Funny

One step forward, one step backwards.

Its funny. A local pilot that I know for years now, is still hiding his after-flight-joint when I come up and greet him.
If only he knew that if I piled up what I smoked during my younger years, we'd probably have a soaring site.

Anyway, doesn't matter, it is funny. Another splendid day inland. Thermals sweet, although conditions weren't january smooth. No, here and there a punchy one. And flying in our micro climate near Alicante, with prevailing winds on heights from the back. All good fun.

Graham and below youngster Russell from England.

Proud ladies

Pre flight stretching - part 2

A sea of clouds. Spectacular views at Peña Rubia. A wait till it burned off. Of course the day wasn't epic for flying. The weather was too good actually. Nice summery temperatures and in the afternoon a bright blue sky. But hey, no complaints, we had a good hike, a good stretch, and even got some flights in.

Pre-flight stretching

The average age practising our sport paragliding is around 35 years old. So not a lot of youngsters on the hills.

To have an idea, two foto's. First pre-flight stretching and then doing what we love to do, climbing up to the clouds.

Today we had Peña Rubia on the menu and it was rich.

Lemon too yellow

Winds too strong today. White horses on the sea and very very overcast inland.
A bad spell today, lots of rain inland on the hills, at the coast sunny, no surprise there.

Soaring at the coast

We were warned for strong rainfall and even snow on our hills. And indeed sky looked dark. It showed its teeth but didn't bite. My french and english guests even had a flight in late afternoon. An hour of soaring at the coast.

Foto's are from yesterday. My friend Miguel and family were picknicking on the Bernia Hills. They took those shots.

New kid in town - Adrenaline

Adrenaline, the new kid on the block. New brand, check out there website Adrenaline. Pretty impressed by the looks of their harnass Kangu. Soon out on the market for you.

Paragliding in Calpe

Best flights since long time in Calpe. Most pilots made the triangle Toix - Bernia - Calpe. Landing near the beach La Morena, where the hot waitress was serving ice chilled beer.

Winners fotocontest 2011

Top foto won third price and was shot by Richard Gorst.

Second foto won second price and was shot by 'Cloud' Spoor

And winner this year is the foto of Dougal Porteous.

Dougal you won a free stay at Doyouwanna, meaning as always a rent a car, accommodation and guiding for 375 euros.
Hope we see you soon, just get a cheap Ryanair ticket and call me when you have landed.

Thanks to Robin Vandenabeele, Belgian photographer, for choosing the winning foto's.

The return of the vikings 2011

Not in time for the big paragliding film festivals unfortunately.

But here is a taster of the soon to be released new promotion video about Vikings flying in Alicante.

All credits for Hans-Henrik PGSYD

Flying full on

Top foto is from Ager. Foto below from Aguergour in Morocco.

On february 11-18, we are off to Morocco for flying with pilots. We will fly Aguergour, Ait Ourir amongst sites near the High Atlas, and will fly on the Atlantic Coast, near Tiznit, Sidi Ifni and others.

The trip is fully booked.

This summer we organise for the 7th time our roadtrip to the Pyrenees, we will fly Ager - Organya and Berga again. If interested let us know. We still have availability, we only take 6 pilots with us, nice and cozy.

Bottom foto is Cabo de Santa Pola where is was flyable today till dark.

Flying full on I'd say.

Photocontest 2011

Last foto's of 2011 can be sent in. The 15th of january foto's will be sent to Robin Vandenabeele, semi professional photographer from Belgium. He is not a paraglider, so will choose independently who made the best shot.

Best shot wins a free stay at us Doyouwanna Alicante, worth 375 euros, you just have to get down here, we'll do the rest.

Flying flying flying

foto : Carmen Blauvent

Last three days flyable inland as well at the coast. Not the most epic flights, smooth winter flying. But fun in nice temperatures. No winter so far, although my toe says it is coming ....

Myanmar - Burma

Just got back from Myanmar - Burma, family trip.

Amazing country, most genuine people. Lets hope upcoming tourism is not gonna a spoil their pure heartwarming smiles and spirit.

Foto of female buddism monks in Bagan.

Closed till 8th january 2012

We are closed so, around Xmas this year.

Thanks for the last 12 months. It has been good again.

Good friends, no hassles.

We won't be easy to have internet access upcoming weeks. So if we don't answer immediately you know this is exceptional. We do our best.

Still some places available for jan-febr 2012, in case you want to book.

Have great parties. Nick, Kath y Paco.

Sharing same sanity

Nothing exciting happening flyingwise down here. Just summer temperatures but lots of winds during the day.

Zebra's ass

Zebra's ass is the not official name of the isobarmap equivalent of what we are having this week.
Huge winds over the central parts of Europe. Down here, winds west, not the best direction and gusty. Temperatures nice though, again 22celsius this afternoon and very sunny. But no flying.

Peñu Rubia late afternoon

Only one guy flying late afternoon. That was good old pioneer Juan Pedro.
Glad to count him in as a friend. He is one hell of a pilot, and has one hell of a family. Just one hell of a good guy !

Peña Rubia with brandnew take off

New take off Peña Rubia, my favourite site by the way.

Today was west, Peña Rubia. With its brandnew take off. For that we have to thank all the pilots from Onil, Ibi, Biscoy for the work they did. Thanks guys. It'll prevent loads of broken lines and ripped gliders.

Above us good old Antonio from Alicante, under his Hook2.

Gorgeous mountains

This mornings' inversion was a jewel. The fog, the mist in the valleys were pittoresque.
It let us parawait a bit, but we enjoyed the scenery around us so much we didn't care at all.
Later on we flew from La Solana near Villena.

Toon, leaving tomorrow flew 4 out of 7 days, which ain't bad, hell we're mid december.

Ian, Tony, Toon see you all again soon.

Inversion, warm weather and smooth thermals to play with

As you can see, it was another day out flying our paragliders. High pressure over Spain, gives us airtime in december as much as we want.

Cloudbases not so high, but thermals present.

Holiday today, inmaculata, something catholic. So more pilots than usual on our mother hill.

Flying till moon was out

Flew till moon was out. A bit busier than usual as yesterday and tomorrow is a national holiday in Spain, so lots of visiting pilots from Madrid. · They'll be back.

Summery feeling

It feels like summer with the bright blue sky and the 20 degrees plus temperatures. And definetely when thermals are around like today at Carrascoy.

Heaven, or at least a slice of it.

Ian trying out his brandnew Delta, Toon under his lightweight Ozone and other Toni under his (not known) Sol Synergy4.

I had a super day, I hope the boys had as well.

The world is racing by ...

The world is racing by... All gets so much speed. People running, beeping horns, traffic jams. Time is money, now - not tomorrow. Quick, quick. White lines, poppers, do this do that.

Gear down .... !

Flying should be gear down. Flying should be being on the hill without being rushed to take off. Checking out conditions. Chilling with the buddies. Getting all prepared for a lovely flight. Take off when you please, no rush. Super float, super fly, super climb. Land smoothly. Take a bow, be humble, thankful, and (extremely) happy.

No speed should be involved.

But still. Roses of the day in the paragliding world are handed out to the fastest, the biggest, the highest, the furthest.

I am very impressed by Karel Vejchodský , under the brandnew Gradient Aspen4, he managed to fly 9 hours with an average speed of 43 km per hour. Got 372 km in.

But ain't it all too fast. Are we really that impressed ?

No doubt he plays in another league to say the least, but how many pilots are personally impressed by this achievement. Ain't it all a bit too much.

Did we really pick up the sport, to race ? Didn't we want to get out in nature, watch the sky, spot the birds, fly with them. See the world from another angle.

If you're with me, the door is wide open. I love to fly daily and for hours, but no rush.

I love Messi, he is as lightning fast ...

Gear down always ....

Alacalle en Alicante

Things you could do today in Alicante. Get your boat out. Have a stroll on the beach and look for eye candy.

Fly off Toix, fly off Serella. Picking mushrooms.

Or go for a huge walk upon the crests of Le Cati.

One of those days windy here, no winds there, right winds there.
Foto's of the day.

Oh my god

What was that bloody .... doing there anyway !

Don't know where it was shot, but auch ... I feel my collar bone again ...
this week has been good, flights on tuesday, wednesday and thursday. Yesterday friday and today feet up I guess, although the day is looooong.

Inland flights

Some friends were flying inland yesterday, others took a day off. Mostly because conditions weren't as good on the western hills, what the prevailing wind was.
Some flew in the lee, smooth, no stressy at all.
Today friday, it started raining by evening. By monday all should clear up again and be flyable.

Go-Pro or not Go-Pro

I am probably the last commercial tandem pilot who doesn't fly with a Go-Pro camera stick. And I believe it is not gonna happen soon either.

I stopped flying tandems with a instruments, like vario, long time ago. Because each time I had to explain what the beeping was about. Besides being bored explaining it, it took part of the flight away. The passengers should enjoy, look left, look right, look between his/her legs and smile, enjoying the views.

All over the world tandem pilots fly with Go-Pro nowadays. And I could earn bits more money if I did too. Not that I would mind earning some extra's here and there ... .
But the hassle, the stick, the checking battery, the power on, all the hassle I can do without. It would distract me from having a pre-flight check and from flying as well.
And I am sure the passenger can do without the extra as well.

So will I ever make the decision to ask for a Go-Pro for Xmas ? I don't think so, although I sell the bloody things as well. So business-wise, not such a good idea.

Everybody has to do what suits him best. So this is just my personal point of view, opinion. And I am only talking tandem flying, not solo flying.

And it is a wonderfull camera, no doubt.