The AHGA's XC Contest 2009

XC from Nth launch of Sth mt to the Estrellas.
1116-1215

Max raise 1181ft/m
Sink 1083
Alt diff 997
Superelev 1755
Max alt 3888
Alt gain 5925

Dist: 8.95 Miles

Launch ; 33.328443 -112.087639
Lz ; 33.265156 -112.223024

Parked in the cart track around 930, seeing Satman’s truck behind the assembled race crews. He told me there had been some strong gusts, one had even plucked him while kiting. Hmmm, could be a bust. We waited, Andrew arrived and we decided the gusts to 10mph were worth the hike to see if it was launchable. Steve drove us to the saddle, we hiked and made launch around 1040. After waiting 20mins conditions seemed flyable, with only one gust to 14mph. Andrew hucked first, found some lift but also plenty of sink and found himself headed to the lz.

About 1115 I pulled out the SuperFly Gin Rebel, a 2 Chandler had arranged for me to demo to compare with the Supercalafragalistic Sigma7. A little kiting the day before had already instilled some cautious respect for this very responsive wing. I laid out and pulled up without real incident, although it does feel very light in the air and I had to run under it as the left tip began to dip. Once it the air it was quick to bite the lift and I rose over launch. Not planning to go xc, I did a few more passes looking for the best lift and heard from Steve that Zack was now heading to launch. Hoping to stay in the air long enough for some company I drifted with the lift W along the ridge. A couple of turns here and there, but basically following the rising air took me to 3888 (my max for the flight) by 1132… just 15 mins in.

By now I’m a ways down the range but over the middle of the Nth and Sth faces. The lift was ratty, probably broken up by terrain and the prevailing blowing Nth thermals into Sth. I punched the speed bar and figured, just go for it! I radioed the guys on the ground and got confirmation of a retrieve. Again, not really planning anything major, I just thought, “Why fight the wind to land near the car and waste xc points? Next stop the Casino I figure, but more good lift puts me back at 3500, so now I think let’s see if I can clear those power lines and land near 51st St. Beyond that looked like tiger-country until the Estrellas, but again some solid lift bumps me back to 3700 and so… well, why not? I know I’ve got glide to the foothills, but from there who knows. I noticed some dust devils down south and the lift was getting rowdy, strong but narrow. So now I’m at the Estrellas, below their peaks and I’m thinking, “What if there’s rotor coming over the top?” Not that there should have been, but I’m flying a new hotter wing and the “what if” was enough to keep me from scratching up the face. I found one more solid thermal out front but it wasn’t enough to clear. I edged closer than before, but hit major sink and by the time I turned tail, hit bar and tried to get back to the lift it was game over. Just over an hour in the air and 8.95 miles from launch.

Once on the ground I noticed a few missed calls from Andrew and Steve. Steve wasn’t flying and had a gps so kindly offered to take the lead on retrieve. It took a while as I wasn’t near any roads. I hiked for more than hour before Steve found me on a dusty track. He sure was a sight for sore legs and shoulders.

We made our way back to Sth via Subway. Everyone had gone and it showed E at the cart track, but we thought just maybe it would glass. Patience paid off, after watching soft winds over the back die and then a slow build up the face, I launched and was soon over the towers and headed W again. Lift continued across the saddle almost to the Nth launch. A few soft cycles were drifting up by the prevailing W made them ratty. I thought about pushing it for another run down the ridge but instead went into the valley where it was buoyant but gusty. I found enough lift to get another half hour airtime but not enough to clear the Nth range and so landed at the cart track.

I gained one really important insight to xc, which is that I don’t have to hit ceiling before heading out. The important thing today was finding more lift to stay in the game. It’s a subtle thing, but I think potentially decisive. Thanks again to Steve for helping make it a great day flying.

It was a bit, well a lot "sporty" over the back of Sth on Saturday. Launching as a flock 1230-1pm we all found some lift and some found lots of sink. Again the focus was to get enough lift to go xc.

Those of us fortunate enough to stay up between cycles made plenty of altitude, but Graeme, Jorge, myself and Glenn all agreed that it was no fun being in the air on the Nth side.

All took repeated collapses and surges and had our reserve toss drills in mind as we navigated the incendiary lift and sink. I hit 1155 down at one point, the started climbing again and thought "no thank you."

This was my first flight on Sunday May 15th.

With a clear plan to get up to ceiling and then head W for the casino everything was set. Thing was, as ever, conditions weren't making it simple for everyone to get the elevation to go over the back. In fact, the lift had all but shut down when I made a final venture down the E finger in front of the Sth facing launch on Sth Mtn.

Finally I hooked one and made it to around 3200, enough I figured to get over the saddle and hope for better lift on the other side. First part was spot on, but there was nothing worth turning in all the way to the dirt.

Never mind, as there was still enough day left to give it another shot.

It's been a big week for PG xc, with Dustin breaking the South Mountain record.

My two xc flights are small by comparison, but both underscore the new found determination I share with local PGs to get away from the hill and make the best of conditions. The flight details logged here are from my second flight. I'll add the first shortly.

At least three pilots launched on Sunday planning to fly West toward the casino and then back. Well, two out of three managed to get over the back of the South launch and some form of xc, in what proved less amenable conditions than we had expected. The third feels he missed a good opportunity to at least get over the saddle. A fourth pilot arriving late also made it over the back, but was quickly grounded by the blustery Westerly that stunted my progress.

Whoopdy-do some may say, but my point is that there is a new zeal for xc among the PGs. Last year's comp definitely played a role. Somehow, just getting points on the board was a cherished accomplishment, even if just for a retrieve. Carlos and Dustin left the rest of us in their wing wake, but that was to be expected. The rest of us have a taste for more "sporty" air and are learning fast.

As the season opens on Mingus with the immaculate new PG friendly launch, lips are smacking! As a pilot told me on Sunday, "I can't wait to get in the air at a site where I don't have to worry about (many) radio towers, power lines and a low ceiling."

This is just the start of the story....BRING IT!