Doyouwanna ? Of course you do, it doesn't get much better !
saturday 30th of sept.
Today there were 4 locals and about 30 foreign pilots. Our group of Belgians, german and british pilots. And last day for my french friends form el Gourdon. Also some Hungarians who show up every year. As well Swedish pilots, together with Nicolas.
All up in lovely conditions at Palomaret. Some of us found it smooth, some of us found it rough. Could have something to do with the rough night we had last night.
Again at first the more experienced pilots, then later on everyone in the air.
I think all had at least over an hour of thermalling practice. Need it, because tomorrow we are off to Carche maybe. Looking for high cloudbases.
friday 29th sept
El Cid with its fantastic views. We took off at first at western take off, later at southern take off.
Nick managed a 45 min flight with nice thermals in the valley of Montforte del Cid.
Finished the day with the best paella in the region, therefore you have to go to Valverde restaurant La Molina. Amongst the palmtrees, enjoyable after a long day.
thursday 28th sept
We were flying at Peña Rubia today. Wind was west-northwest. But the sun was mostly curtained by cirrusses. By 2 pm, lower cumulus clouds were forming, and rapidly. Beautiful white cumulus congestus in the near distance offered us a flight-free late afternoon. No complaints, all were in the air earlier today.
Take off is one of the most important parts of flying. When your take off is ok, you have a confident flight. When your take off is bad, you are shaken up, don't feel good, are embarassed, resulting in bad flying.
Good groundhandling before coming to Alicante please, come down with a decent and controlled reverse launch, higher up your fitness level, it'll boost your confidence.
Some personal tips from uncle Nick to make your flying trip in Alicante, better, safer, so much more worthwhile.
Wednesday 27th sept
What a day.
Sorry if I sound so enthusiastic sometimes. But first, this is typically me, secondly it is the most honest reflexion of how we spend our day flying our paragliders.
We left after picking up Nick from Geneve at Alicant airport. By the way, Alicante airport is only 10 minutes away from where the accomodation is where you will be housed.
Pepe and me flying early in the strong conditions, rock' n roll. Soon Achim in the air with his brandnew Mistral Swing as well.
It was great, but tiring, having to keep the glider open at all times. Punchy they were, as if it was april/may.
Winds came rolling in at cloudbase (1250 asl), from over El Cid. After fifteen minutes though, clouds were coming in from northeast, this meant almost from over the back. But the breeze came in and withheld further backwind. This was like flying out of the textbook, be aware flying with windsheer.
Thermals got you up + 4m/s, but at cloudbase, it was rocking. Constantly damping the pitch, looking for smoother air in the valley.
At 3 pm, most pilots showed up, as well as local pilots like Dudo, Rafa, even Suby, who has been gone for months. By then, El Cid was more or less in a thick haze. Seabreeze got to us. The air was lots colder at take off, and not so gusty any more. More laminar conditions.
Still thermals were there, less punchy ok, cloudbase lower.
All in the air, rusty pilots who hadn't been flying thermals for months, one by one airborne.
We flew till 7, got a beer, got home. What a day.
tuesday 26th sept
Started at Peña rubia. Interesting. Not a lot of wind at take off, but take off is pretty technical, so not all of us flew. Once in the air, or you either bummed out, or you had the good cycle. We had better days at Peña Rubia. Jose Luis got to 1200 m, ASL, which is ok on a blue thermalling day, with smooth thermals. But my favourite site in Alicante dissapointed, but hey we flew it.
Second half of the day we left for Palomaret. And there the fan was on. Nice laminar breeze a take off, taking us all up way above the crest. To be honest, there was lift everywhere. We could have held a race. The first one down, gets the beer !
It was a fantastic ending after a hot, long day. Down below testimonials by foto's. Speak louder than words no ? All happy.
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Rudy, Guy, Alex, Joachim, Carmen, Ian and Andy |
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monday 25th sept
Just when I was calling it a day to our pilots, to have a beer, chill and go do something else, I got a phonecall from my buddy Pani in Murcia, that winds were dying off at Carrascoy.
In Alicante, palmtrees were still moving about, papers, plastic bags floating around.
Left at 1.30 pm, with Jose Luis and Rafa. German pilots Rudy and Joachim following behind. When we arrived gliders were already sky high, and again strangely enough, so much less wind than in Alicante.
At take off Rafa, who had to wait for some wind to take off, hopefully this was not the last gust, because many times the winds veer and comes from behind (seabreeze).
Luckily it wasn't. I was the last one to take off, and this time I had to wait till the wind died off. All of a sudden it had picked up, just the contrary of what we feared was gonna happen. During a lull I left the hill and was rocketed in the air.
Thermals +3 +4 were going up vertically, not drifting with the wind at all. When thermal died off, or went you lost it, the headwind was strong. So strong, my GPS showed me only 4 or 5 km per hour groundspeed.
Each time you played around with a thermal (which were lovely !), getting higher, you got more and more pinned.
I tried out the valley, still the same, huh.
Way above me was Andy (Niviuk Hook) and Rudy (U Turn infinity), no more trace of Jose Luis and Rafa.
Played around a bit more, until I got a message from Rafa that he bummed out near Murcia.
I worked, yes worked, my way down and go fetch him. Later Jose Luis was found, behind the mountain. Still two of my pilots missing. No radio .......
An hour later Rudy called he was allright and had landed at official landing field. Full speedbar and still going backwards at times.
Another hour later Andy, he was blown back over the hill and landed way behind in the valley, were we just came from picking up Jose Luis. Luckily Andy lives here and could call his dad to do the retrieval.
Well an interesting day. Bearing in mind that Pani always warns when the winds are north and not norhtwest. Then it can pick up fast and be tricky. Well experienced this again. It was exciting.
sunday 24th sept
Carrascoy. A site near Murcia with lots lots of problems. Restrictions on the hill, max 10 pilots, don't fly over certain areas etc... etc... . So that's why we always call the local club, to see if we are 'welcome'. Just common sense I thought.
Well, we were very welcome and were invited to the club competition. Sky-high, up to more than 1200 m above take off. And not just one glider, but many many many.
Later in the afternoon the wind veered to the south, so no more take offs. We left to Alhama de Murcia were we have a flight with view.
Once there, only the better take-offers could go fly.
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Some pilots definitely need some more groundhandling to cope with this take off, with its strong winds.
Anyway another hour for Dave, who flew his Alfa2, and made his first spiral dive.
Driving down picking figs, and pommy-granates.
A very paragliding this was. Up to tomorrow.
saturday 23rd of sept
Angry looking sky,but some pilots managed to get some flying in at Cabo. Scratchy conditions, only better gliders like Gin Boomerang3 (baby-boomerang) got top-landings in.
friday 22nd sept
Weather forecast, a passed cold front worried us, to have too many clouds at the coast. So better go inland, as prevision was more sunny inland. And no wind, so hoping for the early smooth west-wind and later on the breeze.
Peña Rubia, early start. Not very epic though. Only Ismael could get some height, got towards Biar, but bummed out.
Later La solana, same valley, opposite side. A parawait, boring, nose-picking, siesta. But as usual wind picked up. And how ! In five minutes it picked up from nothing to 30 km per hour winds. No worries, we know this site. If it doesn't get any stronger in first half hour, we are safe to fly.
Jose Luis (Airwave Mustang) in the air first. All the others followed.
Lousy day ? I don't think so. We go in the air, as roasted chickens in Peña rubia, but later on in La Solana, as soaring seagulls above the village and valley of Villena.
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| Clara, Carlos' daughter. What a princess. |
thursday 21st sept
Spain under alert, especially up north where it was raining. Of course again, we didn't get any rain. But that didn't mean it was flyable. Eastern winds very strong all day.
Up in northern Spain rain and winds were gusting to 110 km/h, effects of hurricane Gordon.
wednesday 20th sept
East wind. Rafa, Dudo, Jose Luis inland, bit bumpy, turbulent, but all flew to El Cid and back.
We stayed local at the coast and did some soaring. Cabo de Santa Pola. Tandem for a local magazine, enthusiastic passengers who won the flight through a contest. Something else than a 75 year old grandma who was given a voucher to fly tandem with me for her birthday ... .
Anyway we had a good time, climb was nice due to some instability, and not too many pilots in the air. So enough space to do silly stuff, like wingovers and spirals etc... .
Unfortunately Erich, German pilot came in to topland, downwind landing on his but on a stone. I think he'll be sore for some days.
Just got back from a course our local club organises. All about meteo you need to know. We arrived at the section of adiabatic lapse rates, saturated adiabatic lapse rates, etc... . I don't know if it was the hour, or me being tired, but it all sounded too academic after a good day of flying.
The more you think you know about meteo, the more you doubt you know about meteo.
Hey, northwest Spain is having huge winds due to the after effects of hurricane Gordon. Will be interesting to see, how big it was. Tomorrow we'll have eastern winds, but probably only later in the day flyable. All other regions in Spain are under alert for the strong winds and rain. Only our coastline is not under alert,
tuesday 19th of sept
Reconco, southeast. Not very promising when we arrived. Already pretty gusty at take off, and looked foggy in the valley.
Still we got 500 m above take off and smooth thermals.
A break for cafe con leche.
Up again a take off, Dudo arrived, Jose, Toni, Carlos and some more local pilots.
Unbelievable, most of them climbed out sky high. Meaning 2100 ASL for Toni for instance. Jose, new pilot, full of passion, flying his Niviuk Hook (YES !) got 1950 ASL, meaning a climb of 1000 meters and this at 5 pm, when everything usually smooths down.
Incredible height with this conditions today, meteo wise not explainable.
Was great !
monday 18th of sept
Today felt strange. First flight at 1 pm, enough thermals to keep you awake. All of a sudden it got more rock'n roll than needed. Above the crest of Palomaret it started to get pretty nasty. Like coming in to topland and losing half the wing (today flying a mellow dhv 1/2 luckily).
All landed down in the valley. Called Onil, two valleys behind us, and got the message that western winds were howling out there. That means we were flying in the lee.
Parawaiting, untill it go less rock'n roll, wait till it got more tango.
And it did. All in the air again, enjoying the happier thermals +3 m/s.
Later, last flight, were more like ballroom-dancing, all under control.
Good day, knackered by the sun, burned noses and a couple of beers after being hydrated.
International company flying, Australian, German, Swedish,Spanish (yes two !), and of course Belgians.
sunday 17th of sept
Norhtwestern winds, too strong again for taking off. When we arrived three paragliders in the air. They flew for half hour and then had to come down, winds were picking up too strong. Risk of being blown backwards.
Later in the day, went for Orito, where remote control aeroplanes had the most fun. For us, at this low site, again too strong to take off.
saturday 16th of sept
Beautiful weather but too strong westwind. At the coast Eggi just had a little flight at Cabo, but then soon it turned very south so off inland. We were hoping that the strong southern breeze was gonna get to our inland sites,but it didn't.
Although the charts showed us less wind in the afternoon, resulting in or Peña Rubia, or with breeze Carasqueta for instance. That was my plan anyway.
But the cooking valley of Peña Rubia was triggering off its thermals and so generating the western prevailing winds.
Breeze was just clear at the coastline, so nobody could profit from this neither.
Watch next video, funny :
http://www.papaventos.org/galeria/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=3
friday 15th of sept
Second day of not flying. Lots of northwestern winds, way too strong to take off at Carascoy. In Alicante itself, even stronger. Clouds looked great, and high, but no window.
Weather is getting better as we can see on the charts, but slowly slowly slowly.
thursday 14th sept
Stormy weather and rain in Spain. Maybe you saw it on the news, all over Spain it is very unstable. Huge towering cumulus clouds, heavy rain, our drainage systems cannot swallow the amount of water we are getting. In between sunny spells, very warm, and then cooling down with the rain again. Winds from northwest, nothing we really want.
wednesday 13th of sept
 | Flying over Hondon, a km's ridge run possibility in always smooth conditions late in the afternoon.The only problem is the walk up .. Always flyable till the sun sets. |
Amai, they say in dutch.
Today early on the road to el cid, where some pilots flew 1500 ASL between Novelda and Agost. Whilst clouds were building up over Palomaret.
We took off from the western take off, and landed near the water reservoirs between Novelda and Agost.
After a spanish daily menu of four courses including drinks for only 10 euros, we headed for Hondon. Out there bits south, the clouds didn't look that mean.
A pathless walk up to take off, good for the head. Winds up to 30 km per hour, so a little sit in untill it dropped.
Hi-de-ho, up in the air for over an hour, overlooking the sierra's of Hondon, together lots of 'guiris'. If you didn't lovethis, then something is wrong with you. The smoothest conditions, sun setting, flying together 8 of us.
tuesday 12th of september
No flying today. Rain all over Spain, and big fat thunderstorms down south in Andalucia and up north in Cataluña. Floodings, mudslides etc... .
A day to relax. Hopefully tomorrow we can fly, it looks like we're gonna have a nice window in the morning.
Temperatures are still in their twenties, and is is very humid.
monday 11th of september
Johan flew for over two hours in scratchy conditions. Winds were cross and it was hard to maintain the height needed to topland. But he managed, skill, endurance and the will to get better at flying maybe. That's the attitude I like. I hope it'll result in some good XC flying later in his flying carreer. Eggi from Norway toplanded several times, and at the look of his face, I got the impression he loved the day as well.
Some didn't bother, didn't fly, conditions weren't good enough. Ok, everyone chooses.
Good day or bad day ? For me a good day. I think you can learn so much more pushing yourself, trying to stay up in marginal conditions, than having hours of easy flying on a soaring site for instance. But that's personal. You cannot expect from everyone to have such a drive like some of us have, and it certainly doesn't mean they love flying less, not at all.
Some news for Belgian pilots, there is a cheap ticket available to get to us :
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Let me know if interested.
Overall results of the comp we had this weekend.
1st, Jose Luis argentinian pilot with Nova Tycoon,
2nd Bombero David with Gradient AVAX,
3rd Bartual flying a Gin Boomerang4.
the distance cup 2006 was won by :
1 Rafa, Wings of Change, 89 km
2 Juanen Niviuk Artik
3 Toni, Gin Bonanza, president of the local club mas7
sunday 10th of sept
Cloudbase for the competicion today at 1800 meter ASL. Task was 32 km.
The usual champs won it.
In the middle of the race, clouds were forming rapidly and cloudbase was lowering. At 3 pm, clouds at height of Maigmo, so time to go and enjoy the end of the day at the coast. Couple of hours for all of us. Bits more for those who flew inland, where conditions were a bit more advanced.
saturday 9th of sept
Today was competition day at Palomaret.
Cirrus clouds curtaining the sun. Instability forming early in the morning in the back, more inland. Nasty weather forecast predicted. Bit of sad faces at the start, pilots from Albacete, Valencia etc... coming all the way down and then this. But that's life, that's paragliding.
Hey, wait. Keep on reading ok.
At 1 pm, the window was open. The task was pretty opportunistic. First Maigmo, then El Cid, then back to Palomaret and landing in the village Agost in the valley.
But no thermals, no sun, no wind at take off, how are we gonna ....
First pilots took off, and with the very little wind there was climbed out above the crest. Soon wind was picking up but no sun, still. I took off, not competing, having to guide a large group of Belgians and in between do some tandems.
Hey hey hey, 25 km gusts at take off. Looking back to normal this is. Took off and soon was thermalling 4 to 5 m/s (meters no little feet), up to cloudbase.
Meanwhile first pilots who competed were already turning back from Maigmo. It was great.
I toplanded to tell the visitors to get rigged and go for it. Bit of hesitation amongst the Belgians. Windy take off, they are not used to it. Wait till the end of the week, they'll talk different. This is Alicante ... and we love it.
God's gift, thermals all afternoon, and this on such a (predicted) crap day.
All pilots, belgians, swede, norwegian and german, enjoyed the flying with our locals. I hope this will be a starts of a steep learning curve, flying on our hills in Alicante, olé !
,.. NOVA Tattoo , you sexy thing you !
friday 8th of sept
Instability was predicted. But only very much inland it looked angry. We flew in the afternoon, and at times it was rock'n roll (cfr Dudo) but nothing too bad. At 6 pm, we counted 6 drops of rain, all together. That's how it rains in Alicante, ... .
We flew early morning at El cid, then later on at Palomaret.
Tomorrow there is a competition is Palomaret and the yearly event giving away the distance cup to 2006's winner
An tonight there are fiestas in Elda, a town nearby with free concerts, and guess who'0s coming,. you never guess because you don't know this magnificent flamenco-chill band Chambao. If you knew them, then I'm impressed.
thursday 7th sept
No flying today, at least not for us. Some students made some top to bottoms, but that's it.
All day cloudy, and very unstable. All spain is covered by clouds, inland more accompanied by heavy thunderstorms.
wednesday 6th sept
From early afternoon flyable at Cabo. Nice and calm conditions, excellent for trying out gliders. The sea didn't look nerveus at all, till late it is possible to fly, even with the moonlight, which is something you have to do once.
Inland much instability, growing cumulus congestus behind Onil, M Cabrer.
Still hot at the coast, although all is different from summer already. Sky looks different and the speed of life, the traffic slowed down after most of the tourists have gone home now. It feels like we have the whole flying season, all the hills for ourselves again. Cu soon.
( My Dutch friend Otto had a 6th attempt for walking up the Mont Blanc today and fly it down with his Advance Sigma6, again the winds didn¡t favour his adventure. If you read this Otto, animo !! )
| If you are looking for a flashy design on your wing, you may be looking for a NOVA wing. Tattoo Medium we do have a demo-glider. |
tuesday 5th of sept
Trying out the NOVA Tattoo. Nice toy, very agile, flew it 8 kg above the weight range.
Easy launch, and very nice to bank it into its turns and do wingovers. Steep spiral immediately. Just went soaring with it, didn't go inland today.
Flew a couple of hours at Cabo with Henrik from Sweden. And when he's back it means season is open. Any minute he can, he will be in the air. Later in the week more belgian pilots are coming in.
Next video goes to show you how NOT to take off at our coastal soaring sites. Well actually I don't know if he took off, I closed my eyes ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPSRihp2KWc
Thanks Stevie for the footage, un abrazo.
monday 4th sept
The view today, as you can see not many pilots in the air, sufficient heights to do wing-overs and other 'silly' stuff.
A day at Cabo. Meeting the pilots at 5 pm, also more british tandem passengers. By then winds died off enough, to have decent take offs and flights over the lighthouse, sea doing crazy stuff. Not too many pilots, it is monday, so lots of room and less stressful than on sundays. Very enjoyable. It is 11 pm, and some of my friends are still flying now, with the moonlight.
sunday 3rd of sept
Today was made to fly. 5 hours of flying for all. Lots of tandems, beginners, acro-pilots etc... . It doesn'tget much better. At first gusts to 30 km/h, smoothly dying off for the schools to have their students in the air. Magic.
All week prevision is north-east. Usually meaning lots of flying at Cabo, or Col de Rates, or Peña rubia.
saturday 2nd of sept
30 degrees, saturday afternoon. No breeze at the sea. Inland looks inverted, high pressure.
Lots of phone calls, where do we go Nick ? Me calling around trying to find the best site.
Nowhere epic and tandems to do. It is a dirty job, and somebody has to do it. So up to the mountains, during central hours when it is supposed to be at its strongest.
Arrived, hardly any wind. Rigged my wing, briefed the passenger and got ready. Had to wait 10 minutes before a gust came through, then the stressful moment when you have to shout at the passenger to run. Very important because it is kind of a cliff-edge... .
Well done Pepie, who got the tandem flight as a gift for her 60th birthday.
Floated along, managed to get 15 minutes in the air, and hey smooth landing no wind. Lovely.
This must have been one of my shortest tandem flights ever, but oh what a smile on the ladies face. Hardly had the time to get my helmet off, to recieve the kiss.
Meanwhile Carlos was testing the Nova Tattoo, glider just arrived as demo glider this week.
friday 1 september 2006
Very stable weather. Temperatures high, blue sky all day, low inversion unfortunately. Thermals were around inland, but not for long. Excellent for topping up some airtime, especially for low airtime pilots.
At the coast weak south, nothing there.
This foto below is not from today. But for those who haven't been here, to give you an idea how our mountains look like.
(indoor paragliding ? done ! http://www.flybc.org/indoorpg.htm )
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