tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55368004795535788522024-02-07T02:55:44.919-06:00ParaglidingI fly a lot, sometimes in interesting places with fascinating people. On occasion I feel that I should share these experiences.AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-86936635401906563192023-10-01T04:30:00.002-06:002023-10-01T04:30:58.565-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - (final) Task 5 - 87kmThe final day dawned to a similar forecast and a new type of cloud draped over the hills surrounding the town. These are called 'oreo-graphic' according to one visiting pilot. It is interesting how the general mood at these events improves over the duration of the competition if there is good flying. The tension of the early protested task has dissolved into general AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-23415084925811372282023-09-30T03:41:00.001-06:002023-09-30T03:42:41.351-06:00Copa do Mundo - Brasil 2023 - Pico do Gavião, Andradas - Tarefa 4 (após 2 dias de descanso) 67km.Eu apreciaria feedback quanto à qualidade desta tradução do inglês para o português.Esta é a minha terceira visita a Andradas. Estivemos aqui em 2017 e 2019 e voamos quase todos os dias. Também voamos em Poços de Caldas em 2010 (visível do lançamento), mas isso foi em abril e choveu praticamente todos os dias. A razão pela qual viemos a Andradas, como explicado anteriormente, é devido à 'Teoria AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-31903260410244806372023-09-30T03:11:00.004-06:002023-09-30T03:47:35.999-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task 4 (after 2 rest days) 67km This is my third visit to Andradas. We were here in 2017 & 2019 and we flew almost every day. We also flew Pocos de Caldas in 2010 (visible from launch), but that was in April and it rained pretty much every day. The reason we come to Andradas, as previously explained, is due to the 'Olive Theory'. So, to have two consecutive non-flyable days in Andradas AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-29773289988074923482023-09-27T01:33:00.002-06:002023-09-27T01:35:59.483-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task 3 (yet Another) 87km The wind was predicted north-westerly strengthening to 30km/h+ so we were sent off the north launch with a more sensible start after the protest about the start yesterday. The potent conditions saw more airspace infringements on the day. A new law of nature has emerged in Andradas where maximum heart rate is directly correlated to proximity of 3050m ASL. I watched many AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-6256220098704011992023-09-26T03:42:00.005-06:002023-09-26T03:57:59.462-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task 2 (Another) 87kmWhat should have been a celebration of flying started with a similar forecast, but the wind was slightly more westerly starting a cascade of mistakes culminating in a war of words and threats of protest.The organisers, task setters, and PWC staff are always faced with the significant challenge of getting pilots off launch safely while minimising the pressure at launch, reducing stress of the AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-29504997318698706712023-09-24T16:26:00.006-06:002023-09-24T16:26:50.369-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task 1 87km I woke to a favourable forecast after a death-like sleep of exhaustion. A four thousand meter cloud base is normally cause for celebration, but sadly the three thousand meter limit makes for stressful flying if you want to avoid being penalised. Many pilots got it wrong and paid the price with point deductions on a sliding scale. If you break the limit by a few meters it is not AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-70156379105936364762023-09-24T04:03:00.003-06:002023-09-24T04:19:08.549-06:00World Cup - Brazil 2023 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Airborne AgainWhy Hello there! It has been many moons since my last post. In fact the last blogpost I made happens to be from the same flying site almost exactly four years ago. Pico do Gaviao: the place where they grow both coffee and olives which appears to be the perfect recipe for a three thousand meter cloudbase and hundred kilometer triangles all day everyday.So much has happened since AndreRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09616951747758902808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-65478516642932210932023-09-24T03:14:00.000-06:002023-09-24T03:14:51.705-06:00Three Way StreetsThe mission was distance in the days of reliable recovery at my home site. He or she who flew the furthest was monarch of the mountain and the competition was fierce! As the peer group dwindled over the years, and the recovery options dried up I took to flying out and return routes and triangles mostly out of necessity. In one memorable stretch, five of these flights were Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-29235796645481463792019-09-13T06:35:00.003-05:002019-09-13T06:40:50.872-05:00World Cup - Brazil 2019 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task Four and Five - Mind your head!
There are few things more stressful than landing prematurely during a world cup task. Normally being too high is only of concern in the context of clouds. We are limited to 10,000ft (3048m) ASL here in Andradas which would mostly be alright because cloudbase is not often higher than that. Unfortunately, we have had three days in a row where 10k was not enough and task five was Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-3968428127355424502019-09-11T04:54:00.000-05:002019-09-11T04:57:00.261-05:00World Cup - Brazil 2019 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task Three - Catch up!
Most paragliding pilots dream of flying a one hundred kilometer FAI triangle at some point in their lives. Not many get around to it. Well folks, if you want a hundred triangle I suggest you come to Brazil because in Andradas you get to do it with almost a hundred pilots at a time. It was an interesting day with convergence lines and fires en route. The height restrictionAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-46435930702323538902019-09-10T04:44:00.003-05:002019-09-10T04:44:51.835-05:00World Cup - Brazil 2019 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas - Task 1 & 2 - I said Follow the damn gaggle!
And so it was that the Olive Prophecy came to pass with two days and two tasks.
Task one was won by Chigwon Won (try say that five times quickly). Chigwon Won won one here two years ago too (I can do this all day). The Korean charger is leading the comp after another great performance on day two.
Both tasks featured romps into the flat lands due to moderate wind Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-9179862235546863562019-09-08T05:05:00.004-05:002019-09-08T05:57:33.382-05:00World Cup - Brazil 2019 - Pico do Gaviao, Andradas
Brazil has been one of my favourite world cup tour destinations over the years. I had a look at my comp record on pwca.org and I was amazed to see that this is my eighth world cup event in Brazil since 2006 in Castelo where I started this blog. We also had a world championship in Governador Valadares in 2005 which was won by Steve Cox and Louise Crandal in a ten task festival ofAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-39656887118409296892019-03-29T03:29:00.002-06:002019-03-29T03:32:39.439-06:00 Baixu Guandu Super FInal- March 2019 - Day 7, Task 6 - 100km (because we can)
The mornings are mercifully cooler offering brief respite from the oppressive heat of the day. A forecast of more wind had the task committee set a large start radius enticing some to fly great distances before the start in search of some advantage. If that sounds absurd consider any advantage, no matter how small, is priceless among this field where every second and every meter Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-64323535280402161172019-03-28T03:20:00.002-06:002019-03-28T03:31:12.877-06:00Baixu Guandu Super FInal- March 2019 - Week 1It has been a long time since I posted something on this blog. Many things have happened in the interim, but to cut a long story short I am inspired to write again given that we are back in BG for the Super FInal and it would be selfish not to share our experiences in this sultry wonderland. Hot and humid the week started as temperatures were nudging close to forty degrees.
There is Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-29614106284396513792018-04-20T20:41:00.000-05:002018-04-20T20:41:07.099-05:00World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo Guandu - Task 4Today was a really really good day for racing paragliders.... sadly most of this happened without my help as I crashed and burned early at about 40km for another schizophrenic performance. Luckily for our team Russel and Khobi brought it home giving us hope for the team podium and with Russel close to the top ten. So there is everything to fly for tomorrow.
I don't know how the raceAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-56696313009798092652018-04-19T18:43:00.000-05:002018-04-19T18:45:28.525-05:00World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo Guandu - Task 3So the good thing about coming near to last in a task is that things can only get better as in Howard Jones (have a look at the world class mullet) or the more familiar D:Ream. And what could possibly be better than stumbling across the line into goal with a really good mate for a one-two South African win. Top three for Russel and I, first team, and second nation thanks to a strong Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-86848923053082335702018-04-18T20:40:00.002-05:002018-04-18T20:41:23.605-05:00World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo Guandu - Task 2We woke to broken cloud and blue patches and a favorable forecast. A race of 71km was set to the North on account of the fresh south easterly breeze. It started with a bang and quickly turned into a whimper as the entire region was closed down by cloud cover. Most of the field ended up scratching in light lift after the first glide for eternity.
Yours truly Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-18336797831872615822018-04-18T03:45:00.003-05:002018-04-18T03:45:35.119-05:00 World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo Guandu - Day 2 & 3 Cancelled
You could call it World Cup fever. This is when the weather turns spiteful whenever the World Cup rolls into town. Two days of intermittent showers have grounded us. We did not even go up the hill on Monday because:
We went up the hill on Tuesday which was interesting because the dirt road was muddy and the driver of our van probably had rally driving experience Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-90251164167147174262018-04-15T19:17:00.000-05:002018-04-15T19:19:42.176-05:00World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo Guandu - Task 1Who would have thought a day that started doubtfully would turn out so right! The deluge that welcomed us home in the evening before gave a cloud-base below the road on the drive through to Baixo in the morning with no fewer than three levels of cloud starting on the ground through the stratus into the cirrus.
We were trucked up the mountain at 8am to the launch site where the normal firstAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-68790828478800656842018-04-15T03:23:00.000-05:002018-04-15T05:04:57.529-05:00World Cup Brazil 2018- Baixo GuanduIt has been almost ten years since my first blog post in 2008. I did a single post during a comp in May 2008 in Poggio Bustone, Italy. It was only later that year when Andrew and I flew in the Super final in Brazil that we wrote about the flying properly (http://andre-comps.blogspot.com.br/2008/09/).
It is therefore a sweet coincidence to be back in Brazil with Andrew on the ten yearAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-9295002272675461972017-09-07T06:44:00.001-05:002017-09-07T06:44:22.344-05:00World Cup Brazil - Task 4
The tasks get longer as the conditions improve. We were set a course of nearly one hundred kilometers which turned out to be exactly right because conditions seem to shut down fairly quickly.
The task was set to give some variety of choice. This did very little to separate the field as the mass gaggle decorated every thermal around the course like some giant tree with colourful Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-91264954283962614822017-09-06T06:53:00.003-05:002017-09-06T06:53:45.195-05:00Brazil World Cup - Task 3 - Firefighting
What a glorious day! A better forecast and light winds allowed a slightly longer task of 87 km. The launch was a bit stressful because the wind switched just as most pilots were kitted up and waiting to launch which saw a mass waddle to the south launch. Felix managed to launch west but tumbled down the slope requiring assistance from the rescue crew.
The start was a less Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-9964363754545923472017-09-05T05:05:00.000-05:002017-09-05T05:18:15.216-05:00World Cup Brazil - Task 2
We woke to thrashing trees tormented by a nagging north wind. There is wind most mornings just not as strong. Some people saw forecasts that suggested increasing wind to 50km/h but we went up anyway. The organisers confidently set a task despite the howling breeze citing a favourable forecast. It was to be a 75 km downwind dash with a couple of kinks along the way.
TheAndrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-35076190628526223852017-09-04T06:25:00.002-05:002017-09-04T06:28:19.958-05:00World Cup Brazil - Task 1 - Pipped by a Point
There was a carnival atmosphere on launch with no less than two mega-watt sound systems blasting out an eclectic mix of music to send the pilots off the mountain in pursuit of glory for an ambitious 83km task.
You will understand the task perfectly if ever you have tried to cut solid metal with a cheap hacksaw blade: It goes really well until about half-way through and then it Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536800479553578852.post-66423803854903451292017-09-04T05:52:00.001-05:002017-09-04T05:52:12.560-05:00World Cup - Pico do Gavio, Aguas da Prata, Brasil - Practice days
It has been a long year of very little competition flying on account of my early departure from the world championships in Italy. For those of you wondering: I left Feltre after the first task on account of my mother who ended up in ICU for a month. To cut a long story short, mom survived against all odds albeit with a few more battle scars. The life force runs strong in the Andrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15374638263463440953noreply@blogger.com0