Valle

I learned a lot while in Valle since I was there during Monarca. Even though I didn't compete I did fly the course for 2 days. Because Josh Cohn organized the condo, I got to sit in on nightly meetings he had set-up for the Americans trying to make the world team. I guess there's an effort to improve American XC comp flying because he brought the German champion and UP pilot Oliver Rossel to coach. Cool guy and awesome pilot. I asked him one night, "How far's your longest flight?"
He replied, "You mean for myself?"
"Um . . . . yeah."
"Well, I don't remember. That was fifteen years ago."
"You mean you've only competed the last fifteen years???"
"Ya."

Now that's some fucking experience.

Listening to the nightly de-briefs of the day's flights raised my XC game a bunch. While my focus is on acro, I might pay more attention to comp flying next year. Especially with the M2 . . . . that wing is just sick. Amazing glide. I mean, I can count on one hand the times I pushed bar.

I remember on glide I had a guy on a Trango 2-3 and Ram Race harness next to me (I had my Acro 2 all week). I was amazed and simply stoked on how much I out-glided him. I can compete on that wing, man.

Since Oliver and I weren't competing, we had to fly after the window which wasn't until 12:45. (That's really late.) In the two times I flew the course, I may have gotten my longest flights ever - one about 60km and the other 55km with one of those into goal. (Well - because of the late start, I missed a turnpoint and rejoined the gaggle later on.)

On the last day, I flew my 6907 and got some practice. On several occasions, I flew in the gaggle over launch (not supposed to be flying in the "big" gaggles at all on the course). One of them was pretty big, no less than 70 pilots flying wide circles. I was so tempted to helico in the middle of it but the 3-4 pilots flying tight circles below me made it a tad dangerous. Sorry Eric B.!

I'm in Colombia now and will post an update soon. What I can say for now is - DAMN! - it's hard to get that 6907's stabilo to touch the ground!