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I've been flying the Niviuk Hook lately. Dhv 1/2. Soon there will be articles in international paragliding magazines. Comparisons for instance between the Airwave sport3 and the Niviuk Hook.
I tell you, as far as I am concerned, I am pretty impressed with the Niviuk Hook.
If you plan a visit to Alicante, give me a sign if you want to try this one out. Buy at a happy price, including stay at Doyouwanna - Alicante.
We are closed from friday 30 june 2006 till thursday 13 of july 2006
We are closed from the thursday 17th of august 2006 till monday 4th of september
sunday 30th april
Suby took the lead yesterday, inviting all pilots from Valencia, Murcia and Alicante to hunt for the first 'reasonable' XC in our region. The place was Caudete. A pretty new place for paragliders., Before we had to walk up after a long drive at the back of the mountain. Now, thanks to the windmill park, we have access by car, and a lot closer to Alicante.
Arrived at noon, rigging with many others to see what was gonna happen. First flight was more or less finding nothing .... . Winds were too far off to the east / northeast. More local pilots like Ismael and Juan Pedro invited us to wait till 3 / 4 pm. So visited the village of Caudete with its beautiful bull-ring, his plaza mayor.
When we arrived at the site again at 3 pm, there were a couple of pilots in the air already. Things were now more west, so a turn of 180 degrees on our southern hill. Anyway it looked better, but good or bad pilots, you had to have luck. Some of our champions bummed out, some of our low airtimers were sky high.
As soon as you were in the air, you felt yes ! , this is april. Thermals were there, and punchy at bits. Only Juan Pedro got good heights to go XC, but later in the day, heard he only got a few kilometers further. When I was in the air, I floated at 1300 m ASL, and nothing happened. Some strong gusts, a bit of sink, a bit of climb, but not active or no thermal activity any more to use and go. I was at cloudbase, and could stay there forever. I just kept on floating over the valley.
After some good time, landed where I spotted the others below. It looked like a nice field, not surrounded by many electrical lines. Knowing Caudete can be surprisingly changing in a very windy area, on late afternoons, you need to spot a big field with no lines, high tension lines giving you the nerves.
Many times, being less familiar with this 'new' site we landed flying backwards. But with this local knowledge, we met our friends from Onil, sandthirsty for an ice cold beer, because all day it was hot again.
Just got a message that Suby Lutolf (ex vice-champion of Spain), got 2600 m ASL, meaning 1600 m climb above take off. No wonder we didn't know where he went. We though home .
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Saturday 29th april (I got the day right !)
Off inland where we saw the clouds developing rapidly. Soon I was in the air as wind dummy. Soon I asked the guys not to fly. Because once on height, cloudsuck plus 4 meter per seconds, it felt too vertical to be good. So had to spiral down to be safer.
Had coffee and empanada at the Hacienda.
Again wind dummy, needed to check the air, because it still looked iffy. It felt good a first and asked the more experienced to get rigged. Clouds were forming rapidly again though, so kept my eyes open. Just in front of us, direction Orito there was one growing which didn't look like you want to play with it. Above take off it was more greyish, typically if more moist is coming in from the coasts (eastern component).
But what was above was looking more and more hostile as well. To be seen when I was climbing up in front of take off, looking backwards direction El Cati.
A sudden lift shook me all up, and climb again was too vertical, without asking for it. And if you get 5 m/s up, flying straight with almost no groundspeed, amidst active air, it is time to spiral down. I spiralled down, but with all my skills I just got a - 2 m/s at times. It was hard work, to get below the cloudsuck. The air was at moments very active, you needed to keep that glider open right above your head.
So we called it a day and drove back home.
But, haha, surprise, surprise, I got a call that maybe Cabo was working with a 11 km per hour northeast. Into fifth gear, trying to give Henrik, Erika and Robert a last memorable hour of flying before they head back up north again. And it happened. See you again in a month !
friday 28th april
In the morning eastern winds for Cabo. Getting stronger by the minute, untill thunder and lightning was hitting Alicante city. All afternoon huge big fat clouds, enormous cumulus nimbus all over, a fantastic view.
Only late in the afternoon winds died off, but still warnings for thunderstorms inland. So stayed on the ground, no mistake.
It rained during the afternoon. And then you see, especially the old generation, walking around with plastic bags in the sierra's. They are looking for 'caracoles' (snails). In the evening you are invited by your neighbours to have those snails, prepared with lots of pepper and garlic and herbs, delicious. You bring the vino tinto of course.
Tomorrow there is a comp near Murcia. They cannot fly on Carrascoy, this site is closed till the beginning of august, at least.
My Japanese friend said today : "The clouds are many many angry today". Cheers Bo.
 | Hunting for caracoles, l |
thursday 27th april
Looking for quality and getting shit.
Still on the outlook for a good XC flight. This morning weather forecasts looked promising. West wind in the morning, but soon veering to southern winds, before breeze kicked in.
We were at Reconco early enough, so waited for the southern winds. But it kept on breezing from behind, so left for Peña Rubia. With the convergence later in the afternoon, it could be XC as well.
Peña Rubia looked great, cumulus clouds forming, cloudstreets. Early in the day, so knowing in the end it would be way too instable.
After a little wait, unpacked glider and got ready for take off. While rigging some thermals gusted through, damn 40 km per hour. That 'gust' lasted for goddamn half hour. So frustrated, walked down to the car, glider unpacked, stumbling and getting caught on the spanish grass. Lets have a coffee.
After the coffee we wanted to check a much lower little ridge, where we could do some soaring before winds, thermals, gusts died off. Now, no wind all of a sudden. Good decided to go back to take off Peña Rubia. On our way, we saw soon enough southern winds were blowing.
Again up to Reconco where we saw some good developed clouds over El Cati.
Again rigged up at take off, for at least a flight with some cloudsuck, some dynamic fun. It started raining .... drop by drop, no hard rainfall, just teasing us. Again had to pack the glider and race down to avoid gliders getting wet in the back of my pick-up truck.
Meanwhile my swedish friends were calling their mom to start up the fire for the BBQ. We had it.
All over the region, big cumulus nimbus and thunder in the distance. You can smell the tyhunderstorm.
 | When we arrived at Peña Rubia it looked very promising. Gusts up to 40 km per hour at take off didn't permit us to kiss the sky. |
wednesday 26 april
Convergence. An easy way to get higher up. All over the world it is the key-word for XC flying. Like in Piedrahita for instance, ridge run, convergence and counting the kilometers.
Down here as well of course. It ain't different. If you are in the air at Peña Rubia when the convergence of the NW winds and the (sea)breeze sets in, you have all of a sudden 500 mter higher cloudbase, and can go XC:
Today at Palomaret, when Jose (Elx) was flying cloudbase was set at 1400 meters. Much later, when the convergence set in, we reached 1700 meter.
Most pilots were on the right time on the right spot and headed for El Cid. Easy.
We had strong north-northeastern winds in the morning, gradually dying off and veering to the east. Valleys heating up and kicking off big 5 m/s thermals. Later in the afternoon at 4.30 the haze from the see was clearly getting nearer. Winds in the valley were speeding up, and that cold air from the sea, was pushing up the warmer air where we were already flying in for over an hour. I was flying a Niviuk Hook and loved it.
I have to mention upcoming pilots Jose (Elx) and Edu (ardo). They are young pilots, low airtimers, but have so much passion for the sport, it feels great. Both are flying as much as they can, every day. Eduardo made his first XC to El Cid, which is an achievement. Great job EDU.
Monday 17th april till tuesday 25th of april
Back from a holiday in Sicily. Where our gliders didn't get out of the bag. Very windy the first 4 days and some rain. Second part of the journey was very sunny and calm winds, high pressure. Definetely flyable.
First Palermo, Sicily. Complete anarchy in traffic, nothing compared to the Spanish style, no rules. Fantastic in a way.
Later we visited the villages near the Etna, trying to find someone, somewhere to fly. Nobody was around. Even the guides, of whom I was given telephone numbers weren't active, or didn't respond, or only flew on sunday (sic).
At the guesthouse on the eastern slope of the Etna, they never had seen a paraglider above the Etna. Early morning nice cumulus were forming in a whiter color than the fumes of the active vulcan. It was tempting to look for a possible flight, but then maybe it was forbidden. After all (luckily) it has become a natural reserve, and without a local guide telling me what the local rules, restrictions are I do not fly. My dream to fly around, on, or above the Etna didn't come true so. Nevertheless a visit to Sicily without climbing up the Etna is a shame, it's worth it all the way.
What we did was having loads of pasta, seafood and worlds' best ice cream.
 | The ETNA |
sunday 16th april
Left early. It looked like an iffy day today. Down south clouds were building up quite nasty. So we left for the hills north of Alicante. But weren't so lucky.
Julio had a good flight near Benidorm, Pedro and me just a little one. The little landing field, wasn't very suitable with the winds veering 180 degrees. Sometimes west, another minute east. And if you flew here, you know the landing field is in a sort of a windchannel. So small approach margin, with winds all of a sudden from the other side, could mean coming in downwind ... .
We also had the Guardia Civil checking on us. They checked on us, because the day before there were foreign pilots (Norwegians) who flew the site, without being member of the local club Toix. Now it is not obligatory to be member of the club de Toix, but it helps because the site is very very very very very fragile. The landing field is small and not to be missed. The take off and the whole hill, including the landing field is owned by Warner Brothers. And they have already closed down the site two years ago, because of an outlanding by a German pilot.
You can imagine how we had to defend ourselves to keep the site open. The local pilots, and club, agreed with the responsible staff of the theme park Terra Mitica (Warner Bros), not to land anywhere else but on the designated (small) landing field.
Guess what, yesterday the two Norwegians must have landed on the property of the theme park. Police and Guardia Civil was called. Opportunity to close the site, they must have been thinking. Luckily Pedro, lets say president of the club, and main pilot of the site, talked to the Guardia Civil and could (after showing membership etc...) sort it out. Again giving his word that no-one will ever land on their property again.
So as locals, we ask not to come down and fly just like that. Please use common sense and use a guide (me for instance), or be member of a local club. Support the paragliding in our region, to fly under the restrictions of the sites. What the Norwegians were doing yesterday on a southeast hill when locals didn't fly because it was pure southwest in another thing.
Some examples :
Cabo de Santa Pola : very fragile, no cars inside the urbanisation, avoid flying over the houses not to upset them
Carrascoy Murcia : closed till further notice
Alhama de Murcia, maximum 5 pilots
Terra Mitica, contact us for recent updates, do not land on Benidorm beach, forbidden as well, and I can tell
Sella, only during the week access to the take off
Sierra del Carche, fragile by birds (eagles) nesting, I always contact local pilots for update
Calpe : from now on don't land on Calpe beach when crowded on weekends, use Altea beach
If you love the sport, if you ever have been here, let your fellow pilots know. We have to stick together and keep the sites open. Personally I do ask 60 euros for a week of guiding. This includes briefing, retreivals etc... , I can assure you, you will fly a lot more and a lot safer. Even big comp pilots, use our service, so don't be shy to call.
And if you would think this is only business, well then you don't know me. But feel free of course to do what you want. These words above are not at all to offend anybody, just to help out the local community to keep our sites free of hassle, keep them open.
On our website you can see who transferred money on the account for Cabo de Santa Pola. Again thanks to all of you who helped out, and this in name of the local clubs and pilots.
Tomorrow we leave for flying in Sicilie, and this for a week. Take care, have good flights !
saturday 15th april
Too unstable today. Being getting lots of phone calls. It is fiesta down here, many many visiting pilots from Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Basque country. Yesterday it looked so promising for their long Easter weekend, but today they had to be beachcombers. Very hot at the beaches, sunny overall, but inland too cloudy and hostile, 25 degrees celsuis.
friday 14th april
Fiesta today in Spain. Good Friday, is a huge day off for the spanish. Everywhere people do have a picknick.. We could fly over the many BBQ sets and smell the delicious spare ribs near the lighthouse..
It is the start of high season, from now on prices are higher etc... . From all over Spain they come down to the coast to enjoy the weather. This year it wasn't different. Luckily we could stay in the air for as long as we wanted and not be bothered.
Cabo all day.
thursday 13 april
Blackbirds had their last flying this morning before getting on the big bird back home to switserland. They flew from 10 am till 1 pm at the cliffs. Been more lucky is almost inpossible.
A bit later when all were kissed goodbye, the winds turned more and more to the south, so inland - towards the clouds. But clouds were not nasty, they were friendly. Low though, but nice.
Okey, Hendrie, Johann another good hour up in the air. The told me they live 250 kilometer from a nearest soaring hill in Sweden. I can imagine now why they come back and back to Alicante, our mountains are so near of course. Shit, I thought it was because of me ... .
wednesday 12th april
A short day at Palomaret. Soon it was overdeveloping and thunder alert behind Le Cati. In the air it was nice, not too bumpy, just knowing it wasn't gonna be for long.
After a café con leche break, we went up again, then we ended up at take off completely covered in fog.
Back home, enjoying the nice temperatures, but no more flying.
 | Group of Swiss pilots around, die Schwarzen Vögeln, the blackbirds. Nice to have had you as fellow pilots ! Hope to see you back some day, be safe, and keep the friendship high. |
Tuesday 11th april
Looked grey. Sun was supposed to burn through but didn't. Still hours of flying at the cliffs of Santa Pola.
Many pilots trying out our demo gliders like Niviuk Hook, UP Summit3, Airwave Sport3.
Also excellent for practising wing-overs, toplandings, etc... . Blackbirds from Switserland cruising above the Med.
monday 10th april
Left for Toix, got back to Palomaret. At Toix we had bad wind, not the seabreeze kicking in as usual with this strong west wind. No, norhteast and too strong for Col de Rates.
Headed back to Alicante, home. Soon saw that winds were more southern. So we took our chances and left for Palomaret. Arriving at the village we received a message that in Agost it was east. Ok, up to take off, check it out. Jose Luis was waiting for take off.
I didn't really trust it. Have been there, and had done some flying with predominantly northeastern winds before. Can be nasty. So careful.
A bit later Rafa arrived and took off. Both in the air, looked kinda smooth, but minute by minute take off was more gusty. At the coast meanwhile strong northeast (!) up to 25 k/h.
Don't know but I didn't feel good for flying in this conditions. Although two of my main buddies were flying.
I packed up and relaxed. I felt I needed to be safe today, my nose told me.
Got back to the coast where it is howling for the moment, east northeast. Looking at the isobarmap this morning, it showed us we were right between two fronts around midday.
I am glad I didn't fly today. It felt like I didn't have to proof anything. Mañana !
Oh yes, one more thing. My Swiss friends, I will put a foto on my website of your group. Of course I will. But I am just waiting to take a picture, untill those white Swiss legs get a little bit more suntan, it will look so more sexy. One more day ... .
sunday 9th april
A very typical sunday of flying. Cabo de Santa Pola, still open for flying. We have to leave cars outside on the street and walk in though, still ... .
A very typical sunday afternoon of flying at the cliffs. Very good pilots doing acro, to lots of pilots who need hours, weeks, months of groundhandling. At this easy site, and especially on sundays, they come out and try to play. No controls at all, not even with laminar winds only up to 15 k. But hey, no harm done, nobody gets hurt, just sometimes embarassing for themselves.
Once in the air, of course very smooth, easy to wave at each other, do some tandems, wingovers, toplandings. Told ya, very sunday afternoon. From 1 pm till 7 pm flyable. Low presure, lots of clouds inland.
saturday 8th april
Caudete early afternoon. Winds south, just kicking in when we arrived. Blown out clouds, strong winds up high, which is not unusual in our region. So XC would be difficult, thermals strong, broken, lots of sink in between. Still many pilots gots 1600 meter ASL, which is a 600 meter climb above take off.
Later on, we left for good old Palomaret. Easy dynamic conditons till late late late.
 | View from take off Caudete. Up high Dicky from Switserland touching cloudbase, almost ... . |
friday 7th of april
Good to have very good pilots visiting. 14 Swiss pilots showing how it is done. Even local pilots Dudo and Jose Luis benefited from their experience. They climbed up to cloudbase, up to 1750 meters ASL, which is almost 1000 meters above take off.
Steve and many many others climbed out as well. Sometimes thermals were a bit punchy, hey we've dealt with it before. One unlucky bit was that our XC route was covered in big black clouds. Not too worrying clouds, but black black black ... water water water... .
Usually local pilots arrive after food and siesta and fly in the breeze. Lower cloudbase, smooth conditions, more a get together than trying to achieve something. Tomorrow most local pilots have a competition in Titaguas. Lets hope they start the thing in time, not too late ... because you can wait and wait and then say, it is too strong now, it is not good anymore now. So get out in time, fight for your thermals, fly for your heights.
More good pilots around does higher up the quality of flying, I am convinced. Tomorrow we go other places, having fun, having epic flights.
thursday 6th april
We couldn't mark. Early morning promising cloudstreets, but winds from first hour too strong to take off. In the afternoon accompanied by storms inland. At the coast it stayed sunny almost all the time. But even late afternoon, there was no possible window. Tomorrow hopefully better.
wednesday 5th april
Calpe, because howling winds at Alicante. Strange ¡ Well that's the way it is sometimes. While winds were messing up hairdo's in Alicante, we were parawaiting at Toix. But then Yoeri, Pol, Steve, Pero, Julio and Marianne got in the air and enjoyed the stunning views.
Marianne is Belgian and showed me several crap reverse launches at the beginning of this week. The girls went groundhandling on the beach to better her skills, in the mornings when we were no out anywhere.. She knew that groundhandling was the secret for better take offs, better flying, safer flying. Today at Toix, one of our most technical take offs, she made a splendid reverse launch, one out of the books, and flew fully confident.
Tomorrow back on our usual hills again, we should have high cloudbase. Lets see if we can mark.
tuesday 4 april
Strong day at Cabo and bits off to the northeast. Managed to do a tandem flight, and a solo flight. But wasn't real fun. Take off was ok, but once in the air, winds were blowing from the side of Alicante. View was spectacular, you could see far away, see the bays of Benidorm and Calpe, colours of the sea were bright in springs' sunshine.
Foto sent in by Jan Bernaerts, who else ? Last week's flying.
monday 3rd april
Monday afternoon at Cabo. Trying out different wings. Everybody with everybody's wing. Somedemo's, UP summit3 for instance, but of course the Sport3 Airwve, and from tomorrow on again the Niviuk Hook.
Winds were picking up last hours, tomorrow we should have another great day, of hours of flying. Wednesday is relax, visiting Alicante, doing other stuff, because it is could be windy, but .. sunny and warm. A front is passing over southeast Spain, clearer skies again, and lets hope we do our first big XC after this windy bit.
sunday 2 april
What started as a standby day, ended as a top day at Palomaret. I do not need to repeat this, but again it was fantastic thermalling weather, too hot to stay on the ground. All glider, sunday pilots as well ... , in the air. Rafa doing his acro flying, Jose Luis flying his Tycoon NOVA, Jose his Niviuk, I mean all were there. Good friends, good fun, no hassles,
Had a tandem flight with Paola, as a birthday present from her friend. We flew for an hour, over the crest, hell of a passenger. Leaning into the thermals, and leaning into the spiral dives as well. Groovy. No fear, screaming it out at times, having a great time.
see you all tomorrow, have to celebrate with the guys who are leaving tomorrow unfortunately.
Jan, Stijn, Bart, Maarten, hope you enjoyed it ' a tope ', anyway I did. Hasta luego.
saturday 1 april
 | Baldrick flying, at last, at Toix Calpe, after all these years ....
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Look all day like weak all day, last moment though all came good. Calpe, Toix, till sunset.
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