The Nationals are creeping up in a little over a month now and I'm super excited! The airtribune count ticks up daily with newly confirmed pilots and is currently at 83. The most I've flown with is around 75 so this will already be the biggest gathering of wings I've been in. Realistically the open class pilots will be way ahead on a different course by the time us sport classers putt-putt our way out of the start cylinder.
I'm not concerned about how I place because even if I bomb out last - it's the Nationals. To be competing at that level at all is pretty impressive (at least to me it is). My one goal in the competition is to complete a task, any task, and make goal. I was so close last year that I could see the pretty green crop-circle looking fields at goal maybe 8-10 miles off. I had flown about 30 miles and landed short, it sucked. I made a bad decision following my XT offset to get back onto the course line and promptly flew out of the lift line like I knew what I was doing. At that time I wasn't even really conscious of the fact that I was in a lift line at all since it was a blue day. Unfortunately, the pilot following me was unaware that I was unaware and ended up peeling off as well and landing in the same LZ not even a minute later. Ilya thinks the day was shutting off because he landed maybe 10 mins later up the course line from me. In hindsight the thermals were getting super weak, 20-50fpm, after being 500+fpm 2 hours prior so I flatter myself to think I wasn't the sole contributing factor to the fact that I landed short.
But in reality I made a couple bad decisions: one of which was forgetting to optimize my route which directed me to the center of a 8km waypoint. That mistake probably cost me a solid half hour because I had to climb out and get back to the course line after realizing my mistake.. and it allowed Max to blow past me from a couple miles back. I then chose to not fly over The Villages but opted to go around and subsequently grounded myself. It's all lessons learned, the hindsight is painful and it kills me to watch the 2D replays of the tasks last year because I sit and yell at myself on the computer, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING.. WTF ARE YOU DOING!?" I'm my worst critic. But in a way it's good to look back at your mistakes so that you can try to work out the issues for the next one.
One of the articles I found was in the XC Mag, 21 Tips for Getting to Goal:
Most people aren’t there to win
Most pilots fly comps because they want to fly with friends, learn, have fun and discover new places. Only a few will be there to win.
Everybody likes to be asked their opinion
Simply hanging out for a week with lots of like-minded pilots is a learning experience. Talk to the local skygod – “How was your flight?”
Preparation pays
You fly better if you are prepared. Start before you go: buy a map, explore Google Earth, look at tracklogs online. Turn up a few days early, or go to a comp in a place you know. Research the tasks the comp organisers have set before – they’ll probably set them again.
Local knowledge helps
You will relax more if you are happy about what’s below you: roads, railways, no-fly zones and how you can get back to base. Study tracklogs to find sink zones (where people land) and house thermals (where people go up). Relate the tracklog to what is on the ground.
The best glider is the one you like
You will fly better on a wing you’re comfortable with in a harness you know. Don’t make changes in your gear before a comp – you need to know that your gear works and you can depend on it.
Technology can ruin your day
Asking people to show you how your flight computer works 10 minutes before the window opens will make you no friends. Learn about your radio, GPS and instrument before you go. Ask the tech guru to help at an appropriate time, not as they are clipping in.
Batteries are cheapDon’t spoil a flight for the cost of a fresh set of batteries: use new ones or rechargables. And don’t forget your paper map.
Dehydration can spoil it all
You can be on a hot, windy, exposed launch for a long time. Wear a hat, stay in the shade and hydrate. In the air you will lose focus quickly if you don’t drink, and that means you’ll land early. Work out a way to drink (and pee) in flight if you can.
Knowing what you want helps
Having a realistic goal means you’ll go home happy. (Don’t make it “Win at all costs!”) Make goal, fly a personal best, fly for two hours… choose a goal that fits you. Be honest with yourself – and allow yourself a smile when it goes right. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t.
You will pay for late nights
The social side of comps is often great (especially if the weather is bad). Stay up late though and you’ll suffer the next day. Watch the vino and make sure you get some sleep.
Early birds catch worms
Comps start early, so get up earlier. Have a proper breakfast, change your batteries, fill your water bottle and make the morning briefing on time prepared to go. Transport to launch can often take a lot of time, so bag your spot on the minibus and then relax.
Smart pilots get ready first
On launch claim your spot and get your gear ready as soon as you can. You may have a long wait, but it’s much better hanging around then than rushing at the end.
Listening is underrated
Pay attention at the briefing on launch. Tasks can be tricky to grasp, especially when it comes to start times and cylinders. Take a pen and paper to write down instructions, the task, land-by times, radio frequencies and phone numbers. Each element of the task is crucial: you won’t be the first pilot who has got to goal but screwed up the start – and scored zero because of it.
Paper maps never die
Because you got your kit ready early, after the briefing you will have plenty of time to study the route on your map. Discuss it with a buddy, look for different options and plan your approach. If someone has flown it before, speak to them.
You should be in the air
When the window opens if you can stay up take off and get in the air. You will be much happier looking down on the crowd than on the deck looking up at it. Flying for half an hour before the start gate opens lets you relax, sort your gear and get into the day. Taking off minutes before the start and scrabbling to catch up is stressful.
Getting high is key
Get high before the start – rushing off low will only ruin your day. When the race starts gaggles form naturally. If this is your first comp don’t stress about staying with the lead gaggle – just fly the course and find your rhythm, you will naturally find pilots at the same level. Stick with them, it makes things easier. (You are now gaggle flying.)
Good pilots help each other
A good gaggle is a team: working together to find the best cores and climb quickly; spreading out on glide to cover more air in the search for lift. This way the gaggle moves faster than the lone wolf.
Getting to goal is more important than speed
Getting to goal in two hours is better than landing a metre short in 60 minutes. For your first comps treat the task as an XC route and forget about racing: it will simply put you on the deck early. Just fly the route. If it takes you four hours and you’re last in, so what? You made it.
Consistency is key
Get to goal every day and you will automatically rise to the top of the field. So fly consistently, calmly and safely. Stick with your gaggle, avoid necky glides and give yourself a margin for error. Watch others and see what they are doing, but don’t blindly follow – they may know less than you!
Goal frenzy is real
“I can get in from here.” The best pilots in the world have raced to the deck because of this thought. Be prepared to catch yourself. Stay focused and have patience. Spiralling down to goal is so much better than sinking out behind the train tracks.
The best pilot is the one having the most fun
It’s true. Never forget what you’re there for. The point is to have fun and lots of it. If you prepare well, feel comfortable and stay cool then you will naturally fly well – and that means the fun is all yours.
Monday, 11 March 2019
Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Chutes
It's that time of the year again.. Chute repack time! Now settle down. I know it's an exciting thing, and everybody loves it and does it every year like they're supposed to.. But, all joking aside, it's a necessary evil. If the unthinkable ever happens and you're spiraling and/or plummeting towards terra firma you'll be thanking your past-self for deploying, preening, and repacking your underfluffies when your chute opens. Unless you get tangled in your equipment, but that's another reason we train to throw.
The A-Team met up at Nick's hangar again to get our goods repacked before the Nationals in April. And, like last year, it was fairly uneventful. Ilya hates repacking, Max has a new helmet camera, Nick hates BBQ chicken pizza, and I discovered that I have a newly developed vertigo. I don't recall having the same issue last year but I'm hoping the lightheaded/dizzy spell was just from spinning in my harness. I'll find out in Florida.
On a positive note- I was able to get my chute out of my harness this year. Last year my shoulder was still jacked and I wasn't able to pull it free from the container. For months now I've been doing my meal planning and split-workouts from when I was competing. In addition to the self-esteem boost and endurance in everyday life, it's helping me with the flying side of the spectrum. It builds confidence knowing I can muscle my wing around better. It’s human nature to work on the things that we are good at but to be successful you have to focus on the flaws as well.
Plus, yoga pants.
Thursday, 7 February 2019
Tweaking
Only 1 month and 27 days to go until sunny Florida..
Ilya and I spend our winter weekends getting little nips for our aviation fix. This started a few weeks ago with a tube of black shoe goo and some foam brushes. The boot skid on both of our Tenax 3 harnesses had worn through and we were looking for a more permanent solution rather than having to buy canvas replacement caps a couple of times per year from Italy. With 3 coats, a full tube, and a steady hand I was able to get mine coated.
Ilya and I spend our winter weekends getting little nips for our aviation fix. This started a few weeks ago with a tube of black shoe goo and some foam brushes. The boot skid on both of our Tenax 3 harnesses had worn through and we were looking for a more permanent solution rather than having to buy canvas replacement caps a couple of times per year from Italy. With 3 coats, a full tube, and a steady hand I was able to get mine coated.
The next order of business was to mount the aluminum bracket for the new Flytec 6030 instrument pod that I had ordered. This involved the removal of my wheels to be able to scoot the bracket over another couple of inches closer to the corner and out of the way. I had been flying without wheels for years, but after my surgery and subsequent crash in Canada I flew with them the last couple of seasons for consolation.
I was once told "Use your superior judgement to avoid using your superior skills." I live by that statement and the only use my wheels got before or after that one crash was when I was too lazy to pick my glider up and rolled it around instead. Hopefully that's the only reason they'll be missed..
I had Ilya assist me in getting my glider into the house mainly to do the tuning changes that Steve Pearson had recommended. My glider has always been a bear to turn whenever there was more than 10mph of wind or punchy lift, but I've had instances where it wont respond to my roll or pitch input and will just turn wherever it wants. The smaller gliders have always been stiff, but the fact that I have a mylar top sail and don't weigh anything has compounded the issue to make the glider even more numb.
The pros: I can thermal the bug farts easier than the heavier dudes and my sink rate on glide is typically 180-200fpm.
The cons: I have issues maneuvering in active conditions and get crushed on glide. *putt putt putt*
So to remedy this, I shaved my tip wands 3/16" to bag the ends a little. The handling should improve noticeably.
The sprogs go tight for my lighter weight around 1/2 VG to the point where I can't physically pull it anymore. I lowered the sprogs 1.5 turns to improve the handling, especially with the VG on.
As a disclaimer: I did these tuning changes off the instruction of the man that creates these gliders.. I was apprehensive but reassured that 1.5 turns isn't much. I spent an entire season in a topless glider with the sprogs dumped and undisclosed to me by the previous owner and lived to tell the tale. I know what lowering them can do to the stability first-hand..
Monday, 14 January 2019
Revelations
The A-Team is back, and what a difference a month makes..
After talking myself out of competition, I was gently nudged back into it. I don't do well with peer pressure and after Max texted Ilya and I that he was confirmed for Nationals we had a day of conversation weighing the pros and cons and decided to sign up as well. Ilya and I dug our heels in a little bit with each other: I didn't want to be the reason Ilya competed, and he didn't want to be the reason I didn't.
I'm competitive by nature and was worried that I would be in full 'win' mode. But Ilya said something that made me come to a realization: "How often at Green Swamp were you in the air worried about someone being ahead of you?", and the answer was "Never". I didn't give a crap about who was ahead. I was just focused on making goal, or even the first waypoint, or even just staying in the air. I was mainly looking for Ilya and Max when I was flying, but I do that up in New England anyways. Ilya said I also made a comment that changed his mind: "I'd rather regret that we did it than regret that we didn't." This chance doesn't come around too often, and we're going to be right there at demo days. Neither of us could envision leaving for Tennessee or staying at Wallaby knowing that the competition was happening so close to where we were.
I know my limits, I took a DNF one of the days at Green Swamp because I wasn't comfortable flying in the windy conditions and even though it bumped me to 19th, I managed to claw back up to 13th overall with an 11th place finish on the last task.
Comps are all about balance. Some days suck, some don't, but it all seems to even out in the end anyways. We're both relieved that we signed up so that's a good indicator that we made the right decision. I don't care if I come in 30th of 30, at least I can say I competed in the Nationals just once.
After talking myself out of competition, I was gently nudged back into it. I don't do well with peer pressure and after Max texted Ilya and I that he was confirmed for Nationals we had a day of conversation weighing the pros and cons and decided to sign up as well. Ilya and I dug our heels in a little bit with each other: I didn't want to be the reason Ilya competed, and he didn't want to be the reason I didn't.
I'm competitive by nature and was worried that I would be in full 'win' mode. But Ilya said something that made me come to a realization: "How often at Green Swamp were you in the air worried about someone being ahead of you?", and the answer was "Never". I didn't give a crap about who was ahead. I was just focused on making goal, or even the first waypoint, or even just staying in the air. I was mainly looking for Ilya and Max when I was flying, but I do that up in New England anyways. Ilya said I also made a comment that changed his mind: "I'd rather regret that we did it than regret that we didn't." This chance doesn't come around too often, and we're going to be right there at demo days. Neither of us could envision leaving for Tennessee or staying at Wallaby knowing that the competition was happening so close to where we were.
I know my limits, I took a DNF one of the days at Green Swamp because I wasn't comfortable flying in the windy conditions and even though it bumped me to 19th, I managed to claw back up to 13th overall with an 11th place finish on the last task.
Comps are all about balance. Some days suck, some don't, but it all seems to even out in the end anyways. We're both relieved that we signed up so that's a good indicator that we made the right decision. I don't care if I come in 30th of 30, at least I can say I competed in the Nationals just once.
Thursday, 10 January 2019
Back Where I Belong
Day 102.. No flying, supplies running low, no water, resorting to hunting squirrels..
All jokes aside - it's been way too long since I've been off the ground. There was a glimmer of hope for Wellfleet last weekend until Ilya and I took a good look at the rain percentage. It's hard keeping busy during winter in Maine, even harder busying yourself with something that won't cause a season-ender and ruin the 2019 season before it even starts. Especially with WW Demo Days and a 3 day Mikey Barber clinic with my two favorite Russians coming up in 2 months and 24 days.. (but whos counting)
So how do you fill your free time in the arctic tundra and stay prepped for flying season? Work out, of course. My own personal agenda with it is mostly injury recovery and prevention. It's helped immensely with my shoulder. 2 years post surgery I've finally passed my pre-surgery max weight with all of my overhead press-type lifts. I reverted back to the lifting routines I did when I was competing and only focus on a couple muscle groups per day rather than the garbage full-body routine I was doing for the last 8 years. I also changed the food I eat and the portion sizes. It's working..
Another huge help: Quitting sugar and booze. Unless you actually look for it, you don't realize that sugar is in almost everything. There's natural sugars in fruit and such, that's not the type I'm talking about. That delicious, disgusting, processed shit that people love pouring into their morning coffee- that's the type. Studies have shown it triggers the same parts of the brain as cocaine and claim it to be just as addictive. Now I've never snorted coke, but I can attest that sugar is fucking addictive. Ilya jumped on board with scrapping sugar and booze as well, so we went through withdrawals and were cranky together. That's not a joke. We went through legitimate withdrawals, the stuff is poison. I'm not telling you to give up your vices, I don't care. I'm just saying it was a noticeable difference in how we felt, healed, looked, weighed, hell even our moods became so much more balanced out. (I'm still tweaked but I'm charming as fuck, ask anyone).
All jokes aside - it's been way too long since I've been off the ground. There was a glimmer of hope for Wellfleet last weekend until Ilya and I took a good look at the rain percentage. It's hard keeping busy during winter in Maine, even harder busying yourself with something that won't cause a season-ender and ruin the 2019 season before it even starts. Especially with WW Demo Days and a 3 day Mikey Barber clinic with my two favorite Russians coming up in 2 months and 24 days.. (but whos counting)
So how do you fill your free time in the arctic tundra and stay prepped for flying season? Work out, of course. My own personal agenda with it is mostly injury recovery and prevention. It's helped immensely with my shoulder. 2 years post surgery I've finally passed my pre-surgery max weight with all of my overhead press-type lifts. I reverted back to the lifting routines I did when I was competing and only focus on a couple muscle groups per day rather than the garbage full-body routine I was doing for the last 8 years. I also changed the food I eat and the portion sizes. It's working..
Another huge help: Quitting sugar and booze. Unless you actually look for it, you don't realize that sugar is in almost everything. There's natural sugars in fruit and such, that's not the type I'm talking about. That delicious, disgusting, processed shit that people love pouring into their morning coffee- that's the type. Studies have shown it triggers the same parts of the brain as cocaine and claim it to be just as addictive. Now I've never snorted coke, but I can attest that sugar is fucking addictive. Ilya jumped on board with scrapping sugar and booze as well, so we went through withdrawals and were cranky together. That's not a joke. We went through legitimate withdrawals, the stuff is poison. I'm not telling you to give up your vices, I don't care. I'm just saying it was a noticeable difference in how we felt, healed, looked, weighed, hell even our moods became so much more balanced out. (I'm still tweaked but I'm charming as fuck, ask anyone).
So back to beating the winter blues.. weightlifting, ah yes. Almost 15 years and I friggin still love working out to the point where I look forward to it all day. Don't ask me why or how, I have no idea. And doing it with joints that stay in place now is pretty awesome. I coddled my shoulder for almost two years up until a few months back. I was doing military presses and it was hurting my shoulder every rep. I wasn't even close to my max weight, got frustrated, and did a set of push-presses. I heard a *pop*. My assumption is scar tissue broke loose because it was a floodgate for more range and strength without as much pain. It's still stiff and I don't have full range but it's a noticeable difference. Since then I have passed my PB on multiple lifts even from when I first started, so that's been pretty awesome.
This is probably the healthiest and strongest I've ever been, and it finally happened at the ripe old age of 31. The biggest obstacle is finally admitting to myself that something hurts and not just working through it, the revelation to which Ilya gets all the credit. Don't do that 'New Year, New Me' crap. Try to be awesome year round- do something healthy or challenging. It may require a legit lifestyle alteration, but it's totally worth it. Carpe the diem, bitches!
Friday, 7 December 2018
Reasoning
This crazy flying journey began almost 19 years ago now. When I started my training I was watched very closely by everyone around me because I was so young. A lot of it was with skepticism. Most disregarded me, assuming I wouldn't last long. A rare few took the role of mentoring. I grew up in an incredible era at Morningside where my mentors were National and World comp pilots, and I was so lucky to have that. Every day of flying came with some type of lesson or guidance and helped shape me into the pilot that I am now.
Every pilot goes through an evolution at their own pace and in their own order. I got my H2 and first mountain flights, learned to ridge soar, got my aerotow rating, learned how to thermal, joined my first competition, got my H3, got my H4 but never received it on paper the next spring and stopped flying not long after due to adulthood.
After the 2001 Regionals and placing 3rd I was hooked and wanted to be a comp pilot. Not long after making that declaration, I crashed and dislocated my shoulder. Flying became a lot scarier to me and I became overly conservative. Some would call that positive, and I agree but only to a certain point. The crash stemmed from an error on my part while playing with a single surface after being in my UltraSport the entire prior season: I misjudged the crappy glide/penetration and didn't make the LZ. So now whenever I flew I would panic if I didn't have the LZ almost underneath me no matter what glider I was in. I was leaving lift and bailing early to come in to land fearing I wouldn't make it. Not necessarily a bad thing, being that it's a safe practice, but if you're going for distance and competitions it's crippling.
I had a good year in 2016 with multiple XC journeys and soaring flights galore. I had a hat-trick XC streak from Ascutney to Morningside 3 for 3 and in addition to that I was informed that I set a new female XC record for the region. My shoulder surgery that fall changed everything, I didn't trust my body. 2017 was my recovery season, until I crashed and hurt myself again. Then 2018 turned into recovery season: Part 2 for both physical and mental. I'm still not sure how things were processed in my brain, but it went downhill as the year went by and I still don't know why. I did my first comp in 18 years down in Florida and placed fairly well (not top 10 like I wanted, but 13th is close enough I guess). Once back in New England for spring conditions I began to get nervous. I flew here and there, but only when it was benign conditions and dead calm. Nothing happened that should've caused my mind to revert back to my 2001-2005 flying mindset, yet there it was. I was leaving thermals with Max and Ilya to get back directly over the park because in my mind I wasn't going to make the field. Which, in hindsight, was ridiculous. Half of the time we were at 6,000'+ and Morningside wasn't more than a few miles away, but in my head I wasn't going to penetrate back upwind and land short - an issue stemming from my old crash. I wanted to go XC, but wasn't really towing up in conditions that would allow me to do so. I wouldn't get on the cart if the leaves were rustling at all.
It came to a head when I ended up having a breakdown in the taxiway. I was all set up to go, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The conditions weren't crazy, just a typical mid-day thermally tow. I had done a few hundred of these by now. Everything came down on me and I was questioning what I was doing. I bawled my eyes out to Stacy and finally just blurted out 'I feel like I'm going to die every time I fly.' and didn't realize until that moment that it had become that bad, and it was unfounded. There was no reason for it. Yes hang gliding is dangerous to a point, but the risks are mitigated with experience and proficiency. Both of which I have plenty of. I have only had two bad crashes in the course of 12 total seasons which is impressive considering the flying and XC I've accomplished. Both were pilot error and preventable. Then as soon as that hit me, it went away and I was back to normal a month later. I was up on trashy days scratching for thermals and flying with Max and Ilya again like it never happened.. In hindsight I think it was just a self preservation thing kicking in.
I recently had an urge to join the Nationals. It only took a week and I've snapped out of it. I've taken a step back and before I decide to enter another comp I want to make sure the 'have fun' and 'win' battle is far more balanced out. I had fun at the Green Swamp this past spring but it was stressful and I only placed 13th, granted it was out of about 50 pilots... but I still feel like I failed and I'm still hard on myself about it.
I've competed my entire life since childhood because I'm the youngest out of 3. It's a blessing and a curse that's pushed me to accomplish a lot of things. I've competed snowboarding, weightlifting, motorcycle racing.. but it makes me never satisfied with being decent, I have always tried to be the best and it has honestly taken away from the overall experience of the things I've done.
I need to set my sights back to two things that I had already started working on:
VHGA Sand Men:
Every pilot goes through an evolution at their own pace and in their own order. I got my H2 and first mountain flights, learned to ridge soar, got my aerotow rating, learned how to thermal, joined my first competition, got my H3, got my H4 but never received it on paper the next spring and stopped flying not long after due to adulthood.
After the 2001 Regionals and placing 3rd I was hooked and wanted to be a comp pilot. Not long after making that declaration, I crashed and dislocated my shoulder. Flying became a lot scarier to me and I became overly conservative. Some would call that positive, and I agree but only to a certain point. The crash stemmed from an error on my part while playing with a single surface after being in my UltraSport the entire prior season: I misjudged the crappy glide/penetration and didn't make the LZ. So now whenever I flew I would panic if I didn't have the LZ almost underneath me no matter what glider I was in. I was leaving lift and bailing early to come in to land fearing I wouldn't make it. Not necessarily a bad thing, being that it's a safe practice, but if you're going for distance and competitions it's crippling.
I had a good year in 2016 with multiple XC journeys and soaring flights galore. I had a hat-trick XC streak from Ascutney to Morningside 3 for 3 and in addition to that I was informed that I set a new female XC record for the region. My shoulder surgery that fall changed everything, I didn't trust my body. 2017 was my recovery season, until I crashed and hurt myself again. Then 2018 turned into recovery season: Part 2 for both physical and mental. I'm still not sure how things were processed in my brain, but it went downhill as the year went by and I still don't know why. I did my first comp in 18 years down in Florida and placed fairly well (not top 10 like I wanted, but 13th is close enough I guess). Once back in New England for spring conditions I began to get nervous. I flew here and there, but only when it was benign conditions and dead calm. Nothing happened that should've caused my mind to revert back to my 2001-2005 flying mindset, yet there it was. I was leaving thermals with Max and Ilya to get back directly over the park because in my mind I wasn't going to make the field. Which, in hindsight, was ridiculous. Half of the time we were at 6,000'+ and Morningside wasn't more than a few miles away, but in my head I wasn't going to penetrate back upwind and land short - an issue stemming from my old crash. I wanted to go XC, but wasn't really towing up in conditions that would allow me to do so. I wouldn't get on the cart if the leaves were rustling at all.
It came to a head when I ended up having a breakdown in the taxiway. I was all set up to go, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The conditions weren't crazy, just a typical mid-day thermally tow. I had done a few hundred of these by now. Everything came down on me and I was questioning what I was doing. I bawled my eyes out to Stacy and finally just blurted out 'I feel like I'm going to die every time I fly.' and didn't realize until that moment that it had become that bad, and it was unfounded. There was no reason for it. Yes hang gliding is dangerous to a point, but the risks are mitigated with experience and proficiency. Both of which I have plenty of. I have only had two bad crashes in the course of 12 total seasons which is impressive considering the flying and XC I've accomplished. Both were pilot error and preventable. Then as soon as that hit me, it went away and I was back to normal a month later. I was up on trashy days scratching for thermals and flying with Max and Ilya again like it never happened.. In hindsight I think it was just a self preservation thing kicking in.
I recently had an urge to join the Nationals. It only took a week and I've snapped out of it. I've taken a step back and before I decide to enter another comp I want to make sure the 'have fun' and 'win' battle is far more balanced out. I had fun at the Green Swamp this past spring but it was stressful and I only placed 13th, granted it was out of about 50 pilots... but I still feel like I failed and I'm still hard on myself about it.
I've competed my entire life since childhood because I'm the youngest out of 3. It's a blessing and a curse that's pushed me to accomplish a lot of things. I've competed snowboarding, weightlifting, motorcycle racing.. but it makes me never satisfied with being decent, I have always tried to be the best and it has honestly taken away from the overall experience of the things I've done.
I need to set my sights back to two things that I had already started working on:
- I want to extend my XC record
- I want to land on the beach.
VHGA Sand Men:
- Nelson Howe
- Randy Adams
- Teddy Hasenfus
- Jon Szarek
- Steve Arndt
- Richie Laport
- Timmy Donovan
- Jeff Bernard
- John Arrison
- Dennis Cavagnro
- Tom Lanning
- Greg Hanlon
- Tim Hoopes
- Dan McGonagle
- Randy Brown
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
The Pressure..
This past weekend was a H pressure party. I shouldn't complain with the way this season has panned out though. At least it wasn't raining for once..
The system caused a blue hole as predicted. We ended up with storms developing off to the West over Rutland, about 30 miles away. Ilya and Max took tows up but weren't able to find anything worth writing home about. I hopped in line anyway to take my sledder like a man. Caci had gone up before me and was working something off to the NE of the park, the only game in town it seemed. I towed up, found nothing off to the West, and made a dash for the terrain over the park near where he was. Nick flew past me and was on his way to land, it seemed it was shutting down and I was bumming for being just a few minutes too late.
I was down to about 400' over the hill when I caught a puff of zero - I'll take it. I started circling and it started getting a little better, up to about 50fpm. I was trying to stay as flat as possible but trying to turn tight enough to keep in it. Then a hawk out climbing me about 100' to the East caught my eye. I adjusted to where he was and got into 200fpm.. Thank you, bird! He and I shared the thermal and as we climbed out we got into 500fpm! We were then joined by a turkey vulture shortly before the thermal ended up crapping out on us. With the feathered assist I ended up gaining about 1,300' and came in to have a perfect landing. Always a plus!
Sunday was a repeat day. H pressure, predicted to be blue, light winds. Ilya and I dissected the weather predictions and set on a 3pm launch time to be when there would be lift, if there was any at all. Clouds ended up forming all around us, they looked decent but tattered and I was worried it was just from moisture from the night before rather than actual lift. We got on the carts, Ilya, myself, and Jeff and I made a comment about feeling like we were too early. Ilya would later agree that we should've waited.
We ended up back on the ground while Jeff remained up so we went for relights, mine being later than Ilya's. As I was towing up noticed they were getting low. I got dropped NE of the park and made a dash for a cloud that was about 500 higher than me, there was absolutely nothing under or near it. Time to hunt.. Jeff was still scratching low near Calavant Hill so I headed that way and found a scrappy 0-50fpm. I began working it.. but he was getting bigger. I clover leafed around to see where his core was and found 600fpm down all around.. I stayed with what I had. He never got all the way up to me and went off to land. I was getting low again so I headed for more terrain over Morningside. I was over the hill and again had a 0-50fpm that I started working. I managed to scratch out a 33 minute flight from it. This weekend was a test of patience and thermal-sniffing, which is good to have once in awhile.
The system caused a blue hole as predicted. We ended up with storms developing off to the West over Rutland, about 30 miles away. Ilya and Max took tows up but weren't able to find anything worth writing home about. I hopped in line anyway to take my sledder like a man. Caci had gone up before me and was working something off to the NE of the park, the only game in town it seemed. I towed up, found nothing off to the West, and made a dash for the terrain over the park near where he was. Nick flew past me and was on his way to land, it seemed it was shutting down and I was bumming for being just a few minutes too late.
I was down to about 400' over the hill when I caught a puff of zero - I'll take it. I started circling and it started getting a little better, up to about 50fpm. I was trying to stay as flat as possible but trying to turn tight enough to keep in it. Then a hawk out climbing me about 100' to the East caught my eye. I adjusted to where he was and got into 200fpm.. Thank you, bird! He and I shared the thermal and as we climbed out we got into 500fpm! We were then joined by a turkey vulture shortly before the thermal ended up crapping out on us. With the feathered assist I ended up gaining about 1,300' and came in to have a perfect landing. Always a plus!
Sunday was a repeat day. H pressure, predicted to be blue, light winds. Ilya and I dissected the weather predictions and set on a 3pm launch time to be when there would be lift, if there was any at all. Clouds ended up forming all around us, they looked decent but tattered and I was worried it was just from moisture from the night before rather than actual lift. We got on the carts, Ilya, myself, and Jeff and I made a comment about feeling like we were too early. Ilya would later agree that we should've waited.
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| Takeoff with hubby assist (Photo by Max Kotchouro) |
We ended up back on the ground while Jeff remained up so we went for relights, mine being later than Ilya's. As I was towing up noticed they were getting low. I got dropped NE of the park and made a dash for a cloud that was about 500 higher than me, there was absolutely nothing under or near it. Time to hunt.. Jeff was still scratching low near Calavant Hill so I headed that way and found a scrappy 0-50fpm. I began working it.. but he was getting bigger. I clover leafed around to see where his core was and found 600fpm down all around.. I stayed with what I had. He never got all the way up to me and went off to land. I was getting low again so I headed for more terrain over Morningside. I was over the hill and again had a 0-50fpm that I started working. I managed to scratch out a 33 minute flight from it. This weekend was a test of patience and thermal-sniffing, which is good to have once in awhile.
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