Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge

I had the chance to fly the Team Challenge up at Henson's Gap earlier this month.  This is a competition that I've been trying to make for years.  Finally, the planets aligned and I got to spend a week hanging out with the coolest southern hang glider pilots on the planet.  The Tennessee Tree Toppers has been organizing this competition for many years.  The sweetest man on the planet, Ollie Gregory is the boss man and he does a stellar job!

What's most impressive to me is that there so much chatter here in the US about supporting our competitions program and encouraging more pilots to enter.  But no one really steps up to the plate the way the TTT's do.  I knew before coming to this event that it was a "training" event.  But, I really had no idea how much they did apart from just teaming up newer pilots with experienced comp pilots.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the weather wasn't exactly cooperative.  What this meant was no hands-on cross country training of any consequence, but plenty of launch and landing clinics - every launch and most every landing the entire week was video'd.  We spent days that we couldn't fly getting top notch instruction and tips from current and former world team pilots.  I was really overwhelmed by all that they do here.  I'm not talking about half hour talks in the evening, I mean full on 2+ hour sessions on cross country flying, how to use your 6030, reviewing and critiquing launches and landings, etc. etc. all afternoon and into the evening.  It made me feel like crap for what pilots get for their money at my comps ;-).  When we can't fly at the Rally or Santa Cruz, my first thought is how soon can I run off and do something without a bunch of nutty pilots.  Here was exactly the opposite - they made incredibly good use of every minute.  I hate to say it, but for the money, the Team Challenge is a way better deal, by far!!

Another really cool thing about this event is the club in general - the Tennessee Tree Toppers.  I couldn't say for sure, but I would have to guess that this is the only club in the country that owns, outright, their own launch AND landing field.  I know the club is most famous for their beautiful radial ramp, but I was thoroughly impressed with how well organized and established they are.  How nice to never have to worry about loosing a launch or landing field to a fickle landowner!! And, they have a beautiful campground and clubhouse on launch.  It's really a pretty amazing place and I can't wait for next year!  I hear they're planning on going a bit earlier next year with better chances at good soarable weather.  

Team Challenge - Task 1

At last we get a day without rain.  Unfortunately, the rain of the last few days has made things pretty soggy and, despite the beautiful sunshine, there wasn't a great deal of hope for a decent task.  We woke up to a lovely blanket of clouds in the valley below.  By mid-morning it burned off, but a bit of high stuff moved in preventing as much heating as we probably needed.  Anyway, a good time was had by all with lots of launch (downwind and 90 degree crosswind :-/ ) and landing practice.  

Here's my awesome team - Kip, Stumpy and Michelle.  I'm quite certain Stumpy is the sweetest man on the planet - and certainly the best rigid wing lander I've ever seen.

Night here is so peaceful....and cold!

Flytec School

These guys really know how to make the best use of non-flying time.  Unfortunately, it dumped a load of rain all through the night and that rain is supposed to continue through the day today. So, we're all sitting in the clubhouse getting some very detailed flight instrument training from Mitch Shipley.  Mitch is the resident 6030 expert and he's teaching us everything from the most basic functions of the instrument, to the best set up of fields for each page, to how to use all the various information we can get from a 6030.  It's great!

Tennessee Tree Toppers - Team Challenge

Day one of the Team Challenge and I'm loving the relaxed attitude/learning environment the club has created here.  What's really nice for me is that I'm totally off the hook for doing anything and I get to be 100% tourist - it's really heaven.  The Tennessee Tree Toppers (hang gliding club) own the land where the launch and landing fields are situated.  There's a huge campground on launch with a clubhouse and anything and everything a pilot could need - including nice fast wifi for me ;-).  There are nearly 50 in the competition here, plus heaps more free fliers - most are camping at launch.

Today wasn't taskable.  Rain was forecast to come in around 3pm.  So far that hasn't happened, but the sky has been completely overcast all day, so there's been nothing in the way of lift.  But I love the attitude here.  The purpose of this competition is to raise up new competition pilots, so even if it isn't taskable, there is still so much that can be done.  Many pilots (me included) opted to have a sled ride to the bottom landing field - good launch and landing practice.  Mitch had ET set up in the landing field doing a bit of electra-towing.  Tonight as I type, Mike Barber and Dennis Pagen are giving a talk on cross country flying.  What a great way to get more guys (and gals) into our competition scene!

Sweetest meet director on the planet - Ollie Gregory.

What makes me happy

A Bit of Begging

The 2013 worlds are being held in Forbes, Australia this coming January.  I have a rare opportunity, along with my teammate Linda Salamone, to participate in this competition along side the men (woo hoo!! ;-).  Because there is no separate women's world championship this year, the organizers of the Forbes worlds are allowing teams of five men, plus two women.  So, Linda and I are going to Forbes along with the US men's team!!

As you can imagine, the expense of traveling to Australia with all of our hang gliding equipment is huge.  Linda and I are working on several fund raisers for the team, the first of which is the sale of these cool commemorative t-shirts.  We've had great support from Flytec USA (as always!) and expect some help from the Freeflight Foundation as well.  But we're hoping to offset some of the expense by selling these great shirts designed by Rick Brown (thanks Rick!!).  They're high quality shirts in two colors and styles (men's and women's) and they make the perfect gift for pilots, soon-to-be pilots, drivers, wives, girlfriends, mistresses, etc.  

So, please support your US girls team and click on the link below to order a shirt or two (or three).  Order early and often because when they run out....well....when they run out, I guess will just print up more ;-)  In exchange for your order, I promise to continue blogging and tweeting and Facebooking all the juicy gossip and details about the hang gliding world and specifically the world championships in Forbes.  

Thanks in advance for your support!  Click HERE to order.  

Peaceful Easy Feeling

I love waking up in a place where I'm a bit of an outsider.  I've always loved it and I can't really explain why.  Maybe it's because I feel like it's something of an adventure...I don't know.

For the first time in nearly ten years, it's summer in the northern hemisphere and I'm not in Europe.  It feels kind of odd sometimes when I hear about all the flying my friends are doing in the heart of the summer.  But, I'm not at home, I'm waking up each morning to winter in Australia, spending the short days riding the cool new bike Glen bought me, watching him catch lobsters then cooking them up for dinner, doing a bit of winter flying in the Hunter Valley, a lot of running along the hilly paths and just having a generally quiet and cozy time.

The last few days have particularly warm, so Glen had a little surf the other afternoon.  The waves are only slight bigger here than at home ;-)

Exeter

Yesterday I drove to the little central San Joaquin Valley town of Exeter for my niece's baptism.  The central valley of California reminds me so much of the landscape around Forbes, Australia.  It's primarily agricultural and pretty darn open and flat.  I've just always thought the Australian version was cooler though because the small towns tend to have some character.  By and large so many American small towns have lost their centers and consist of a spread of one strip mall after the next and of course, a giant Walmart.

Exeter was a brilliant throwback to the time when towns had a square in the enter - usually the town hall - with shops and restaurants on the surrounding streets....think Hill Vally in Back to the Future.  Exeter was Hill Valley, with a twist. Nearly every broadside (and some narrow sides) of a building had an agricultural or historical mural painted on it.  Matt and I cruised the streets in amazement.  Matt (being the amazing artist that he is) complained that some were slightly off perspective, but I generally just loved the color of everything and the fact that there wasn't a Walmart to be seen anywhere.  

Wondering how there came to be so many murals, I read up online a little about the town.  I didn't find the answer to the "why" question, but I did read that many of the murals have hidden objects in them - like the bear's face in the Gateway mural.  I also learned that there are many, many more paintings that we missed.  I think this might call for a trip back to Exeter next time I'm in California.  

Matt and I loved the sunglasses on this modern day cowboy. And NO, it's not a cougar!! ;-) It's a mountain lion!

I read that the little face peeking out of the orange tree is actually the artist's daughter.

Mucho Gusto

Spending a bit of time with my west coast family on a little stopover on my way to Oz.  It's been so cool to finally meeting the newest addition, my little niece Allison.  She and her big brother Mathias are gorgeous little angels that nearly (not quite, but almost) make me want to have another one.

Santa Cruz Flats Race 2012

Registration is officially open as of about 20 minutes ago.  This year's event will be the US Hang Gliding Nationals and we have a limit of 70 pilots, so hurry up and register - we expect to fill up fairly quickly.

Registration is at www.santacruzflatsrace.blogspot.com

Don't forget to book yourself a room at the Francisco Grande.  They have a block of tower rooms for us and a special rate.  To get the rate, just call and mention that you're coming for the competition.  The reservations number is 520.836.6444.  There are a limited number of courtyard rooms as well, but as of last year, we have moved most of the operations, glider setup and daily pilot briefings to the area just outside the main lobby facing the golf course, so you'll probably want to be in the tower (it's nicer anyway).

 

Feeling so at home