Thursday, March 29, 2012

thursday 29th march




Again a weather forecast not looking too bright. But we have been doing great last days. Although early morning nothing was promised we had some great flying inland.


Today plan was staying at the coast, maybe it was gonna surprise us. But it didn't, no time to tighten our shoelace between no wind and too strong. It just kicked in very aggressive and sudden, no chance.


No worries, we are all chilled, have done a good job last days, and planned to wait for later in the day.


And wind died off, but too sudden, not a good flying day at the coast for us.

wednesday



Wednesday was Fortuna day,



Henrik, Arnold and Hans flew one of my favourite sites untill blown out.






Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Coastal and inland



Coastal untill it get too strong. Little flights, nothing big.






Pepe did better, just before it got strong inland, he took off and landed 110 km further. XC days Alicante.

Monte Cabrer









Today was a classic. Hard winds up to 50 km per hour at the coast. But we found our little place where we had little flight. Well it wasn't that little actually, most pilots had a climb up to 1850 meters, and only with a max of 3 m/s.


Arnold, Henrik were doing great, as they are a bit current now they have flewn Alicante the last three days. Especially Henrik with his brandnew SKY ANTEA2 glider.


Still snow on the norhtern parts of the hill.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Weekend at Cabo Santa Pola

Although it was nice and flyable inland we choose for some coastal soaring. I don't know, it just fitted the group. And at the end of the day, my job is to guide it safe and put smiles on all pilots' faces.

Two days so of bad weatherforecast, and still hours of airtime.
Alex and Carmen


Oops, this one missed the manual.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Cabo Santa Pola



Early morning, 10.30 flying at the cliffs, early as winds were gonna speed up later in the day.

The sea starts to get is spring colour back, that lovely turquoise. Although tomorrow with the stronger winds and the waves, all could look more wilder for a couple of days. Thinking inland flying next days.

Peña Rubia

Thursdays flying at Peña Rubia. And knowing pepe is back, while we all were struggling to stay airborne, pepe climbed up another 1000 meters above take off and landed in Banyeres, where he wanted to meet a friend.
Bloody hell.






Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Palomaret all afternoon long



Bit rough at first, as windsheer west/south was low. We could easily see two layers of clouds moving cross. But sun was not always present, so the sharper thermals were absent. Later of course it was all flyable, safe and fun.


On the foto, Pepe under his Avax. He is back after a three month vacation on the Cararian Islands. Glad he's back, we'll be having a hard time thermalling same heights and speed again.


Tomorrow looks like same thing.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Monday, March 19, 2012

Be safe

Be safe guys and girls. My heart was beating too fast last couple of days. Unneeded risks, unforgiven mistakes were made by licensed pilots.
It had nothing to do with the conditions, it all had to do with not fully respecting the sport paragliding.
I don't want to preach, but during the years I have lost a lot of oil, seeing bad things that shouldn't have happened.
Remember you win the lottery every time you fly, because only one out of a million flies a paraglider in our planet.
And that is very impressive on itself, so don't push it.













Sunday, March 18, 2012

Brighty sunny day

A parawait, yes, and we hate parawaiting, but sometimes there is nothing else than waiting for the right winds on the hill. As today, howling in the morning from the west and then later flying with easterly winds till dusk.



Flew the demo Sky Antea2, only late in the afternoon when thermals were smooth. It stayed in the air by the most little bit of lift there was. I fly the XL, and I am just in the weight range mind you. But look at the design, lets hope Gradient gets a designer in ....


Gods gift



Gods gift. No no I didn't look in the mirror. No it was a gift of god that we flew yesterday, although this


is called today,


tables and chairs were flying around on the seaside terraces, so we called it a day. As soon as we got back in our cars, I got a phonecall from Antonio that they were gonna take off inland. Holy sh... .


Of course with this relevant info from good old Antonio inland we went. And indeed, winds were strong but absolutely take-off-able. We had a wonderfull day till the end of the day.


A day waking up, watching palmtrees dancing away, tables in chairs in the air, but still flying later in the day. Thank you god.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Take a walk on the wild side

Flew Fortuna today, first Sierra del Corque, later on down below near The Bordillo, no not bordello...

It was lovely and we were happy to have cirrus clouds as otherwise the thermals would have been to rough and wild. So another day in the sun. 25 degrees, as if summer has never gone or is already there.
Tomorrow I hope to try to Sky Antea2, should be soarable at the coast. A lovely place to throw it around, and test it for real.






























Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Recreational thermals



Recreational thermals today,


smooth and big,


just what we needed to fly our brave 72 years old Ray,


thanks flying with us Ray, he won the voucher through a charity tombola.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Inland it was today, thermals till late, but there were more important things to think about.

Someone amongst our best friends is bumming out. The sun is going down and there is hardly any lift any more. He knows soon he is gonna land, but he is still struggling to stay in the air as long as he can. If only we could help.(these are his own words

Monday, March 12, 2012

Thermals, fingerlicking good

Another day in March, that can compete with summer flying. Thermals fingerlicking good. Max +3.5, here and there a wrinkle in the glider, to make you aware you are flying and not on automatic control.

The sun bright, the sky as blue as it can get, springtime temperatures, and hours and hours as long as you cared for.












Sunday, March 11, 2012

Tandem flights



Did several tandems today, alway with the help of friends such as Antolino, Toni, Jose, Alex. Thanks once again you all.

A bit rough at times, ice cold air actually, and cross wind on our southern hill. Not metioning it to my passengers, didn't want to spoil the party.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

A bit of fun at our dunes ... rocky dunes



Soaring till late, good take offs requested, as it ws up to 30 km at times. But makes it all more interesting.

Doug under his Delta.



Alex, local acro pilot with speedwing.



Thursday, March 8, 2012

Hondon south

Flying till sunset at Hondon. I think it was the best option. At the coast it was too strong till later in the afternoon. So better go somewhere where winds die off earlier than coastal. Anyway, a succes.




Site with a hike up of 15 min, not too bad, but we're not at all used to it.



And a stop at the bodega in Hondon on our way back.












Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Cliffs Santa Pola

We enjoyed it again our little coastal site.






























Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Col de Rates






Strong northern winds in Alicante. Fill up the gastank and go north, up to Col de Rates. A bit of a drive, passing Calpe, then left inland.


All rewarded with some great flying above Parcent. Hours and hours for some of the pilots.

Landing were a bit less, most of the group met the spanish grass....

Twee belgen

The oldest



Over the moon

Another winter day on our hills.
After a windy morning, we drove off to Orito. One of my spy-hills to see what the wind was gonna do.
It is perfectly located to see if any breeze kicks in, and to have an idea how those western winds are blowing.
Breezes from below, from seaside mainly, western winds from high, rolling through the Vinolopo Valley along El Cid.

Later on we had fantastic flights again till the moon was joining.