHWANDER
4. ?????


I'm not sure of the ranking below third place, since so many were around the 86Km point. It looks like Nick Greece and Josh Cohn are hanging in there, and both may be in the top-10 when Cumulative Scores are up.




Cumulative scores are in this .PDF file


Tim

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia - Task 3

The third task was considerably shorter than previous tasks at 60 Km.  This allowed all but 13 pilots to make goal.  The top-15 all had average speeds of around 20KPH so it looks like it was a slow day.

Yasson Savov and Russ Ogden are emerging as the most consistent leaders.  They were third and fourth in the cumulative rankings and placed first and third today, so it looks like they will be at the top of the leaderboard.

Jack Brown was second today, and the only US pilot in the top 20.  Nick Greece was in 25th.

For results you can go to http://www.paraglidingworldcup.org/htmlrequest/results/t/1/3/1 .  Cumulative scores seem to be a secret.  There may be cumulative scores in the comments on THIS PAGE.

Tim

Flying Bookshelf - Flying Rags to Glory

Mads Syndergaard is an experienced, and quite accomplished XC competition pilot.  He also doesn't mind passing his voluminous store of information to those with XC dreams.

I received my copy of Flying Rags for Glory. . .  last month and found it to be well written and comprehensively informative. The book is written primarily for paraglider pilots contemplating entry into the comp scene. You'll find that this book contains much of the same kind of information, directed at new pilots, as my article "Flying in Paraglider Competitions" but this book also has considerable information that is of value to advanced pilots with goals of flying the best equipment and flying to their max potential.

One of Mads' strengths as a pilot, and as an author, is his interest in the psychology of winning.  He emphasizes and reinforces, with examples, that those who assume they will win, have an edge that is tangible. He also references studies of the sub-conscious and its role in high level activities.  I found this section of the book to be very interesting and informative.

Mads has been flying for most of the years that our young sport has been evolving. He does an excellent job of relating his experiences competing on wings of dubious flying characteristics and modest performance. Many photos are used to illustrate the wings and characters of the early years.

I found this book to be a good read and a valuable addition to my bookshelf. If you'd like to read some excerpts, here are a few:

Excerpt#1 from Flying Rags For Glory - Your First Task Briefing

Excerpt#2 from Flying Rags For Glory - Flattening the Sinus Wave

Excerpt#3 from Flying Rags For Glory - Non Conscious Learning

Flying Rags for Glory is available exclusively in the XCSHOP. If you decide to purchase this book, please click the graphic at left or this text to visit the website. I will get credit for the referral. This is the only revenue generation I use on this site.

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia - Task 2

Another tough day, from the sound of it.  123K task and it looks like everyone has landed short of goal.  Looking at the 'Live Leader Board' Eric Reed placed second a few km. short of goal. Nick Greece, Josh Cohn, and Jack Brown landed around the 116k point.

No official cumulative results are out as of 2100 pst.  But here are some links for your useage:

The retrieve map and general task map are at  www.fastretrieve.com/mapping

The Live Leader Board can be found at Live Leader Board

Results are in the window below and available at http://www.paraglidingworldcup.org/htmlrequest/results/1/2/1.

Paragliding World Cup 2011 Roldanillo, Colombia

The first task of the Colombia PWC was a 94 kilometer zig-zag that had as many pilots landing near the 1/2 way point as it had in goal. With the pilot caliber that these events attract, it must have been a tough day.

The Top-10 for the day were:

Rank ID Name        Nation    Glider            Score
1 0020 Michael SIGEL CHE   Gin Boomerang 7       997
2 0051 Russell OGDEN GBR Ozone Ozone prototype   987
3 0077 Jean Baptiste BERLIOUX FRA  Boomerang 7   976
4 0305 Peter NEUENSCHWANDER CHE Swing prototype  973
4 0319 Yassen SAVOV BGR        Gin Boomerang 7   973
6 0059 Nicholas GREECE USA        R10.2?         968
7 0002 Jurij VIDIC SVN      Ozone Mantra R10.2   965
8 0015 Jacques FOURNIER FRA   Ozone R10.2        964
8 0147 Xevi BONET DALMAU ESP   Gin Boomerang 7   964
10 0107 Adrian HACHEN CHE ? ?                    962

Jack Brown and Josh Cohn are in 15th and 16th respectively, and Brad Gunnuscio, Eric Reed, and Brett Zaenglein, all scored around 350 points, landing mid-task.

Results can be viewed in this .PDF file.

Volando en Roldanillo - USA is 1, 2 !

Well it's over in Columbia and Eric Reed was consistent enough to win the Gold. Brad Gunnuscio finished strong to move up to 2nd, and Nick Greece finished at 15th after a great effort in the last two tasks. Jack Brown was 28th and Max Marion did a respectable 50th in one of his first international events.

This is certainly a great showing in this comp, and bodes well for the US guys during the Columbian PWC event next week.

The links in my previous posts appear to be broken due to bandwidth exceedence, but final results are visible in this .PDF file
Tim

Volando en Roldanillo - One more day

Eric Reed is still at the top of the leader board after 5 tough tasks.  He is showing his tenacity and skills among a very talented field.  In addition, Brad Gunnuscio has climbed into 3rd place and Nick Greece is in 18th.  I'm sure Jack Brown is a bit frustrated in 30th, but it is tough to come back from 2 bad days at the start of a competition. Good luck to the guys!

Tomorrow's task will be the 'decider' so check back for the final results.
The overall results can be viewed in this .PDF file.


Tim

Volando en Roldanillo

The competition is on in Columbia at the Volando en Roldanillo.  After three tasks Eric Reed is leading the pack with his signature consistent 'badger' style flying.  He won the first day's task, placed 6th in task two, and second in the third.  Brad Gunnuscio is 4th overall and Nick Greece is 24th.  Jack Brown tied for first in task 3 after a couple tough days early in the comp.

For the latest scores go to http://www.volandoenroldanillo.com

The overall results can be viewed in this .PDF file.

Flytec's 6030 soon to have features of the Flymaster B1Nav!

Hey sportsfans - The folks at Flytec just announced there will be a significant firmware update for the 6030 very soon. It is being tested at the January HG comps in OZ and PWC comp in Columbia. If there are no significant bugs reported that cannot be quickly fixed they expect to release it at the end of this month.

Click for link to my magazine review

The "significant features" added include:

• Optimized route.
• Goal line finish
• Speed to start cylinder
• Nascent/near thermal tone
• NMEA output over Bluetooth

Yep, the $1449 SRP Flytec 6030 will soon (maybe) have the same features as the $630 Flymaster B1Nav.

It's great that Flytec is adding these features.  I don't sell either instrument and I don't really care which is 'best' - I just don't like the big-guys using their influence to control the market and the price points of a niche business.  I especially don't like our limited publications allowing this control to be exercised in their pages.  When I mentioned these "significant features" in my review of the B1Nav, it was considered an unbalanced view ;-)

Tim

For additional background, see my review of the B1Nav - http://biggovtsucks.blogspot.com/2010/08/flymaster-b1-nav.html
and the reaction to it's publication:

http://biggovtsucks.blogspot.com/2010/11/really.html

Skywalk video competition 2010 Winner!

I embedded this video in August because I felt it conveyed much of the appeal of the sport.  Skywalk agrees.
Congratulations to José Abreu who has won the 2010 Skywalk video competition!
If you have the bandwidth, watch it in HD - Enjoy.



And for those fellow AC/DC lovers, here's a bit more bumpin' video, also from Jose: