Colombia - first thoughts

Colombia is pretty cool to live that "paragliding lifestyle" - Richi's got this hostel thing set up pretty sweet. While I'm only camping, I still get to use the kitchen and bathroom - great practice for Europe. And there's wireless! In fact, the whole city of Bucaramanga, which we overlook, is entirely wireless. WTF is up, SF?

The flying's great for those who don't get smooth stuff like we do on the coast but who also want to learn some thermalling. There are some easy thermals in front of launch and marked often by the "chulos", or vultures. Everyone flies before 12 and then after 4. Btwn 12-4 is way too windy and turbulent for almost everyone, but this is the time I fly since it's the only way I can stay up and get refills. It's the most turbulent air I've ever had to practice acro in so it makes trying new stuff pretty difficult.

(Did I forget to mention the weather? It's so warm here that I've been flying with just shorts, a t-shirt, and no gloves. Last time I did that was in '05 in Bali.)

Anyways, I only got really high a few times enough to feel comfortable doing tumbles and combo tricks. But one of the things I'm getting LOTS of practice in are ground sprials . . . . lots. Since I'm the only flying from 12-4 (dnk about the weekends, we'll see), I get the entire grass launch/LZ to myself. While I've found many ways NOT to do it (as evidenced by my harness and leg scrapings), I've almost got it dialed to where I'm probably 6 inches short of getting the stabilo touch, which is one of my goals for the trip. Today I've got to turn the 6907 tighter and I'm sure I'll nail it. Then it's to the left side . . . . wax on, wax off.

One thing I'm regretting is not bringing my Addict. I sank out 2x today on the 6907, and since no one had a small Ozone wing I could fly all the time, I had to borrow one of the local's Niviuk Artik R. Of course, I had to heli it and nailed a perfect one my first try. WOW . . . . that thing helis good. Reminded me of the Aspen.

I finally tried the Oregon Scientific ATC2K camera on my foot mod'ed with a super wide angle lens. Not only was it difficult to keep it centered and still, but when I did do it, the framing wasn't very good. I definitely need to see how the Parateam guys did it with the knee brace. The only good vid I got was a pretty sweet ground spiral I did, but then I broke the mount when I landed later.


A not-so good ATC2K video of that ground spiral.

Yesterday, I went w/some locals to a place called Chicamocha which is the "Colombian Grand Canyon" - they were taking a videographer and a photographer up on tandems. Launch is about 3000 ft above the river and you can obviously get above that by thermalling. I was able to throw down several times and had a rhythmic chopping pretty good. Then, I had an awesome low save which enabled me to top land with everyone else.

Weekend's coming and it should be a zoo as the locals do lots of tandems. Hopefully I can squeeze more practice in the afternoon.