Badger in goal for USA on task 3

It was an ambitious 100+km long task today but with the upslope cycles of wind in the morning and blue sky visible, we hoped it would stay sunny enough all day to climb fast and glide fast. It sorta was. 

As it turned out, the sky shaded at the start and slow climbs gave way to nice climbs with sun still peeking out in places. 

Before the start 

Pre start gaggling. 

The start was spread out along a long radius arc, some in the mountains and some on the foothills with some more over the flats. I loved my start and showed up in good position for the first climb at the end of the mountains. 

The first turn point forced us into the valley, but climbs to cloud base were there and most everyone styled high there and on the way to the next turn point. 

As we crossed the flatlands in the valley and just started to meet the rising terrain, many stayed on the north side and slowly climbed up and over to the spine leading to the cylinder in what felt and looked like full shade. Some were established on the sun line of the clouds to the south of the high ground and it seemed to work there too. Maybe better?

I was behind a bit and forced myself to leave some weak lift and follow some bold pilots who dove in deep over the expansive forest below, to a point that had just pulsed earlier and was one of the few spots within glide that was in full sun. We connected with a swirling, lumpy and disorganized ripper of a thermal that drifted us to the north as we all struggled to hold on to it. Eventually we topped it out near the cloud and jammed on full bar to avoid whiting out and to make better progress. 

It seemed like from this height, a high speed glide on a line directly to the cylinder was in order. What I noticed too late was that others had eased to my right for a more buoyant line, leaving me low with a few others who took the sun line from the south. Those pilots higher and behind me tagged the point and the somewhat reversed their path to a climbed that beamed them to base while I and a few others were trying too eek out a glide in total shade to a spot ahead that was feeding those in the climb I missed. 

I noticed one pilot had already landed with his wing bunched up on the ground and another just 100 feet below me landed just minutes later. From my perspective I knew I had to make it to the fields that were just ahead in sun but now were starting to shade. 

Thankfully another two pilots arrived as I started turning in light lift. Eventually it would take us from 200 feet off the deck, back to cloud base and back in the game. We tanked up, and aimed at the big dark cloud at the end of the range taking it to the top before crossing the flats toward the last turn point where half way there we could see the lead gaggle stuck and circling in light lift over a small town. I wasn't going to make it to them on my glide and noticed some others off course line to the left in light lift too, only it was drifting quick and I had to decide how best to get there. I opted to go towards the sun spot on the ground but it turned out that the thermal feeding their climb had come from somewhere else, and I was to low to change my mind, and committed to the sunny fields near the next small village.  I landed there. 

Behind me the lead gaggle stayed together and drifted towards the few that I missed in a climb and eventually the gaggles merged. 

I packed up, pushed my spot and texted the retrieve that Rob was on the way in our team van. 

What?!!

Soon after my phone rang and Rob said that Josh, Arnie and Nick were all on the ground near me and that he was on the way. To pick us up. 

Take me with you, Badger! The gaggle took a patient LONG time but eventually drifted and climbed to base at the final turn point and I watched as the armada floated overhead in a silent formation. 

That left only the Badger to get us into goal and so he did! Our adopted Canadian representative Brett Hazlett also made it into goal. Im guessing there were 50 pilots in goal. Bravo!

The Badger!

Bret sorting gear under the Shambala tent as Arnie blogs before even arriving back to download the GPS and check in. Nice!

Disappointing day for many of us, but we are stoked for Eric and Brett. Off to dinner now. 

Cheers!

Marty

No day 2 today

The morning started quiet, then barking dogs broke the silence. This was later replaced by jet fighters doing maneuvers to the south. It sounded like an air show but they flew too low to the terrain to be seen from our rented house. 

The forecast is for stronger wind, more moisture and weaker climbs. So we will certainly have our work cut out for us today. Everyone seems ready, in a great mood and happy. Go TEAM!

Update: (the above was before leaving the house) today is cancelled for a task, though they are allowing free flying later with no retrieve or rescue services. 

Calling off the day. Local weather seminar this evening. Hot springs for those who are interested. Gear tweaking opportunity for many. 

Checking lines has been a big deal here as it is possible to be selected for a line check after landing in goal. You and your team captain are transported to headquarters and they perform the check.   If you are out of trim (slow) they will tell you and if you are out of trim (fast) you will be penalized. 

To make sure we are within tolerance of trim, Arnie, Eric and Josh were working on a laser line checker here at the house. 

Josh holding the laser at the end if the line where it mets the canopy, and aiming it at the target on the other end where the risers are attached. 

Arnie manually entering data (measurements) called out by Josh for each line. 

The target for the lazer is on a moving track attached to a 5 liter water bottle in the back to provide consistent tension.  It took all day to measure, enter the data and then interpret the lengths and make corrections for Josh and Eric on their Boomerang 9s. I'm not sure if Arnie worked on his or not. 

I heard there were some Slovak pilots at headquarters who were doing line checks for 50 euros. I had them do my Icepeak 6 (23) and they found that my wing tips were slow, yet symmetrical.  Not a bad thing, easily correctable. Pete has the same glider and loves his as do I with mine. 

This is the back of the target looking toward the glider being checked. 

Peter was helping the other guy (whose name i didn't get) who was doing all the measuring. They had a blue tooth lazer that entered the measurement automatically to the laptop on the table next to the target. They already had the spreadsheet for all current gliders and it would populate the spreadsheet as fast as he could shoot the beam to the target for each line measured. 

When finished measuring, they would both discuss the results and agree how to trim it to make it within spec for fast neutral or floaty (slow) all within legal tolerances. 

They were very pleased with the overall tolerances and trimmed the lines to be spot on trim. I was not the first in line so I watched 3 or 4 gliders get measured and trimmed before me, and I was very impressed. It turns out they do line checks for Nova paragliders, and are real pros. 

The checking of the final trim lengths on my wing after trimming at the quick link of the risers. 

Notice the extra looped part of the lines where they attatch to the quick link. Extra loop on the middle lines and double loop on the outside A-lines to speed up the tips.  It worked great on day one. I can rest assured my glider will pass if checked now too.  Priceless. 

7:30 tonight iwe are having dinner prepared for us at the house by Ana the host. This should be a real treat. I love the food here. Fresh vegetable salads (surprisingly little or no lettuce) with ham, cheese hard boiled egg etc. Entrees include  lean chicken, pork or beef or fish and sized to fill even ME up. Nice. 

Tomorrow is another day. We will charge then. Weather is as weather does?  

Tune in for task 2, hopefully soon. 

Cheers,

Marty