Woodrat Flying
A couple days ago I made the drive from Vancouver to Ruch, Oregon for the WCPC. It took about 12 hours, but factoring in 45 minutes at the border and a stop at Starbucks, I’d say that wasn’t too bad.
Yesterday I headed up to Woodrat launch and flew in some somewhat choppy but stellar conditions; I got to 2800 metres and flew about 30k’s (?) or so in total, and landed at a vineyard and got free wine. It was a pretty damn good flight on a site that was brand new for me!
Today was the first day of the competition. There are just over 40 pilots registered for the meet, so it’s a nice smaller-sized group.
Today’s task was 42k’s – sort of a “Z” like-shaped task. I was still stoked from yesterday’s flight, and I felt good about today’s. After launching, I found climbs to be quite light, and everyone seemed to be struggling. The head gaggle, not particularly high, went on course as I was still grovelling around launch height, although thankfully not alone!
Man, it was hard work! I ridge soared the best I could, thermalled the hardest I could, but only managed to get a few hundred feet above launch after more than 45 minutes. When the lead gaggle had left earlier, they did not seem much higher, so off I went on course too. The first turnpoint was to the right of a ridge, where you can expect to find climbs behind the ridge. As I glided for the ridge, with a strong valley wind, I couldn’t make it: I was probably 150 feet below it when I arrived (I was pushing bar too, of course), and the front of the ridge doesn’t produce any lift...
So, off I turned round to the LZ! It made me feel alright that there were a lot of pilots there – pilots with comp wings too, so that provided me with a bit of solace. I would estimate that the number of people who bombed today was around 15+ which out of 40 is quite a few. The ones who did make it over that ridge however, probably made it all the way to goal.
I’m in good spirits – it’s only Day 1 out of a 7 day competition. I flew well yesterday and today I tried my damn hardest. If I had to do the flight over, I’m not sure how I would have flown differently...that lack of knowledge is probably what differentiates me from great comp pilots. But that is the challenge right there and every hour in the air teaches you something new.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the week!!!!!!!!
Yesterday I headed up to Woodrat launch and flew in some somewhat choppy but stellar conditions; I got to 2800 metres and flew about 30k’s (?) or so in total, and landed at a vineyard and got free wine. It was a pretty damn good flight on a site that was brand new for me!
Today was the first day of the competition. There are just over 40 pilots registered for the meet, so it’s a nice smaller-sized group.
Today’s task was 42k’s – sort of a “Z” like-shaped task. I was still stoked from yesterday’s flight, and I felt good about today’s. After launching, I found climbs to be quite light, and everyone seemed to be struggling. The head gaggle, not particularly high, went on course as I was still grovelling around launch height, although thankfully not alone!
Man, it was hard work! I ridge soared the best I could, thermalled the hardest I could, but only managed to get a few hundred feet above launch after more than 45 minutes. When the lead gaggle had left earlier, they did not seem much higher, so off I went on course too. The first turnpoint was to the right of a ridge, where you can expect to find climbs behind the ridge. As I glided for the ridge, with a strong valley wind, I couldn’t make it: I was probably 150 feet below it when I arrived (I was pushing bar too, of course), and the front of the ridge doesn’t produce any lift...
So, off I turned round to the LZ! It made me feel alright that there were a lot of pilots there – pilots with comp wings too, so that provided me with a bit of solace. I would estimate that the number of people who bombed today was around 15+ which out of 40 is quite a few. The ones who did make it over that ridge however, probably made it all the way to goal.
I’m in good spirits – it’s only Day 1 out of a 7 day competition. I flew well yesterday and today I tried my damn hardest. If I had to do the flight over, I’m not sure how I would have flown differently...that lack of knowledge is probably what differentiates me from great comp pilots. But that is the challenge right there and every hour in the air teaches you something new.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the week!!!!!!!!
posted by Veronica at 9:17 PM
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