Playtime, quick quick quick. Window for an hour, so get ready.

Playtime especially for Wim who is trying out gliders. Yesterday the Niviuk Artik, today and yesterday the Skywalk Chili. Tomorrow the Niviuk HOOK.

I am sure he will go for the HOOK though.

If pilots ask me what glider they should buy, I look at the profile of the pilot. Old, young, grey, stiff, Chelsea, weekendlover, punk, etc... .

Because a glider has to fit the person. And that's why I feel privileged to sell ALL brands and don't have to stick to one particular brand and have a 20-wing sale per year to get good prices.

If pilots take me serious in asking me what to get, I take it serious. I fly many different brands and types of gliders. Always demo's around. So I know how most of the gliders feel.
According to the pilot you make a choice and talk to the pilot. Let him try out things. Check what he wants to do. Beginner acro ? Alps, Alicante ? Dune de Pyla ? So important.

Amongst many superfluous threads on forum, one stands out sometimes, this one for instance :
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=15971

What a difference.
Last week flying in the snow, minus 10 degrees, top to bottom, dancing the pogo to warm up at landing.
Today, flying in sweater, no fly-suit needed, 20 degrees at take off, 830 m ASL, thermals +2 m/s. Smooooooooth.

Even the snakes don't know what's happening, butterflies either. They are all over, still.

Kordian, our polish bloke, in the mood for dancing with his airwave sport3.

Spot the paragliding, huge top to bottoms and landing in Barcelonette. Cold though ....
Down below the sign of Barcelonette, linked to the Valle de Bravo in Mexico, what an amazing coincidence.

Back home where temperatures are very mild for the time of the year, mild meaning 20 degrees this afternoon. Strange ? Don't know, this is not exceptional, we do have these temperatures in winter, but not every day of course.

Back from France - vallee de l'Ubaye, Pra Loup. Village near Lac de Serre Poncon, a region in the southeastern part of France where paragliding is very well present.

Every village has huge publicity boards about the paragliding possibilities on its numerous hills. And as french are known for, it is all run by professionals, done with that typical french smile and laidbackness.
And not only paragliding, but also hiking, climbing, night bivouacs in iglo's, and much more activities, all are present.
When you arrive you feel invited to ask for info. Resulting in professionally run businesses, backed up by the local tourist offices. Amazingly well organised.

The 'french' showing us again, how it should be done. For years they have been the leading country in adventure sports. Organising, sponsoring, and running it.

Hey, I can really recommend all the schools, tandem pilots I met last week. I met fantastic colleagues. Just Google.

back on the 7th for guiding again in Alicante, Spain, olé ! happy newyear meanwhile

Flying thermals inland the 28th of december, nice. Smooth up to cloudbase.

Off to ski - fly near Barcelonette France/Italy, back the 7th of january, se you all then.

late afternoon

busy at take off, and flying till lighthouse lit

in the morning

too much wind, just good for kite-surfing

Ruben checking out his brandnew GIN-gear

Fron zero to too much wind at Cabo, not comfortable at all.

guys flying today, wishing you a merry xmas,

missing on the photo's - Andrej and Jola, Ismael and me

Ttake off, Gragnar rigging, Andreij with his Nova.

and some more shots of our Xmas flying at Peña Rubia, wonderful.

Even is Xmas doesn't mean a lot to you, it is still something special to fly on that day, with nice temperatures and a perfect blue sky.

Thermals were smooth as my baby's bum.

First flight of the day at El Cid.
Starting to be a bit of a classic on xmas day, I remember we flew this one several times on xmas days before.
But it wasn't so good. Winds were strong and gusty and cross. Rafa flew out, as wind dummy, and obvious today was not the day for El Cid.
So off to Peña Rubia.

graphic of the last 5 year, temperature wise

Feels funny when paramotor pilots are flying around your head and you cannot take off. That was this afternoon.I was alone on the take off, nobody there. Probably all Xmas shopping, sleeping before the big nite with the family.
Winds were weak and there were paramotors hopping around the beach. Windlines on the sea though, so soon game over.I waited a bit, but gusts came in more frequently and agressive. Another day. Soon paramotorists should be landing --- I thought -- .
I couldn't take off any more anyway.
45 minutes later when it was blowing 35 k per hour, waves on the sea, seagulls screaming. And they all landed, safe !

Yes, nowadays powerfull engines and GT, revolution etc... gliders, specially made for 60 km per hour flights. I drove down to see them, because I recognized some gliders. And bingo, yes the belgians from Liege. They are here on a trip with there paramotors. Sometimes they try a free flight with us, and then those who look the most professional under their engines, look the less confident under our lesser forgiving wings.



We are all in the same family though, and we all love flying. They have one advantage, they always have a mecanic with them, helping them out, checking the engine.

While we ... we have nobody, nobody, but nobody to help us out when landing in a bush.

oh by the way, you can contact me on skype now, my name nickdoyouwanna

Abandoned beaches. Top photo is 12 km from base. Playa del Pinet, one of my favourite places to go when not flyable. Old fishermen's houses, near the sea, time stood still.

Below, where time didn't stand still, 30 km from base, the high rise of our Las Vegas, our Blackpool, is called Benidorm.

If yo prefer the soberness, you go to Playa del Pinet, if you prefer bars, blues, disco, people Benidorm will definetely be your choice on a non flyable day like today.

Main thing is that we all have a good time.

A dry day on a rainy forecast. In the morning too strong or soaring, but in no time all died off, and no wind at all for the rest of the day.

While I was chilling I got a phone call, Nick what the .... are you doing, you lazy ..... , there are two gliders sky-high over the cliffs !
Damn, looked out with my far-lookers and of course .... paramotors.....

Had to wake up good old Jan, because he didn't want to miss this. Cabo was flying from early on. At 9.30 he was already rigging to break his soaring record of 5.30 hours, not landing in between for pit-stops. He broke it with an hour, 6.30 hours no turns, left-right left-right, left-right - left/right... .
Meanwhile we had breakfast, lunch, and were ready to take a shower when he called : I landed - can somebody pick me up ¿

Local pilots asked me if he was allright, if he needed assistance to come down etc.... . No, no worries, it's Jan, Belgian¡s famous soaring pilot.

Ready for winter Jan ? Hope you had a good week, as you said you flew 4 out of 7 days, at the end of december. Chill now.

Oh, on the foto not Jan, but Geir from Norway, two hours and a half was enough for him, he needed a smoke.

Cloudy and windy today, forced shoe shopping ....

Probably a 'primeur' ! This must be the prototype 2008 everybody is so worries about.

Windy today.

Winter weather today, winds from the east again, kicking in strong at the coast, no flying.

Nose blocked, cold shivers, winter arrived I guess. Always severe when you are not used to it. But ! We gotta fly !

So sheltered in my truck I looked at Jan and Geir rigging for flying Palomaret.

We had time till the rain came in at 3 pm, Jan had the better flying and had to come down to get warm. We went for silk gloves in Decathlon afterwards .... .

Funny news today again from my home country Belgium. Now all flemish are upset because our new Miss Belgium only speaks french and not flemish. I thought we should be happy with that. You don't want a Miss to be talking anyway, do ya ?