Thursday, August 16, 2007

Pictures




About time!


In goal with Ross.


173 km in 2:33 = 70 km/hr
I love fast days. As I mentioned before I am aggressive and impatient and on days like this that gets rewarded and not punished. I made a move in the start gate that could have screwed me but instead it worked just like I had hoped and made for a relaxing time. I headed quite north by myself to a cloud that was working under the high cloud that was moving in from the south. I figured that I could just hang there for the 45 minutes till the start and just turn and drift right to the course line. I got to base and stayed there with one other pilot and it worked out just as I planned. I was high, right at the edge of the start circle and right on the course line for the first start. There where now 7 of us heading out and I couldn't see any other of the 100 pilots any were in the haze. We pushed hard under working clouds and after 30 km we started to pick up more pilots. It went by so fast glide at 80 - 90 km/hr stop in strong thermals, leave when they slowed down and glide fast. Jumping from cloud to cloud. I skipped a few weak climbs and got lower than some but was usually rewarded with a strong climb down low. I love flying fast, it really felt like a race and not a game of survival. The survival game is very important and a good test of skill but for me I love racing as it rewards my style. In order to become a complete well rounded pilot I definetly need to work on making better decisions on the soft days. It is hard to want to practice that after such a fun fast day.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

I was winning until I landed short.

I love hearing stories that start like this..... lol

I got into the launch line 2 minutes after it opened and then I got to stand there for a looooong time. Everyone in front of me in the staging got in line so I didn't get to a tow until 18 minutes before the first clock. A little front was moving through with a east west line of high cloud that really softened things up. Most of the pilots headed down wind of the front towards the only cu's but when I towed up I was in no position to even try this so I headed west towards some sun and the upwind edge of the start circle. I got close but with only 2 minutes until the first start I was way too low to even think about starting and I was again completely alone so I decided to take the next 20 minutes to climb and hopefully get some friends. I got all of the altitude I needed but.... sob, sniff no friends. The cloud line was moving north and a little street right towards the first turn point was forming up in front of me. I had heard on the radio that both Mark and Berrnie had taken the first clock with most of the other pilots. I was hoping that I could hook up with some of the slower pilots at the turn point if I could get there soon enough. I crossed the start line just a few seconds after the second start and headed on a rough and bumpy glide under the street toward the first tp. Alone the whole way I stayed pretty high until 5 km out where I had to stop in some weak stuff that turned on at 1600m and got me back to 1900m and into the turn point. I looked around and didn't see a soul. I had heard that both Jon and Mark had landed already. I thought I was behind the main gaggle. I glided north, found another climb when I heard Brett say that he just got the tp. I was 15 km ahead of Brett. This is when I really screwed up. Instead of finding out their position and the position of anyone else I pressed on asuming I had to go. The problem was that I was now chasing down the front and all of the lift was shutting down under it. I could have and should have slowed right down, hung out in anything I could find and waited. Instead I glided on course and eventually landed 67 km from the 2nd tp.

Here is the bitch....
20 minuts after I landed the lead gaggle few over my head.
I had started 20 minutes behind them but had gotten 20 minutes in front of them in 65 km. They were definatly on the wrong side of the front as they had to go down wind to find lift and then cross wind under the front in really weak conditions to the first tp. As I was up wind, in the sun with lift I was able to make up all of my lost time and then some. I just read on David Glovers face book that no one had made goal. Brett, Berrnie and Ross had gotten close to the second tp. Great job guys!

The most dangerous day at a hang gliding meet.


Day 6 was a rest day....... Right!

I went shopping for a gift for my daughter with the twins.

Later that night the motel we are all staying at, the Witten Inn, bought a ton of pizza, beer and vodka and redbull for all of the pilots. This turned into a huge pool party with all of the unsuspecting being mobbed, mugged for their electronics and then thrown in the pool. It was a blast but as usual with a hang gliding day off someone had to get hurt. One of the CIVL jury members from portugal broke his heel into 4 pieces when he jumped into the pool. Jonny got tackled into the pool and hit the top of his head, HARD and has a really sore head and neck this AM. The last one was Hans who may have cracked some ribs in the pool as well. At this point I went to bed so I could be in good shape to fly. Don't get me wrong, it was a blast. Hang glider pilots are some of the best people in the world and I enjoy my time on the ground with then equally as much as my time in the air.

285 km!!! That is a long way.


Corina and I gliding up wind waiting for the start.


The goal field in new mexico.

Day five started with a rumor that we were going to have to go far. I had heard 301 so I was relieved that it was only 285. LOL. In the launch line I was joking with the pilot in front of me about the trike that he just got to tow him, just then my tug landed and it was Bill Moyes. Given what Davis has been writing on the oz report I just got more nervous than the guy in front of me with the trike. I had nothing to worry about it was by far the smoothest and best tow I had had so far. It was so mellow partly due to the fact that the airport was shaded out by a huge cloud but it dive give me the rare opportunity to reflect on what was happening. In that moment I felt very proud, humble and honored. I was at the World championships, flying a Moyes glider, towing behind a Moyes dragonfly piloted by the grandfather and developer of the sport that I am so passionate about. Thank You.

After a re-tow, ( the shade got me) Jim towed me out towards the start circle and dropped me off under some guys turning. This would be the last time I would see another pilot for over 200 km. I left 2 minutes behind the lead gaggle and way to the left of them. I tried to fly as fast as I could hopping to catch up to anyone. It never happened I would glide and climb when I needed to and mentally I broke down the flight into manageable pieces of 50 km with my only goal to be high at the end of my 50 km task so I could start the next one in good shape. It seemed to work and It helped to not think too far ahead. There were 3 blue holes I had to work around and chose to fly around them to the east staying right on the edge most of the time. The last 80 km it really started to dry out and the cu's which had been nice and fluffy with flat bottoms had stopped and there were just little wisps in front now. I topped up to 3200m under a forming wisp and headed out. I glided for a while without a beep but then I noticed a group turning to the west, too far off of my line to join them. As I passed by them I hit a really good climb, 3.7 m/s on my averager so I stayed in it and climbed back up while I watched the group to the west. The lift quite as the small gaggle of 5 pilots headed on course-so I set my course to intercept them. I was at least 500m above them and I was glad that i now had some help with the last 50 km. it seemed like we glided forever, as there had not been a bump in a while I was more than willing to turn almost 90 degrees off of my line towards a glider turning low 2 km to the west. 3 of the guys below me saw him to and we all started to turn when we got there. As I was climbing in the weak broken lift we drifted over the other 2 pilots that went on glide with us came in low and struggled for a little while till eventually they had to land. As I was high I left on what would be my second last glide towards goal with a 28/1. I knew I would need another climb but I wasn't hitting anything so I headed off of corse line to some dry fields hoping I would find the last climb I needed. I hit zero and started to turn working to find a better climb the whole time I was drifting north but goal was west but I was climbing. I promised myself that I would stay in the 1.5 up until I had an 11/1 into goal. The lift quit when I had an 18/1, Damn! I started to glide cross wind now heading just on the down wind side of Clovis hoping I would find the lift I needed but I had almost resigned myself to landing short, again. Just then on the edge of town I hit 2 up and I stayed in it till I had a 9/1 and raced in through some really buoyant lifty air and arrived at goal with 400 ft to spare. It was so cool to fly so far mostly alone but arrive in a specific place so far away from where I started and see a bunch of my friends there. It was cool to high five my big brother Joerge after he came in 30 minutes after me. I love hang gliding!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Day 4 We all made it!

I hope.


Bruce Kavanagh shortly before he climbed right through me.

On course over Texas.



The reason I say this is from the ground I am not sure that Jon crossed the offset goal line and Bernie was a little unsure that he had crossed over it as well. I'm sure I am just being paranoid.

For the first part of the day I was very happy with how I was flying. I was mid gaggle for the first start and got it just seconds after, this was good. Then Bernie and I were chasing them down, hitting the cores and leaving when they left. This is the kind of racing I love, fast, intense with no screwing around. Too bad it only lasted for 50 km. Bernie and I dove in under the lead gaggle at well over 100 km/hr and I missed the core on the first pass. He hit it and started to core it out. By the time I made my way back they were already 500' above me and that was it, they pulled up and a way as I struggled by myself until I found it. Then I tried to chase them down again but they were too fast. The last 100 km was slow, lonely and a little frustrating but unlike yesterday I was able to gear down as I really needed to. I had to cross a large blue hole and ended up low turning in very weak broken lift just trying to survive. It felt like I was there forever (25 minutes) but eventually I worked my way across, found some good climbs and then topped out my last climb 20 km out until I had an 11 to 1 and stated to glide in. It felt great to make goal for the first time this week. I did a quick count of parked gliders and there were already 60 there but I was still stoked. The most difficult and stressful part of the flight was yet to come. The airport that was goal for the day had to be the last place I would ever pick to land a hang glider. It was surrounded by oil pump jacks, each one had a power line running to it. some of these were less than 100' from the runways. If you got past the spiderweb of power lines there were mesquite trees, cactus and tall grass hiding all of the barbed wire fences. There was very little grass but tons of pavement. The largest piece of grass right next to the runway looked the most inviting as everywhere I looked gliders were whacking on the pavement or landing in the bush around the runways. I hung on in some weak lift until a Japanese pilot had moved to the edge of the grass and I dove in right over the power lines, pushed out over a mesquite tree, back down, up over the barbed wire . The whole time I was upright with my legs spread trying to shorten my glide. I came in across the runway and hoped I would slow down before I ran into the Japanese pilot to my left and the well head to my right. I flared 25' short of both of them ( eat your heart out Rob). It was by far the most technical landing I have ever had to do. I only wish that they had some money on the spot. It was great to have all of the Canadians in goal. I am looking forward to seeing all of my team mates in goal again.

Fly like a Brazillian, what that means to me.

This morning I had a chat with Andre Wolf and it was then that I discovered that my post yesterday had been misunderstood. I was very proud of how I flew yesterday. I was aggressive, I didn't waste any time in weak lift I pushed hard to catch up to the lead gaggle. After 70 km I had caught them. I was very proud of myself. I then continued to push hard and fly aggressively. When the lift would die I would leave and very few pilots would come with me. This worked for the first few times but after a long glide I was very low and tried to find the core from less than 200 ft. I fell out the side and only had enough time to turn back into the wind and land.

Those that know me know that I am an aggressive pilot, I still have a great deal to learn and that is why I come to the largest comps and fly against the best. I have a great deal of respect for all of the Brazilian pilots I have had the pleasure of flying with and I have chosen to model my style of flying after many of them. When I asked my good friend what had happened to the Brazilian team on day one he summed it up by saying that Brazilian pilots fly like men, race like men, win like men or land short like men. This style is something I look up to. With the weather conditions being as soft as they are here this year so far it has favored the cautious pilot. And if you look at the results so far many great pilots have had some very bad luck. I hope this helps you to understand what I feel and what I meant when I said that I flew like a Brazilian, I was proud.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Day 3 I flew like a Brazillian

I had a shit start today. Low alone and out of position. I have learned that how you start can make or break your day. It just makes sense that if you fly with the best in the world you will: pick the best lines, leave lift when you should, glide at the right speeds for the day, stop only for the best lift and find the core the fastest. All of these things are what makes the miles whip by. But low and alone you are going to be that way for most of your flight. With Marks help we pressed on chasing down the lead gaggle that was at first out of sight but when we finnaly saw them I thought we had a chance to real them in. The guys they had dropped were reachable in front so we would go to where they just had been and found lift. As soon as it started to die we didn't waste any time and would leave together to race to the next climb. We would have to search a bit but we new it was there and would usually find it. After doing this 5 or 6 times I found the a core as mark searched around to only find zero. I directed him in right under me to no avail, I had cought the tail end of it and he had missed the train. I was high enough to reach the lead group who seemed to be turning in zero ahead and low. I glided toward them but I wasn't in a big hurry as they seemed to be suffering. I found a weak climb before them and hung out trying to to it right up just shy of Lamessa. When they looked like their climb had turned on I went to join them. I was feeling really good about myself to see Scott Barret and Dustin and a number of the French and Germans. After racing hard to catch up and actually do it I was WAS to cocky. As soon as the lift went to shit at 1800m as it had for the whole flight I wanted to go, so I did. I wasn't alone, Scott Barrett came with me all 3 times that I lead out. The first 2 worked really good. The 3rd one I struggled to find any lift, Scott found it way of to my right as I worked my way over there I was so low that I tried to turn in every little beep which hurt way ore than it helped so by the time I got under them I had just enough altitude to turn 1 360 and land. 86 km short again. This is not the Texas I flew in last year. Tomorrow I will be as patient as Bernard on Valium.

Day 2....Soft in the middle.

Yesterdays task was a long one, down wind to Lamessa and then 1/4 tail to Crosby. I got up and into the death gaggle in the start circle. Just like the day before the lift was week and we weren't getting very high. I wasn't in great position for the 2:50 start so I went back up wind and climbed up with most of the rest of the field for the 3:10 gate. I was in the middle of the pack and we worked together very well to the first TP. I felt in the zone and time flew by, next thing I knew I was at Lamessa. After that it all went to shit. It was green and the lift was soft and it went from effortless flying to frustrated struggling. We would find only weak lift, drift off of course line turning and then punch back towards the line only to be a few km ahead. I was working hard with Primoz, Phil Bloom, Jon Orders, Kevin Carter and others. Eventually the ground cought up to me after way to many low saves and had to land. 35 pilots made goal, most flying well south of the course line. All of the Canadians landed short with Bernnie getting the closest then Mark, Jon, Me, Brett and Ross. Attilla won the day again but said that he thought that the task committee had made a mistake with the task. Given all of the big name pilots that didn't survive the first section after the TP I would have to agree with him.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Way to familiar.

Today was the first task of my first worlds and I was very happy with how I flew. I was the second pilot to launch from the south line. My world ranking puts me in 48th place in the launch out of 110 pilots. This meant that in our line ( the even pilots) I was 24 back from the front of the line. The last couple of days have been very soft until later on i the day so no one was in a big hurry to get going. I loaded up at 1:45, launch opened at 1:30 and stood in the staging line by myself for 20 minutes until I saw most of the guys in front of me ( the top pilots) getting suited up and then I launched. There were 3 start gates today, 2:15, 2:45 and 3:15. It became very obvious to me that no one wanted to take the 2:15 time as we were only half way to the 16 km start circle and punching back up wind. The gaggles were pretty intense for the next 30 minutes but I made sure that I stayed with a large group as I have a history of finding myself alone at the start. It worked out well as I was fairly high and with a good gaggle. I'm not sure who was flying my glider today as I usually charge ahead and screw myself but today I hung with the gaggle and was pleasantly surprised many times as I thermalled up with Brett, Jonny, Attila, Lucas and many others. I spent most of the task within a couple of hundred feet of Brett, that was cool. But as usual I got impatient right at the end. at 22 km from goal I was climbing in a weak broken climb as the guys above me went on final. My numbers had just gone positive so rather than stick with the climb I decided to best glide towards goal and "see what happens". I flew through 2 thermals in the first few km so I thought it might work out. I couldn't of been more wrong. I glided for 15 km and didn't get a freakin beep. My numbers had gone to crap and I was low and desperate, but I wasn't alone. Scott Barrett and another pilot were needing a top up as well, when I hooked up with them I was 200 ft off of the ground and 100 ft below them. I couldn't pull it off but they did after 10 minutes they were up and away and I was pulling battens next to the cotton field that I landed in.

Brett made goal and Ross was one of the last guys into goal as well. Way to go guys.
I was 5 km short and Berrnie was 20 km short.
Mark and Jon got flushed early with many others.
There were a lot of big names missing from goal with 40 pilots to make it.


The pilts from the "even" line hanging out prior to launch.


Coming off of the cart.


Moore was at goal when the lead gaggle came in.


I hate packing up alone. I am way to extraverted for this.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007



Today was another practice day as well as the opening ceremony.

The ceremony was held at an out door amphitheater which was very roman feeling. We were paraded in and across the stage. We were greeted by the mayor, the FAI CIVL president, the airport manager and others. The pomp and circumstance was a little weird but cool non the less. After the ceremony the town of Big Spring hosted us for a BBQ and we had a chance to visit and talk. David Glover is at the pool right now with most of the comp pilots taking bets on who will be in the top 5. The favorites are Attilla, Robert, Jonny, Primoz and Robin. I put my money on my good friend Brett, I think he will win.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Everything is bigger in Texas.




Even the wind mills. These blades were freakin huge! and to top it of thy are made out of fiber glass. at over 100 ft long it was quite the trip to see them.

VG



I got these2 pics that may look the same but they demonstrate the difference pulling your rope makes to a hang glider. Not only can you see more billow in the sail but the camera angle also rotates as the leading edge twists. Cool! (to me at least)

In the air over a green Texas.

Today was the first practice day for the world championships. There was a practice task planned, a 70 km 1/4 tail wind dash to Lamessa. As I was hot, bored and really eager to find out if a 3 degree tip in my left wing would finally tame the right turn in my glider I towed up first, right at 1:00. The tow went well and I was towed to 2500 ft, 1000 ft above the inversion which worked great as I got to fly my glider in some smooth air. The turn was gone (thanx Brett) but the lift was light, broken and only going to 1200 ft off of the ground. So rather than drift away low by myself I landed and took another tow right away to get up wind and try again. There was more of the same and no one else seemed to be in a big hurry. I flew around for a bit trying o get a good feel for my glider( I like it). After I landed this time I went back to the hanger and had some water and a sandwich. After a hour guys started to stick so I hooked up with Ross, Brett and Bernie and we towed up right after each other and I had a great time up there with my friends. I flew for an hour, climbing out over the prisons and then punching back into the 20- 25 km head wind. I got a chance to glide head to head with a all carbon RS 4 and I am happy to say that thanx to my fat ass I glide just as well. Tomorrow we have another practice day and then the gloves come off.

Bernies and my glider with the team logo.


The staging "cluster f**k" on the first day of flying.


The launch Line, it was short as not many tried the task today so no one was in a big hurry but this will all change on thursday. I am getting mentally ready to sweat my bag off.



It is my turn now. Just starting to roll out on the dolly.


I love when I break free of the earth and start to fly. This is just a second after I left the dolly.


The airport and he town of Big Spring from a couple thousand feet.


A few friends. I did climb up to them after a little while.


The hanger is on the right and the terminal building to the left is the meet headquarters. 1/2 of the tugs we have here are tied down between the 2 buildings the other half were towing us up.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Things are starting to change.


The hanger at the airport was pretty empty this morning when we got ther. Just the twins , Brett and Berrnie had set up last night when they got here.


By noon it was getting busy with pilots from all over the world assembling there wings. I am sure by tonight the hanger will be completely full.


Gilders are being delivered from all over the world.


The town of Big Spring is really behind the event. The local paper published a 12 page supplement all about the event and I was proud to see my good friend Jeff on the cover. (wish you were here dude)


There are signs all over town advertising the comp and the locals are very excited to meet us.


A local fire marshal had caught a bull snake to show us and ask us not to kill them as the aren't poisonous and are quite beneficial.


He pointed out to us how to tell the difference between a Bull snake and a rattle snake but also said to stay away from them as they can be aggressive and will bite you. I love Texas even more now!!!!


Prisons in Texas are big buisness, they are run by public corperations and are one of the main employers in Big Spring. There a couple of prisons at the airport and this one is a roadside motel that they wrapped barbed wire around and made it into a prison. Weird!


Lucas, Jorge and Adam.

Jammie Sheldon the naughty lawyer.

The twins, Brett and Berrnie in their pimpin wheels.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Biscuits and gravy.


Moore and I got here early sat morning. After a good nights sleep it was time to get my gear set up on the front lawn of the motel.


My glider survived my trip in gret shape (thanx AA).


I felt very proud to put the tem logo on my wing.


And On Moores van that he bought just so we could all be retrieved in comfort.


On Moores trp down here he took slight detour and flew at Kitty Hawk.


mmm mmm good! When in Rome.


Home sweet home for the next 2 1/2 weeks.


Everyone is starting to arrive today. I had breakfast with the Italians this morning and yesterday I helped Adam Parer from Austrailia put his glider together. I am so excited to see so many friends from so many remote places all come together to celebrate what we love.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

OK, OK...... I know it's been a while.


This is how my last day at the santa cruze flats race ended up. My glider is pointing to a tower at the airport that was goal, 2 km away. Ahhhhh. I hate landing short!










The next stop was the Canadian nats in Lumby. This is a picture of coopers launch at one of the only times it wasn't raining. We only had 2 valid tasks, I finished second.









I did get to hang with a great group of friends for the week, made hanging out in the rain worth it.








I did get to do a few tandems though.










Good thing Chris had a full face helmet. ( sorry dude)

Jon Orders had his car decorated, the poem on the winsheild made it all worth it.


I spent a ton of time with my little girl. Emma you ROCK!
I flew in Glden almost every weekend. The picture is of Lake Windemeere, 120 km down the range from Golden. I have also been working on a little tattoo.