The US Paragliding Team would like to send our condolences out to the families of Argentinian pilot, Francisco Vargas and Chilean pilot, Eitel von Muhlenbrock. It is with heartfelt sadness that we have lost these two incredible individuals. They will be greatly missed by all of us. May they rest in peace. .
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Day 2 Task to Avila 77K
This is the place to start for the latest daily info:
The scored results are linked on this page.
Be sure and check out the other choices under the Live Task Data tab
During the task you can follow the live tracking for near real time data.
Better yet look for the Google Earth link in the right hand column to follow the pilots tracks in 3-D.
Live tracking is not always completely accurate for a number of reasons so take it's results with a grain of salt.
If you're on the west coast of the US you'll have to be up pretty early to follow the race live.
So the next thing to check is the leader board.
As soon as the pilots make it back to town and have their GPS track downloaded they will show up on the leader board. The leader board is updated as each pilot downloads their data so keep the page open if its missing some names.
The leader board shows the raw data and the a pilots actual placement for the day may change a place or two after the scores are calculated.
Scored results should be available by 10 pm local time.
Some pics from the day:
Jeff
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
With moderately strong west winds forecast, a 153km task to the NE was set. This put us on course to dodge several bits of airspace. The window opened fairly soon after the task meeting and we had 20km to go to the start. So there was a bit of a rush get ready, eat some sandwich and launch into a "fresh" breeze.
I had an entertaining launch. Someone laid out in front of me, blew a launch and then tried to launch in front of me again. But Rob grabbed his glider, said a few reasonable words and gave me a chance to pull up.
The glider came up a bit crooked and I took a few steps before getting it overhead and turned around. That put me right behind the center of the other guy's wing, with a high wall built. I had a good cycle so I made sure he saw me there, picked up my feet and flew over it.
The start put us right over the fabled Villatoro Pass. A group I was with drifted out of position before the start and then had to glide back upwind with 7 minutes to go. Not ideal, but no one else was in a much better position so it worked out.
From the start we had the choice to follow the range on the S side of the Ambles valley with clouds over it, or the N side, staying upwind of course line. A larger group that I joined went N. Soon afterwards Brad, Jack and I met up in a good position, looking for a climb over some wind turbines on the ridge. Yassen kept pulling the gaggle forward, pushing lower and in front. I couldn't see his number, but based on it being a red Boom 8 and the flying style I was pretty sure it was him.
We followed the ridge toward Avila, watching some other pilots to the South of us higher under convergence clouds. As we approached the Avila airspace (6km radius, Ground to 1500m if memory serves) some pilots were tempted by the convergence and others tried to stay on a course to miss the Avila Airspace as well as the Madrid approach airspace. So the gaggle scattered somewhat and I found myself with only a couple others, realizing that I needed a climb to stay over the 1500m ceiling.
After a climb I could relax a little more and the groups came back together while skirting the corner of the Madrid approach.
The climbs got better, bringing us close to the airspace limit at 3048m. I left at 2850m to be safe and found myself in the lead of my group because they took another turn or two.
Then 20km farther there was a smallish square area of airspace. We had the choice to pass it to the N over the the valley or to the S on the ridge. The clouds looked good to the S but it would be crosswind of course. I was also a little worried that the lift over the ridge might be too good to stay under 3048m easily.
At 40km from goal I was seeing a 15:1 glide with a 25kph tailwind. It seemed possible. At 20km out it was about 10:1 and I went for it, one of the first of the group I was with. At one point I saw 105kph ground speed, coming in at full speed. Another couple pilots were coming in from the ridge route, at around the same time. I guessed that I was about 5th in.
The most spectacular goal crossing was by Torsten Siegel, with just enough height to cross the line, turn and land.
Josh
I had an entertaining launch. Someone laid out in front of me, blew a launch and then tried to launch in front of me again. But Rob grabbed his glider, said a few reasonable words and gave me a chance to pull up.
The glider came up a bit crooked and I took a few steps before getting it overhead and turned around. That put me right behind the center of the other guy's wing, with a high wall built. I had a good cycle so I made sure he saw me there, picked up my feet and flew over it.
The start put us right over the fabled Villatoro Pass. A group I was with drifted out of position before the start and then had to glide back upwind with 7 minutes to go. Not ideal, but no one else was in a much better position so it worked out.
From the start we had the choice to follow the range on the S side of the Ambles valley with clouds over it, or the N side, staying upwind of course line. A larger group that I joined went N. Soon afterwards Brad, Jack and I met up in a good position, looking for a climb over some wind turbines on the ridge. Yassen kept pulling the gaggle forward, pushing lower and in front. I couldn't see his number, but based on it being a red Boom 8 and the flying style I was pretty sure it was him.
We followed the ridge toward Avila, watching some other pilots to the South of us higher under convergence clouds. As we approached the Avila airspace (6km radius, Ground to 1500m if memory serves) some pilots were tempted by the convergence and others tried to stay on a course to miss the Avila Airspace as well as the Madrid approach airspace. So the gaggle scattered somewhat and I found myself with only a couple others, realizing that I needed a climb to stay over the 1500m ceiling.
After a climb I could relax a little more and the groups came back together while skirting the corner of the Madrid approach.
The climbs got better, bringing us close to the airspace limit at 3048m. I left at 2850m to be safe and found myself in the lead of my group because they took another turn or two.
Then 20km farther there was a smallish square area of airspace. We had the choice to pass it to the N over the the valley or to the S on the ridge. The clouds looked good to the S but it would be crosswind of course. I was also a little worried that the lift over the ridge might be too good to stay under 3048m easily.
At 40km from goal I was seeing a 15:1 glide with a 25kph tailwind. It seemed possible. At 20km out it was about 10:1 and I went for it, one of the first of the group I was with. At one point I saw 105kph ground speed, coming in at full speed. Another couple pilots were coming in from the ridge route, at around the same time. I guessed that I was about 5th in.
The most spectacular goal crossing was by Torsten Siegel, with just enough height to cross the line, turn and land.
Josh
Day 1
Howdy folks this is Brad Gunnuscio and Im here to tell you about day 1 of the 2011 Paragliding World Champioships.
A 150KM task was called (what a way to start it off with a bang) launch was very windy, any more wind and the day probably would be called. There was lots of excitement on launch people getting dragged through other wings, big collapses and the things that happen when your trying to launch a 2 liner glider when its blowing 15-18 mph. Team USA all had very nice launches though and we were off for a nice ridge soaring session. The start was 20 km away so we all started ridge soaring in that direction. About 9 km away is when I finally found my first good thermal and we started specing out, we all know the crux of the flight is the mountain pass and thats where the start was, when my gaggle left for it I stayed to in light lift until they started to climb and then came in and joined. We got up to about 9,500 feet which is really good for the pass but the lift died off with 6 minutes left to go so we just sat there sinking and started the race with a lot less altitude. I started to look around and Jack Brown and Josh Cohn were both with me and we were at the top of the stack!! Woohoo I knew then this is going to be a great competition for us!!
We had a very slow time after the start and the thermals were all wind blown and couldnt get up that high till we got well away from the pass, in the mean time pilots were out in the middle of the valley finding the convergance and getting a much easier line, I resisted to go for it as I was in the company of some pretty good pilots, Russel Ogden, the Valic brothers and of course Jack and Josh, so we kept frisbeeing along until we got to the city of Avila then the climbs got a lot better. Unfortunatly after Avila you cant go over 3,048 meters or you break airspace and zero for the day... :( very sad as the clouds really wanted us and that was the toughest for me staying under that limit. People were turning and it looked like to me breaking the airspace all over, we will see when the results come out later. I left a thermal at 2,900 and went right to the limit with my glider at pulley to pulley, The Valic brother next to me did a full stall to not break the limit and I wasnt prepared to do that and luckily I stopped climbing right at 3,048!!! You can imagine my relief.... after that I started leaving the climbs at 2,700 and still was getting ripped into the sky, I started looking for gliders sinking and taking any sinky line I could get.
I am not quite sure why we are having the world championships at a site with this kind of airspace all over the place, people stalling their wings and doing crazy maneuvers to stay out of the airspace is just not safe... I saw people with line twist s and all sorts of fancy postitions just to not break the airspace... Whatever thats the game we were playing...
40 km from goal I thought there is so much lift around its time to go on final glide, so Yassen a Valic and I broke off from the gaggle and went on a more direct route, I saw my ground speed was 100 to 105 km an hour!! I figured we could make the glide but hit major sink and that cost us as the other gaggle found a nice haze dome and looked like a nice easy ride into goal, we on the other hand had to sit in light lift close to the ground and wait for a thermal to come through at about 19 km from goal. When it did it came on it came on with a vengence and we rocketed up and probably left the thermal way to late as we came in speced out to goal and staying under the airspace again became an issue.
In the end Josh crushed it with a 5th place on the day I got some mid 20's Jack and Melanie both had some really bad luck not making it, but they are both really good pilots and this is a very long competition so I expect that they both will fire back with a good day tomorrow!! The Team spirit is high folks we are focused and the sky is the limit!!! (until 3,048 meters that is ;)
A 150KM task was called (what a way to start it off with a bang) launch was very windy, any more wind and the day probably would be called. There was lots of excitement on launch people getting dragged through other wings, big collapses and the things that happen when your trying to launch a 2 liner glider when its blowing 15-18 mph. Team USA all had very nice launches though and we were off for a nice ridge soaring session. The start was 20 km away so we all started ridge soaring in that direction. About 9 km away is when I finally found my first good thermal and we started specing out, we all know the crux of the flight is the mountain pass and thats where the start was, when my gaggle left for it I stayed to in light lift until they started to climb and then came in and joined. We got up to about 9,500 feet which is really good for the pass but the lift died off with 6 minutes left to go so we just sat there sinking and started the race with a lot less altitude. I started to look around and Jack Brown and Josh Cohn were both with me and we were at the top of the stack!! Woohoo I knew then this is going to be a great competition for us!!
We had a very slow time after the start and the thermals were all wind blown and couldnt get up that high till we got well away from the pass, in the mean time pilots were out in the middle of the valley finding the convergance and getting a much easier line, I resisted to go for it as I was in the company of some pretty good pilots, Russel Ogden, the Valic brothers and of course Jack and Josh, so we kept frisbeeing along until we got to the city of Avila then the climbs got a lot better. Unfortunatly after Avila you cant go over 3,048 meters or you break airspace and zero for the day... :( very sad as the clouds really wanted us and that was the toughest for me staying under that limit. People were turning and it looked like to me breaking the airspace all over, we will see when the results come out later. I left a thermal at 2,900 and went right to the limit with my glider at pulley to pulley, The Valic brother next to me did a full stall to not break the limit and I wasnt prepared to do that and luckily I stopped climbing right at 3,048!!! You can imagine my relief.... after that I started leaving the climbs at 2,700 and still was getting ripped into the sky, I started looking for gliders sinking and taking any sinky line I could get.
I am not quite sure why we are having the world championships at a site with this kind of airspace all over the place, people stalling their wings and doing crazy maneuvers to stay out of the airspace is just not safe... I saw people with line twist s and all sorts of fancy postitions just to not break the airspace... Whatever thats the game we were playing...
40 km from goal I thought there is so much lift around its time to go on final glide, so Yassen a Valic and I broke off from the gaggle and went on a more direct route, I saw my ground speed was 100 to 105 km an hour!! I figured we could make the glide but hit major sink and that cost us as the other gaggle found a nice haze dome and looked like a nice easy ride into goal, we on the other hand had to sit in light lift close to the ground and wait for a thermal to come through at about 19 km from goal. When it did it came on it came on with a vengence and we rocketed up and probably left the thermal way to late as we came in speced out to goal and staying under the airspace again became an issue.
In the end Josh crushed it with a 5th place on the day I got some mid 20's Jack and Melanie both had some really bad luck not making it, but they are both really good pilots and this is a very long competition so I expect that they both will fire back with a good day tomorrow!! The Team spirit is high folks we are focused and the sky is the limit!!! (until 3,048 meters that is ;)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Monday the 4th - Official Practice Day
A short practice task was set today with the goal on the edge of Piedrahita.
A windy and cool day on launch, made for some exciting launches.
Our team all got off the hill nicely and ended up in the goal field.
Ready for tomorrow.
A windy and cool day on launch, made for some exciting launches.
Our team all got off the hill nicely and ended up in the goal field.
Ready for tomorrow.
Everybody loves a parade
That meant a parade around the village of Piedrahita.
http://www.flypiedrahita.com/theLocalArea/theLocalAreaIndex.php
The parade started at the palace of the Gran Duque of Alba and ended up in the central plaza.
There were speeches, confetti, flags, pretty girls, etc - everything a proper parade needs, I reckon.
Jeff
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday
We finally made it up to launch around 12:30 or so to find nice cycles moving through, a nice enough sky, and plenty of gliders soaring..... Today was all about the speed system for me and getting things dialed in once and for all. I'm not so sure that going pully to pully was as critical in the past as it is now.... The R10 and the R11 have introduced a whole new world of stability on full speed which is kind of a game changer. I fully anticipate that if the next climb is a sure thing, that gliders will be transitioning faster than ever before. I'm thinking that if you give up your position to max out a climb with this crowd... hmmmm, lets see - probably just once on a full on racing day it will be game over!!
A single piece of 5mil Mammut Pro Cord running continuously from the speed bar up through the riser pullies was the ticket for me. Never have I had such easy access to all the speed so here's hoping I can respect it at all the right times!
We landed just in time for the MANDATORY pilot meeting where we were taught 2 liner safety by Russ Ogden, along with some good local info.The organizers along with the city of Piedrahita made us feel very welcome with a great crowd and a fun Olympic type of parade nation by nation. The official speeches were mercifully short and then on to the cultural entertainment, food, drink, and more entertainment, which at 3am is still going strong!
Being an afternoon site with an easy 20 minute drive to launch on a nice paved road, we are treated to bankers hours and don't have to show for the buses until 11:00-11:30! Tomorrow is not just the official warmup day, but the official warmup task. I'm thinking I'll just see how it goes and enjoy the flight without too much of a physical drain. It's quite possible that we could fall into a favorable weather pattern and fly 10 to 11 race days... I know that XC Skies is happy for the next few days anyway.....
Jack
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)