A great drive from Vågå to Bergen

Flying from Vole

Our third task in Nordic Open took off from Vole in strong winds.
The task was Vole - Ringebu - Frya, in total 71 kilometers. Lots of wind on launch, and after a bit more than an hour clouds closed down the thermals and put me and many others on the ground. Still managed 36,8 km XC which was 32,6 kilometers of the task.

That gave me 58th position out of the approximately 100 pilots competing. Not bad for a beginner!
These results are provisional so much can change.

Nordic Open Task 2

Had a great day in the air, flying my second competition flight ever, and doing well (to be me), flying more than 50 km. It is stunningly beautiful here in Norway.

First task at Nordic Open

Today we flew the first task at Nordic Open in Vågå, Norway. It was 66 kilometers long over four turnpoints with take off from Juvass, approx 1600 meters over sea level. It was really cold, with snow on many places and skiing just a kilometer away. And we had lots of wind.

As this was my first competition flight ever I did not have high expectations. That was good. I had lots of fun but only made it through the start cylinder and the first turnpoint before getting drilled to the ground after 13 kilometers and 55 minutes. Then I spent lots of time with a Norwegian pilot before we were picked up.

Luckily, lots of other pilots flew better and many made it to goal. No results are out yet but it seems that Larsa Johnson made it into goal as first Swede and third in total, with Fredrik Lindholm coming in fourth - well done! Probably two Norwegians (one of them Ronny Helgesen) took first and second.
Soon there should be results here.

Up the mountain

Arrived at Raubergstulen 1000 meters above sea level and close to
Galdhøpiggen. Time for lunch and parawaiting. Maybe we can fly later,
it snowed just a minute ago.

Vågå Sunday evening

Vågå is a tiny little village up in the Norwegian mountains, not far from the country's highest peak Galdhøpiggen (2469 meters above sea level).
This is also the location for the Norwegian air sports centre and right now, the venue for the Nordic Open in paragliding. So that's why I am here, to compete in my first paragliding competition ever.
Nordic Open is an International competition with more than 110 participants this year. But it is also the Swedish Championships.

I am here to watch and learn, to have fun and of course to write about it in Hypoxia. Today was the first day of competition, and I am doing really well. In fact so well that I am sharing first place in the comp right now! Of course, it might have something to do with that the flying was cancelled today due to strong winds. But I see it as a good sign :-)

Lundagård 90 år

Boating in the sun with Maarten, Femke and Hanna

At a lakeside terrace with Femke and the parents-in-law

Rotterdam by night