Today's Launch of Shuttle Atlantis

Only six shuttle missions left and as little as I'm home these days, it was nice to catch this one. Myshel and Maxie came over - he brought his camera to get some shots of his own.

Last Days in Canoa

Back at home now and (as always) wishing to be back in Ecuador. Like every year, it was an amazing time packed with excellent flying, warm friends and great times. I think most all of the new pilots loved it there and will likely be back next year - along with even more new ones. Raul and Manino did a spectacular job with everything and I know we're all very grateful and anxious to come back next year.

The Wills Wing boys kicked butt with first, second and third place in the open class. But my Litesport dominated the sport class. Finishing 6 minutes ahead of all the U2's in the sport class over two days, I have a feeling there will be a few more Litesports there next year ;-)
So many good friends - it's hard to leave. Here I am with some of the Ecuadorian pilots.

Another fireworks display on the beach and a giant party after the prize giving.
Then we all packed up, drove back to Guayaquil and caught our flight home. Everyone's least favorite part.

The Princess pulls it off again ;-)

Dustin first, Shapiro second, OB third, Kraig fourth.


More tomorrow.

The Race....

...I just landed finishing the sport class task (in first place it
appears ;-) when the fast boys came by sooooo close. It looked like
Kraig was leading, barely ahead of Dustino but that order switched
making the turnpoint. Anyway, OB and Shapiro were right on their
tails. What a close race it will be!!

Sent from my iPhone

Finally a Race Day!!

We worried again about wind conditions yesterday when we woke up to the clouds overhead coming out of the east. Not good. Luckily, the first start wasn't until 4:30, so there was plenty of time for things to switch around. It was a gorgeous sunny morning and everyone was hanging out on the beach or by the pool. Just as it was about time to head up the hill the wind started looking better and better. By the time we got up there it was blowing nicely, just crossing a bit from the north (which also quickly changed to straight in) and the sky was the more usual overcast with cloudbase at about 1200 feet - perfect Canoa day!

The sport class all launched first as we had a 3:30 start. I decided to fly the sport class because the task is much shorter and I've been fairly sick the past few days. It was a good thing as I don't think I could have raced for 55 km. I finished the course then watched the big boys take the start and race along below me. It is an amazing site from above. They all look like they're on the verge of landing at any moment - they're sooooo low. All but Kraig and Alex took the first of two starts. Dustin was smoking fast as always - he knows this place so well. Shapiro came in second, OB third and Kraig and Alex fourth and fifth.

The publicity for this meet has been like nothing I've ever seen. The entire town (and then some) was out on the beach for the finishes and it was one giant party. We all packed up to great music on the PA that was set up for the band that played last night - yeah, another party all night. I wish all comps were like this one ;-)

First Day Cancelled

Two fantastic practice days...then the rain came just in time for the first task :-( After two days of beautiful sunshine we woke up yesterday to the more normal looking grey skies. Up on launch it wasn't long before it started to drizzle and then rain lightly. Cloudbase was not high above the mountain - not that that matters so much - the boys typically race below ridgetop anyway. Raul waited as long as possible, hoping for clearing conditions, but it never really happened. Most launched and cruised around below the ridge. I've been a bit sick, so was happy to pack up the glider and drive down the hill for the first time in the history of the Canoa Open. They said this was the first task ever cancelled.

Here's Colombian Daniel Velez with Nico Glennon (Mike's son). Nico is 17 - he was our photographer last year and he's since learned to fly. It's great to have him up on the ridge with us. He'll be kicking all of our butts in no time.

Today's conditions are anyone's guess. The clouds are moving westward....baaaaaad. But the wind on the beach is blowing lightly in. Either way, good times all around. Most of us went into town last night for a little of the local nightlife. Some are regretting it this morning ;-)

La Escuela Abbrogado

This morning we all walked over to the school that Jeff has been raising funds for. We had various supplies to donate - DVDs, workbooks, markers, etc. We arrived just in time for recess and had a blast playing with the kids for a while.

The school was started by a Floridian who came down quite a few years ago. It's been open for about two years and they've got about 50 kids at this point. They're hoping to build two more classrooms soon and will have kindergarden through eighth grade eventually. The school is taught in English - they don't just teach an English class each day, all of the classes are taught in English. The teachers are from various places, one from Alaska, one from Manchester, UK and a few local teachers.

The kids were great fun and enjoyed having a bunch of us running around acting like children...well, what's new.

OB's Landing Today

...published with his permission (encouragement in fact ;-)

First Flights

Once again yet another perfect day in Canoa. Everyone was so keen to get up to launch today...so many new people that haven't flown here. We had a fair bit more wind than normal, so many of us opted for the lower launch which they say is nicer in strong wind - wonder why we have never used it before. Even at the lower launch, conditions were iffy at first. Everyone got off the hill fine and the new boys raced around all day until the sun started getting low and we all landed in front of our new resort. We're all sitting around having dinner, everyone on a giant high. If only Carlos was here, I'd be in heaven ;-)

Finally in Canoa

We made our looooooong way to Canoa today after the press conference at the Olympic Center in Guayaquil. The conference was smaller than last year, but the main Ecuador television station was there. Speaking of which, we were on the morning news again this morning. That makes three times in four days. I haven't seen any of the broadcasts, but those who have seen them say they looked pretty cool. The news people are coming here to Canoa as well, so there will be even more coverage.

Yesterday's flight was fantastic! Definitely the best conditions I've seen in four years of flying Guayaquil. Clear blue sky dotted with small cumulous and 5-800fpm lift all day. We all made cloudbase over the mountain, but only four (Kraig, Alex, Dustin and Davis) were brave enough to dive over the back to go for the record. The organizers put up $500 for the first to break Raul's 40km Ecuadorian distance record. In the end Kraig and Dustin blew it away, more than doubling it with 81km - they'll split the prize money. The rest of us were happy cruising around the mountain with a better than normal view of the city and surrounding areas.


Our new hotel in Canoa is amazing. Right on the beach again with a cool breeze, a lovely pool and the sand and surf right here. It's hard to tell in the darkness, but Raul says the landing area here is even bigger and we're within a very short walk of town. Everyone was happy to be out of the cars after 8 hours of driving to get here. They're building a new highway here, but little of it is finished and we were on bumpy dirt roads for much of the drive. But either way, it's great to be back at the beach and everyone is excited to get up on that ridge tomorrow! Two practice days and the comp runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Father Frank's Mission

After last year's trip here, Jeff O'Brien was particularly touched by the poverty that surrounds the city of Guayaquil as well as the outlying areas between here and Canoa. He decided that before coming back again this year he would raise some money from the US flying community and try to help out, even if just in a small way. He and Ricker Goldsborough (a new comp pilot that just came onto the scene at Santa Cruz Flats) worked to gather several thousand dollars and connect with the right people down here to put it to good use. With the help of Gry (the great Norwegian girl we met here last year and then traveled to Peru with), he hooked up with Father Frank who runs a mission in one of the larger slums on the edge of the city.

Today we went with Father Frank to see the mission and all that he does there. He comes originally from Manchester, UK and has worked here in Ecuador as a missionary since 1975. He operates a mission that consists of a school, day care center and medical clinic. He gave us the grand tour just as the kids were letting out of classes. They were energetic and incredibly friendly. We played with them on the playground and took heaps of pictures - they seemed to love that. After the tour and some chat about how he got started here and how everything works, he took us for a tour of the slum that the mission benefits. Father Frank told us that the sick people tend to not want to go out of their homes to visit a doctor, so the nurses in the mission make rounds through the community checking on people and seeing if anyone needs medical attention. The money that was raised will go to supply medicines to this community through Father Frank and the nurses.






So many parts of the slum were difficult to see - heartbreaking to say the least. But everyone smiled warmly at us and made conversation that we enjoyed despite our limited Spanish. Jeff and Ricker hope to make this an ongoing effort to help supply the $500/month needed for medical supplies. We finished the day with lunch at McDonalds with Father Frank and his nurses and a few staff members. He was incredibly appreciative of our small effort and thanked us for coming out to see all he does here.




This isn't a bed of grass beneath the stilted houses. It's moss and trash growing on the surface of the filthy water. The houses are built on stilts because the river is tidal and the government hasn't yet finished filling in this marshy area.

I'm Famous! ;-)

All of the media attention we get down here is quite entertaining. On the first day, all of the television stations were there filming our every move. Quite a few out today as well. I've done twice as many interviews as flights so far and it's a funny thing. I kind of feel like a fraud thinking "I wonder when they're going to realize that we're just a bunch of stupid hang glider pilots??"

We've made the national news the last two nights, but we never seem to be in early enough to actually watch. Raul will get copies of the TV news reports so we can all see how silly we must look. Anyway, it's great fun to feel like a rock star for a few days ;-)

Guayaquil Day 1

After a quick job unpacking our gliders on Eduardo's front lawn, we rushed out to the newest hang gliding site in Guayaquil. This one on the edge of town very near the launch we flew the first time here several years ago. Raul and the Guayaquil pilots have bulldozed a road right up the side of the hill and cleared a beautiful launch about 1200 feet above the landing paddock.

Some guys wanted to tow up and others preferred to take off from the nice new launch above. It was a giant party scene below, with all of the Ecuadorian TV stations filming, lots of interviews and more spectators than I've ever seen at a hang gliding event. It's amazing what Raul does here and I cannot understand why we can't get this kind of attention at home.

Excellent day and we're hoping for more of the same today! The sun is shining (which is unusual here - it is normally quite overcast) and we're heading back out there in a while.

Arrival

Despite more than a little bit of stress getting 12 gliders on one airplane, we made it safely with everything in one piece to Guayaquil last night. Just like last year, we walked out of customs to be greeted with more fanfair than most hang glider pilots outside of Brasil ever get.

Today is unpacking and press day and Raul is already cracking the whip with a briefing at 8:30. This is a fun place to learn to just go with the flow - as there are no other options. None of us really knows what the plan is for the next 12 days. We'll just find out as it is happening. Es paseo, as Mike would say ;-)

Bound for South America, a world away from here

Once again, on Friday morning I'm headed down to Ecuador for my favorite competition of the year - the Canoa Open. As always, Raul has corralled some fantastic sponsors and I'm sure it's going be another great year! This time we have heaps of Americans coming down - 10 of us will be on the same flight from Miami. It's going to be interesting to see how those baggage handlers deal with 12 gliders on one airplane.

Like last year, we'll have several days of flying and doing some fun media stuff in Guayaquil before the long drive to Canoa for the race. I don't know if we're having a full blown press conference like last year, but we'll see. Either way, it will be an amazing time like every year and I can't wait to get there!!

Here are some pictures from last year.

Santa Cruz Flats Race

Kraig Coomber won the race, with Robin Hamilton second and Derreck Turner in third - all on Litespeeds!! We finished it all off with a great party at the resort before most headed off on all directions early this morning. Another successful meet and we're all looking forward to doing it again next year. I arrived up in the Bay Area this evening and I'm missing everyone already.

Goal Day 7

Turns out it was a tough task. Most went down near the last turnpoint and only three happy flexies made it in - Zippy, Dave Gibson and Derreck. This finish will likely move Derreck onto the podium and depending on where Kraig and Robin ended up, they'll likely stay in first and second.

Here are Zippy, Derreck and Dave coming in.

Goal Day 6

Excellent task bringing the boys back to the resort again today. Someone has lit a fire under Kraig because he seems unstoppable. He was first in again today with Dustin and Robin right on his tail. Derreck was a bit slow, so he might lose his 3rd place to OB today but there's still a day left for him to snatch it back again.

Day 6

Kraig is on fire. He was first in again today just a few second ahead
of Dustin, then Robin. Zippy and OB were next and I'm sure more are
coming soon.

Day 5

Good day at our desert runway yesterday. There is a particular wind direction and velocity that makes towing at the resort a little iffy, so to be on the safe side, we used another airstrip about 10 km away. It's a bit on the dusty side, but it works alright for a day or so.

Turns out the task was undercalled. About 80% made goal with Kraig coming in first and solidifying his lead. Overall now we have Kraig, Robin and Derreck....Moyes 1, 2, 3 still ;-)



We closed down the bar again last night. I think the staff here will be happy when we're gone.

Race Day

Another day of high wind at Casa Grande. But, we found another way to race, this time out of the heat. There's a great indoor cart racing track. About half the competitors came out to see who could come close to beating Kraig. Young Alex Cuddy and Brian Foster were closest, but like ridge racing, no one can beat him at cart racing

Even the Birds are Walking

Typical non-flying day yesterday. We found plenty of other dangerous activities to entertain ourselves.

Dustin, Phil and Russell and Lori took the sailplanes out, but with the wind, conditions weren't fantastic. They didn't get above about 6500 feet.

Kraig brought his dirtback with him from LA. What a perfect place this desert is for that kind of fun. Unfortunately, some of us are better than others at this particular sport ;-)






We finished it all off with a great party at the bar. Lucas was buying all the rounds with his recent winnings. He nearly went away with all the poker money as well.


Sitting at breakfast now watching the palm trees lay over and the white caps on the pool. Oops...might have to give the dirtbiking another whirl.

Task 3

We woke up this morning to high winds and not much hope of a task. But halfway into breakfast, the winds started to back off a bit so we called a briefing and rather short (84km) crossing/downwind task. The Princess is whiny and his usual pessimistic self, and he's probably right, but we're going to give it a shot anyway. The forecasts are saying the wind should back down to possibly something reasonable by 2. So, the current plan is to open launch at 1:30 with the first start at 3:00. Our fingers are crossed.

Love the facilities here. There was a group of Parrot Heads here for the weekend, but now that they're gone, we have the run of the place. Here is our briefing room/margarita bar/scoring room/headquarters, etc.

Lucas Wins!!!

....not the task, but the HP video contest! He's $40,000 richer
today ;-)

Goal Day 2

Lots of happy guys here. Looks like Dustina was first in, Zippy next,
then probably Derreck....people came in rather high so it's hard to
say on the order.

Day 2

Another 112km task, this time with goal at the RC field we used last
year. It's a good course that takes them across some nice mountains in
addition to the desert flatlands.

Difficult time at launch today. Quite a lot a relights which is very
very taxing on everyone in the 106 degree heat. Looks like the temps
should be dropping below 100 for te next several days though.

In on my way to goal now and while it's blue here, further on course
there are nice cu's. David just called from his retrieve car and
thinks they might be really zooming and could even be at goal by now,
just over two hours after the first start. We'll see.

Sent from my iPhone

Moyes 1-2-3

They said is was a very well called task, getting progressively more difficult with the final leg into a bit of wind. Several top guys didn't make it in...some just a few kilometers short. Kraig Coomber was first in with Phil Bloom just three minutes or so behind him and Robin Hamilton next. Five flexies made goal in the end (Eduardo from Brasil fourth and OB fifth) and Jim Yocum on his Atos.

Kraig had a lovely landing right on the driving range.

SC Flats Day 1

Great first day out in the desert. The new runway is amazing. While it's still a bit dusty out there, the improvement is enormous- no more eating moon dust as you launch.

They're out on the 112km course now in light wind and nice strong lift. They were calling 700fpm climbs right over the resort.

Arriving in Arizona

Nicole and I arrived in Casa Grande mid-afternoon yesterday to hot temperatures and super high cloudbase (they said it was about 12,000ft!!!) Most everyone is here and the dry desert air feels amazing. I haven't been over to the runway yet, but everyone is saying it's looks first rate. The early forecasts are calling for light winds, at least for the first two days, so we should have tasks returning here.

Things look really different this year. In addition to our beautiful paved runway, the city has purchased much of the land on the south side of the resort and built a giant sports complex with football fields and baseball diamonds.


Meanwhile, our little oasis remains ;-)

Coming back home was like going to jail....

never mind the wind
never mind the rain
never mind the road leading home again

Sometimes it's really hard to be home again. I've spent the last few weeks learning that they weren't lying- they do have a summer in the UK- and I got to enjoy all ten days of it this time ;-) It is sooooo gorgeous when the sun is shining and the flying is good.

My introduction to UK flying was at Llangollen (not pronounced at all the way it looks - those crazy Welsh). It's a small hill in North Wales where when conditions are good, you can go over the back on nice XC flights into the rolling hills. Day one Me, Myles and Shedsy headed south over the back for a 130 km goal a the Severn River. I only made about 60 kms before landing at the base of the Long Mynd (another flying site) but Shedsy made it and Myles was very close. Great day!!




We had a few more days of flying at Llangollen and hanging with my favorite second family. A little crickett, a little paella and heaps of mellow, relaxing flying. On the last day there, we all landed (including Carlos, who is finally back in the air again!) in the Kynaston's back garden.














On Sunday we went out to a coastal site south of Liverpool. It reminded me so much of the California coast and the many flying sites with landings on the beach. We were late in the day, so the lift was ultra light and smooth. Such a relaxing day.















It was painful to leave yesterday and a bit strange waking up back in Florida this morning where I don't have to bundle up to go outside, have no tea for breakfast and can wear my flippy floppys again. I suppose I'll get used to it.

Lucas' Latest

Here's the latest work from Lucas Ridley. I think its super cool and really appreciate what he does to get hang gliding into the media and advertising. Check out the video and follow these instructions to vote for Lucas.

Go to: http://www.youtube.com/hp

This should take you straight to the 'Top Entries This Week," if not click "View + Vote"

Click Lucas' video  -   "Life is My Adventure - Lucas"

Click the Thumbs Up that appears to the right of the video when it begins playing.



Vote early and often!!

BOS Day 3

The sky didn't look so spectacular today, but we decided to go up to another launch that was lower, but facing into the wind. That didn't exactly work out as planned ;-)
So we opted for another comp in the warmth of the indoors. It was a close race right down the last task. But in the end, Carlos was the champion, even after bombing out on one task.