foto Allan Denmark, you're a star http://www.glide.dk/

We need birds, we need big birds !

We need them, to tell us where the thermals are.

Let me moan a bit. In Alicante the paragliding tuition is poor, very poor. There is no professional schooling. The local schools just learn some groundhandling, get the new ones 15 flights in, sell gear and that's it. That's the package of the course, and we all know. That's what you pay form, so no illusion. There is no 'after'-service. And this has been the case in Alicante for many many years.

Through the 8 years that I've been guiding I've seen it numerous times. Students come and go. You see them on the hill, full of passion, eager to get better. But there is no one to help out. There is no feedback, no chat, no help getting them in the groove. And after a while, they don't show up any more, or just the odd weekend, and then they are danger for themselves and the others. They lack practice, they are not confident with the traffic rules, the miss take offs.

And they are not to blame !

I am gonna give a hand to all newcombers in the sport. I want to talk with them, and give them some of our humble advice, share some of our longtime flying experience.

Today it was all so obvious. Most of the pilots were flying routine. Routine, as in = they always fly at Palomaret, they flew as if again it was a thermal dynamic situation. Although it was obvious it was not at all thermal dynamic, because there was no wind. Pilots were waiting at take off for a gust, to take off, while others (few) were circling up in thermals out in the valley. Obvious signs so.

With some knowledge then you know you have to get out in the valley, bits away from the mountain, no need to scratch the bowl. Head out and look for the house thermals which are kicking off from the same place all the time, but are not inclined towards the hill that much. Simple ? Yes and no.

Not so simple if you have flewn this site 20 times in thermal-dynamic conditions after your meal and siesta at 5 pm. And always managed to get up high. Not so simple because you need to get that click in your head and change strategy, when conditions are not equal.

And that's what lots of newcombers need, some advice from the older, more experienced pilots. That's why we should be there as well. Pass on our knowledge and we'll soon profit from their young and daring skills !

We don't parawait. And that's good of course. But ! But when you parawait you talk to each other. And that's good as well. So maybe we need birds to show us where the thermals are, but need some parawaiting so we can kick on each others advice.

A couple of weeks ago, we were parawaiting at Monte Cabrer, Rafa, Dudo, Antolino and me. We were just bits lazy, lazy to hike up in the heat to take off... but we were looking at some birds of prey, and how they circled, how they had their own low-saves. And where ! And how ! And who was the better bird-pilot ! It was great fun, and interesting, and instructive.

But most of the time, we arrive with the car, quickly get our gear out, fly, and when we are in the air, pilots jump in their car and leave the hill. As if stressed. Relax damned. Lets share our experiences a bit more.

From most of the local schools, I don't expect anything, they are in it for the money, but us, some of the locals, clubs, should make an effort this way.

If you think I am wrong ,let me know. This is my blog, and I write this down after thinking on my drive back home, after some good flying personally.