Day1 85km via 5tp

85km looks intimidating when you've not done 8km this year, seeing as how that attitude puts / keeps you on the ground I set off with a 'let's just make the start' mindset.

The task was out and back to start then across the canyon to the east for a turnpoint before zig zagging in 'flats' behind to goal at the lake. I blew the start tagging it late and low. It's impressive watching the mass start but frustrating not be in it. Serves me right for launching 25mins after the window.

Getting back to tp1 was troublesome too, more than one occasion I thought I'd blown it, I could see others above 2,500m but couldn't get near myself. Crossing the canyon was easier than it looked and I started to catch some that had left me behind. Tp3 was the toughest part, strong climbs, no real landing until way off course and really choppy in the air. I decided to back track along the ridge to conserve altitude on the run to Tp4.

The first couple of km from the ridge were really rough & sinky but my line along the ridge paid off and I was able to tag the turn easily enough. On the way to Tp5 the clouds came out and with it a chance to get really high. Now there was a head wind all the way to goal.

The run to ess was ok but the 8:1 required didn't factor the 12:1 needed to clear the terrain. I had to ease up and conserve height and lost a place to Marko, he nearly didn't make the landing. Got down ok, chuffed to bits with the good start to the week. There were 50+ in goal so hopefully I'm in the top half. If I just make goal every day I'll be happy.

As an aside, I was too busy in the air to take pics and I'm blogging from my phone... maybe I can borrow a laptop to provide some eye candy tomorrow.

Laters, Px

Day1 - Task 1?

Well, here we are and it's all looking good for a task. Thanks to mobile internet / sim problems I can only post morning or evening. The Spanish anti-terror laws have put paid to the mass tracking too but I'll be 'live' as usual...

You just won't know what I'm supposed to be doing...<><>Report on the day to follow this evening,

Laters, Px

Familiarisation day

Not much flying due to a light north wind which became moderate westerly. Managed to launch ok after a wait and a wander and some more waiting. 35mins in the end but nothing special and quite rough.

roll on tomorrow (after the welcome party tonight!)

Testing, testing...

1... 1, 2...

1, 1... 1, 2 ... check, check

Seems to work...?

Now, what else have I fogotten?
Oh yeah, insurance... might be handy, you never know!

sent from my HTC

FoF 2012

The Foot Or Flybubble 2012 challenge is kinda like the Red Bull X-alps but without the mountains and over just one day.  Like last years X-alps it's also been hit by unseasonable weather, the full story of my first attempt is at the Flybubble website and whilst it runs to the end of July I'll be unable to have another crack before the Nordics.

Here's a summary of the key learning points...

• Start at your chosen take off, don't waste an hour walking to the course before you start
• Stuff goes in zipped pockets or is securely tied onto straps
• Take food and drink with you, especially drink
• Run fast, fly slow, maintain altitude on the ground and in the air if you can
• Make your decisions before you arrive at the point you need to think about them
• Pack quick, save time, if you're sure it's good then unpack and launch
• When choosing a field from the air, don't forget to spot where the gate is
• Take your pack off when jumping fences
• Smart phones are really just phones... they are no substitute for proper maps and GPS
• Be prepared for the weather to change, don't forget the hat

Here endeth the lessons, hope you enjoy the vid (& pics)
thank you to
my gorgeous wife for letting me loose
the flybubble team for the top class support, kit & organisation
the people behind rasp for actually being able to provide a useful met interpretation
the X-alps athletes for inspiration
the person who found my helmet
the people who own the fields I 'occupied' for a while

and most of all
John for driving me there, back and collecting me when I really couldn't face any more

So much for an epic June...

Unseasonal weather and an unusually positioned jetstream put paid to any hope of a decent June and what is normally one of the best (most consistent light wind) months for flying in the UK was an almost complete washout. I had 8x days in North Wales and 3x free weekends out of 4 and managed 0 hours...

July hasn't been much better but I had a crack at the Foot Or Flybubble challenge, exploits detailed on the Flybubble site in the near future (if not already). www.flybubble.co.uk/news/section/855

I mentioned previously how comps had changed, the biggest changes are in the scoring and post flight analysis thanks to the advances in GPS technology.  When I was last competing the 'standard' was to set a goal at an optimistically achievable distance downwind.  For example, the Pandy bottom landing field from Merthyr.  Soon after, one or two turnpoints would creep in and my last 'proper' comp at Piedrahita in '96 had people racing off to the East end of the ridge and back (set in an attempt to spread out the pack) but this would result in pilots going round in circles, in close proximity, trying to take photos of ground features, often from not far above the ground.

Personally, I found this to be all too much, I wanted to learn from others and was learning nothing, sick of being slapped in the face by tips and trying not to snag a brake cascade with my boots I made a decision to quit on the way home.  So why am I going back for more..?

Well, for one thing, times have changed.  From the outside, the sport appears less 'gung-ho' at the upper levels now, there appears to be more restraint and tolerance.  I watch the videos of Philippe Broers on Vimeo and it looks like huge fun, plus the advent of GPS trace, together with Google Earth, allows the aspiring pilot to see exactly how the winners achieved their glory.  The opportunity to learn has never been greater.  Lastly, I want a break, I want to fly every day, in the company of equally able pilots, not be worried about retrieve, share some tales of 'there I was' and fly somewhere new in 'relative' safety.

For me a this comp is kind of like a guided holiday with an element of challenge, Fof2012 has proved I'm not x-alps material, my ankle is not quite as fubar as I thought but my fitness is nowhere near 'cos I've had 6 months of being comparatively sat on my backside. That and I like my creature comforts too much, there's always vol visa but why do that when you can just vol, vol, vol...?

Dos cerveza por favor!!!

About time...

Gosh what a wait but I feel so much better after the weekend.  A monster drive and a lot of waiting around but finally I got a long flight in! I didn't fly highest, furthest or fastest but really don't care, I had a blast and feel completely settled.

Just shy of 2 hours in the end and everything seems ok, minor tweak on the harness to do but otherwise I think we're all set.  Had some honky climbs and a couple of 'interesting' moments but it's all reassuring for now and I'm really starting to get that 'good' feeling.  Everything that's new is working ok, might need to rethink the clothing though. I was still 'dressed for spring' and it was in the mid 20's on take off.

I mentioned at the start of this about how comps had changed and haven't really talked about that yet, so more soon for sure...

Laters, P

photo taken a few days prior
(from Carlo's Album)