After a brief trip back to Pacifica, I'm now in Chamonix for a few days.
Here's what happened in the last few weeks:
- From Norway/Frankfurt, I drove to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland to take part in an Ozone photo shoot. It was non-stop for 2 days from the day I arrived to the day I left, and was more work than fun since I didn't get to free fly much.
- I was asked by Matt to be part of the Nissan Outdoor Games taking place in Interlaken. This is basically 5 teams consisting of BASE jumpers, rock climbers, MTBers, paragliders, and kayakers with their own photographer and videographer who are trying to make the most extreme video they can in 5 days. They also had this during the past winter in Chamonix. I'll be on Team IBEX.
- Driving from CH to FR, Loren and I were stopped at border control and thoroughly searched for any evidence of drugs. (All I can say is that they found no evidence of drug trafficking.) We sat and watched as they went through every pocket and opened any zipper they could find. Not even the engine was spared!
Vertigo in Villeneuve is happening this week but, unfortunately, I don't get to compete since I'm not in the top 30. But, I do get to compete in Paranoia Acrobatixx in Zell Am See, Austria. I was selected along 4 others as a "newcomer acro pilot". Since I'm now ranked, I won't have to do a safety selection flight . . . . I hope!
I've got some new photos up although they're not in chronological order. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Final Run
As I mentioned before, it's very important for us pilots that we get at least 2 runs so that the FAI recognizes it as a valid comp thereby giving us rankings. 4 runs in a comp is ideal as this will give us 100% access to the points available to give us a higher ranking. (With only 2 runs, it's 60%. With 3, it's 90%.)
So, we were all stoked to get this run in the afternoon. I really wanted to make this last one my best as I felt I've underperformed to my potential all week, despite it being my first comp.
My program:
1) Tumble: My entry was perfect, the wing went under me at 180 degrees and fully inflated, so much so that it was ready to do the Infinity if I had let it go. But because it had so much energy after the first tumble, I had to really pull the brakes hard to stop it, which made the wing bend, something the judges don't want to see. Despite the fact that I got completely over the wing, my score was disappointingly lower because of the exit.
2) Helico: Nailed it.
3) Helico - SAT: Nailed it too, although my score wasn't as high as previous runs.
4) Misty Flip (R): Good flow entry from SAT, but the pendulum wasn't that high and the wing wasn't fully inflated. Definitely need to work on this.
5) Misty Flip (L)L Good flow from the right MF, but same issues.
Landing: I could've taken a nice easy glide to the platform because it was the last day and I didn't want to deal with drying anything, but - NOOOOOOO - I had to go for some points with another foot drag. So yeah . . . . it took all night for everything to dry.
Indeed, it was my best run which ended my comp on a high note as I took 3rd for the final run, enabling me to finish 7th out of 14. Not a bad showing for my first comp but I do expect much better next time.
Overall, my trip to Norway was well worth it as I achieved my goal of earning a ranking (getting in the FAI system), while at the same time, making friends with some great Norwegian/Swedish pilots who welcomed me and were genuinely friendly from the day I arrived. While everyone wanted to do their best and be competitive, everyone was supportive of each other and simply having a great time. I know the atmosphere at other acro comps I will attend will not be like this, so I'm glad to have experienced my first one with these guys. Since they always have 4 or so events in their Norwegian Cup every year, I know I'll come again if at all possible.
So, we were all stoked to get this run in the afternoon. I really wanted to make this last one my best as I felt I've underperformed to my potential all week, despite it being my first comp.
My program:
1) Tumble: My entry was perfect, the wing went under me at 180 degrees and fully inflated, so much so that it was ready to do the Infinity if I had let it go. But because it had so much energy after the first tumble, I had to really pull the brakes hard to stop it, which made the wing bend, something the judges don't want to see. Despite the fact that I got completely over the wing, my score was disappointingly lower because of the exit.
2) Helico: Nailed it.
3) Helico - SAT: Nailed it too, although my score wasn't as high as previous runs.
4) Misty Flip (R): Good flow entry from SAT, but the pendulum wasn't that high and the wing wasn't fully inflated. Definitely need to work on this.
5) Misty Flip (L)L Good flow from the right MF, but same issues.
Landing: I could've taken a nice easy glide to the platform because it was the last day and I didn't want to deal with drying anything, but - NOOOOOOO - I had to go for some points with another foot drag. So yeah . . . . it took all night for everything to dry.
Indeed, it was my best run which ended my comp on a high note as I took 3rd for the final run, enabling me to finish 7th out of 14. Not a bad showing for my first comp but I do expect much better next time.
Overall, my trip to Norway was well worth it as I achieved my goal of earning a ranking (getting in the FAI system), while at the same time, making friends with some great Norwegian/Swedish pilots who welcomed me and were genuinely friendly from the day I arrived. While everyone wanted to do their best and be competitive, everyone was supportive of each other and simply having a great time. I know the atmosphere at other acro comps I will attend will not be like this, so I'm glad to have experienced my first one with these guys. Since they always have 4 or so events in their Norwegian Cup every year, I know I'll come again if at all possible.
Run 3
After getting an email in the morning from Ayumi of a family member who was gravely ill, my focus was elsewhere as we began the comp at 10 a.m. to take advantage of the clear weather.
Here was my program:
1) Rhythmic SAT: Definitely got the wing to start tumbling but I don't think I got to 135 degrees,
2) Helico: Unlike the previous runs, couldn't do it. As I've always said, you can't helico w/out a proper parachutal, so this caused the failure.
3) Helico - SAT: Got the wing to helico, but it was super-stable, therefore the SAT wasn't clean.
4) MIsty Flip (R): Not a great one, wing wasn't full open and didn't have good amplitude.
5) Misty Flip (L): Same as above.
Landing: Nice foot drag, but came up short again. WATER!!!!!
All-in-all, it was my worst run. Not sure if it was because the news I received in the morning or what, but I definitely wasn't into it and it showed.
For some reason, the judges scored me for attempting/doing the MIsty-Tumble for the last 2 tricks when I only wrote Misty Flip. This is obviously a harder trick so I got higher coefficients for it and, thus, the score had more weight. After Run 3, I slipped back to 8th overall.
Here was my program:
1) Rhythmic SAT: Definitely got the wing to start tumbling but I don't think I got to 135 degrees,
2) Helico: Unlike the previous runs, couldn't do it. As I've always said, you can't helico w/out a proper parachutal, so this caused the failure.
3) Helico - SAT: Got the wing to helico, but it was super-stable, therefore the SAT wasn't clean.
4) MIsty Flip (R): Not a great one, wing wasn't full open and didn't have good amplitude.
5) Misty Flip (L): Same as above.
Landing: Nice foot drag, but came up short again. WATER!!!!!
All-in-all, it was my worst run. Not sure if it was because the news I received in the morning or what, but I definitely wasn't into it and it showed.
For some reason, the judges scored me for attempting/doing the MIsty-Tumble for the last 2 tricks when I only wrote Misty Flip. This is obviously a harder trick so I got higher coefficients for it and, thus, the score had more weight. After Run 3, I slipped back to 8th overall.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Run 2
I'm back from Norway and in Frankfurt now. Will be heading to Switzerland tomorrow. Here's what happened on Run 2:
Later on the first day, we were able to do the 2nd run. Now this is unusual as acro comps will have only 1 run per day, usually so that wet equipment will have time to dry, but also due to the number of competitors. But since we're in Norway, the sun's still out at 10 p.m., there are only 13 pilots, and we had 2 boats running, it's possible to have multiple runs.
This run is announced by the pilot, so here's what I had planned and how I did:
1) Tumble - bad entry which gave me a collapse right from the start. Had a line slacker when the wing was below me and I fell right past it. (I think the lines whizzed right by my head.) Luckily, the wing re-opened w/a small cravatte that I got undone quickly, allowing me to continue.
2) Infinity - bad entry which only gave me the energy for 2 turns, plus a bad exit. Have to do 3 turns with a fully open wing and a smooth exit for max points.
3) Helico - nailed it again. 3 rotations flat and open.
4) Helico - SAT - nailed this one too. I basically held the helico for 3 more rotations before transitioning to the SAT, which required 3 rotations of its own.
5) Misty Flip - good by normal standards, but not enough for a very high score. I needed to be at 90 degrees before spinning the wing 360 behind me, then exit in the same direction as I entered.
Landing - WATER!
My program was just way too ambitious this early in the comp, particularly going for the Infinity when I've only done a few "FAI" ones previously. What Pal Hammer Rognoy, a respected Swedish acro pilot who has a high world ranking, told me was "practice is practice but a competition is a competition - you want to show the judges what you can do, not what you're working on."
Note to self: Do what he just said.
Because my routine was too aggressive, I received no points for the infinity, low points for the tumble and misty, and good points for the helico and helico-SAT. Guys who did easier tricks, such as the dynamic full stall, SAT, asymm 360, etc., scored better than I did. But because I did tricks with high difficulty coefficients, I think got 6th or 7th for the day even though I only received points for 4 tricks.
Still in 6th overall and more importantly . . . . we have a valid FAI acro comp! Even if the comp ended today, I'd still earn an FAI ranking. Goal #4 . . . . CHECK!
Later on the first day, we were able to do the 2nd run. Now this is unusual as acro comps will have only 1 run per day, usually so that wet equipment will have time to dry, but also due to the number of competitors. But since we're in Norway, the sun's still out at 10 p.m., there are only 13 pilots, and we had 2 boats running, it's possible to have multiple runs.
This run is announced by the pilot, so here's what I had planned and how I did:
1) Tumble - bad entry which gave me a collapse right from the start. Had a line slacker when the wing was below me and I fell right past it. (I think the lines whizzed right by my head.) Luckily, the wing re-opened w/a small cravatte that I got undone quickly, allowing me to continue.
2) Infinity - bad entry which only gave me the energy for 2 turns, plus a bad exit. Have to do 3 turns with a fully open wing and a smooth exit for max points.
3) Helico - nailed it again. 3 rotations flat and open.
4) Helico - SAT - nailed this one too. I basically held the helico for 3 more rotations before transitioning to the SAT, which required 3 rotations of its own.
5) Misty Flip - good by normal standards, but not enough for a very high score. I needed to be at 90 degrees before spinning the wing 360 behind me, then exit in the same direction as I entered.
Landing - WATER!
My program was just way too ambitious this early in the comp, particularly going for the Infinity when I've only done a few "FAI" ones previously. What Pal Hammer Rognoy, a respected Swedish acro pilot who has a high world ranking, told me was "practice is practice but a competition is a competition - you want to show the judges what you can do, not what you're working on."
Note to self: Do what he just said.
Because my routine was too aggressive, I received no points for the infinity, low points for the tumble and misty, and good points for the helico and helico-SAT. Guys who did easier tricks, such as the dynamic full stall, SAT, asymm 360, etc., scored better than I did. But because I did tricks with high difficulty coefficients, I think got 6th or 7th for the day even though I only received points for 4 tricks.
Still in 6th overall and more importantly . . . . we have a valid FAI acro comp! Even if the comp ended today, I'd still earn an FAI ranking. Goal #4 . . . . CHECK!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Run 1
Finally, after the effort and expense it took to get here, I got to compete. From what I'm told, I'm the first foreigner to compete in this particular comp and the first American to compete in ANY Norwegian comp.
WOOHOO!!!!
All of the Norwegian pilots have been really cool and are really happy to have me come out from such a long way. I've learned a lot about what goes in a comp and as well as what you need to do to succeed. As you'll read, I have much to learn. For each run, I'll give you the tricks to be done and a summary of how I did.
Day 1 - Thursday - Run 1
As in most acro comps, the first day is always a compulsory run where the judges decide which maneuvers are performed and in what order. For Run 1, the judges gave us this:
Helico
SAT to the left
Dynamic Full Stall or Super Stall (must not be entered from trim)
Asymmetric 360 to the left
SAT to the right (in acro comps, a trick that can be on either side is considered 2 separate tricks in the same run)
The only thing that concerned me was the helico as the last time I did this in comp conditions was in the safety selection flight at Vertigo last year. Needless to say, I didn't pass mainly because I didn't helico very well.
Helico - nailed it! I got the high score of the day for this, but could've scored better if I had made it faster.
SAT left - no problems here, normal score.
DFS - I did poorly on this one as I didn't have a very good pendulum
Asymm 360 - I also did poorly here. I think they weren't high enough.
SAT right - no problems, normal score.
Landing - hit the raft perfect.
While I was very happy with the helico, I was very disappointed with the other ones which really should've been gimmes. I definitely took those for granted which was reflected in the score.
So, I found myself in 6th out of 13 pilots.
WOOHOO!!!!
All of the Norwegian pilots have been really cool and are really happy to have me come out from such a long way. I've learned a lot about what goes in a comp and as well as what you need to do to succeed. As you'll read, I have much to learn. For each run, I'll give you the tricks to be done and a summary of how I did.
Day 1 - Thursday - Run 1
As in most acro comps, the first day is always a compulsory run where the judges decide which maneuvers are performed and in what order. For Run 1, the judges gave us this:
Helico
SAT to the left
Dynamic Full Stall or Super Stall (must not be entered from trim)
Asymmetric 360 to the left
SAT to the right (in acro comps, a trick that can be on either side is considered 2 separate tricks in the same run)
The only thing that concerned me was the helico as the last time I did this in comp conditions was in the safety selection flight at Vertigo last year. Needless to say, I didn't pass mainly because I didn't helico very well.
Helico - nailed it! I got the high score of the day for this, but could've scored better if I had made it faster.
SAT left - no problems here, normal score.
DFS - I did poorly on this one as I didn't have a very good pendulum
Asymm 360 - I also did poorly here. I think they weren't high enough.
SAT right - no problems, normal score.
Landing - hit the raft perfect.
While I was very happy with the helico, I was very disappointed with the other ones which really should've been gimmes. I definitely took those for granted which was reflected in the score.
So, I found myself in 6th out of 13 pilots.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Am I supposed to be here?
I arrived last night in Gjøvik, Norway with mixed blessings. I say this because while I'm very fortunate to be here and excited to finally compete (knock on wood), it's come at a high price . . . . literally.
While I've already paid for the flight and will pay for the comp (1500NOR or 300USD), I had to pay A LOT for the excess baggage weight on KLM. I was under their "weight concept" which allows me up to 20 kg (44 lbs) on check-in baggage, no matter how many pieces I have. Anything over the allowance is 12 Euros/kg or 8E/kg, if you make arrangements in advance. Considering that I have a wing, harness, clothes, camping gear, and food, I went 30 kg over.
Yeah . . . . ouch. And get this: it only applies one way!
Today we're supposed to do some practice tows but it's windy so it's on hold. Right now, I'm in their public library after having done a small tourist tour of Gjøvik. I may have screwed myself for the next 4 days as I think I saw everything there is to be seen.
If you didn't already know, things are SUPER expensive in Norway. 6 bucks for a bottle of water . . . . yeah, right! I think my main goal this weekend is: DON'T BUY ANYTHING IN NORWAY!!!!
I'd post some pics but I think I forgot my USB cable in Frankfurt. Since I have no electricity at the campsite and no one to talk with, I'm gonna bury myself in Greg Palast's "Armed Madhouse". Then, if I get bored with that, I'll turn this trip into a Vipassana meditation retreat. Maybe I'll achieve some enlightenment?
Man, I sure hope the weather holds up so this comp takes place. I feel I'm meant to be here as something amazing is supposed to happen.
Jump roping my glider 10 times would sure be nice!
While I've already paid for the flight and will pay for the comp (1500NOR or 300USD), I had to pay A LOT for the excess baggage weight on KLM. I was under their "weight concept" which allows me up to 20 kg (44 lbs) on check-in baggage, no matter how many pieces I have. Anything over the allowance is 12 Euros/kg or 8E/kg, if you make arrangements in advance. Considering that I have a wing, harness, clothes, camping gear, and food, I went 30 kg over.
Yeah . . . . ouch. And get this: it only applies one way!
Today we're supposed to do some practice tows but it's windy so it's on hold. Right now, I'm in their public library after having done a small tourist tour of Gjøvik. I may have screwed myself for the next 4 days as I think I saw everything there is to be seen.
If you didn't already know, things are SUPER expensive in Norway. 6 bucks for a bottle of water . . . . yeah, right! I think my main goal this weekend is: DON'T BUY ANYTHING IN NORWAY!!!!
I'd post some pics but I think I forgot my USB cable in Frankfurt. Since I have no electricity at the campsite and no one to talk with, I'm gonna bury myself in Greg Palast's "Armed Madhouse". Then, if I get bored with that, I'll turn this trip into a Vipassana meditation retreat. Maybe I'll achieve some enlightenment?
Man, I sure hope the weather holds up so this comp takes place. I feel I'm meant to be here as something amazing is supposed to happen.
Jump roping my glider 10 times would sure be nice!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Frankfurt, Germany
I've been here since last Friday and it's been great. I'm staying with a couple from Frankfurt (Schwalbach, to be exact) who visited MR in March and joined us for dinner after flying, as we always do. When I told them it was possible I was going there to get a car, they offered a room if I needed it. Hans & Anita are really great and I feel very fortunate to be staying here. Hopefully they'll come out to Pacifica again and I can return the favor.
We have dinner together every night and have fun during the day trying to fly. So far, the weather has been uncooperative - we even tried to go towing and not 10 minutes after we got there, a thunderstorm came!
I leave tomorrow morning for Norway - forecast is calling for some rain which would REALLY suck. But so far, the comp is still on. (On a side note, I found out today that Acrolac has been canceled due to rain! Perhaps something amazing will happen in Norway as it was clearly the right decision to head up there. )
First round of photos are here.
We have dinner together every night and have fun during the day trying to fly. So far, the weather has been uncooperative - we even tried to go towing and not 10 minutes after we got there, a thunderstorm came!
I leave tomorrow morning for Norway - forecast is calling for some rain which would REALLY suck. But so far, the comp is still on. (On a side note, I found out today that Acrolac has been canceled due to rain! Perhaps something amazing will happen in Norway as it was clearly the right decision to head up there. )
First round of photos are here.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
MRAT
The day before I left, I got in the mail something from Loren. When I first started doing acro on the coast in late '05/early '06, we jokingly talked about how we should create an acro team. I came up with the name, he came up with the design, albeit unbeknownst to me until I got the shirt in the mail. I think it's pretty sick.
It got me fired up to represent.
I'm in Frankfurt and will go towing with my friend Hans here. (Because of how the site's written, you'll have to cut-and-paste individual phrases to Google Translate.) They don't tow very high - 0nly 300m! - but it's better than nothing today as there's "too less wind" everywhere else as they say here.
It got me fired up to represent.
I'm in Frankfurt and will go towing with my friend Hans here. (Because of how the site's written, you'll have to cut-and-paste individual phrases to Google Translate.) They don't tow very high - 0nly 300m! - but it's better than nothing today as there's "too less wind" everywhere else as they say here.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
I'm off!
Tomorrow morning I head to Europe . . . . finally! After a month of solid practice on the FLX over the lake and especially at Mussel Rock, it's time to do this shit for real!
First stop is Frankfurt, Germany to buy a car, then a few days of hanging out before my first comp in Norway. While I'm registered for Acrolac (first stop of the APWC), I'm on the waiting list, which means I won't know until 6 p.m. the day before the start if I'll be allowed to compete. You see, in acro comps, ranked pilots get in first. If the number of ranked pilots who show up is under the maximum of pilots the comp will take, THEN the unranked pilots get their shot by first passing a "safety selection" flight (ensures you know what you're doing). Pass the selection flight and you're in. If I went to Acrolac, it would at best 50/50 that I'd compete. By going to the Norway comp, I accomplish 2 crucial things: 1) I'm assured I'll get to compete, and 2) I'll get a ranking since it's categorized as FAI Cat2. Hopefully, this will make things MUCH easier for Austria, Italy, and the test event for the 2009 WAG near Turin.
I'll be putting up more vid on YouTube of my latest exploits at Mussel Rock soon. I've been testing out my "shin cam" on an HD camera I got recently and have some great on-board video of a helico-SAT and a helico-helico.
See you Norway!
First stop is Frankfurt, Germany to buy a car, then a few days of hanging out before my first comp in Norway. While I'm registered for Acrolac (first stop of the APWC), I'm on the waiting list, which means I won't know until 6 p.m. the day before the start if I'll be allowed to compete. You see, in acro comps, ranked pilots get in first. If the number of ranked pilots who show up is under the maximum of pilots the comp will take, THEN the unranked pilots get their shot by first passing a "safety selection" flight (ensures you know what you're doing). Pass the selection flight and you're in. If I went to Acrolac, it would at best 50/50 that I'd compete. By going to the Norway comp, I accomplish 2 crucial things: 1) I'm assured I'll get to compete, and 2) I'll get a ranking since it's categorized as FAI Cat2. Hopefully, this will make things MUCH easier for Austria, Italy, and the test event for the 2009 WAG near Turin.
I'll be putting up more vid on YouTube of my latest exploits at Mussel Rock soon. I've been testing out my "shin cam" on an HD camera I got recently and have some great on-board video of a helico-SAT and a helico-helico.
See you Norway!
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