Who knew the Stig flew hang gliders?!

Oh Pride and Competition

Aside from the obvious, one of the coolest things about hang gliding is the way it can completely change your outlook on so many things, for no really good reason at all.  It can turn a great day into an awful one with a bad landing or a bomb out or, like a few days ago, it can completely turn around a day that starts as one of the worst in your life.  I realize that sounds pretty extreme, but maybe it's a bit like a going through a traumatic event with another person - a bond is created that can be strangely powerful - a good relationship can be saved....a bad one healed.  

Although I can't stop thinking about every detail of my amazing flight the day before yesterday, what really strikes me most is how a flight like that can change your outlook in a way that perhaps makes it possible to rethink whether all is not lost.  I spent easily 6 of the 8 hour flight yesterday with someone that I haven't always liked.  But the time spent with that pilot 8000 feet above the ground, without the ability to speak to one another, seems to have sort of reset things.  It feels like all the ill feelings that have lingered between us for over a year are just gone.  We landed, we hugged and laughed and said all the things we couldn't say in the air, re-lived the flight for a while and the past just melted away.  How cool is that!  I don't know of anything else that could have had that effect on me and I am truly grateful for it.    

The bond that we share as pilots really is an incredible one and the time we spend together in the air is more special than most people know. 

318.9 km!!!

Yesterday morning I got out of bed with the worst attitude.  Nothing was going to fix my day and I even questioned whether or not I would fly.  The announcement at the briefing that we were calling a 318.9 km task to the town of Hay (where they used to hold big meets) didn't help.  Having not made it even close to goal on the two previous (much shorter) tasks, all I could feel was discouraged at the thought of such a long one.  But, rather than spend the energy to just blow it all off and not fly and have to explain to everyone why, I just went through the motions at the field.  I jumped in the launch line very early thinking I could get it over with more quickly if I started first.  But, it seemed I couldn't even do that part right.  I got to the front of the line and on the launch dolly only to test my harness zipper and get it jammed up in a position where it wouldn't go up or down and I was completely stuck.  That nearly made the decision for me.  I thought in my state of mind, with things already going wrong, probably the best thing to do is call it a day.  Jonny messed with my zipper a bit and just plain wasn't gonna have it (me not flying).  Thanks Jonny!  Unfortunately, this still meant that I couldn't zip up and flying any amount of time unzipped is not the most fun...it's cold at altitude and tiring trying to hold your legs up comfortably. 

But, from the time I rolled across the tow field and got airborne, things started to improve.  My first goal was to make 100km.  Small, easy goal, little chance for disappointment.  Check.  That didn't take long.  Although the start was slow with very light climbs in a gaggle of 30 gliders never getting over about 5,000 feet, it wasn't long before the day started to turn on.  The air was what they called classic Forbes air....strong, relatively smooth fat lift.  I never thought 1000fpm climbs outside of Florida could be so nice and relaxing.  I met up and flew with various people for the first 150km, but I spent the biggest part of the task with Zhenya, meeting up, then separating, then magically meeting up again, gliding together, loosing her, then somehow finding each other again.  It was so cool.  I had Carlos on radio always just ahead of me, feeding me information that helped keep me motivated.  It wasn't long before I was reaching goal number 2, making 200km....then #3, making the last turnpoint (just 60km short of goal and a bit over my previous personal best).  It was at that point that it started to hit me that I was really going to do the whole task. 

Fortunately, I was able to stay pretty high- between 7 and 10,000 feet for the best part of the day and it wasn't until the sun was low that the climbs became weak.  Even then, knowing the day was shutting down, I just tried to stay as high as I possibly could and take every single little climb that came along.  I started thinking final glide at about 40km out, but Carl was on radio telling me that the climbs weren't going much past 6 or 7 grand, so I should be very careful.  I think I took my last real climb at about 20km, but the computer was telling me I didn't have it, so I knew I still had to find another 1000 feet or so somewhere.  Well, I didn't find it.  Instead I went on glide, with Carl on the radio guiding me to goal telling me I had it when I was sure I didn't (and in fact, he didn't believe I could make it from the altitude I started either - lying can be such a good thing sometimes ;-).  I saw one glider after another run out of steam and land next to the road leading to goal, all the while pointing my toes as hard as I could and pulling the VG rope trying to get just one more millimeter out of it.  

When I finally had goal in site, I remembered they had told us at the briefing that there was a giant antenna just short of the goal field.  I spotting that and then spotted the gliders still rigged just on the other side of the road, power lines and fence line that ran perpendicular to my glide.  To make the goal field, I had to cross all three.  On radio Carl told me to just fly right over the top of the antenna and I would easily make it into the field.  Problem was, I could see that I wasn't gonna make it over the top of that stinking antenna!!  No worries, I would just continue gliding straight to that fence and then at the last second make a 90 degree turn into the wind and that would be that.  Simple enough.  But I never dreamed it would work out as perfectly as it did.  I actually didn't think I had goal because I wasn't in the goal field - thankfully though, I did make the 400 meter cylinder, so all was good.  

Jonny got the whole thing on his GoPro.

It was a four hour drive back to Forbes.  We stopped at a pub where a few other pilots were having a beer and while standing at the bar a local walked up to me and said "are you Jamie?"  I just pointed at Kathryn and said "no, that's her" ;-)  Turns out the guy was a trucker and had been on our channel listening to Carl and I chatting through the whole last half of the task.  Apparently he thought it was pretty funny when Carl got low and I told him that I was at 9 grand and he had to "stay up" to get me to goal.  

Forbes Day 3 - Task 1

Finally we get a task! 168km triangle in beautiful conditions.  I reeeeeeeealy enjoy the flying here.  I got a fantastic start with Jonny boy.  Of course, I wasn't with him for more than about 20 seconds, but that was alright.  Strong climbs with the smoothest lift around the first turnpoint.  I made it about 85 km around, about 5 km short of the second turnpoint.  Would have been a heavenly flight all around if not for pounding in and breaking an upright....ooops, it's been a very long time since I've done that.

Looks like Carl will be second for the day!!!!

Here I am with my broken upright :-( (still smiling though)

Day 2 - Canned

Some parts of the sky were looking nice....

and others not so nice.

Quite a bit of thunder and lightning....nothing directly overhead though.  Anyway, the task committee decided it was enough.  Now we're all headed to the Parkes pool.  The have springboards, so surely someone can get hurt today ;-)

Dark sky coming in...

Now we'll wait till noon for a re-breifing.

Forbes Day 1

Well, it happened without us this time.  Despite every effort....helicopters, planes, trains, cars, taxis....we only arrived back at the airfield at 2pm, just 15 minutes from the last start.  The whole gang at the airport were incredibly helpful.  They had our gliders out and ready to tow, all we had to do was hook in and fly.  Unfortunately though, we had to call it off as the dark clouds were moving in quickly and bringing wind and rain with it.  We started packing up and got rained on for about 10 minutes before we learned that the task had been stopped.  What luck for Carl!  I've been saying for 2 months that the first day would be cancelled because Carl probably couldn't get there in time....and sure enough, it was.  I thought I was the luckiest person on the planet....Carl comes a very close second.

This is yesterday's task board.  Note the 2:15 start time - put there just for Carlos

The forecast for today is not looking promising at all.  We had clear blue skies this morning, but the clouds are quickly filling in and I fear we won't have a task today either :-(  Oh to have skies like we had a few days ago.

An airplane is faster than a cadillac....

...and a whole lot smoother than a camels back.  I don't care how you get to me, just get to me!

Day 1 of the Forbes Flatlands and I have sped to Sydney to collect Carl.  All the very tight plans and connections eventually failed in Abu Dhabi and so he's just arriving - not exactly in time for the first task.  We will speed back to Forbes where young Alex will have our gliders rigged and ready to jump in and fly.  If nothing else, it will be another adventure.

Meanwhile, we spent new years eve and new years day partying and enjoying the heat of Forbes.  45 degrees (113 fahrenheit) according to the car thermometer yesterday....ouch!  Only one thing to do in temps that high in Forbes (other than get in the air, of course) - diving lessons from Timothy at the municipal pool.  I haven't mastered my triple back flip yet, but after 43 years, I know now how to dive in headfirst.  Thanks Timothy!

Groundhog Day

It's looking like more of the same awesome conditions again today.  Like yesterday, they're calling for blue again, but with any luck we'll get some more of the nice 10 ups and another super high base.  Meanwhile, on the ground they're forecasting 103 degrees!  Thanks to Capt Vix for keeping us cool.  

No good deed goes unpunished

Note to self:  leave ex's in the hot sun, they can fend for themselves....stay in the cool air conditioning and have a relaxing dinner with friends ;-)

I want to have the same last dream again...

It surprises me that I can forget so quickly how exciting a competition in a new place is.  Every ordinary bit becomes an adventure, even sitting in a scorching, sunburned field, sweaty and dirty waiting for retrieve.  

Two flights down and hopefully 11 more to go!!

Time to shortpack for Oz

....but sometimes the view is sooooo distracting.

Strapping on the Weight of Expectation

Why do I hate Christmas?  I've never been able to say exactly, but someone else put it nicely into words for me a few nights ago.  She said that around the holidays we tend to "strap the weight of expectation onto our shoulders."

We're supposed to be in a joyous and generous mood, surrounded by family and remember that our troubles will be miles away.  I'm generally always in a good mood, but being constantly reminded by the television, radio and signs all over the mall that the two people I want most to be with, aren't with me this time of year tends to put me in a less than joyous and generous mood.  I suppose I'd rather just be happy because I'm happy, without any sort of excuse to force it.

I've vowed that next year at Christmas I will be somewhere in the African jungle or perhaps in a Muslim country where I can just be happy and not constantly reminded that I don't have a husband and children to gather round the tree with on Christmas morning.

Last of Summer

Well I've heard more than a little whining about the turbulence and how long it seems to be lasting on my blog.  I guess this is the time of year when all is quiet for me and frankly, I'm not sure how interested anyone is in my slow life at home.

But, in my usual fashion, when the Commander asked "you wanna go?"  Of course, I couldn't possibly say no.  Where?....what difference does it really make?  Well this time it was a little cruise to the Bahamas.  I have never thought of myself as a cruise vacation kind of girl, but as it turns out, with the right group of people it can be great fun.

So the Commander, Maria and Bryce (son of the Commander) and I waived goodbye to Port Canaveral and set sail last week for Coco Cay and Nassau.

Aside from way too much food screaming out to you at every hour of the day, the ship itself was rather ordinary.  The most fun we had was subjecting ourselves to the 70+mph wind in the compression zone on deck the first night.

....and of course, formal night where the Commander impressed everyone with his dress blues ;-)

The Islands were great.  There's nothing more fun than a scooter on a tropical island.

We raced around the entire island of New Providence stopping just for good snorkling spots and conch fritters.  Bryce even found a wreck to dive ;-)

(And yes M&M, this is my photo ;-)....taken through the glass at the Atlantis aquarium)

Turbulence

Being back in Florida it's impossible not to notice the vastly different flying we do here.  I've said a hundred times, the Florida lift is fat and oh so smooth...nothing but easy, fun, relaxed flying.  But that was definitely not the case over the summer.  Between Ager, Cucco and Laragne I had more than a few really bumpy days.  I was talking with Carl about the turbulence one day in Laragne, explaining that I went through one area near the Pique de Burr early in the flight that scared me so bad that all I could do was fly straight out to the valley and land.  He gave me this rather confused look and said "don't you know that the turbulence never lasts?  It might be really rough in a particular spot, but it's not that way everywhere, all the time!  If you just stick it out and deal with a little turbulence, then fly on to the next turnpoint and you'll likely find that it's back to smooth and comfortable again."  He couldn't understand why I would just give up on an entire flight because of one little spot of turbulence.

Writing these words now really makes me laugh because his advice applies to so many things in life.  I do have a hard time toughing it out through the turbulence and I tend to want to just get out of the air and get my feet on the ground again.

Telling this story to Maria over coffee this morning, she said "yeah, you can find the answer to any of life's problems in hang gliding."  ;-)

If you want to view paradise....

....simply look around and view it.  Anything you want to, do it.

I'm falling in love with fall in Florida.  Another gorgeous weekend.  Mitch, Dustin and I set out for Venice Beach today.  The wind was light out of the north, northeast and it seemed like a good day to give it a shot.   Unfortunately, we got too late a start and didn't make it, but that didn't bother any of us.  Mitch and I landed about 6 kms apart, around the 100 km mark and Dustin was about 40 km past us.  Pretty nice day for the end of October.

No Venice Beach this time, but Forbes wasn't too far away ;-)

Come From Alabama with a Banjo on My Knee

A little roadtrip the last few days with Maria.  It's that time of year again and we're looking for more spots for next year's Flytec Rally. Davis reports that there is a flightpark near Huntsville, Alabama that's trying to get up and running so we had the idea of maybe shooting for that as our goal for next year.  

The trip was a huge success.  We visited about ten new airfields and most everyone is really keen to have us.  Alabama is so pretty and rural with rolling hills and heaps of farmland.  As a Californian, it's funny for me to drive through the south and see all of the stereotypical southern sights....cotton fields, plantations, churches on every corner.  We had the best southern BBQ I've ever had in Eufaula, Alabama one night.  Pulled pork, collard greens and cornbread were all new to little Maria ;-)

The Mother of Invention

Aside from the booming Florida spring conditions, I can't imagine a nicer time to fly here than the fall.  Temperatures and humidity are down to very comfortable levels, thermals are fat and smooth and days are still plenty long for great cross country flights.  I came out for a weekend to remind myself of why I love this place so much.  After a summer of getting bounced all over the European skies, being back home is like heaven.

It's turned out to be a Wallaby in three (or less) kind of weekend.  Yesterday Mitch and I had a super fun little three climb jaunt down to Dean Still/33, then the Ranch with 5-700 ups and light winds.  Dustin and I decided to do it again today, but in order to keep up with him, I had to insist that he fly the training glider (Falcon with 2 ton landing gear permanently attached).   Boy is it fun to finally be able to kick his butt!  But, the most entertaining part of the 35 minute run down to the Ranch was the retrieve ;-)  We couldn't have looked more like the Clampets on the drive back.

News on the Santa Cruz Flats Race

I will be blogging at www.santacruzflatsrace.blogspot.com on the competition this week in Casa Grande.

Short of Severn....

...but still just tickled! Four hours over the gorgeous Welsh
countryside in smooth smooth lift the way I love to fly. We were
shooting for the river Severn near Myles' house but had little wind to
help us along. Carl and I started off together going over the back
then decided to scrap it as the day didn't look as great as we
thought. By the time we got back to takeoff, Kathryn had set out on
her own, so I went to chase after her. Caught up to her but we didn't
manage to stay together so long. She landed at the base of the Mynd
where I landed on my first Langollen flight.

Boy do I love a nice day in Wales!!!

British Nationals Day 1

They called an ambitious 125km task for the first day of the British Nationals.  I was surprised because the day looked much like yesterday which was quite stable.  The only difference was we had nice south wind on takeoff.  Yesterday was dead calm all day at launch and we all ended up taking off on the north side either in nil wind or 1 or 2 mph.  

I got off the hill right in the middle of the pack and was feeling like I launched at just the right time.  Ben Dunn found a nice one for me and we circle up together well over launch, but not quite to cloudbase.  After hanging around launch longer than I would have liked, waiting for anyone to go on course, Kathryn finally joined me and we decided to go out together toward the first turnpoint.  We made a joking pack yesterday that we would fly and land together every day and finish the comp as co-women's-english-national champions ;-)  Neither of us is English, of course, but since we're the only girls here, we figured we were a shoe in.

So, the pack is intact so far.  We headed on course for the ridge north of launch where the first turnpoint was.  Gordon Rigg had given us a great little briefing before launch with heaps of tips on where to go and what works and what doesn't.  He explained exactly how and where would should work the ridge at the turnpoint which we did, exactly the way he suggested.  I was pleased with myself for being able to follow his instructions so well - usually I just end up off on my own, doing my own thing.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a normal day and his suggestions weren't so fruitful.  Kathryn and I worked the ridge together trying everything we could in the burbly air, surfed around in the ridge lift for a bit, but to no avail.  After quite a lot of trying, we had lost most of our altitude and had to glide into the valley for a landing field.  There were two others already there and another four came after us, each of them trying exactly as we had and each of them eventually getting too low and gliding out to our field.  

The view is beautiful from up there and if only the lift was smooth and beautiful, I would be very pleased.  I'm hoping for nicer air tomorrow, but counting my blessings flying with Damien feeling relatively comfortable in the somewhat rough air.  

Me amo Kathryn....te amo?

I've heard it said that the biggest source of discontentment is having too many choices.  We woke up this morning to yet another day of overcast skies and light rain and over breakfast had to make a decision about what to do.  Go two and a half hours south and fly Croatia (the likely site of the next women's worlds)? Tough it out another day in Tolmin and perhaps get a good task or two on Saturday and Sunday (missing the first days of the Brit Nationals in Laragne)?  Head three hours east and fly Bassano or Brescia where the sun is shining?  Drive into the Dolomites for a flight and risk the wrath of Carl for going without him?

In the end, we made the painful decision to head on to Laragne to be there in time for the Brit comp.  It was torture leaving.  Tolmin is one of the most beautiful places on earth and certainly one of my favorite flying sites/comps.  The organizers do such a great job and you really get so much for your money.  For 150€ you get a t-shirt, lunch every day, daily transport to launch and what I'm sure will be a fantastic party on Saturday night (that we will miss, sadly).  I can't say enough good things about this comp...if only the weather had been a bit better.   We also left Maria behind as she wanted to finish out the comp and then head to Austria before going back home to Colombia.

Of course as we finished packing up the car the sun came out and warmed up the gorgeous Soca Valley :-(

Here is a great video by Matjaz of what it could have looked like for us all week.

So tonight Kathryn and I are back in Bassano on our way to Laragne.  We're hearing reports that the weather is supposed to be great for that one....keeping our fingers crossed.  

Cancelled Task....but still in Paradise

The sky was looking quite nice when we drove up this morning, but it wasn't long before it started to overdevelop and turn pretty dark out in the valley along what would have been courseline.  Many launched  and stayed up in very light lift before the safety committee decided there was too much chance for overdevelopment and rain and cancelled the task.

But we flew anyway.  Only in Tolmin can we land after just a half an hour and still have a giant smile.  The lift was very very light and the air was perfectly smooth for checking to see that the turn I've had is finally gone (hopefully forever!).  I also had a chance to test Carl's GoPro!!

Just after takeoff....

...and coming in to land.

There are three Litesports in this comp....all Dutch (or with Dutch ancestors at least ;-)

Back in Tolmin....

...one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Again we drove into the valley yesterday afternoon on a bit of a high.  I can't seem to wipe the grin off my face here.  The scenery, the friendly, happy, active people,  the easy stress-free flying....I'm so glad to be back.

There are many more pilots than last year - we think around 70 or so and several top guys including Tom Weissenberger, Gerolf, Ilio and Primoz.  I think this place is becoming a bit of a haven for girl pilots.  We have at least ten this year.  Julia ran home to Russia to renew her visa, then flew back in to Venice yesterday.  Timothy drove down and picked her up.

Today was meant to be the first task day, but the weather isn't cooperating.  We drove up the hill for a noon briefing there, but found dark, ominous clouds overtaking the entire hill.  After thunder, lightning, rain and hail, we gave in a drove back down.

I love some of the odd things you find in other countries.  We arrived last night (Sunday) without milk for our nightly cup of tea and no supermarkets open.  Never fear!  The local dairy farmers have a vending machine that they fill with fresh milk and cheese every morning.  You buy an empty liter bottle for €.20, then pop it into the machine that fills it with very fresh, yummy full fat local milk!  What more could you ask for?!

Reconciliation

A few days ago I landed in a perfect green grassy field right in the middle of a little Italian village.  It was right next to the main roundabout in the village, so there was quite a lot of traffic coming and going.  Hundreds of people passed me looking curiously during the two or so hours that I was waiting for retrieve. Each time someone stopped to ask me what was going on (always in Italian and mostly incomprehensible to me), I thought again to myself how amazing this sport is that we do and wondered if anyone but us really appreciates it.  We drive up to the top of a hill, remove this package that looks like nothing more than a rolled up carpet on the roof of the car, set it all up, strap ourselves in and then we go fly...just like a bird...for miles and miles.  The we land...sometimes in the middle of nowhere, sometimes in the middle of a small village where the construction workers are busy repaving the road and the people are sitting on the patio of a cafe drinking tiny cups of coffee.  Perhaps none of the people that watch me derigg the glider have any idea what we do.  Probably most don't understand that I came from a village 80 km down the road that they might pass through only once in a while.

I wonder if pilots are special breed of humans and we are the only ones that are fascinated by this amazing thing we do.  But how could everyone not feel the we do about it?  How could anyone who sees us land beside the highway in the middle fo a Thursday afternoon not be completely blown away?  After nearly 20 years, I'm still amazed.  There is nothing like it.

The Dutch Nationals ended early yesterday with a bit of rain and wind that cancelled the last two tasks.  Today Maria, Kathryn and I drove toward Tolmin, Slovenia where we will do it all over again in a different place.  Damien and I are back together, happier than ever with a renewed sense of commitment ;-)

Dutch Open - Day 3

Yes, I know....I skipped day 2. It was worth a skip, I would say.


Today we have a 129 km task way down the ridge to the east. Totally unflown territory for me, so my fingers are crossed. I feel very much like a spouse who cheated and is now coming back groveling for forgiveness. I told Damien that it didn't mean anything to me and that I really love him and I hope he'll take me back ;-) We'll see how it goes.


Conditions are much like yesterday, but with less wind. So, with any luck there won't be so much turbulence. Alex Trivelato from Brasil is currently in the lead overall, but anything could happen with (hopefully) four tasks remaining. They're talking about some weather (mainly rain) coming in on Thursday and Friday, so we may not get all four tasks.

Dutch Open - Day 1

Funny how our brains work...or maybe just funny how mine works.  I had my first real flight on Carl's Litespeed RS 3.5 today, the first day of the competition.  I had a couple of very short ones on two non-flying days last week, but never had a chance to soar really.  So, I was quite nervous about today's flight.  We had a 94 km task up and down the ridge in what looked liked gorgeous conditions.  No real clouds, but a nice breeze with wind dummies climbing out easily.  

I launched relatively early and instantly was up above launch thermaling right over the top of Gerolf and feeling really important ;-)  The glider feels so incredibly light....a bit more twitchy and a bit less solid than my Litesport, but I definitely like it overall.  Either way, I need a LOT more time on it.  That was apparent after today's performance.  

Oddly enough, after bombing out just below the windmills (with about 10 others, thankfully), I'm not even unhappy about it.  I know I should be, and I am nearly even unhappy with myself for not being unhappy with myself.  Part of my brain thinks I should have more of a competitive spirit.  The other part just wants to be lazy, have fun and not care.  The fun side clearly always wins out.  I had a perfect no-step landing on a spectacularly beautiful, sunny, warm day in the middle of Italy and couldn't wipe the grin off my face.  I suspect that if I was a little harder on myself when I flew like a beginner, I might find it in myself to do a bit better.  But somehow, I just keep smiling.

Either way, my ego does feel it a little when I fly like a dork on the hottest, fastest ship on the mountain...the same one that just kicked so much butt in the Euros and the pre-worlds.  I would definitely prefer to do Carl's glider (and Carl) a bit more proud than that.  Oh well....there's always tomorrow.  

Last Task

Cloudbase has lifted, just not as much as we might like.  It was starting to look like it might over develop earlier, but it seems to be fine for now.  There might be a good chance of a stopped task though.

They've called an 81km task up and down the ridge with goal back at Sigillo.

Industrial Sabotage??

Rigging on launch Jonny discovered a broken leading edge.....hmmmm.

I'm sure the Irish bloggers will have a fantastic story that will be much more interesting than the truth (that Jonny's driver tripped while loading the glider).  Anyway, he's got a spare to borrow from the Spanish team, so he'll be up and flying in no time.