Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog
Mid January.
High off of the PB week in Valle over Christmas, my eyes start to look forward to early March and a 2nd tour with XC Brazil. The tour last year was met with one of the strongest El Nino events the region had ever seen that thought to bring with it a continuous onslaught of rain. The hope is that 2017 will prove drier (and far more flyable).
An email appears from the tour organizer, Steve Barton, suggesting that everyone arrange to get the Yellow Fever vaccine ASAP as a situation was starting to unfold within the state we would be flying (Minas Gerais - MG). For yours truly this presents a particular challenge. Being on a number of drugs that are contradictory to the vaccine means one of two things, get an exemption certificate for the vaccine or stop treatment. Fearing that the outbreak might not be brought under control in time by the authorities, I go with the latter.
Today.
Reading the latest news it looks as if this was the right call.
Tuesday is my date with the needle for YF. This turn of events has made for a window to get every other vaccine I might be missing out of the way (the drugs would have rendered them ineffective otherwise). Tetanus, typhoid, Hep A/B, cholera are all done with rabies (and a YF booster) likely after I get back. Future plans are for increasingly remote flying destinations so might as well get the shots done now.
The catch of course is with most of the treatment stopped, things are trending slowly for the worse. With joints now able to gauge the weather better than Enviro Canada, the kit for the trip is going to be trimmed to the bare minimum to reduce weight. On the plus side it will be a good test of the vol-biv load out I am contemplating taking to Nepal in 2018.
That said, it is all but a nuisance in light of the latest message from Steve today - daytime highs hitting 40C.
Less than 2 weeks and counting.
Bring it.
Sunday 19 February 2017
Tuesday 14 February 2017
2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals: Signed up
Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog
The pilot list has been updated and yours truly is officially attending (and so far the only EN B wing which will be lumped in with the EN C class). Next steps are prep for the trip to Brazil and get up to speed on the nuances of the Oudie 4.
Steve Barton from XC Brazil has already distributed waypoint files for the trio of sites our group is expected to fly (Castello, Governador Valadares, and Baixo Guandu) so hopefully Dean will have daily tasks assigned to help focus the flying (and allow for the Oudie to see some early season action).
The pilot list has been updated and yours truly is officially attending (and so far the only EN B wing which will be lumped in with the EN C class). Next steps are prep for the trip to Brazil and get up to speed on the nuances of the Oudie 4.
Steve Barton from XC Brazil has already distributed waypoint files for the trio of sites our group is expected to fly (Castello, Governador Valadares, and Baixo Guandu) so hopefully Dean will have daily tasks assigned to help focus the flying (and allow for the Oudie to see some early season action).
Monday 6 February 2017
Performance Coaching with Pat Dower
Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog
North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Oceania.
I've travelled far and wide in search of the gurus of our sport. Some of which are 'household names' such as Jocky and Kelly, others more akin to the sage hidden in the mountains. Regardless the individual I chance upon, my overarching plan has been little more than locate and sponge what knowledge I am ready to receive.
Looking forward, this will no longer do.
A longer term ambition forms. An ambition not of numbers but of place and experience. But said place and experience comes with risk and is not for the ill prepared. Preparation requires a roadmap and a roadmap is best drafted with assistance.
So enters one Pat Dower.
Many a pilot will recognize Pat from his Cross Country magazine submissions. Others from his courses run in the UK (and EU):
Amongst the services Pat offers is 1:1 performance coaching that is tailored to the individual needs of the pilot.
After having contacted Pat regarding my goal, where my flying is, and pointing him to this blog (to help fill in some blanks), we arranged a Skype call last week to dig further into what I want to accomplish and the next steps in working towards it.
Out of it came:
1) Time to start tip toeing into the deep end. I am more than capable of flying in the rougher stuff - start nudging the boundary of what is comfortable and the pilotage skills will follow (as will stress inoculation - aka bump tolerance in local flying lingo). This especially includes launch conditions.
2) The gaggle. Become tolerant of the gaggle. Valle was an excellent first step, build upon it. Start analyzing the flow of the gaggle and be extra observant as to the reason why I choose to part ways with the gaggle.
3) Capitalize on coaching during the Brazil trip. Dean is a great coach, do not let that opportunity slip away. Make sure daily tasks are assigned to help focus the flying for the day. Try to get at least one day of dedicated time and feedback (the greater the quantity and quality of feedback, the better).
4) A handful of articles on thermalling and the mental aspects of flying were recommended. Review them. Where does my flying fit into what the articles describe.
5) Fly the Carrera Plus as much as possible. The Explorer may be a good wing, but the Plus has been winning comps. There is a reason for this and it isn't just the pilots flying it.
6) The XC season in the Fraser Valley is short so find every excuse to get to the hill, not excuses to avoid it.
7) Find the better pilots, try to stay above and behind them as much as possible. Put their decisions under the microscope - why did they take this XC route for the day, why did they take the path they did in executing that route, why did they leave the current climb, why did they go on bar when they did, etc?
So begins the first steps of a new journey.
North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Oceania.
I've travelled far and wide in search of the gurus of our sport. Some of which are 'household names' such as Jocky and Kelly, others more akin to the sage hidden in the mountains. Regardless the individual I chance upon, my overarching plan has been little more than locate and sponge what knowledge I am ready to receive.
Looking forward, this will no longer do.
A longer term ambition forms. An ambition not of numbers but of place and experience. But said place and experience comes with risk and is not for the ill prepared. Preparation requires a roadmap and a roadmap is best drafted with assistance.
So enters one Pat Dower.
Many a pilot will recognize Pat from his Cross Country magazine submissions. Others from his courses run in the UK (and EU):
Amongst the services Pat offers is 1:1 performance coaching that is tailored to the individual needs of the pilot.
After having contacted Pat regarding my goal, where my flying is, and pointing him to this blog (to help fill in some blanks), we arranged a Skype call last week to dig further into what I want to accomplish and the next steps in working towards it.
Out of it came:
1) Time to start tip toeing into the deep end. I am more than capable of flying in the rougher stuff - start nudging the boundary of what is comfortable and the pilotage skills will follow (as will stress inoculation - aka bump tolerance in local flying lingo). This especially includes launch conditions.
2) The gaggle. Become tolerant of the gaggle. Valle was an excellent first step, build upon it. Start analyzing the flow of the gaggle and be extra observant as to the reason why I choose to part ways with the gaggle.
3) Capitalize on coaching during the Brazil trip. Dean is a great coach, do not let that opportunity slip away. Make sure daily tasks are assigned to help focus the flying for the day. Try to get at least one day of dedicated time and feedback (the greater the quantity and quality of feedback, the better).
4) A handful of articles on thermalling and the mental aspects of flying were recommended. Review them. Where does my flying fit into what the articles describe.
5) Fly the Carrera Plus as much as possible. The Explorer may be a good wing, but the Plus has been winning comps. There is a reason for this and it isn't just the pilots flying it.
6) The XC season in the Fraser Valley is short so find every excuse to get to the hill, not excuses to avoid it.
7) Find the better pilots, try to stay above and behind them as much as possible. Put their decisions under the microscope - why did they take this XC route for the day, why did they take the path they did in executing that route, why did they leave the current climb, why did they go on bar when they did, etc?
So begins the first steps of a new journey.
Sunday 5 February 2017
Another carpe diem thought ...
Attachment to an outcome is the shortest path to disappointment.
Just fly...
Just breathe...
Just be.
Just fly...
Just breathe...
Just be.
2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals
Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog
Word has it from the organizer that the bid to hold the 2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals in Pemberton, BC has been approved and that registration is open.
Link: 2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals.
CLASSES:
Sport (up to EN C)
Serial (up to EN D)
Competition (up to CCC)
Female
(sadly no EN-B/low AR class for the beginners - this is what drew out a lot of us back in 2012)
Word has it from the organizer that the bid to hold the 2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals in Pemberton, BC has been approved and that registration is open.
Link: 2017 Canadian Paragliding Nationals.
CLASSES:
Sport (up to EN C)
Serial (up to EN D)
Competition (up to CCC)
Female
(sadly no EN-B/low AR class for the beginners - this is what drew out a lot of us back in 2012)
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