But not all 15 were epic. Some of them were rough, really nice for lots of northern pilots to get the rust off. Before heading for Alps etc... . Later in the day all dies off, and even low airtimer can take off and learn so much about thermalling.
If you come down to Alicante in March, you have to have a more experienced attitude towards paragliding. Admitting some days can be great, but some can be too windy. But still lots better than anywhere up north, that's a fact.
friday 31st march
Afternoon flying at Palomaret. Rafa, Sylvia, Jose Luis, Jose, Eduardo, lots of giris (Spanish slang for foreigners in general).
Most of us flew direction Maigmo. We all flew together, that was the plan. Before making the jump to the peak, we saw some local pilots who flew before us, sinking like stones. So we decided to stay put near the bowl of Maigmo, southwestern face.
A perfect afternoon, no sun, still thermals. It was not that easy, to stay up and get high, or maybe it was. Don't know, it was strange. Until Nick (new Airwave Sport3 !), said, yeah thermals were a bit confusing. That's it, it was confusing !
Foto, view coming back facing El Cid, in between pilots soaring above take off. We have Monica and Marko, Swiss pilots leaving tomorrow. Hey, it was nice to have had you, see you in the Alps or down here again, TschuSS ... or something no ?
thursday 30th of march
Early afternoon at Palomaret. As soon as wind turned south, winds were up to 30 km per hour at take off. So we had a little walk, a climb, a cafe con leche. Then we flew till 7 pm. At first, strong enough, especially when I was test flying the Airwave Sport XL. I was minimum 8 kgs under the weight, and it felt as if I was twenty years old again and very light. But as I knew the behaviour of the Sport3, I felt very stable all the way. Just a times forward speed wasn't at its best.
Bought down here by another british pilot who found his way to happy prices at the continent to buy paragliding equipment.
Later, at almost 6 pm, we had some convergence. All of a sudden, when all the locals but Jose (Niviuk HOOK) were gone, everybody got so much higher than during the stronger bits of the day. The cool sea breeze (southeast) lifted the warmer air (southwest) up another 200 meters, as smooth as a baby's bum.
A fantastic day, a classic, just how we like Palomaret to be.
wednesday 29th of march
Early on Peña Rubia. Only Jose Luis flew ( Airwave Mustang ), with window 15 km/h up to 40 km/h. Very strong winds in the air, obvious, no height gain. So more wind than any thermal activity. We drove down, cafe con leche, waited for better news from sea-sites. But even down there, there was northern winds, no sea breeze at all. So a wait, for those who wanted till later in the aftenoon.
Much later :
Die-hards, Jan, Maarten, Bart and Paul walked up la Molla and flew, with the southern, late sea breeze. This is our alternative site, near Novelda. Before I could drive up with my 4x4 to take off. Now the road is blocked because there is a 'sendero' running over the hill. (sendero = walking path).
So I just put some music on and wait at the landing zone. Too hot, too lazy, chill, ... .
tuesday 28th of march
Hondon de las Nieves, southside. A rough pathless walk up. An hour wait till winds died off. Take off at 30 km per hour. Once in the air, the wind was 90 degrees cross. So to do the popular ridge run, it was tricky. But hey, a flight is a flight no ?
monday 27th of march
Many skygods today in the air.
Some cirrus clouds shut off the thermals at times, but when the sun was out, hey we were out there. Small thermals sometimes, not easy to get into. Lots of down cycles, it was hard work, great to practice your skills.
Southern winds up to 15 km per hour, we got at take off at 12.30 and flew, last one landed at 17.30. Old man's bar, topping up Dave and James stay with a beer.
sunday 26 march
- even without gliders people were having trouble staying on the ground, fat big thermals all over
- the sky was full of gliders, wingtip to wingtip
- thank goodness the belgians have gone, the curse has been lifted !
James the Pilot - flying GIN Bolero
Hi guys, I am not responsible for these quotes. When tired after a long day of flying, and nose sunburned, I often ask my guests to write something down for my diary. I think we are in for a flying season, as if it started today and will last till the end of october. What a day.
saturday 25th march
Did you bet ? Well we did fly. At Toix, early morning, lots of parawaiting. And as you all know I hate parawaiting. Later in the evening we flew at Palomaret.
At Toix our top pilots Nacho, Rafa and Norwegian guest Stein flew over Bernia. Great day for them, less great for less experienced pilots who more or lessed bummed out immediately. At Palomart Swiss pilot Monica was showing us how it is done. We're in for good days now, Jan Bernaerts arrived you know. He is like the Belgian BO, always comes around with good weather.
friday 24rd march
Too strong west. Very warm in the evening, Pressure is rising, tomorrow we fly ! You wanna make a bet ?
thursday 23nd march
West wind too strong. Southwestern winds later in the day, but not low enough to go fly. We enjoyed a BBQ.
wednesday 22nd march
A foto of the cloudstreets this morning at 11 am, would have left you dreaming about big XC. But there was no window to take off in. From early morning winds at take off were too strong.
Very hot though, so all enjoying some climbing, island hopping, shoe shopping, castle visits, chilling, café con leche. And yes some of us even had a very short swim in the sea.
Another thing. Murcia, Carrascoy, those who have been here, know this site. It is the site with the carpet on take off remember ? Well that site is closed yearly till the 15th of March. But, and here it comes, due to problems with the local authorities, this year the site is still closed till further notice.
We can loose this precious site, by flying it now.
And that was what happened yesterday. There is still a swedish group coming down to Alicante, refusing to ask us what changed, never asking the locals if there are any more restrictions, how about access to take offs etc... . So, not knowing, respecting the local (unfortunate) limitations of the sites, they went ahead and flew. Of course not intentionally to harm the site, of course not. But it would be nice to show us locals, some respect and at least ask us if anything has to be respected regarding our sites. So if there is a swedish pilot, who I know reading this, please give your fellow swedish pilots this information ok ? Thanks, appreciated. They were flying with Sky Adventures.
From the 17th of april onwards, we will get more news about the re-opening of the site.
tuesday 21st march
Too unstable. Rain inland, western southwestern wind. Nice and warm in the sun, but way too tricky to get in the air. Our southwestern hills Altea Hills, too strong, Carche 1400 m ASL too strong, El Cid also take off too high for taking off, at last Orito, not enough laminar wind to fly this alternative site.
Good vibes amongst the many visiting pilots. Ready to do groundhandling etc... . Peter got his brandnew wing out (Airwave Mustang) and his brandnew harnass (SOL CX). He also found his way to Spain to buy things. Some go on a booze trip to France, others go on a glider trip to Spain. Nothing wrong with that, we are all Europeans, ain't we.
monday 20th march
Midday at La Solana. But too gusty and strong at take off. So drove back to good old Palomaret. At first, ugly sky, angry clouds. Dudo in the air, but was down soon, he didn'tlike it at all. I took off, and it wasn't so bad. Checked lower air near landing and ... fine.... almost no wind. So green light for all of us.
At the end of the afternoon it got really smooth and laminar. Sweet dreams.
sunday 19th march
Calpe, Toix. Nacho and Cafe, on their new Axispara Venus dhv 2/3 and a Gin Boomerang 4 Sport made their little cross over to Sierra Bernia today. Inland pretty cloudy, but not at the coast, so hurray !
 | |
| view from Sierra Bernia down to Med Sea | view landing near Marina in Altea Hills |
Saturday 18th of march
Rainy day. Time to relax. Low pressure, on the atlantic, above the Azores.
The island of Las Palmas, on the Caranian Islands. Known by many pilots, looking for a winter destination to fly. Also down there, some sites are in danger. They want to stop us from flying, our take offs are in natural reserves. So do not fly there on your own, but ask a local guide or school what and where to fly.
If you want to sign up the petition, trying to keep our flying sites down there open, please go to :
http://www.idafe.com/English/e-homepage.htm
friday 17th march
You like it or don't like it.
The window was from midday 12 am, till afternoon 6 pm. It was easy launchable, thermal dynamic, and dead easy to topland. All good friends were flying, with the eager as if they hadn't flewn for days. The only negative bit was, it was not so hot, it was "nippie" at 16 degrees celsius in the air.
Many times pilots ask me why I left Belgium ?
Many pilots ask me why I choose Alicante ?
thursday 16th of march
Flying at Cabo de Santa Pola. Eastern laminar winds. Lots of 'niebla', fog, mist. Very low cloudbase.
wednesday 15th march
All afternoon in the air. At first, a bit rough, inversion and hammery thermals. Later in the afternoon everybody in the air. An ordinary day at Palomaret.
Today flew the GIN Zulu and some tandem for my belgian friend Johan. I had to ask him to shut up to concentrate keeping the glider above my head.
Again it was very nice weather, at least 23 degress celsius and blue sky.
tuesday 14th march
Very, very cloudy at the coast. Inland less clouds. With the sun shining, during the central hours we were gonna get more and more blue skies. Cold nights, a lot warmer from midday onwards, so yes ! Thermals.
Indeed, from San Eulalia onwards blue sky. The sun was doing its job, and was triggering off nice thermals at La Solana. Later on at the site, wind was blowing harder, so more dynamic than thermalling conditions. A lovely day in the air, at a site not very much visited by local pilots, but pilots from Onil.
Bo, unfortunately forgot his boots and couldn't fly at La Solana. He would have loved it, strong conditions at take off later in the afternoon, and pretty breezy in the air was well.
monday 13th of march
Back to normal. Nose burned ! It was very hot today. This morning we had clouds over the cliffs of Santa Pola and good climb. Take off wind at 15 k/h, so excellent. Later in the afternoon it veered to the south. That's when the picture was taken. I was flying over the village of Santa Pola at one point. Keeping my distance to possible landing fields in sight. Lovely.
Then the Rumanian TV showed up again for some more shoots. After yesterday's interview, I had to fly tandem with the anchor lady of the travel programm.
"You have a wonderful job" : she said, "I only present the news in Rumania, this is just a special assignment I'm on."
I gave her the controls and she flew the tandem herself. Never thought I was gonna give my life in the hands of an anchor lady from Rumania.
She loved it, and maybe will come back to learn the sport. There is still hope for you Roy (CNN) and you Karim (Al Jazeera).
Later our 50 kg weighing Argentinian girl, Sylvia, flew for the first time tandem (herself). She took her boyfriend Rafa for a ride. I always found it amazing those little tiny tandem pilots taking big boys in the air. Els (Dutch pilot) had her first soaring flight in, big smile. Kath flew her Airwave Sport along the cliffs.
sunday 12th of march
We had good weather today. Very warm, just like a summer day. Southeast at Benidorm, so the whole lot flying. Many locals because this was the site. Bo, yes ! good old Bo flew two hours. Bo is Swedish, and it is hard to find him on the ground when it is flyable.
Conditions were marginal, bit off and cross in the end. But after the windy bits of the last few weeks, the flying was welcomed by all of us.
And this just when the buddies from the Isle of Wight left, just when Florian and Gabrielle left, well that's paragliding. Yesterday we enjoyed an outdoor concert of the in Spain, famous flamenco-chill group Chambao. It was a fabulous concert.
saturday 11 of march
Very hot today. Blue sky. Spring has definetely arrived. Hammer thermals will be rocking soon. Swimming pools getting filtered, terraces getting new paint. But too windy for us to fly. Only late late in the afternoon we got some seabreeze east, TTT, not worth mentioning.
As I said soon spring will be here. With its hammery thermals, with its rougher conditions. Many pilots from up north have booked flying trips down to southern parts of Europe. Maybe I repeat myself, but lets be careful. Many of you haven't flown in thermals since last year, last autumn, last summer. Maybe here and there some coastal soaring and yes maybe one of two thermal flights in January. This could all be true.
But it is different down here. All year round we can practice our thermalling skills, which doesn't mean that we are far better pilots than you guys. Absolutely not, maybe yes, maybe no so.
The only advice I can give is to practice your groundhandling. And be in shape. Make that run that you have been delaying since ... do those boring sit ups, push ups. You want to feel good in the air, the more your fitness level is reached the better you will fly, the more confident you will fly. The better decision you will make, the safer you will be.
Walk the dog ? Run the dog !
Let us coach and guide you on our hills, in the most safe way.
friday 10th march
Too much wind This year goddamned we really have had some winds already. Strange.
From sunday onwards back to normal. So don't worry for those who have packed and booked, you will fly a lot soon..
thursday 9th march
Dudo, Imre, and Bo in the air at Calpe. Quickly noticed they didn't have a lot of forward speed. As soon as above the antennas, near the northern take off, they were pinned. Especially Dudo who got out his old UP Vision, flying without speedbar. His new wing an Advance Sigma 6 bought at a happy price from us, should soon be at his doorstep.
He didn't have any forward speed on his very old glider, so had to make a decision quick. He flew around the rock of Toix and landed at the beaches of Calpe. Both other pilots used their speedbar to penetrate and got down near the marina, swam in the sea, and looked at us as if they won gold at the olympics.
No sea breeze this time, but high winds on altitude. At landing there was hardly any wind. After some parawaiting, some ??, we all went home, beer- o'clock.
wednesday 8th march
 |  |
Flying at Calpe today. Very strong west at Alicante, so we had to look for lee side flying. Or la Cortina or Calpe, the later in the afternoon the more southwest we were gonna get. So all at Calpe.
Some flying, but it was too nasty to fly it safe. Nacho in the picture with his new Axispara Venus, a very fast glider, dhv 2/3, ready to go competition.
tuesday 7th of march
Almudaina, a long way from home. We want to fly, that's for sure. But again, it just didn't work. Big effort from my Isle of Wight buddies. Lenticulares, gusts up to 40 km per hour.
| | Lonely windsock at Almudaina. A site very rarely visited by pilots. I remember years ago, (8-9 years ago) we used to fly this one a lot. That was when good old Thomas was still around. And one-eyed Toni, who is a professional sailor now and quit his job instructing paragliding. Too bad, I remember the long late afternoon flights, easily toplandings, and late night coffee's after searching for the pilots who bummed out in the valley. No designated landing field in the valley, you just choose your landing amongst the cherry-trees and walk to the very old village of Almudaina. Pilots are getiing lazy, maybe we need some young blood .... young pilots eager to go, to move around, being opportunistic about the flying, wanting to discover new sites, checking out different conditions to fly.
|
Monday 6th of March
Nortwestern winds. Nowhere weak enough to take off and deal with it.
Your season is coming up soon. If you would be looking for a harnass, not a school harnass, not a comp harnass, but a very well made and easy ajustable harnass, think of buying these ones. Technical details on
http://www.pxp.es/ SOL dealers Spain
http://supair.com/fr/index.php
| SOL CX - 550 euros all in | Sup'air X Alps - 443 all in |
| | |
sunday 5th of march
Very strong winds, up to 90 km per hour. Real stormy. And this till tuesday.
saturday 4th of march
Strong southwest from early morning. Got some messages that it was flyable inland, but with these winds howling up to 40 km per hour, decided to stay grounded.
Friday 3rd of march
No flying. Too strong winds, from the west.
Thursday 2nd of march
Early leave for Carche. then Chinorlet, then Hondon. We didn't fly. Sylvia did, an Argentinian girl with lots of nerves. She flies a Vibe Ozone and always tries to go go go.
She took off from Hondon with cross wind, managed to get some thermals in which must have been very broken and inclined. Winds in the valley when we arrived were at least 30 km per hour. And this was in the valley of Hondon. She managed to make a little cross and wasn't calling it very safe flying. So of course we preferred sitting it out. Nobody else flew today.
Again we are gonna be grounded for some time. More fronts are coming in, low above the azores.
Wednesday 1st of march
Flew at San Antonio. Site near Alcoy, overlooking the town. Thermal-dynamic, and northeast.
When driving home others were flying over the cliffs, until it was dark. Dark at 7.30 pm.
A sharp last turn when landing resulting in a hurt heel, so unfortunately Elisabeth is not gonna fly any more this week. Bummer.
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I started this diary more than a year ago now. So this means months of daily uploading, what we did during the day. I count 270 days of flying last year. And this is no bullshit publicity. This should be a guideline for all who want to come over and fly with us. I think this proves that DOYOUWANNA is run efficient and professional. We are always out there when there is a window to fly.
It is a guideline to choose your time to come down and fly with us. Down in Alicante with DOYOUWANNA you don't have to be lucky to fly, no you will just be unlucky if you can't fly.
We are just a spot on earth, so of course also dependent on the weather. But the climate we live in is amazing. Why do you think grandma still dances and has fun down here in nearby Benidorm. She was never stupid, that's why she choose the best climate in Europe.
I hope to see you. And also, I hope more guides put in a dairy on their website. Because the feedback I get from pilots, repeated or new visitors is good. And it can only benefit their bussiness. What do you think ?
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