It's over

Awards have been handed out.... a nice buffet after the party and we are packing and ready to head out tomorrow... The weather clearly won this event but I still learned an amazing amount about where I stand at the highest level, and what I have to do to continue to compete with the top pwc pilots. It's all very clear to me now... I just have to execute on what I've learned... the time in the sky this past 12 days was invaluable. As expected, the French, Germans, and Italians dominated the event... There were a couple of Ozone prototype gliders with only 2 line sets which nobody could compete with. They took 1st and 2nd place overall. The Boom 7 protos did quite well and hopefully the production model glider will be available early this next winter so I'll have it for the 2010 season.

Very exciting news that the PWC is coming to Eastern Washington USA next July. This will be the first PWC event in the US since some time in the 90s I think. We are all really jazzed about the opportunity to host such a great event in our country!!

Sue and I are planning a hike in the Grand Canyon the end of October....

Jack

Main launch site above Poggio Bustone, Italy

Another task won by the weather

After a really fun race day yesterday, today we spent several hours up on launch waiting for conditions to improve enough to have a race. Things finally came together and we launched and all got to cloud base and it looked like it was going to be a really fun and fast task. Unfortunately, a small group of pilots went really deep into the terrain and found the winds there strong over the back and some rotor so they called conditions "level 3" which means that it's not safe to continue the race so it was cancelled - even though there were over 100 of us enjoying very nice conditions at cloud base.

Yesterday the weather presented us with some very challenging conditions out on the course line with lots of clouds shading things and making the course very difficult in places. I had a pretty descent start but still couldn't keep up with the lead gaggle. After the second turn point the entire lead gaggle of over 50 pilots were all headed into completely shaded terrain and it looked to me like they were all going to just "race to the dirt". So, after getting the turn point I decided to turn around and go back with a few other pilots in the direction we had just come from and see if we could get back to the sunny area which would still be working. As it turns out, even though it wasn't the most direct route to the next turn point, many other pilots did in fact race to the dirt in the shaded area. I was very patient and eventually conditions really improved and it was fun racing the rest of the 78k course, finishing in the top 20! I was very happy to get out of triple digits and into the 90s overall.

The weather overall hasn't been too good to us. Seems like we are flying about every other day or so. It's really a beautiful flying site and we are enjoying our stay but I, for one, and am ready to be home for awhile! We have 2 more possible flying days and then it will be over, and the weather is looking marginal so we'll see what happens....

Sue and Kim, along with a couple of other lady companions, all drove up to Tuscany, Italy, for a couple of days of sight seeing.

Race day 3

Well the organization made an impressive move from the high winds of Poggio Bustone to Norma, Italy and we had a really fun race day yesterday. We could look out on the Mediteranian Sea in the distance and race back and forth along the coastal mountain range in strong and sometimes quite turbulent conditions.

I'm having a blast but still getting creamed along the course line. I'm just not flying fast enough to keep up with these guys and gals. Today I'm going to adjust my speed system once again so that when I step on the gas I'll go faster and maybe have a better chance at keeping up - at least for a little while!!

My top paragliding role model, Lucca Donini, is winning the comp... he is my age and is flying the Boomerang 7 proto.... someday?

The accomodations here are quite nice and the hotel put on a really good dinner last night. The sunset was gorgeous and a good time was had by all.

Today we race again here in Norma, Italy, and then we head back to Poggio Bustone where the winds are forecasted to be light on Wednesday and Thursday!

Trying to keep on my happy face even though I'm just being schooled while racing. These truely are the strongest pilots in the world so one must be careful of expectations. I'll just keep learning and working on my skills (and leg muscles) and keep trying to improve. Just breaking out of the 3 digit results would be a milestone for me at this point.

Our launch is located in immediate proximity to a dig of Roman ruins and we are only alowed to fly here under special permission from the state because of the Superfinal. When we walk to launch we walk along rock walls from the Roman area... very interesting.

Saturday Sept 5th 2nd valid task

Disappointment and frustration for me again today as I failed to make the start and once again struggled trying to make up time and out maneuver the experts. My Bio-rhythm is off or something is up as I don't seem to be able to get myself up to speed. I didn't seem to have much trouble finishing ahead of many of the pilots I'm racing with here at other comps over the summer but for some reason I'm just not engaging at the level I need to.

For the rest of this comp I've decided that I'm going to start "being that pilot" who is launching early and is confident and ready, instead of just watching and waiting on launch, trying to time things perfectly. I don't want to worry about sinking out on launch, so I'll just wait for others to get out there and then I'll launch when conditions look perfect.... Problem is that today, all those pilots who launched good and early were the ones in perfect position at the start of the race while I was, once again, a couple of kilometers behind and a thousand feet below. This has just got to stop! It seems that my easy going gentle nature is not really helping me on launch and at the start of the race. Maybe this is why I've been struggling with this issue for so many years when competing. I'm just not an aggressive person by nature.... I think it's partly that, and that I'm still somewhat lacking in confidence.

Tomorrow is another day and we are supposedly heading to a different launch because the winds are going to be out of the North which isn't so good for the main launch here....

Sue is in Rieti this evening at a Blues festival. We've been enjoying plenty of really nice dining... last night we had an excellent multi-course meal in a really nice setting near our landing field and we all just stuffed ourselves.... I think Sue and Kim are planning a little side trip next week up to Florence to check things out in a different area....

Friday Sept 4th

Not much flying the past two days. Yesterday the comp moved about 60 kilometers south of Pogio Bustone to a city called Aguila which was decimated in an earthquake about 6 months ago. It was too windy and rotary on launch and the task was canceled before anyone got seriously injured. I managed to dislocate a finger trying to launch - kind of a freak thing as I just kind of fell down softly but put a hand out to stabilize myself and must have jammed it just right into a rock or something. Being at a very odd angle it was obvious that I had to seek help so I spent much of the rest of the day in the hospital in Rieti fighting the language barrier but eventually was taken care of.

Many pilots did launch before they canceled the day and had nice flights but many experienced very windy landings going backwards....

Today we were back in Pogio Bustone but conditions did not look good at all. In classic world cup style we all loaded up and headed up the hill and spent several hours sitting around visiting and waiting for things to improve. They almost got good enough but when the sun finally came out for a few minutes the extra heat energy just made the place go ballistic and the wind and thermal action really got strong. Again, the day was canceled and about half the pilots practiced their high wind launches and had nice flights out to the main landing field.

I've figured out how to put my small splint over my glove and tape it on so I can press on with flying... shouldn't be a problem. The weather is looking better tomorrow so will see what happens.

We've been enjoying lots of fine food and drink and good company....

Got to go!

I've never thermaled with so many sail planes before.... they are everywhere here!
Previous world cup and worlds champions, and they are all flying in the comp!
Bill Hughes glides towards Poggio Bostone, which is where we are staying.....
The Italian team goes over strategy before the launch window opens....
The marching band which played for the opening ceremonies, walked and played with us through the narrow pathways to our dining location....

Superfinal task 1

After a couple of really fun warm-up days we started the comp with a bang today with a 79k race to goal along the local mountain range and across the valley. At the opening ceremonies last evening they announced that this was the highest ranked paragliding competition ever held..... Conditions were full on for racing and that's exactly what happened. I pretty much got left at the start - wondering what the heck happened.... Seemed like the race was over for me today before it ever started!! I flew the prestart perfectly, and two minutes before the start I was wing tip to wing tip with two of the top 3 finishers today. Then I decided that I was smarter than everyone else and pushed out front more towards the start cylinder and proceeded to get completely drilled with about 4-5 other pilots.... by the time we got re-established in a climb, the start window had opened and I had the pleasure of watching over 100 pilots flying over my head towards the first turn point about 1000 feet above me! There was pretty much no chance to catch up after that point - even though there was still 75 kilometers to race! The gaggles were unbelievably smart and strong, and very few mistakes were made after the start. If you weren't right with them, or immediately behind them, they were pretty much not catchable for the entire race. Brad was the first of the US pilots to make goal, but pretty far back, and I made it in in the 90s I think, and Pete Schaffer took the last into goal red lantern award.... The other US pilots landed short of goal.

As expected, the pilots are ALL exceptional with many prior world champions in attendance, and many prototype gliders being put through the paces. Conditions were strong in places but manageable. I witnessed one reserve deployment right in front of me.... I circled down right over where he went into the trees and yelled to him "Are you OK?", and the reply that came back was a booming Italian voice yelling that he was OK....

So, tomorrow is another day and they are going to bus us to another launch site which is about 50 kilometers to the south of here I believe. I guess there was a town that was decimated by an earthquake 6 months ago with over 300 local residents killed. Apparently moving the comp there for the day is an act of goodwill towards the local community. We are going to stay in the area after the race for dinner and a party.....

Sue is enjoying her time and is looking forward to taking a flight of her own one of these days... the conditions in the evening are spectacular with incredible views and very mellow conditions - just what she likes.

Made it to Italy!!

Sue and I arrived yesterday morning in Rome after about a 24 hour travel adventure. We flew to Chicago on Alaska Airlines and then had to sit around the airport in Chicago for almost 8 hours waiting for the only flight to Rome which looked like it could accomodate our standby status.

We made it on Alitalia to Rome and were met at the airport by Kim, Bill's girlfriend. We had about a 2 hour drive to the North and East to Poggio Bistone, which is a small mountain side village in a very rural area. Our accomodations are nice but the shower is tiny!!! Made for about a 4 foot tall person I guess... We have sheep and chickens and dogs and cats and a big field right in our back yard where we can land!!

The site looks amazing for racing and many of the worlds top pilots were out today warming up. There is talk of some new technology and several prototype gliders in attendance. I feel so priviliged to be able to play with these guys and gals and am really excited about the upcoming 12 days! The weather forecast is good and things are shaping up nicely. A bit of jet lag but that should be over in a day or so. Tomorrow is the official practice day and registration....

Pictures to follow soon.

Jack

2009 US Nationals Salt Lake City, Utah Day 7

Time to take a deep breath and regroup after one of the most intense weeks of flying I've ever had.

The meet director really didn't want to fly on the last day but the comp had been adevertised as "7 possible flying days" so we all kept after them to let us go up and race. It's not everyday that we're all here in one spot and the weather is cooperating. We have to take advantage of any opportunities we might get to compete on our home turf in the USA. The weather was changing and looked like it could go either way so we finally headed up the hill to check out conditions and see if we could make the week 7 for 7.

When the first wind dummies flew conditions certainly didn't look very good. The valley floor was so hot, and was really hot up on launch so there was almost no lapse rate to help the thermals rise. Then a rep from the FAA called and told the organizers that there had just been a Temporary Flight Ristriction set with a 5 nautical mile radius right in the middle of our task which had been set earlier. This created much anxiety because the winds were strong in some areas so we were limited in which directions we could race. It was eventually decided to call a different task which kept us well to the south of the fire and TFR. The start time was set at 4pm but the race was only 55 kilometers in length so we still had time to pull it off. The finally opened the launch window at 3pm and we all immediatly started launching.

When I launched I flew right into a sink cycle and started plummeting right off launch. I was forced to just take a line out front and turn left and just ridge soar along the spines hoping to find something. The launch at Inspo is not very high above the valley floor so if you don't find a thermal pretty quickly it becomes very difficult to climb out. The comp has positioned retrieve vans down below launch at the landing field every day to bring pilots back up to re-launch and try again.

When I got out front I made the left turn and starting soaring along the various spines and canyons along the way. I didn't find anything for awhile and was starting to get concerned when I flew around a spine and and spied not one but two hawks climbing out strongly, in two different thermals no less. In short order I was climbing with a feathered friend and was soon in good start position 13,500 feet in altitude.

The race was quite fast and really fun as the thermals were some of the nicest we'd had all week. I made it to goal in pretty good position but lost the top three on the last climb coming in under them but finding the thermal no longer there.... I had to stay in the mountains and find one more good climb before I could head to the last turn point which was out on the valley floor, and then made the 12k final glide to goal.

Some pilots were so low on their final glides that they landed short, and a few made it in to the goal field with no extra altitude - just enough to clear the trees and land....

When we got back to headquarters and got out of our vehicles, we were instantly immersed in roast pig aromas from the pit where a whole pig had been buried and cooked throughout the day. The meal was quite good and I really splurged and went for it - rich chocolate cake and all!

The awards ceremony was one to remember as the time was approaching 10pm which I guess is curfew in Utah and strictly enforced. I'm sure the comp was well into the second or third keg of beer by then and I don't think this group was ready to be quiet at 10pm. They started the awards and by the time they were half way through the local police were standing 10 feet from the podium threatening to give everyone a citation. So from that point on we were prohibited from clapping, whistling, yelling, or making any other kind of noise that could put us in jeopordy. It was really funny because with each award the crowd just raised their arms and everyone just went "shhhhhhhush". When they anounced the Nationals champion everyone just busted loose in every kind yelling, clapping, etc.... What were they going to do, give citations to 200 people? Crazy.

I took first place in my class and 4th or 5th overall - don't know the actual results at this time because they didn't announce the top 10 - only the top 3....

2009 US Nationals Salt Lake City, Utah Day 6

Oh my what a week it's been. I think this is the most I've flown in a week at a US comp, or the most I've flown in a week in a paraglider ever. I think I'm well over 25hours of flight time and I don't know how many kilometers I've flown but it's a bunch. Today we knocked out another 116k with excellent racing conditions. There were around 30 pilots in goal and many pilots had nice long flights.

Tomorrow is the last day and supposedly we were planned to have 7 possible flying days. I'm hearing some nasty rumors that we may not fly tomorrow because the meet director wants to take the day off to give his tired staff a break. The weather is looking pretty good so I say "LETS FLY!!" It will be interesting to see what happens. They didn't post the overall results this evening because if they did, and we don't fly tomorrow, it would kind of deflate the prize giving ceremony cause everyone would already know all of the results.

Had climbs to 14,500 today and I seem to be doing just fine without supplemental oxygen. I've always preached that you should have it to optimize your performance, and you should, but I didn't pack mine this trip and seem to be making do without ok. I've been staying very well fed and hydrated. I drank too full bottles of water today while waiting for the launch window to open, and then I drained most of my boda bag during the flight. I tell myself all the time to relax and breath when things get strong and difficult. This is especially important when a pilot is flying at higher altitudes....

Whether or not if we fly tomorrow, it has been an amazing week of flying and I've learned a ton and had lots of invaluable training in decision making, and accelerating my glider in turbulent conditions. It will really be nice heading to the world cup superfinal with this great warm up under my belt....

Day 5 pics

A US Paragliding Nationals replacement retrieve van driver to take over after we lost a driver yesterday...
Friends deep in the mountains crossing Lone Peak
A perfect landing field!
The view from launch.

2009 US Nationals Salt Lake City, Utah Day 5

Not much energy to post tonight.... too tired. About 100k for me today with the last 20k ridge soaring high in the mountains. I was short of goal and landed at 7:30pm in the outskirts of the city in a huge beautiful green grassy field. Spectacular scenery and really fun racing deep in the mountains with light winds - a rarity in these parts. There were only 3 pilots in goal, with several others just short. I was about 10k short. The flight today was a new out and return distance record for the state of Utah... 111 kilometers.

I flew quite well I thought but made one costly decision late in the race which took me out of the running. I made a choice to go in deeper into the peaks to try and get high and pass several other pilots but it didn't pay off as it just wasn't working at the time I was there.... and it was working farther out front where everyone else decided to go!! I spent the rest of the race flying alone and enjoying the scenery. Saw tons of raptors and enjoyed the smooth conditions.

I moved from 6th to 7th place overall today which is ok considering I didn't make goal or land just short as about 10 others did. This week has been the most flyable US Nationals I can remember. We're 5 for 5 and tomorrow looks really good again, although it's gonna be 100 degrees in the valley. Saturday I think the weather is going to be too cloudy to fly but we'll see.....

Day 4 pics

My good friend Pete Schaefer who's hosting me this week after landing in Goal today. About a dozen pilots in goal I think....
Our US Nationals retrieval vehicle being assisted by a local farmers tractor!
Mount Nebo in the distance looking from goal. Our course took us right over the top.