A 40km task in the convergence is hardly a chore nor challenge for this field, but the governor of Mexico City was to attend the opening ceremony at 17H30 sharp so the organisers set this screaming task In the convergence to Monarca and back to the lake which saw half the field disappear for prolonged periods of time alternately spiraling hard to try stay out of the clouds in order to finish the task.
Everyone made goal in short order and the guv rocked up with a batch of mean looking body guards who watched us closely standing in the aisles while he declared the comp open before being whisked away Hollywood celeb style in big American cars with blacked-out windows.
My glider turned out to have a mild deformity. I got another one from Joel so we are all set for some hard flying starting tomorrow. Still no clear distinction between gliders.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Monday, 23 January 2012
Valle de Bravo - Paragliding World Cup Super Final
For those of you not up to speed on paragliding current affairs, read this:
The paragliding world cup super final is intended to be the ultimate competition whereby all the top in-form pilots in the world along with various 'legends' get together for an extended event to determine the world cup champion. Pilots qualified during the 2011 season by finishing in the top ten or fifteen places in any of the qualifying world cup events or by winning a pre-world cup. In addition every ex-world cup, ex-world or European champion is invited along with a handful of other notable pilots.
We have two SA pilots present. RusselA qualified in Colombia last year and I qualified in Porterville in December.
The paragliding world was cast into a sea of confusion after a world class blunder by the FAI last year when 'they' banned open class gliders from cat1 competitions and issued a strong advisory to cat2 comp organisers to do the same. Almost every NAC around the globe decided to uphold the ban and the world cup association followed suit after much deliberation. The result? Glider manufacturers scrambled to produce certified versions of the awesome open class gliders that have been developed in the last few years. At least four Manufacturers produced two-line EN D certified gliders in time for this super final. This has not been without controversy with the testing houses downing tools after the veteran test pilot, Alain Zoller, ended up in hospital testing a new-age serial wing (rumored to be one of the Valic brothers' new offerings under their '777' brand).
Ozone and Niviuk came up with a medium and Gin produced S,M & L. Swing also has a glider. It is probably too early to determine which Glider is best, but it seems they are all similar. Some would have you believe the Ozone has best glide, the Gin best climb and Niviuk best speed. In truth Valle is a tricky place to fly so minor differences in equipment performance will be negated by conditions and decision making.
I happen to be on the Niviuk. After two days of flying in the convergence at full speed and cranking it up in boisterous 6m/s thermals I think the glider is sweet and not too far off in performance to my beloved R11 albeit significantly slower at the top end.
Valle is famous for booming consistent conditions and it is expected that we will fly every day. The rules allow for a rest day after five consecutive tasks so we will have a maximum of ten days. The rules also specify that one task can be dropped every three days but not on the last last two days. This means we will drop two or three tasks (not really sure exactly how it is going to be done, but something called FTV will be employed which achieves discards but progressively on a day to day basis).
The safety briefing was especially entertaining... We were told that the 'G-Spot' is a turbulent place where a rescue team is strategically placed for our safety.
Official practice day is on Tuesday. I am flying on a Niviuk team with two French pilots Jeremie Lager and Lucas Bernadine.
The paragliding world cup super final is intended to be the ultimate competition whereby all the top in-form pilots in the world along with various 'legends' get together for an extended event to determine the world cup champion. Pilots qualified during the 2011 season by finishing in the top ten or fifteen places in any of the qualifying world cup events or by winning a pre-world cup. In addition every ex-world cup, ex-world or European champion is invited along with a handful of other notable pilots.
We have two SA pilots present. RusselA qualified in Colombia last year and I qualified in Porterville in December.
The paragliding world was cast into a sea of confusion after a world class blunder by the FAI last year when 'they' banned open class gliders from cat1 competitions and issued a strong advisory to cat2 comp organisers to do the same. Almost every NAC around the globe decided to uphold the ban and the world cup association followed suit after much deliberation. The result? Glider manufacturers scrambled to produce certified versions of the awesome open class gliders that have been developed in the last few years. At least four Manufacturers produced two-line EN D certified gliders in time for this super final. This has not been without controversy with the testing houses downing tools after the veteran test pilot, Alain Zoller, ended up in hospital testing a new-age serial wing (rumored to be one of the Valic brothers' new offerings under their '777' brand).
Ozone and Niviuk came up with a medium and Gin produced S,M & L. Swing also has a glider. It is probably too early to determine which Glider is best, but it seems they are all similar. Some would have you believe the Ozone has best glide, the Gin best climb and Niviuk best speed. In truth Valle is a tricky place to fly so minor differences in equipment performance will be negated by conditions and decision making.
I happen to be on the Niviuk. After two days of flying in the convergence at full speed and cranking it up in boisterous 6m/s thermals I think the glider is sweet and not too far off in performance to my beloved R11 albeit significantly slower at the top end.
Valle is famous for booming consistent conditions and it is expected that we will fly every day. The rules allow for a rest day after five consecutive tasks so we will have a maximum of ten days. The rules also specify that one task can be dropped every three days but not on the last last two days. This means we will drop two or three tasks (not really sure exactly how it is going to be done, but something called FTV will be employed which achieves discards but progressively on a day to day basis).
The safety briefing was especially entertaining... We were told that the 'G-Spot' is a turbulent place where a rescue team is strategically placed for our safety.
Official practice day is on Tuesday. I am flying on a Niviuk team with two French pilots Jeremie Lager and Lucas Bernadine.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Friday, 8 July 2011
World Championships - cancelled!
No surprises here! CIVL pulled the plug without really taking any notice of the plebeian pilot masses. I guess Andrew predicted it earliest but at least we have confirmation now: no more open class gliders in FAI I comps.
Part of me is delighted because now the Paragliding World Cup will continue the tradition that Frankie Brown spelled out for us today: 'fourteen years of world cup hosting five events a year and one fatality.'. Perhaps the problem lies with the authorities and not the equipment. And yes, perhaps the exclusivity of world cup is appropriate.
On the other hand as long as badge collecting remains a national passtime each batch of wannabe legends such as ourselves will sustain the bloated FAI whale that wallows in the sea of our CIVL subservience feeding on the plankton of our national pride.
See you soon in a thermal nearby from your ever faithful servant and proudly South African national team pilot.
Andre Rainsford-Alberts
World Championships - Sublime, Sad and Ridiculous
It breaks my heart that Xavier is gone too.
A black week for paragliding darkening rapidly by the condescending arrogance and total lack of leadership displayed by FAI representatives while Steve Ham gallantly tries to gain acceptance for a proposal designed to save what is left of this competition.
Steve’s initiative started well enough but the mood has turned partly sour with fractious opinions being bandied about between opposing camps of enthusiasts, nay Sayers and individuals with zero-on-the-first-day agenda’s. There appears to be no time-line for decision making but we are hopeful for resolution some time today or tomorrow.
Looking on the bright side…. Uhm… well… ummm… ahhh… uhm! Ok, moving along then: perhaps if we all fly seven hours a day (every day) we really will be safer. Local sales of catheter/condom pee-tube thingies and adult incontinence nappies will spike.
Looking on the bright side…. Uhm… well… ummm… ahhh… uhm! Ok, moving along then: perhaps if we all fly seven hours a day (every day) we really will be safer. Local sales of catheter/condom pee-tube thingies and adult incontinence nappies will spike.
Quote from Khobi while trying on aforementioned nappy: ‘Does my bum look big in this?’. To which we all replied: ‘HELL NO!! Your bum makes that nappy look fat!’
The reality is that we will never fly these elegantly beautiful two line racing machines in FAI competitions ever again and the World Cup will grow in strength and continue as the premier body for high performance paragliding by individuals.
The reality is that we will never fly these elegantly beautiful two line racing machines in FAI competitions ever again and the World Cup will grow in strength and continue as the premier body for high performance paragliding by individuals.
And just in case you think I am gung-ho and callous you should know that I think this is probably a good thing. FAI will never be able to reconcile safety and racing on paragliders in it’s present form.
One suggestion that has emerged is to send the FAI delegation home and let Steve Ham run a comp for the World Cup as a memorial to Francisco, Eitel and Xavier.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
World Championships - Sober Thoughts
Two fatalities and nine reserve deployments in two days. If you’re not here you probably think this place is seriously dangerous? You would be right and wrong because most would argue yesterday was a fairly benign day. One opinion asked what will happen in the next ten days if conditions become at all challenging as Piedrahita is known to be at times. Others are dismissive in the sense that we all know the risks and choose to proceed and that any over-reaction locally will simply be an emotional response amplified by our proximity to these tragic events.
What is more interesting (and perhaps unfortunate) is the fact that FAI/CIVL made changes in an attempt to make these events safer after the last fatality in Mexico. A cynical view may be that all they did was a whitewash to cover or mitigate any liability whether real or perceived. This view might find support if you consider the draconian waiver we were all forced to sign along with the fact that despite the rigid rules imposed by FAI/CIVL they remain at arms length shifting all responsibility to the organisers and pilots.
The organisers probably have no choice but to poll the pilots if any decisions are to be made regarding the continuance of the competition. There is conflict between the dire implications of further incidents versus the critisism and claims that may be brought against them in terms of costs and commitments should the event be stopped. Now I don’t know about the rest of you but my myopic understanding of these things paint a terrible picture of conflicting interests that do not promote objective decision making in terms of safety.
My bet is that FAI/CIVL will want to be seen to ‘do the right thing’ (whatever that is) while limiting any liability at the same time. Steve Ham is as level headed as anyone I know and will probably do whatever he is asked to do within reason. Vague I know but one thing is sure: EVERYONE involved will probably consult their legal representatives.
Having said all of that many of us would happily continue flying this competition albeit with the inescapable sobriety enforced by the passing of Francisco Vargas and Eitel von Muhlenbrock. We did not know them personally yet still feel a sense of loss.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
World Championships - Spain - Bad news
Two fatalities: http://www.piedrahita2011.com/piedrahita2011/news
Sent from my iPhone
World Championships - Spain - Day 2 - Task 2
Conditions were not so good today 'they' said so we had to bumble around below take off height to get the remote turn point before a start in town and another turn point west before a run to Avila 50km to the east.
Mixed success for SA. Andre fast, Russel fast but low, Henry and Khobi short.
Five reserve deployments and two serious incidents.
Henry: 'I'm sulking in a corner contemplating slitting my wrists after the pleasant cross country of yesterday'. This after landing at the pass.
Russel and big bad Brad from US: 'those power lines man! I mean hey dude! We were worried.. That's how low we were. Had to mince it up in a little scrappy bubble big enough for half a wing. Lost half an hour but better than landing. R11 looked like a jelly fish.'
The pic is of Brad Gunnuscio US team and full time paragliding instructor and acro pilot. Lives on north side point of the mountain in Draper Utah near salt lake city. This dude launches from his back door. Brad has been flying for fifteen years.. His dad was a hangy in the seventies. Claims to fame: US champion 2009; 2010 Monarca champion in Valle de Bravo Mexico; Brazilian open champ 2010; has beaten Felix at least once in acro. Pride and joy is 9 year old son Skyler who has two paragliders in his closet and has been flying since age 12 months.
World Champs - Spain - Day1 Task1
And so we were off to a glorius albeit chaotic start with a 154km task set past Segovia in a substantial west wind. The SA men did reasonably well with Andre leading most of the way joined by Russel at the halfway mark only to be held up near the end. Henry romped home on the end of the first gaggle in the 30's with Russel and Andre in the 40's and 50's
It was a relatively straight forward down wind dash complicated by an awkwardly positioned exit start gate that had most of the field stuck in no-mans land over the pass with ten minutes to go and no-where to wait in the relentless westerly. The day was further complicated by no-fly zones and height restrictions along the course in the second half. The start put a fair few on the ground and airspace navigation issues will cause tears because around thirty or so pilots who made goal received zeros for their efforts on account of infringements. I imagine there will be fireworks at the team leader briefing this morning with protests, complaints and appeals being the order of the day.
I have to say it is not that much fun trying to stay under 3,000m ASL on a booming day and avoiding little parcels of no-go-zones can be stressful and tedious. It's a real bummer that quality pilots like Torsten Siegel should be out so early.
Other notables who had less than a perfect day include: our viking mate Mads; Jack Brown from US (of Korea worldcup fame); Xevi Bonet who finished 10th in Mexico in his tenth world championship event; Elisa Houdry (defending female champion).
There is alot of flying to be done over the next 12 days so I guess it is too soon to make any predictions.
Launch is hectic with strong wind and human bowling balls dragging through take-off on every second launch attempt.
The leader boards:
Male: Charles Cazaux, Rafal Luckos, Neil Roberts
Female: Petra Silvova, Regula Strasser Strasser, Seiko Naville
Team: FRANCE, UK, USA,
SA team in 14th.
It was a relatively straight forward down wind dash complicated by an awkwardly positioned exit start gate that had most of the field stuck in no-mans land over the pass with ten minutes to go and no-where to wait in the relentless westerly. The day was further complicated by no-fly zones and height restrictions along the course in the second half. The start put a fair few on the ground and airspace navigation issues will cause tears because around thirty or so pilots who made goal received zeros for their efforts on account of infringements. I imagine there will be fireworks at the team leader briefing this morning with protests, complaints and appeals being the order of the day.
I have to say it is not that much fun trying to stay under 3,000m ASL on a booming day and avoiding little parcels of no-go-zones can be stressful and tedious. It's a real bummer that quality pilots like Torsten Siegel should be out so early.
Other notables who had less than a perfect day include: our viking mate Mads; Jack Brown from US (of Korea worldcup fame); Xevi Bonet who finished 10th in Mexico in his tenth world championship event; Elisa Houdry (defending female champion).
There is alot of flying to be done over the next 12 days so I guess it is too soon to make any predictions.
Launch is hectic with strong wind and human bowling balls dragging through take-off on every second launch attempt.
The leader boards:
Male: Charles Cazaux, Rafal Luckos, Neil Roberts
Female: Petra Silvova, Regula Strasser Strasser, Seiko Naville
Team: FRANCE, UK, USA,
SA team in 14th.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
World championships - Spain
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Friday, 1 July 2011
World Championships - Training day two
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