Flying hard

There is a new initiative by the local federacion of Valencia. Newer pilots will be trained to do little XC's, together with older pilots who know the way. I can only applaude this initiative. Hope it will bring older and younger, newer pilots together, achieving some of the bigger XC that haven't been set this summer.

Daily flying this summer,. but all lazy and late in the afternoon. Not the 2 pm chase to get high and far. Understandable with lesser pilots due to family commitments, and the ever suffocating heat during july and august.

Summer is ending now, more and more clouds, could mean easier climbs, or at least easier to find lift for the lesser experienced. More relaxed flying, more and more pilots will get out again.

Soon some local comps are gonna kick off, always nice to see, watch and fly it.

Argentinian pilots and their maté

Ché having some herbal maté. Still very common under our Argentinian pilot friends down here.

When trying you have to suck hard on the silvery straw to drink the somewhat bitter whiskey of the Argentinians.

The loud sucking noise is not considered to be rude. When holding the maté too long for yourself, they give you a hint : hey buddy, this is not a microphone ..

A habit I would never have consedered to have known not living in a spanish country with still lots of south-american culture mix.

So next time you're around flying with us in Alicante, we'll have a try on maté.

Yesterday Giles' last day, on his Delta. Maybe I should have chosen this glider instead of my Skywalk, don't know, each time I see it flying it looks like I want to have one of them.

Green sky - tja

It is always green sky, and the flying has been so consistent all summer long, needed a change.

Giles was doing good under his Delta, instead of boxing it around, he is now on his third day knowing the glider, and is lots smoother in the turns. Even his take off could have passed elementary pilot exams in Spain. Big round applause for another happy customer under an Ozone Delta, great wing. And all ready to surprise the sky next week in Laragne France.

Blue sky, tja

A bright sun,. hot tempeatures, inversion. We had to wait till some breeze was gonna kick off the heat in the valley. It was all quiet till 6 vpm. then a gentle breeze made it all happen.
Meanwhile we had enjoyed the beach, the pool, the paella, some beers, a siesta.
Down below a fantastic foto sent to me, of the Acro Comp in Villeneuve last weekend. Great shot.

Happy flying

35 degrees celsius, and already talking about the end of summer. For us it is, the sun is not that yellow bright any more, it has a more golden look, especially when the day goes by.

Sunrises in not yellow, not orange, but more pearl.

Another good day inland today, filling our boots.

El Viejo

This man loves the sport as much like us. He is frequently spotted near Equihen, northern France. Unfortunately we heard he had a little accident that will put him out for some time.
Hope you recover soon brother !

Reconco - Onil

Summers' second half. Winds are getting stronger at the coast. Soon the beaches will be covered with algues,making the beaches ready to protect itself from erosion. Storms usually hit us end of augustm, beginningf of september.

So or flying very early in the day, or wait till the heat is more bearably and move inland to fly Reconco for instance, meet the locals from Ibi, Castalla, Onil.

Doyouwanna parahawking

The parahawking project in Alicante has come to an end. This noble project is still to be experienced, soon again in Pokhara Nepal.
Check it out on their website parahawking Nepal
We wish them all the best.

From now on, full on focused on the upcoming guiding season, which kicks off from the tenth of september. And you all know what this stands for. We go the extra mile to make your flying trip abroad most succesfull.

Alicante paragliding

Smooth, almost too smooth thermals. Temperatures way too high on altitude, no temperature difference between valley and take off. And the seabreeze didn't kick in to get us nice dynamic conditions.
But we're spoiled and don't realize it, it cannot always be fantastic.
We have to get those days as well, back to reality and be patient.

Next upcoming days could be a bit windy, easterlies, nothing exceptional.

I've been out

I've been out, watching the flying at Cabo. Lots of tandems once again, and TV crew filming, giving us a chance to have some exposure.
It is not that busy, lesser pilots than other years. Crisis, could be.

Tits on a bull

I am starting to feel more usefull than tits on a bull. The pain is gone, and I have started with some light aquagym exercises in the pool.

Meanwhile Kath is taking guys up the hill, get them and her flying. She must be knackered. Soon I'll be cooking my family my pastas again, untill they take over ... .

Inland flights all over, lots called and asked where we were going, it looked like several sites were visited today.

The weather is just fantastic, all summer it has been the best. Hot during the day, then at 5`pm, well you know Spain wakes up at 5 pm, thats when it all starts down here in summer.

Guadalest paragliding

Surprise, surprise when we flew over Guadalest, a small aircraft was being rescued.

One of our most beautiful sites, flying over the cracked in two village, by an earthquake.

summertime

It's summertime and the living is easy
Fish are jumping and the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich and your mama's good-looking
One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing
you spread your wings and take to the sky

Sam Cooke

but I prefer Miles Davis' version, whatever ...

we flew again and again and again .... like Oliver undr his Sky glider

Paragliding tandems in summer

Antolino, amongst the girls, always ready to give a helping hand.

Jessica helping us out doing tandems, she is also member of the parahawk piloting team in Pokhara Nepal.

Weather is brilliant, as it has been all summer. High temperatures, then dying off at 5 pm, to give all the airtime you need.

Col de Rates

Oliver, Martin flew at Col de Rates today. One of the sites with a splendid view over the valley of Jalon.

When strong northeast at Calpe, the place to be is Col de Rates.

But Ialways call the locals as it is a bit out of the way, 70 km from home, one of my most far sites.

Paragliding Benidorm

Yes, we are close to Benidorm. And yes lots of us don't even want to be near that city.
But I tell you what. Grandma and granddad were sick of the bad weather , and wanted to dance till late.
They wanted to walk up hills as good as they still could. They wanted to enjoy the fabulous weather yearround. They chose for the unspoiled beaches instead. And they started enjoying the fiestas during summers. Peacefull fiestas, families with kids on the street, smiling faces, no riots, no drunks whatsoever.
And we, well we decided years ago to check it out, and fell in love with all its mountains and to be honest with its life, its culture, its habits.
We're still here and won't move. And tell you what, the flying is awesome. And numerous sites to choose from. Coastal flying to thermalling sites inland. Hush, only tell the good guys, no hassle no stress you know.
You want to know more about it ? See you soon so.

Paragliding Spain

Novad from Sweden, Johann from Norway, lazy sunday afternoon, then fleing tillnight.

Talo, Anita's and Scott's lill prince, pretending he's sleeping...

Oldest tandem pilot ever

Worth the foro's, the respect. 85 year old Joseph was our passenger today. He was treated a parahawk flight with Scott (baby Talo and wife Anita).

He flew over Palomaret with the hawk following him. The hawk,Heckle, landed during flight several times on his hand.

This is the oldest pilot we have ever had flying tandem.

Joseph, you have to thank your lovely girlfriends for organising this for you. As we thank you and girlfriends letting us have the honour sharing these moments.

Inland flying today, too strong at the coast when it is blowing southwesterly.

Forecast was a 2500 m cloudbase, so all hens on deck ! The xc hunters were on the loose. Didn't get any info yet if someone made distance.

Bliss

Face it. We all get emotional at times. So did Kath today, after the hug she received from swedish pilot Camilla. She sky-godded everybody else at Palomaret today.
No R10, no XC, but paragliding in its pure form. Bliss.

Parahawking

Carmen, periodista de Informaçion Alicante, como pasagera hoy.

She's my lady

Kath is working, cleaning, ironing, cooking, helping out guiding, organizing son's activities, ankering tandem pilots, doing retrievals, taking photos, etc etc . I am just here with that broken wing to heal, damn scooter.

She helped out with the parahawking today and so much more.

She's my lady.

Sea, sex and sun

Cliffs, inland, take your pick, flyable everywhere today.

Some fun in the pool with my

good friend Gerard, see you again soon Gerard.

Cabo Santa Pola

A lovely day I guess, seeing the smiling faces on facebook. All were flying nicely over the cliffs.
We even had a filmcrew shooting the parahawking today, thanks Clare putting us in touch with the right people for that.