My Very First Tandem!

Last week I finally got to do something I’ve been wanting to for a long time – I gave someone a paragliding tandem!


Out in BC I took an instructors/tandem I course which I didn’t quite get to fully complete due to the weather, but it was totally rad nonetheless.

The tandems went well – only did two with one perfect launch, one average launch, one fast landing, and one decent landing. Practice, practice! Tandems are something I definitely want to pursue further – it’s a hell of a lot of responsibility, but man, to share flying with someone makes it totally worth it.


The drive out to BC through the Rockies looked something like this...there was even MORE snow on the way back - hopefully it won't melt all at once or we'll be in trouble...


I’ll have to finish up my endorsements in the summer, but meanwhile I’ll be off again in a few weeks to France for the Ozone Chabre Open and then off to do some acro stuff in Annecy. I can’t wait!

Ankle-wise, things are far from perfect, but are still very slowly getting there. No running far, stairs suck, and walking long distances hurts...it looks kind of demented too with all that scar tissue, but I am so thankful I can walk across the room to get myself a glass of water and then walk back! Knock-on-wood, I haven't seriously reinjured it, and I intend to keep it that way.

Crazy Canadian Weather

Man, Canadian weather is crazy! After spending a few days in Calgary after coming back from OZ, everyone seemed somewhat embittered about the winter and how spring was yet to arrive. Well, doesn't look like things have changed much since...

Right now I'm in BC taking a paragliding course and I can't get home! The mountains have heavy snowfall warnings in some regions and the prospect of being stuck at Roger's Pass or something doesn't appeal to me much, so I'm staying put. It's kind of funny actually - who would have thought the Rockies and Calgary would have snowfall warnings in May? Ridiculous!

I've clocked something nominal like an hour and a half airtime out here in the last week but doing sleddies is okay when you're at a new site, or one you haven't been to for a while. It'd be awesome to do a little xc or something, but as long as I can do a spiral or wingovers or whatever on the way down from these mini-flights, I keep psyched about sleddies. And besides, flowers are blooming and there's no snow down low!

Anyhow, I've completely adjusted to driving on the right side of the road again and am happy that when I order a burger, there's no damn beetroot in it! I miss flying Mystic, but I totally look forward to kicking ass on home turf in the summer! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssss!