Looking for opportunities when everybody is talking about crisis and recession ... and bad weather ... ?

Well I got one for you. Look at the foto's, and see if one would suit you in the near future. Because we still have room for some of you from september onwards.

Opportunity why ? Because price is still very democraticly set at 350 euros for a weeks' paragliding in one of Europe's most reliable areas, Alicante Spain.
Quality accommodation, quality guiding. And above all that, beating all other flying trips, you get a rent a car included in the price. This for a whole week, yes 7 days/nights.

Check it out, Alicante is an easy to get destination from all over Europe. The door is wide open. Good friends, good flying, no hassles, no stress.

Missed Jose Luis, Dudo, Antolino, Conrado, Carmen, Alex today. Haven't seen them for a while. Lazy summer I guess. Hope to fly together soon guys, os hecho de menos.

Fun inland. Where gusty winds kept you awake. Especially on tandems trying to explain where in the hell that wind came from at times.

In the end cirrus clouds were forming and screening the sun. Thermals just stopped as if someone pulled the plug. But it was enough. Again the sun was hard and hot during the day, so we waited for the evening to get the flying in.

This summer has been fabulous, almost not missing a days' flying. On the contrary of what I hear and read on several forums, we must have been the most reliable region again.

It is 10 pm now, still 30 degrees outside, heaven.

A day out climbing nea the canyons of Sella, swimming in the pond near Sella, and flying at Sella.

We were actually out with the better pilots to look for a new landing field for our site near Sella. Most impressive site we have near Alicante with 300 m sheer cliffs, at take off overlooking the valleys towards the sea, with magnificient views of Puig Campana. Our old landing field is built upon unfortunately. And other options are rare. Nevertheless three different landing fields were tried out today. Lets see if one of them will be usefull in the future. Still some cleaning up, and talking to the landowners maybe.

Top foto is me, earlier flying with a UP Gambit overflying the valley of Sella, amazing flight.





In the near distance near the alternative landing field we spotted a view of the highest mountain around 1400 ASL Puig Campana.

Below, the flying today.

Daniel (British pilot, Gradient Golden2) and Bartual (one of our better pilots in Alicante, Niviuk Peak)

Rafa buddy at climbing on the ground. Pull me up goddamned !

Looked nasty, but got to do some flying at the coast. The sun was hard and hot again today.
Inland, we didn't bother, cloudbase was low, no surprise there.
Early morning it was very cloudy inland, just burned off a bit by midday, but with the eastern winds blowing that hard yesterday, lots of moist had to be burned off to get a higher cloudbase. Wasn't the case so.

It was nice to meet Raul's and Felix Rodriguez father again, telling us he became grandpa of his sons' kids. Congratulations Felix. And of course the daddy's world champions Raul and Felix, enhorabuena.

Went to Cirque du Soleil tonight, and it was a super show again. With all the rubbish, the trash there is on the bloody TV, it is nice to go to a show like this, sit back and relax. I could recommend it to anybody who appreciates a venue with top acrobats, music and theatre.
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/default.htm

http://www.northern-paragliding.com/northern-news/safety-notice-harness-buckles-2.html

For those who bought this years harnasses of sup'air, you better read above notice. I copied it from a club in england. Have no idea who they are. I needed to, because I couldn't find it in english on the sup'air page yet.

Where are you guys ? This doesn't stop. Flying every day. Again hours in the air when things calmed down. At the coast, because inland it was too cloudy and nasty. Strong at take off, but if you have the skills, meaning as well if you know how to take off at Cabo de Santa Pola, it shouldn't be a problem.
Basilio was trying out his speedglider with succes. Others were waiting and watching.
Just worrying that non local pilots tried to take off, when us locals waited it out. Worrying because the site is still very fragile after the tragedy two weeks ago. And when you see those absolutely/of course very welcome non pilots struggling, it is not a nice sight. But it is so hard to tell others to wait it out, to ask if they have the skills, if they have done it before. Because we all have the 'vacation-feeling' and want to get out there and play.
Tomorrow looks again good good good.

Two shots of Gradient Golden boy Daniel.

We left afternoons. Again, waiting for the breeze to cool things down so we could at least get some cloudbase in.

Some russian pilots were present as well, and a portugese pilot.

Thermals 4 m/s still, southwestern winds as soon as you got above the crest of Palomaret.

A typical summer day in Alicante.

Tonight temp should go down and strong winds should hit us tomorrow. This for one day, saturday back to normal again.

Henrik, if you read this, thanks for the olives, beer and wine, you are a star !!

Hot today as you knew, 40 degrees. Air from the Sahara, windstill at times. So the best thing to do was a siesta under ceiling fans, ice cold drink aside.
Then wake up at 4, get a coffee in, go inland, take off and hope the breeze was gonna kick in.
So it did, late afternoon, at around 5.30 pm.
Smooth late afternoon flight.

You know hot it is ? It is as if the sun gets up in the morning, climbs above your head, sits there for 12 hours, and will only slowly leave late at night. 40 degrees, Hemingway would have his daiquiri now.

Enjoyable, but not epic. Temperatures were high in their thirties, inversion very obvious today. So we left for a high hill to get some soaring in this afternoon. And this was Carasqueta.
Daniel, Henrik, Chris, Alex, Rafa and Sofie, Kath and me.

I flew as well, although a roasted chicken could have done better. Took off when things started to calm down. Was surprised by the sudden gust, got a collapse, rocketed up, flew backwards a couple of meters, luckily landed on my feet but had to stall the glider asap not to be dragged on the spiky bushes. Damn.
Each time I found a thermal I banked it in too roughly, or flew next to it. Crap. When landing, my reserve handle got stuck and threw out my reserve. Damn, I hope I won't fall over tonight, jesus.

Kath and me, after flying
Nice foto eh
Suzanne happy after the tandem flights
Checking Amanda's, and briefing before taking the 77 year old girl for a tandem flight, very brave girl.

Two princesses of visiting pilot Daniel.

Today we flew our hours at Palomaret. Nobody there, just good old Rafa of course and Eggi showed up. Dominique as well with his U-turn machine. It was nice of course, what else do you expect me to say. We climbed in smooth thermals, untill the breeze kicked in and made it more rock'n roll. But nothing to worry, it is a daily routine if you know the site.

Again a lovely flying day, it doesn't stop, again summer is proving to be one of the best times to relax, beach, kite surf and fly !

Women helping out packing a glider, there's still hope...

shot overlooking from the alternative take off, in the distance Pedro from Calpe with his Vega Axispara
Driving down, when Henrik, Daniel and Michael are still over the ridges direction Cocentaina

There was a 1000 m climb over Monte Cabrer today. The thermals were smooth, the only comment I got was some rocking air over the ridges heading towards Alcoy. Registered 4 to 5 m/s climb, just what we needed. It was a superb day. Best performance for good old Rafa with his Niviuk Icepeak and Ismael with his old Gin Zoom. Further along definetely Daniel Gradient Golden and Mustang2 Henrik ! Others were merely struggling to stay in the air, and couldn't get to cloudbase.

We counted the sites Henrik from Sweden has been flying in Alicante the last years as a regular visitor from Sweden.
Lets sum up the sites :
Cabo, Palomaret, Col de Rates, Toix, Cortina, M Cabrer, San Antonio, Fortuna, Carrascoy, El Cid, Hondon south, Hondon north, Caudete, Villena, Peña Rubia, El Plantio, Ager, and some more.
Henrik goes all over the world to fly, from Asia, to South America to South Africa. Nowhere he said it is possible to fly that many sites in the same region. Well things have to be said about that. Thanks Henrik for the living publicity you are for us, cheers !!

Superb, cojonudo, magnifique, fantastic the day was. Lots of happy pilots rocketing after take off, veering right to the lighthouse, overflying each other and the lighthouse. Just what the doctor ordered !

Happy times indeed.

That's the way, aha aha, I like it, aha aha ....

or

Have a little flight, do a little dance, make a lot of love, get down tonight, get down tonight

see you KC !

A loooooooooong day.



First I went to the beach early in the morning. Having a cafe con leche, and watching older ladies having their daily aerobic lessons, actually the only thing I always see them doing, is holding up their arms.

More fun was flying later in the morning at Cabo with a 77 year old girl, called Amanda. She loved it and I loved it.

Then having lunch, getting ready to beat the heat inland. Another two hours and a half for half-local Henrik from Sweden. He just loves flying, doesnt he ?
Thermal nice and big. Playtime for hours so.

It was fantastic today.

And nice to meet Edu, Toni and others. Also Gary Stenhouse arrived, well known as Geordynut. Finished it off with an ice cold Budweiser.



You know what the difference is between making love in a canoe, and having a Budweiser ?

No ?

Well there is none, they are both damn close to water.

See you all soon, I hope, big hug.


One of the towering cumulus clouds in the back, but didn't bother us.

Bit boring to read that we again had good weather and flew inland. Daniel, with his Gradient Golden2, was our skygod today.

When others bummed out, his skills got him into the smooth thermals and topped up his airtime.

I was busy making tandems. Having to fight hard with lots of ballast in front of me.... but most enjoyable to make a family happy letting them experience our passion which is flying.

Hardly cloudbase to mention, no temperature gradient, only some instability in the back gave us a window. It was not necessary to get on the hill early and bake.

It was better to enjoy the spanish rythm of the day and arrive late, as we did.

Looking to fly somewhere else, so we left for Reconco, Onil, where Juan Pedro, Felix, Tomas and more were flying when we arrived.

Flying at the cliffs. Henrik did it again, he smashed his own durance record. We flew till now, and its getting dark. Tomorrow more, it looks like this summer is gonna be smashing good for paragliding down here. Isn't it always ......

Very enjoyable flying again. Thermals at 6 pm still kicking in 4 m/s at times. Very enjoyable.

A typical Alicante day, morning swim in the sea, afternoon lunch and siesta under the fans, then moving inland to fly in fresher air ! Ice-cream on top.

Happy flying today. Lots of hours thermalling, at times even circling together with an eagle, always impressive.
No traffic in the air, all relaxed and smooth. Thermals kicked in but were so enjoyable, nobody worried about the heights we got, about the constant climb. And later in the day the restitution was present, while you were climbing so smoothly you could easily scroll on your Ipod and get the best tune on.

First time in years difficult to write something on my 'today'.

No foto's, no fun today. Somebody lost his life today at the Cabo de Santa Pola.
Got a phone call this morning that something bad had happened, an accident. When I got to the site, Max, German colleague, told me the sad news. A pilot from neighbouring city Murcia had an accident and crashed. He must have died instantly.
The happening itself is already so sad enough, that it doesn't need more details. When more details are known, and can help to prevent any more accidents, it'll be surely posted on my blog.
My condoleances to the whole family and friends of the pilot. I do not know the man, don't even have his name.
But god be goddamn careful out there you guys. It's not worth it ! Fly safe.

Western winds earlier in the day, didn't permit us to fly anywhere near. Later on the breeze kicked in and off we went. But no good. I hated it.
In the air, doing a tandem, I felt uncomfortable, winds from the back, west and east. Making sure the approach and the landing went smoothly, safe so.
One of the lesser days for flying today in Alicante this summer. Although blue sky, beach, swim and siesta, but not cherry on the pie with a late afternoon flight for us.

Small and rough take off at Fortuna. But no problem for all 6 pilots who took off superbly and had some great flying near Fortuna, Sierra del Corque.

Some views during flight. A very dry area, looks more like Algeria, Morocco at times.

We don't go there quite often. Although it is a site that never let me down. Every time but once, it was working fine. Early morning if you like rought stuff at midday, and later in the afternoon when the breeze settles everything.

Fordu and Augustin local pilots, Henrik our Sweed, Marcus the German, Geoff the English, Chris the Brit, all with us today to have an unforgettable day near Fortuna. Thanks for joining us guys on this excursion.

Todays site, tomorrows site. Tomorrow site is planned near Fortuna.

We waited till late to go out and fly, and did best. Again better when the breeze kicked in, the cold air tilting up the warm air. Good fun.