A Less Experienced Pilots Perspectiv
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ask 2 at the recent Southern Fun competition was flight #1452 for me. After all these flights and having flown in many competitions I finally made it to goal. Yeh! This miracle started with getting 4 days off from work during the busiest time of the year. The early weather forecast wasn’t great but we ended up with three tasks at 3 different sites and 3 amazing flights. I had tons of fun. The second day of the comp went extremely well. I can’t still believe it I made it to goal. For the 59km task, the cloud base wasn’t too high and we had to do big crossings (one of them I have never managed to do before!). The first crossing I left End Peak lower than I wanted because of cloud base and I glided badly as usual! There were 5 of us scratching on arrival at Mid Pyramid. I don’t know how many times I have landed at Bike Glendhu but today was different. A hawk came to say, “Hi” and guided me to a thermal. I followed it, it turned left so I turned left. I climbed with it then there I was! 7000ft, atop Roy’s Peak but there was another big crossing ahead. I have never managed to glide from Roy’s to Mt Maude but another miracle happened, I hit three good thermals on the way! It is normally a very difficult, long crossing but somehow it worked this time.
After that it was just easy. The sun was covered by clouds by the time I got to Mt Maude, but there was convergence as a southerly change pushed its way northward. No turning, just hover straight below this cloud. I even had to pull big ears! Then on the radio I heard from those that had landed: “Wind is coming, Don’t muck around!” as I was just about to muck around, and then, just like that, I was in goal. I really have to say I was so lucky
but if I can pick couple things that I did differently this flight it was: I used more speed bar and turned tighter for coring. In the last few weeks before the comp, three experienced pilots told me the same thing: “Use more bar and turn tighter”. I did. I’m very lucky to have helpful people around me. Louis and Doug have been mentoring pretty much since I started flying and also big thanks to Mark and Nico for answering my endless questions.
People think I’m a paragliding addict. ‘Yep’, I am and I am not the only one. One of the reasons keeping us entertained is that it is a never ending learning process. Did you know that competition is the perfect place to learn? I will tell you why it is so good. Paragliding is one of the very rare sports that you don’t need to be too good at flying to join competitions unless you really want to win. All you need is PG2 and motivation. In the morning you will get weather briefings together. You don’t need to decide where to go because there is a task. You are not alone in the air. Sometimes 50+ pilots around you. You will get a lot of information during your flight by watching them. Let someone else find lift and just join them or let someone else get into a sink and you just avoid it. A pilot on your right is going up, a pilot on your left is going down. It is obvious which way you want to go. You just need to follow others but not chase them. A lot of Personal Best flight (PB’s) are made during competitions. There must be reasons for it. After flying we often end up at the nearest pub from goal. You enjoy cold beer and it normally turns as debriefing because everyone talks about their flights. If you are PG2, want to learn, sign up for the Southern Fun Comp next year or any other competition. I’d like to see
Left; Task 3, Over Grandview Photo; Chris Cain
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