Dominican - Feb. 9 & 10, '07

Another comp day, another day to take shot at a personal best. My remedial class tutoring was definitely helping, but I still didn’t feel like I was capable of shattering any XC records anytime soon.

As I launched for the first flight of the day, I headed towards the ridge on the right, with my usual radio tutoring. Every time I was asked to do a 360, I kept questioning whether everyone knew how low I was – I just couldn’t do it! I felt that had I done those 360’s as low as I was, I’d fall out of the lift, and have to land into a tree. Jocky telling me to 360 was probably perfectly safe – if there were any doubt, he wouldn’t have suggested I do it. But out of my own stubbornness, or just lack of faith, I ignored him most of the time when he asked me to do this.

As a result of this, I landed in the valley again. It was a nice feeling knowing that I didn’t have to pay the bum-out fields a visit again, but having a 15 minute flight was a bit frustrating. I remember being on the motorcycle on the way back up to launch thinking what made a good paragliding student. I think my being too mechanical when being asked to turn, and not combining my own decisions with those of a professional was where I went wrong. Yes, I made the conscious decision not to 360 some of the time, but I wasn’t thinking about lift triggers and generators, and the like. This was my bad, as expecting somebody who’s thousands of feet away to tell you precisely when to turn, apply brake, etc. is kind of silly. I really do admire those who can coach paragliding pilots – I don’t think they have an easy job.

By the time I got back up to launch, Jocky had taken the tandem with his friend John, and was almost in the valley. One of the organizers at the comp offered to provide me with some advice on the radio, which I gladly took.

So, off I went into the air again, following approximately the same line I had taken on the previous flight. The air was a bit choppy at times, and Sebastian commented on my shitty response times. I was letting the glider be it’s own boss, rather than taking control.

Jocky was out in front, so I headed towards him, hoping I could use the lift that he was once in. Unfortunately though, it was gone so I had to make a landing. He followed suit not too far behind, got swarmed by mass of kids, and that’s my last flight-related memory of the comp.

I can’t say I ever felt especially disappointed with my flying, other than maybe on the first day where I was the first pilot to land in the bum-out field. That was a bit embarrassing, but in the end, it really didn’t matter. I think too, the comp was a bit beyond my abilities, and I’m really thankful that there were people there to help me out. I know that if everyone who showed up at the meet were as needy as I was, the comp would have been a disaster so I could really appreciate the effort that was made to get me flying.

That night, it absolutely poured – I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such absolute torrential rainfall. I can only imagine what it’s like to experience a monsoon – flash flooding anyone?

If I’m not mistaken, I think that night was Meringue night. I will be the first to profess that I cannot Meringue. I tried – I even tried the age-old trick of drinking before dancing to “loosen up”, but to no avail. Somehow I didn’t think my club dancing moves were appropriate, so I did my best to go with the flow to the ultra-fast beats, but my Caucasian dance moves could not be shaken that night. What happens in the Dominican, stays in the Dominican.

The next morning still had some overdevelopment from the night before, so flying the last day was called off. The guys and I headed to town and just sort of bummed the day around.

In the early evening was the awards ceremony, where I was awarded an Ozone vest for landing in the bum-out field first! Well, looking back, the 4 hour hike out of the bum-out field was totally worth the vest….lol, okay, maybe not.

It was a good send-off, with Peter Claghorn (local Canadian pilot) winning the big prize of a free Ozone glider. Go Canada! The rest of the Canadians were rowdy as usual, drinking too much, but having good harmless fun. I think we igloo-folk had a good presence out in the Dominican.