Practice, practice, practice

So far, so good.

While I haven't gotten the final confirmation email or seen the competitor's list on their website, there's a good chance I'm in:

Vertigo

Geez . . . . ALL of the best acro pilots in the world will be there. Pretty intimidating when I think about it. Luckily, I'll have someone to look out for me as one of my Ozone teammates is Felix Rodriguez, who, with his brother Raul, pretty much created acro paragliding and are still the Godfathers of this sport. If all I get from this experience is the opportunity to fly and compete with other acro pilots around the world, while at the same time, learn a few things from Felix, it'll be well worth the hundreds of thousands I spent with the O'Connors since '06 . . . . kidding.

So, it's just practice, practice, practice any chance I get. Earlier in the week, the wind was perfect for me to fly my 6907 and get refills off the Green Monster (south-facing green cliff above Walkers) for over 2 hours. I must've attempted 30 - 35 helicos in that time to help get me more dialed on that wing. Of the 30 some-odd attempts, I think I did 3-4 perfect helicos, which isn't a great percentage but that's what practice is for. (Just because the wing is spinning overhead doesn't mean it's a helicopter - it must be completely open with no oscillations to be one.)

I love doing helicopters because it's one of the most difficult tricks to master due to the different elements involved (like perfecting the parachutal stall if you helico from trim). While tumbling is more dynamic and scary because of the chance of falling into the glider, it's much "easier" IMO than doing helicopters. While the former tests your timing and outright guts, the latter tests your feel, finesse, and technique.

In paraglding and in life, who wouldn't want to improve on those?

Preparing for Vertigo

Even if you're not into acro, most paragliding pilots have heard of the Red Bull Vertigo as the premiere acro comp. But this year, since Red Bull didn't renew their sponsorship, it's called the Vertigo Swiss Riviera and will have the same hype and excitement. Of course, all the best acro pilots in the world (who can afford the time and money to go) are competing.

July 15th was the deadline to register and pay fees. I’m just doing the solo comp which has 37 competitors, which I think I’m one of. I say “I think” because I haven’t received the final-final email that confirms it, if there is such a thing. The max they can take is 40 pilots which is a little nerve-racking because if 50 pilots paid and signed up, and 40 of them are WAPR (World Aerobatic Pilot Ranking) pilots, they’ll take them first. The rest are put on a waiting list. Ain't like an XC Comp, eh?

Since I don’t have a world ranking and I’ve planned a vacation around the Vertigo, I’ve been going nuts for the last week trying to find out how many are confirmed. Now, unless they let some squeak in, it looks like 37’s the number.

But it still doesn’t mean I’ll get to compete. (It’s that not-having-a-world-ranking-thing again.) Since they don’t know who I am, I’ll have to do a qualification/safety flight on the first day so they can be sure I won’t kill myself or look like a complete idiot. So, I’ll need to demonstrate that I can do a full stall, tail slide, SAT, wingovers, and helico while exiting safely which I’m sure I’ll have to do in one run. Last time I checked, I can do all these but who knows what will happen when the pressure’s on and the judges are watching.

If I get in, I may be the only one coming from the States.

Weird.