Flying-filled Labour Day

Click image for more photos More than a dozen pilots, more than two dozen flights, and dozens of airtime hours

Today was my first day back at our main flying site since June. With all of the rain we've had lately, the fire hazard was low enough that the gate was reopened.

I arranged to meet in the LZ at 9am with student Hans and his gang - one of whom wanted to go tandem (Rob). I learned to fly almost 10 years ago in Australia and I lived in the state of Tasmania for almost a year where I met and flew with Pete Steane. He arrived in town yesterday and was keen to join me for some flying.

Up on the mountain, a low cloud base had already formed and a light wind was blowing in from the south. Perfect. I had Hans set up on Middle and he reversed and flew off, gaining easily as he headed towards the LZ. I guided him on the radio and he climbed nicely before arriving with close to 2000' over the landing field.

Pete hadn't flown since Easter so the early conditions were ideal. After one attempt, he was safely in the air, thermalling out front in no time.

My first tandem of the day was with a local Duncan resident, Cate, who had received a tandem gift certificate from her husband Jack. She had actually been meaning to fly last season but it didn't work out so today was her day! We launched off together from Middle and she let out an excited yelp and continued to show her enthusiasm for the duration of the flight. We used the height we had over the LZ for a tight spiral and everyone on the ground could hear her excited squeal. Great flying with you Cate!

Click image for more photos from Cate's tandemThere were lots of pilots in the air by this time and it was proving to be a very soarable day.

On the second round, Hans and Pete again launched first and found lots of workable lift both near the mountain and away. Shabe, Kuno, Pierre, Torge, and many other pilots flew as well. Hans' friend Rob and I launched together on tandem and spent most of our flight soaring the lower cuts before making some height-losing 360s over the LZ.

Here's a short Youtube video taken during Cate's flight (sorry about the wind noise!)

Cal and Cornell had spent the morning getting tuned up at the training hill and each had nice first flights. To celebrate her birthday, Cal's wife Louise was going for her first tandem flight with me so back up the mountain we went.

Pete decided to sit out this round after having gotten his fill of airtime on his first two flights. Cornell did a nice forward launch from Middle and, as luck would have it, he flew straight into a new set of conditions. The wind started blowing in from the south east at 15kph and strong thermals were providing invisible elevators to cloudbase. Cornell followed my suggestion and headed for the cairn where he quickly climbed to base. We could hear his excitement without using the radio :)

Hans launched off for his third flight of the day and, as per usual, he flew straight out but gained height most of the way. I had him do a complete turn and told him to look down on Monica. The first time you look back down to where you've launched from only moments before is exciting, to say the least. Hans had well over an hour of airtime between his three flights today - well done Hans!

Click image for more photos from Louise's tandemLouise and I set up on Main and Cal provided an anchor as we launched into the now established 20kph wind. Within seconds we were looking way down on the takeoff and I pushed out front to test the lift band before executing a 360. We flew over to the cairn and then back to launch a couple of times and were still at cloudbase half way to the LZ, leaving Cornell with the entire mountain to himself.

Again, Happy Birthday Louise - and welcome to the world of paragliding!

Joe from Victoria was patiently waiting in the LZ for his tandem flight and Rob offered to drive retrieve so up we went one more time. The wind had lightened somewhat but was still coming in and Pete launched from Middle for his third and final flight of the day, followed by a new pilot from Nanaimo, Degas.

Joe hoped for a lengthy flight and bundled himself up accordingly (it was colder than normal at this time of the year). We launched off nicely together and were soon soaring near the cairn in the smooth, late afternoon air. We gradually made our way down to the lower cuts where we could see Pete cruising at about 1500' over the LZ. The lift had moved away from the mountain and was obviously over the valley now so we joined Pete before eventually setting down in a nice southerly wind.

Solo flights, tandem flights, even some XCs - Mt Prevost was stellar today.
We left around 5:30pm and there was still more flying to be had.