28 Feb - Porterville PWC Task 5

Hallelulia, a task.
A 60km or so task over to the next alley to the Constriction. :-)

Not wanting to go down in the flats I flew conservatively in the first half of the task. Too conservatively but the throught of bombing out again in the flats overcame my will to daringly push on. I wanted to get to goal today.

Losing the second gaggle a small group of us kept our heading, me leaving thermals before the others and acting as a thermal marker which now I see and understand as being a little unfair on my part, but hey..
The clouds we had experienced at the beginning of the course quickly burned off and we were left with blue skies. Heading over to Citrusdal, I came a cropper, not finding the lifty convergence in the valley and having been drifted downwind in the proceedings, lost time clipping the turnpoint at a right-angle and then headed into the small mountains to find some lift.

The views were absolutely stunning, the air having been cleaned out by a heavy rain fall last night.

However the Citrusdal valley was blowing strongly from the South The mountain side of the valley was windy and thermals were very blown. I drifted with the conditions for a while and hoped that I would get a few blips of something to take me to higher ground. Getting uncomfortably low, I pushed out into the valley to fly clear of rocks and scub in the event of landing. I I was at this point about 40 metres from the ground. Seeing a small field being hand ploughed I b-lined for that and bingo, the thermals released gave me my get out of jail card. Slight pressure on the speed bar to keep my heading and using the B's to maintain course and maximise lift, I found the core upwind and gained rapidly 500metres needed to reach the end of speed section and the goal line.

I couldn't see where it was from the trees and vineyards, but finally a small rugby field with goal posts either side came into view and the while plastic line across it. I was home. One of the lasts, but I had made it.
No walk out for me today and I was happy.

27 Feb - Porterville PWC Task 4

The task committee came up with yet again another task involving into wind legs. Sheer and utter frustration. Does that sky look wind blown or am I dreaming?
The field are thoroughly frustrated with the task setting style not understanding why we cannot make use of the ridge before setting out to turn-points in the flats.
As a result, the task was stopped, yet again, today and the minimum distance not reached. Points were as low as everyone's moral and I had overheard some pilots had considered leaving the competition through frustration.
My own performance was not worth mentioning so I have awarded myself another Joker card (there are usually 2 in a pack!).
A very long walk out of almost 2 hours, cross-wind carrying 27kilos. Tough. The buses were mopping up pilots all over the flats.
For goodness sake, let someone give us have a decent task tomorrow not involving any pushing bar into strong winds. Two petitions are circulating at present, one of them regarding task setting criteria, we'll see what happens tomorrow.

26 Feb - Porterville PWC Task 3

I can only describe the drive to launch as bearing resemblance to a 1hr Powerplate session with a PT (Personal  Trainer)!
Everything is in "vibration" mode. The floor, the ceiling, the windows and seats of the bus almost shake themselves loose of their nuts and bolts  as the driver hurtles at high speed along the rutted dirt road to take off. Perhaps he is timing himself, trying to knock off an extra few seconds every day to beat his personal best. Oh, and I forgot to mention, that he has a trailer on the back with the gliders!
It is incredible that when the bus actually stops, you can't feel the souls of your feet, they are completely numb from the vibration and your face feels as if is had been duct-taped to one of those industrial conveyor-belt sorting machines. Good for the circulation.

The briefing took second place to the local school children from Porterville giving us a beautiful send off this morning with songs and much cheering as we lobbed ourself off the mountain for another day of adventure in the sky.

Today was my Joker Card day. For 2 reasons:
The first, and for the first time, my glider went AWOL. Flying along the top of the ridge, I hit turbulence, the glider frontalled, tips collapsed, started flying backwards, I hit the speed bar, caught it on the rebound as it dived, didn't panic and prevented it from entering a spin. A brief hands up to see whether it was going to reproduce anymore surprises, then swung it out the turn as I got a brief second glimpse of the ground, and thought "We are too low for the reserve parachute, but we seem to be going slow enough that the damage won't be too bad".  I shimmied over the rocks with about 5m's to spare, and had just had my first true recoverable incident of my paragliding career. And I was happy, I had done a good job.

The second, was that regardless of the event taken place prior to the race start, I could not thermal to save my life today. Could not manage to core or centre anything half decent, either left or right, to get me round the course. Abismal!

It was windy, inverted, with a southerly reinforcing as the afternoon went on. Sea breeze coming in to join in the party, and we had a stopped comp. Flying a meagre 16km, I was saved by the MD (Meet Director) canning the task due to high winds and dangerous conditions along the course line.

I had not made TP1 and looking over head as I had packed away my glider and was walking to the retrieve vehicle, saw 40 or so gliders pinned and suspended, all starting their upward leg towards the final TP, the ESS and goal line.

Although no one called a Level 2, it was evident that from "Windy Hill", where the majority of the field landed, it was indeed Level 2 on the ground. Blowing over 30km/hr and turbulent.

As I had not had the best day in my flying career, I was sad for the others that they had fought as hard as they had for the task winner only to be awarded a tame 91points for his efforts.

It was a lot of effort, for not a lot of gain apart from I am here to write this Blog.

25 Feb - PWC Porterville Task 2

Question: How many pilots can you cram under the sponsor's tent?
Answer: 123!
Scochio. 38° in the shade and rising.

Today turned out better than the forecast had predicted, which was low inversion and thermals of only +1. A southelry shich was to reinforce as the afternoon progressed.
As it happens, we had between anything averaging between 1.7 and 4.6 which was very pleasing, and as the task was "going with the wind", we managed to get a task in.
Usual take off conditions of getting off the hill early before it blows out was "de rigueur". Chosing the lower launch which although netted instead of matted, therefore more uneven, the wind does come up cleaner, and has become a favourite of mine, but not of others. So as us Ladies slotted ourselves in amongst the big and burlies, I got off the hill early.
Settling into the flight early, I headed off towards TP1 with a gaggle whom I thought had chosen the better and easier line. As it turned out we were to all meet up again at TP2 anyway.
I can't remember the numbers (I never pay much attention to the distance of the task after plugging it into my GPS, I just obediently follow the arrows...), but I think the task was in the region of 56km or similar.
Some cross-wind sections and a final downwind leg which proved to be into wind for the final glide into goal,which put a large number of the field on the ground before finishing the task, much to everyone's frustration.
To add to this, the Committee decided to change the nominal distance for the Porterville site from 80km to some 60km odd, to allow for flatland flying in conditions typical for this time of the year, which put the wind up a few pilots to say the least. Regardless of how it may have annoyed several, it was in fact the right decision. Setting anything near an achievable 80km task to gain maximum points in these blustery conditions at present is a little less than impossible.
As I am writing this on the 26th after several glasses of chilled South African Chardonnay, my memory has blurred somewhat, but to finalise, Colin Hawke won the day. Jolly good show;
And when asked by a fellow pilot: "Where are you from? Germany, Poland...?". "No", said Colin, "I'm from Great Britain",  there were a few guffaws but great respect from the day's Big man from a little Island.
As for me, well, I finished 3rd in the women's task, behind Keiko and Nicole. Landing in a windy straw field just shy of the end of speed section (ESS, for those not familiar with para-jargon).

The long ride home was indeed long. Picking up the odd stray pilots on the way and stopping off at the Spa supermarket in Pittk-Pickketsburghbergerg....or something or other, for some beers and light refreshments, we made our way home. Man 'o Man, is it hot out here.
I keep meaning to put a link to the results page here, but I keep forgetting....must be the heat!

24 Feb - PWC Porterville Task 1

Well, conditions were to be the best they have been for the last 10 days. Strong thermals, almost 0 wind. Bla bla...
Someone had nicked my stickers at HQ, so I did a quick job on take off. Not bad and pretty straight despite the sunstroke due to waiting 30 mins on the east side of the totally not air-conditioned bus driving us to take off!
101km task set - all OK looked like a nice task apart from lobbing oneself over the ridge and over no man's land to the next TP!
Still, briefing was clear and precise, well done Meet Director, all good, ready to go....no wind.
Then really no wind, then no wind and no thermals.
More than several dodgy take off's - if any pilot managed to get off the hill the first attempts I take my hat off.
Task cancelled about 30 minutes after start gate opened. Some poor pilot had lost his glider in a cascade and piled in, to be helicoptered to Cape hospital with a broken back. Sad right at the start.

With the thick inversion sitting at about 800m, the field dolphinned up the ridge to get the start gate, some turned to the flats with not much more success at getting above 100m than those who had decided to return by the ridge.
Unforgiving terrain and not looking very pretty, with a few big names already on the ground, plus the casualty, the Meet Director called it a day.

I landed out in a field just shy of 3km. Nice big field, surrounded by barbed wire which I couldn't see. Well at least I know that ALL the fields here are barbed wired - nasty! Having tossed my 27kg pack over the fence, and with a hop and a skip I clambered over too. Feeling pleased with myself, I sat by the road and waited for my retrieve.  Silly me. That smug little smile would soon be wiped off my face, literally from sweat!

And I waited, and waited.....and eventually I had to start walking. The heat was a searing 46° on the roadside, and although I had my
 safari brolly (and idea born from an astute paragliding buddy) I walked the remaining 2km back to base.

Actually, I fib, about 70m (and I'm not kidding here) from HQ, one of the minibuses returning to HQ...empty....spotted me and waited. Nice and better than nothing.

Very cooly sauntering in to HQ office to return my live tracker, I enquired as to my return journey "a pied", which met with a "?". I was told later by a fellow pilot that there was, in fact, NO retrieve in view that the task has been canned so early. How does that happen?! And there were 20 or so pilots who had risked all to fly 3/4 of the task having turned down their radios (this because there is always someone transmitting). How were they going to get back? Well, they did by a fellow pilot's husband picking them up, that's what.

So here I sit now, with my gottle o' gear, sunsetting, it's still over 28 degrees, pondering over a the day: searing heat, dodgy take off area, buses with no air con....why do we do it?
Because we love it and we are no doubt a little stupid, that's why!!!

I'm off for a steak...... Ta ta.

23 Feb - PWC Porterville

Practice day looked promising until we got to the top and experienced a 20km/hr wind from the South West and getting stronger.

In blustery, cross-wind conditions, a large field of pilots who had no doubt arrived in Porterville yesterday, were eager to show their talent. So when the conditions finally hit 35km/hr and those who insisted in flying even though they were barely moving forwards once off the ground, the show of multi-attempt launches was a spectacle to be seen.

Filming in my usual "European's" style, I lodged the camera at the foot of take-off and captured the scenes of multiple launch attempts and dented egos. It'll be posted on Utube soon :-)  I know who you are.!!

The french decided to have a very long lunch and showed off the multi-coloured currency for all they had eaten and drunk in one afternoon.

Registration followed, smoothly and swiftly, and will be followed by a supper at the local Golf Club. Very jolly, what?

22 Feb - All Africa last task cancelled

So, 5 minutes to the window opening, the task was cancelled due to too much wind. It was blowing at about 25km/hr by the time we left take off and reinforced as the afternoon went on. Some decided to fly down, but there are always those pilots who "feel the need"!. Felix Rodriguez won the overall and Khobi Jane Bowden, the Women's podium.

I rolled back to my B&B for a nice relaxed evening followed by a succulent 300g filet steak "south africa style" at the local restaurant. Practice day tomorrow and hoping that the wind drops.

21st Feb - Task 4 Africa Open

Twin Trees B & B. I can recommend this accommodation run by a lovely couple. Air con, pool and wifi - it's 38+ degrees outside and I've slept for 10hours and feel rested.

I joined the All Africa competition today, and for the next couple of days, so that I could get in some practice and have a ride/retrieve.

The task was a 45km north. Great climbs in the flats and chose to fly these rather than ridge-run to get used to a different terrain. Finding climbs as low down as 250m for me was an eye opener and an exciting challenge, as the golden terrain delivered again and again all the way to goal.
Coming in 21st out of the field I was happy. First flight in 5 months and my season has started.

Another task today and lets hope the weather will be as good as yesterday. More later...

20 February 2013 - Porterville South Africa

Hearty breakfast from BA this morning after 6hrs of pretty good sleep :-)....Yes, that IS scrambled egg!

 Cloudy parallel with Johannesburg, then...

 The skies opened, little cumulus and beautiful views of Cape Town as we came into land.

That was a BIG plane we were on!

Great transfer from airport to Porterville (1hr20mins). Staying at the Twin Trees with Trix and her husband whoo are a lovely couple. Swimming Pool, Wifi, Air con ...oooh lala!

T5 - Peachy shopping, but....

OK, so I like to shop but not for hours!
Flight delayed, frustrating - I'm ready to go, now!!!!

D-Day ! Porterville, here we come....

Today. We are finally here. A beautiful day with gentle thermic conditions, and handful of people battled with the snow to walk up to Planfait take off for some gentle soaring. With an additional 50cm's on the ground since my last trip to take-off, they must have been full of dutch courage to battle with deep snow carrying gliders up to launch.
Blue sky and spring sunshine, I set off to Geneva airport for the start of my long journey to Porterville with a small lump in my throat. Would there be any snow left when I returned home? Would it be flyable when I returned home. Would it look like this when I returned home?

Or like this?

All those questions will be answered in 18 days. But for now, focus on what lies ahead and the first competition of the season: the Paragliding World Cup round 1 in Porterville, South Africa.
Manned with new glider, a Niviuk Icepeak6 thanks to Niviuk UK, and some blond ambition to join in the World Championships in July 2013, off I go...

Next stop T5 Heathrow airport, London, UK.

D -1 - Skitour Sulens

As a final tribute to this winter's training to keep fit in prep for this summer's flying season, I set out to enjoyed a final Ski Tour up Mont Sulens, before leaving for South Africa and the first of the paragliding competitons for me this season, tomorrow.

What a beautiful day. 1770m to the summit from the valley, we covered about 800m vertical which was enough after a 2hr long gym session a couple of hours before.
the view was just stunning and we enjoyed a steaming cup of Chai on the summit before skiing down through untracked powder snow which, oddly enough had not transformed to spring snow with the warmer weather (6° during the day).

What a fabulous way to spend the last day before I leave.

PWC South Africa D-1

Almost there. Packing done. Checked all equipment (C-Pilot not working 100% - ho-hum). Just need to check-in with flight company this afternoon to grab my window seat for the 14hr flight from Geneva to Cape Town and I am green for GO ...