No go

After a tough week of hard decisions its no go for Brazil I simply cannot justify £2000+ for a weeks flying so I will have to stick it out through winter in the UK,oh well.

XP3

On Saturday I flew the xp3 for the first time,it had sat under my bed for over two weeks,so off I went into the damp/wet Cumbrian fells,after an hours wait the 40km breeze dropped to 10-15 kmph so of I went,I pulled up the glider and flew off into what I was later told was the wind gusting in excess of 40 kmph, shit!
So my first flight was on 1/2 speed bar about 50 mts above the ground being pushed and bullied around by a very mixed up airmass,I soon found out I can't big ears this wing so I was going forward but up,looking down I could'ent help picking out the biggest bushes thinking when I do crash that one looks softest,anyway the glider stayed infalted and I got down, beyond that I could'ent give an opinion on the wing, other than I am amazed it did not collapse compleatly,unlike my mate Dave who had two full bag of washing behind him collapses and numerous aysametrics trying to land,lucky boy.
the weather looks poor for quite a while now so I just need to book my flights for Brazil and wait for the first good spring to arrive.

Paragliding World Cup

I have just had conformation that I have a place in the first round of the PWC in Brazil, Hurray so I am off to Govenor Valadaries or GV on the 19th of February with Niel Roberts so the beginning of the team Niviuk uks season starts to fall into place.Here is a link to the PWC Brazil 2006

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/steveflyorama/Brazil06#

Oh well

Four days to go and I still have a very slim chance of a place,I have Calvo the team manager on the case and if anyone can swing a last minute place its him.
If the Mexico worlds do not happen the next option is to go for the first round of the paragliding world cup in Brazil,the selection for the PWC as it is called starts tomorrow the 21st of Jan wish me luck.

Steve.e

The Worlds

I have just been chatting with the Uk team manager,we are still waiting to see if I can get one of the seven remaining places in the world championships.It is getting a bit stressful only three weeks until the competition starts,I don't have a place a plane ticket or a passport,but I am keeping my fingers crossed.
My new glider was sent from Spain on friday so maybe everthing will come together at the last moment,as soon as I know more I will post the info.

!st January 2009

Hi everybody,well the first day of the year arrived and gave the lakes a day of unbroken sunshine and light SE winds at valley level with stronger 20kph+ over the fells.
John McKeever and I headed for Souther fell and after a quick walk up arrived at take off to find a light SE breeze coming gently in and out of phase,we launched into gentle lift and were soon soaring above the fells.I headed for our goal at Threlkeld and after arriving on Blencatra found the unpleasant side of the cold east wind in the form of strong katabatic winds and 2/3mps flushing out into the valley,after a little 40% collapse I retreated to the safety of the valley and the football pitch were John soon picked me,and whisked me off for tea at his house,and a fine end to day one of 2009.