It’s very SADDENING to see more and more pilots pulling out of X-Pyr due to injuries. Just a brutal reminder of how risky paragliding is, especially when pushed to the limits.
For the race that’s just one another replacement or less names on the list, but… behind it, it’s long recovery and personal dramas. Something to have in mind before jumping into another lee-side or just keep-flying when the sky gets dark.
Had a cold shower myself last week, stupid and unnecessary mistake sent me in spiky bushes. Painful and frustrating experience, but also one that ended with a foot injury. Hopefully minor and I’m fine, but it’s often just so close.
I wish everyone a quick recovery and, please, be wise! It’s just a race!
Yesterday I went to the Pyrenees, all day driving, I arrived a little before Zaragoza and spent the night there. Exhausting day of driving but very excited to start the adventure.
This morning I returned to the road and set course for the X, specifically to the El Corronco Waypoint.
First Hike and Fly in the Pyrenees, shortly after arriving with the van I decided to train a little and started the climb, a little late but I wanted to climb and the landscapes are incredible. Arriving at the peak a storm was forming nearby and the thunder sounded not far away, strong wind came in and I decided to go down, as soon as I took off I climbed in a straight line about 100m and it did not let me move forward, I let myself go to the lee because even accelerating I could not go forward so, to the back taking me collapsed and putting the batteries of the pull, I descended to the valley and there I find more stability so I can land next to the van.
With only two weeks! Till the race you’ll be wanting to know how my trainings going for the race well some good some bad.
After the Bornes to fly my van decided to give up on me and I was stuck in Annecy, eventually I limped my way to the Pyrenees and Arbas where it was less that flyable so I continued on to Ainsa Under TP 3 Pena Montanesa where it went into the garage for a few days. But not a moment was lost the next 3 days I spent walking the mountain to find Takeoff’s and get to see the area from the air on day 1 by the time I found a TO’s it was a clear flydown as I’d walked to the masts and up a gully with ropes tide into the mountain side it was a bad idea, but after taking off I looked left to a sweet flat plate of grass close to the top. That’s where I headed day 2, and to fly xc for the first time in the Pyrenees. It didn’t go to plan, all forcasts showed SW winds and when I took of I seemed to have wind from the east! Sweet I thought I’ll fly back along the course towards accous for but on crossing the valley I found major sink in -4.5 and I pretty much got drilled to the river bed. I thinking I’ve got a lot to learn in flying these mountains, maybe I just rushed, need to settle on the hill first, so that what I did day 3 took off went left floated right and got a feel for the air. My flight plan was to head along the course line, with the SW winds I crossed to the next area of mountains to fly across landscapes I could imagine steep rocky face and mellow mountain bowls showing nothing but rock throw me into the air on a Roller coaster ride, checking my pitch and roll I moved north to the higher mian ridge with patches of snow scattered on them to look over into France and the low cloud coverd peaks not to day I thought but come race day I’ll be diving in a thought them to Arbas. A right turn passing over a high mountain Col i travelled along the bottom of the X to El Corronco until I hit airspace I my head I knew I was ok it was Class G I was fine but my vario telling me I was violating it by the time I figured it out it was time to land as I got myself in a tricky spot. Well this is what recce’s are for I guess. School boy error!
On getting back to Ainsa I was told the van and my dream of continuing the recce was fixed! Happy days….. Unfortunately not and a bit of food poisoning floored me for the next 2 day. I said things have been bad!
Hmmm where to now Accous was my first thought but if you know me a plan can change at a moments notice and east to El Pont de Suert and TP 6 was the best choice. Only an hour 10 down the road and after 30 minutes it was clear the van wasn’t totally fix but I wasn’t going to get stuck in Ainsa over the weekend and miss more time, I made it.
Still feeling ill I had a slow walk up not to high under El Corronco where I have flown the passed 2 days, first day just flying along the ridges to the east but not crossing flying out and round back to The village. Day 2 I planned to keep going east to Pic dels Moros and things were looking good high over the mountains I passed to the next and again over sort to the mountain with two antenna on here I climb up the SW face tp the top and made my way round always looking for the next place. Catching a strong thermal I started following it back as i thought but it left me and now I was low over the back battling with Lee slopes and trees and unfortunately lost as I soon landed in some sinking air. So close to going a good distance but I know I need to stop making these silly errors, focus is the name of the game.
Bornes to Fly 2022 – Annecy. For me the first time flying in France, what a beautiful region. 77 participants, the pilot level was very high.
Day 1 started fast, 8 hours of flying, very nice conditions, I flew very careful in the beginning and waited for the right moment to attack. In the evening I made a good move and was in the leading position for the first night.
On day 2, I made some good decisions and stayed high in the mountains, got the last turpoint easy and was ready to glide into goal for a safe win.
Sadly I didn‘t get the last turnpoint correct, landed 30 meters next to the radius and didn‘t walk into it, turnpoint in the GPS was already green because I flew into it before. Very stupid, yes. So I had to fly back to the turnpoint and lost 1 hour, in the end I was 3rd.
Of course, under this circumstances it‘s very disappointing. But anyway I‘m very happy with my performance, I was able to keep up with the best ones at a very high level in unfamiliar territory.
After some good flying with my new equipement at Gantrisch Hike&Fly, my team is ready für the X-Pyr.
We returned to Gruyère for a little training, a great show with a passage of the Swiss cup which came from the moleson and a successful objective for the recovery of the sticks lost at the Gruyère fly.
With 15 days to go until the start of the X-Pyr 2022, training in the Western Pyrenees, in the Northern League competition. Magnificent views of these beautiful mountains.
The Gruyere Fly was a 3 day Hike&Fly race in switzerland what we master well. Now we can`t wait to leave our home to travel to Hondaribia for a next big adventure. see you soon!
Two weeks to go until the official race start and here comes our first blog post! Our team is currently still in Austria (and Italy) and is preparing for the trip to Hondarribia. This week it’s all about packing suitcases, checking equipment, ticking off checklists so we can leave next Thursday! X-Pyr 2022, here we come!
With two participations in this year’s Bordairrace we are already in the final training preparations since April. Hike, Fly, Sleep, Repeat – that’s how our days currently look like … well, and a bit of work if time allows 😉 Fortunately, a few injuries couldn’t keep us from participating and so Patrick continues to train diligently for the upcoming X-Pyr. Flying, flying, flying as much as possible, in between some running or hiking. Rest-Day? Rather not … 😉
Our plan is to arrive in the Pyrenees in the middle of next week, explore the route and get a feel for the terrain again. We’re glad we’ve already been able to get to know and explore quite a bit in 2018, but getting to know the route in advance as much as possible is most definitely a good idea.
In the next post, we can finally take you on a trip towards Spain. We are looking forward to the adventure, the competition and – of course – the other teams. It will certainly be a breathtaking journey with many surprises … !
