Valle de Bravo with the Gin Explorer: Part 2.

Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog

Continued from Part 1

45 minutes to departure and I sit outside Gate D50 in YVR. A short musing regarding how much impact the once derided Airport Improvement tax has had on the terminal. We normally don't pay much heed in our rush to and fro gates, but sitting here today it is not hard to agree that it was money well spent (when compared to the likes of MEX).

With my section called, I make my way on board to 1D.

No 'single serving friend' seatmate for this flight.

As fellow pax file onboard, OJ and water are offered along with the menu for tonight.

The cheese pasta dish it will be.

At one point I glance up to see a family of 2 adults and 4 children ask the flight attendant for help in merging their split seating. 'Row 26' catches my attention as does a rather irate infant being toted along. Wonder how much the folk stranded around the screamer would be willing to pay to move? In my case, one cannot put a price on sanity (an extension of 'the quality of an experience is remembered long after price is forgotten').

Take off and climb out are uneventful. The forward class flight attendant begins with drink service followed by meals. My late arrival, early start, and long day ahead makes for no alcohol tonight - water and my main course only.

The cheese pasta dish.

5 hours fly by in a blur of repeated food and drink offerings.

030 hrs local time we touch down and I race off for immigration and customs. For naught it is, as it takes an hour to clear the near empty queue. Bag quickly collected (the benefit of the 'Priority' tag F/J class pax get) and off in search of the Camino Real hotel attached to the airport.

Opposite end of the terminal, upper floor, and across a skybridge sits my new home for the next 4 hours until my ride to Valle, Ignacio, lands from Argentina.

Till then ... sleep.

Continued in Part 3.

Valle de Bravo with the Gin Explorer: Part 1.

Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog

Another holiday season, another studio shutdown.

One of the many perks of working in the Vancouver games industry is the accepted norm of a week off with pay during the week between Christmas and New Years.

In the past I would simply kill the week with some side project and time spent with the extended family. But this year is different. My promotion to lead a TechArt team as a CG Supervisor came with an implicit understanding that free time is going to be a scare commodity come summer. In other words, I need to make the most of the flying opportunities while I can.

But with the break overlapping the Christmas season, tour and course options are limited. Luckily a week long search provided some fruit: a Valle de Bravo based XC Course being put on within the APPI licensing system by ParaglidingMexico under the instruction of Marko Hrgetic (Dec 26 to 30 inclusive).

Everything was packed and ready to go this past Friday morning when an email from the Canadian Gin Distributor, Brett Hazlett, appeared in my inbox stating that my recently ordered Gin Explorer had arrived. The initial plan was to take my steadfast Gin Carrera Plus (it is an absolutely remarkable wing and I am still surprised it has not gained more of a following in our region - especially given the rave reviews from Ziad @ DustOfTheUniverse) and I was still debating such when I picked up the Explorer from Brett.

Brett's response, "When I have a new wing and I am about to embark on a trip, the only question in my mind is window or aisle seat."

Point well taken, sir.

So here I sit in the Maple Leaf lounge in YVR with the Gin Explorer paraglider + Skywalk Range Air harness as checked baggage. Memories of picking up the Ozone Delta 2 on a Tuesday in June 2013 to then board a plane 2 days later for a SIV course under Jocky is not far from my mind. Looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made flying wise and I hope the same holds true for this trip.

Today: YVR.
Tomorrow : El Penon launch, Valle de Bravo.

A rather barren Maple Leaf lounge. The benefit of Christmas Day travel.

Our ride waits.

In the distance, a TRex stalks passengers.

Continued in Part 2.

Another trip, another kit prep: ... and done.

A minimal footprint. 

Another trip, another kit prep: Part 2.

Pack: 5.11 Rush 24. This pack has followed me to all corners of the world and has been utterly bombproof.

Boots: 5.11 Taclite 8" boots. The most comfortable pair of boots I've owned. This is my 4th pair as they typically only last for about half a year of use.

Dry/Wash Bag: Scrubba. This has allowed me to get my clothing footprint down to 3 days, irregardless the length of the trip.

Wing: Gin Explorer (was Gin Carrera Plus when photo taken).

Harness: Skywalk Range Air.

Hydration Bladder: Source WidePac 2L + insulated tubing.

... and the end result.

Another trip, another kit prep: Part 1.

Queued up for the weeklong studio shutdown over Christmas -> a little Latin American paragliding by way of a guided XC course.

Airline tickets, accommodation, travel insurance, SIM Card, and a ride arranged from the airport: Check.

Now for the kit.

Clothing: Arcteryx Drac shell + Ravean Heated Down jacket + Arcteryx Alpha SL gloves + Arcteryx Neck Gaiter and Fortez Beanie.
Comms: Baofeng BF-F8HP (and Code Red bone conduction headset) + Delorme InReach.
Cameras: MOHOC + YI 4K (plus Feiyu Gimbal).
Instruments: Flymaster NAV + XCTracer + GPSBip + Recon Instruments Snow2 (plus GliderHUD).

Laptop: ASUS T102HA 10 inch + WD MyPassport 1TB Wireless HD.
Power Pack: Anker 2nd Gen Astro Pro 2 20k mAh (great charging multiplexer, plug into wall + plug 3 USB devices into it).

Continued in Part 2

Happy Holidays from the FlyinOrange.

Gin Explorer: A lightweight successor to the Carrera Plus paraglider?

Note: The FlyinOrange has moved to: flyinorange.blog

September comes to a close, bringing with it the start of autumn.

In accompaniment is the foremost trade show of the paragliding world, the Coupe d'Icare in St. Hilaire de Touvet, France.

A wide swath of vendors and manufactures attend the CdI to hawk wares and provide glimpses of pending product releases - the latter hoping to whet appetites in advance of the long dark of winter.

The manufacturer of the wing I currently fly, Gin, brought with it a manufacturing sample of what could well be the lightweight variant of the Carrera/Carrera+ - the Explorer.

While having released the Sprint 3 as a catch weight (mixing standard and light weight fabrics) mid range B, it would appear Gin has decided to follow in the foot steps of other manufacturers and released a true lightweight version of it's top end B.

I am excited to see this wing brought to market as it would make a great travel companion.

Update 16/12/23 : Gin Explorer - Small in Topaz arrived just in time for a week long XC tour/course in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. A big thank you to Jim R. @ FlyBc.org and Brett H. @ FlyGinCanada.com.

Exploits with the Gin Explorer in Valle de Bravo can be found here.

Gin Explorer (courtesy of Gin Gilders).

Notice the extended weight range.

Comparison of riser layout for the Carrera Plus, Explorer, and Carrera. Notice how Gin opted for a much simpler riser design for the Explorer yet did not carry over the extended range of motion for the C riser (from the Carrera Plus).

Carrera Plus

Explorer

Carrera

Unboxing pictures:

Video of the first week in Valle de Bravo, Mexico: