World´s roundup

Hi All
Final post before we board our plane bound for LAX. What an event!! Flyable every day scheduled but not for the feint hearted. Strong high altitude convection played it´s part on some 20+ reserve deployments with an average of 2 to 3 per day. This and a mix of careless ambition saw nearly the same amount of tree landings. In this respect we were very lucky not to see more injuries than what panned out. The last task was stopped due to 2 reserve deployments (one involving a mid-air) resulting in our first hospitalised injuries from this form of grounding. With 2 helicopters on course, the task was stopped, leaving no mysteries as to who the podium positions would be. A big congratulations to them all. Please review the results on the competition website if you haven´t already done so.
Statistics aside, it has been a fantastic and educational site t0 fly. Very technical with rewards and punishment readily dished out on witt versus whim desision making.
As team leader, I am very proud the way our team performed in these unique conditions. All projected an outstanding display of sportsmanship and were well received by the international community in doing so. Personally, my results were disappointing however have felt I´d learnt a lot from failures.
We all greatly apreaciated your comments of support and were very happy to have shared the experience with you. Keep up the ambition for the next Worlds and enjoy the comradary of what we have seen in the international community. It´s at a very healthy place.
Shane.

Day 10

Just got back to download my flight and then off to see how Antje is. I haven't seen any of the other guys but I'm sure you'll get an update when they get in. A 117km task was set today to help finish things off with a bang. I had another good start and was in touch with the leading gaggle most of the way. I was held up on a plateau crossing and let them slip away. Was heading to the last turnpoint and had pegged them back to within reach of about 1 km when my stabaliser line decided to retire early for the day. So with my left wing tip flapping in the breeze and a glider that had straight flight issues, I found it very hard to keep in touch. Eventually I landed at the 92km mark. Hmmmm....
Signing out as I've got to check on Antje.
Shane.

Antje falls victim to Mexican bug

A long 24 hours weighed heavy on our team Gal having been laid up in bed with the one thing all here are trying to avoid- the dreaded Mexican bug. The doctor has called, tested, pricked, and prescribed much to Antje´s better health. She says she is feeling a little better however still has a fever of 39 degrees C. Needless to say she couldn´t make it to the hill and is doubtful for tomorrow as well. I have cooked her up my Wife´s recipe of sloppy rice tailored for such occasions and stocked her well with Gatoraid. It might be a while until she is well enough to make it to this blog to read your generous comments that keep rolling in so please send her a ´get well´text/call on her Mexican mobile number: +52 7221331516.
James took line honours todaybeing the only Aussie in goal so a big Hoohaa for him. Last I saw of him he was at HQ being laiden with Advance bounty by one of their main men so I don´t think his efforts are going unoticed. I dropped 4km short of goal that may have seen my best run yet as the guy I left glide with made it in the 20s he thinks. It´s all speculative of course, because.... I landed short. Gav ended his great run of goal scores by falling short on a tricky leg of the coarse which took it´s fair share of misfortunates. Great day´s flying none the less with bases of 4000m and long convergence lines.
2 days to go to end this marathon event. Everyone seems a little stretched with an average of 4 hours air time per day. The sky seems to be compliant giving us her big farewell in all matters of speaking. Anyway signing off for another day. We had a Tequila Sunrise for Ali´s birthday the other day, so when Antje´s better we´ll toast up a few for your´s today (Mexico time) Brian.
Shane.

Antje, our beacon

...Yeah, big cheers to Antje. She really is the inspiration to this team. She has spent most of this event out on her own yet still has what a lot don´t have here, the ability to task it out unassisted. Look out for her return swan song- season ´09.
...
What do you get when you camp two pilots in a king bed together? About every shared communal disease (less the ones tranferred by contact for you dirty minded buggers!). I have succombed in a big way to Gavin´s head cold and after spending an hour at 3400m and close to freezing temps waiting for the start gate, my head was about to explode. One glide to the first turn point was all I could muster. Unfortunate given it was my best start yet at poll position. Rewarding though to hear the rest of the team bolster our standings here. Well done to all.
Off to bed to see if there is any substance in these expensive Mexican medications.
Shane.

antje cracks the ton !!!

big big pat on the back for miss daehler, she just cracked a 114km goal for a distance PB and her first 100km flight, superb. first aussie into goal too, followed by myself and james. nice day, good clouds and 3700m base. freakin cold at altitude tho, the wind chill had to be about minus 5. 70 something in goal i hear. great task tho, big climbs, superb flying.

yesterday was interesting, easy task after our rest days, supposedly, but with 4 nappy chucks, 3 mid airs and 3 tree landings and a final glide across the lake made for a memorable day. i felt edgy about a 9to1 glide across the pond but made it in with 100m. one select serbian came in late and cleared the bank by 1m, landed tail just over the edge to a huge roar, a windsurfer had to put down to avoid him, awesome stuff.

gav

More from James.

Today's a rest day, and we need it. I've made gaol 3 time and had 3 short flights, This is the Worlds and they are setting world class task, a mistake and that's the end of the day for you. The area and flying is demanding so this rest day was looked forward to by everyone. We expect that we will have another straight 6 days of flying to the end of the comp. Must unusual but not for Valle.
James

From James.

I've seen the butterfly, I'm taking it quiet, and only having the few quiet Ales after flying. I've made shore of plenty of sleep and good food. I've found Valle so much nicer then Mexico city, and like any Paragliding spot the locals are into the sport and know how to treat these poor paragliders.
I've been lucky to get to goal 3 time. Day 3 was only a 19km Flight, when I pushed to quick on a slow day. Today around 35kms, came back from the flats by the 3 kings (had a big wait for the kings to pop a thermal, then back over the road back to Valle over the air strip, it was total shade and with only broken weak climbs we drifted over the golf/horse/ bulls/polo/Hi tension power line so low, I lost the lift at tree height and landed, A pilot 50ft above me climbed out. It took him half an hour to get to base. I was packed up and walking to the road when the gaggle glided on.
I just keep in mind that the worse part of the flight is the thermals of El. Penon, G spot and of course the aptly named Crazy thermal Masa, Oh what fun 149 gun pilots in STRONG lift, base at 2820m (that 600m above the top of the masa), You leave the thermal and hit even stronger lift that pops you into the cloud, you came out the side, turn so not to lose too much height, and have gliders pop out the cloud right on top of you, You lose height so quickly with the equally strong sink, so it straight back into the strong lift to do it all over again.
You may ask arnt there 150 pilot in the comp, yes 149 guns and a little "Aussie battler" who know when to take it easy.
Now collapse, Yes I've had a few, in fact I've had the works, today's best was a ascetic when in the cleft of El Penon 80ft from the rock face with other glider close, so I'm trying to control direction, away from the face, and between the other gliders. The best Collapse I saw was yesterday a comp glider took a hit which went into a cascade, he was totally out of control till he got a grip on it, about 5 big collapses in a row with little directional control, as he was entering a thermal, the thermal still had hold of him at the end, he had gain about 500m when he got it under control. Ohh what Fun is Crazy Thermal Masa.
Below are links to some photos and my flights.
James

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jamesflys&target=ALBUM&id=5295768068876425793&authkey=nuxGvFAfgIU&authkey=nuxGvFAfgIU&feat=email

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/158719

memorial sunday

memorial day today, we all went up to launch and had a bit of a service for stephan and flew with bunches of flowers which was a really nice gesture. a lovely day with smooth climbs and a high base and everyone just glided back to town and dropped flowers over the lakeside LZ. a quiet respectful day. with so many tasks it was nice to have a bit more rest too, to prepare for tomorrow and the rest of the comp. a quiet evening on the sunset deck i think. gav