First task in SA Winelands

We flew the first task in the paragliding competition SA Winelands today. The day started very weak but grew as time passed. Take off was at Pampoenfontein and start a 2 kilometer radius around Flyer's lodge in Porterville.
first waypoint was P36 (with an 8 kilometer radius) out on the flatlands West of the ridge, then we crossed over to Citrusdal, passing waypoint 23 in the village Citrusdal. Goal was in Constriction all the way up North in the valley.
Unfortunately, last goal was 16:00 which caught a lot of us still in the air, including me (10 kilometers short of goal). But I still flew almost 68 kilometers so very satisfied with the day.

Results should show up here:
http://www.xccomps.net

Sun, wind and rain

Yesterday was a fine if very windy day. Therefore we launched early and tried to fly a practise task out over the flatlands. For once we had clouds whose shadows created the most fascinating patterns on the ground. Moments like this I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to be – sailing from cloud to cloud hi up in the sky. It is true magic.

But magic seldom lasts and far too early I was standing on the ground. I have hardly flown over flatlands before, I am much more accustomed to mountains and my skills are, lets say, in their infancy. Nevertheless it was a great day.

Today the competition started. With it came the rain. Remember, it is summer down here and we are in a very arid area that never sees rain in the summer. Well, here it is raining like it was winter in southern Sweden. Or Brussels if you prefer. What happened with the weather in the world?

We try to stay positive. At least there is time to read a book and to update the blog. 

Working at cloudbase

Finally some good flying

Today I had another lovely morning walk, saying hello to the pigs and lambs. It’s so rural here, in a very positive way. Already early it was hot and weak winds – good for us paragliding pilots. And the weather did deliver – we got a wonderful flight today. Practising for the coming international competition, we set a task (kind of a heat in a paragliding competition) taking us over to the next valley, poetically named Citrusdal.

I didn’t make it all the way to goal, but still flew 56 kilometers, landing just 12,5 kilometers short. Considering I am the rookie in this elite group and also flying a safer but not so hot wing, I am happy with the result.

This time, I landed far out in the boonies, so no kids. But Magnus, who landed a kilometer or two further, was surrounded by curious and playful children. 

Here is a link to the flight:

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:waterglobe/9.12.2011/09:56

Peace of Africa

I had a pretty rough autumn, workwise and otherwise. Therefore I am delighted to find peace during these three weeks of holiday in Africa. Sun, sleep, friends and paragliding does wonders for me.

I left Sweden 1 December and flew via Dubai. Having to spend more than eight hours overnight at the airport waiting for the connecting flight to Cape Town, I took a cab downtown. Very quiet and somewhat boring, but I didn’t see much.

Cape Town is one of my favourite cities, so it was nice to be back again. Just hanged around for two days, enjoying the sun and the city while waiting for the other Swedish paraglider pilots to arrive. Sunday lunch we picked up a rental car and drove to Porterville, three-four hour drives North West of Cape Town. Here, we are nine Swedish pilots attending a one-week training camp to improve our competition flying. The second week will partake in an International paragliding competition.

Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t played ball. Arriving in sizzling 37°C heat Sunday afternoon we had a short evening flight. Monday was too windy so we went wine tasting and dining (always a pleasure) at Fairview and Nederburg.

Tuesday was flyable, just about, so we took off from Klipdas at Porterville and flew South. I landed at Saron after 29 kilometers, some of the other pilots made it into the Tulbagh valley another 15 kilometers. What a lovely feeling to be in the air again! When I landed I was greeted by a whole bunch of little kids that came running from the nearest farm. Although they probably saw paragliders before they were still big-eyed when I a descended soundlessy from the sky only to fold up my flying machine into a neat backpack and walk away. What a wondrous sport this is.

Wednesdat was cold and windy so we drove towards Stellenbosch and had lunch at tasty 96 Winery Road. The wines at Waterford and Dornier were disappointing but Stellenzicht was a very positive surprise with an agreeable Chardonnay and some lovely Shiraz.

Yesterday I woke up early and took a refreshing walk out on the countryside. It is such a beautiful landscape here. Peaceful. Said hello to two kids on a bike and a few pigs along the road.

Third competition day in Porterville

After a few days of bad weather (resulting in wine tasting and other pleasantries) we could finally fly again. The conditions were very weak. I am flying a small glider and managed to screw up the day so landed very early. Well, well, I am here to learn
 So I got a ride with Bonen (thanks!) up to tale off again and restarted. This time I had a lovely 58 kilometers cross country flight. At one point I was thermalling with four eagles at the same time. Quite special.
Back at Twintrees (our B & B) we chilled in the pool and then enjoyed a nice BBQ at Rob's Flyers Lodge.

Tor is launching.

Flying with four birds of prey at the same time.

Second day at the Pre Worlds in Porterville