SE Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Forums

hello, well the autumn/winter has been pretty dismal, and I guess everyone is feeling it like me too, judging by the shoutbox. well done norris and cookie for persevering in this weather. I decided to take the advice of another pilot and set up some practical xc clinics over the month of march, just to get us into a safe and confident pattern as the weather turns and becomes flyable again. lets just hope i am not jinxing it this early. I will have had a month in nz so i should have some good flying under my belt by march, ready for the seasons start.
The idea I got from a fellow pilot was to have xc clinics on the weeks it is flyable so we can put what we talk about into action.
so my idea is to have a 30 minute xc preparation discussion, at the hill most likely to be flyable, each flyable weekend in march 2010.
I will use the shoutbox to post on the friday night where I think it is likely to be flyable and with xc potential, and what time to meet for the discussion.
Then on the sunday evening when it has been flyable, I would like to debrief at the pentrebach pub in merthyr, there is food until 9pm and plenty of areas to sit and talk about our epic flights , what we could have done better, and any topics that have been suggested to talk about in general.
please reply to this post with any topics you want me to research and have on the agenda for these sunday evenings.
cheers sheryl

Nice post Sheryl, nice ideas too. How about a chat concerning the use of the GPS as an aid in flying XC? I don't mean just putting in waypoints but also about using the gps to try and locate thermals and to establish thermal drift?

Hi Sheryl,

March seems a long way ahead, but good idea.

Might be good to drop the XC label from the first few sessions, and have some general refresher talks, to encourage low air time pilots to come along and get ready for the season. I think it helps if they know there will be someone on the hill they can ask for advice (alternatively have both into session and XC clinics. Like the idea of a club coach session - perhaps we should get together in Feb and plan out a few ideas for March/ April.

Rich

hi to norris and rich, both good ideas, yes i can change it to club coach refresher sessions and look at the way a gps can be used, that would have been a perfect topic for steve allen, so i will hunt out someone who is well experienced in using the gps to its full potential and that can be a topic along the way. maybe not one of the first topics if that is alright norris.
and about feb, sorry rich i am in sunny little nz for the WHOLE of feb. i thought we coudl use this posting for people to put their ideas forward and put an agenda up for the first sessions on this. and it can be discussed and agreed here.

so i have had a few people interested. i am happy to run the informal discussions on the hills for anyone who wants to be involved.
the first or second sessions are going to be much along the lines of
revision of our skills,
how to assess the conditions on the day, the hill,
what to look for, risks in the air,
what things we can do to get over the rustiness after a long winter lay off.
that sort of thing.
so more the merrier.
and i will be posting on the forum what hill we are likely to be at on the fri evening, with a confirmation about 8am sat morning.
For pilots interested in the potential for xc there will be experienced pilots on the hill on the day to discuss possibilities then, and to build on it from there.
cheers sheryl

Nice post Sheryl, have a good time in NZ and come back nice and refreshed, it's about time we had a good year, maybe we can all set some new personal bests!! Maybe we could have a get together in the pub before then and have a chat about stuff?

This sounds a fantastic idea Sheryl. As a newish low airtime pilot it would really help get me back in the air - especially with Rich's idea of general refreshers early on as well as XC.

Hey Sheryl, I just noticed that you will be away ALL of February. This means that you will miss my birthday on the 11th Feb. I am gutted that you won't be there, I may even cancel my party and have one in the summer!!! You have a good time out there!!

so, i am back and ready to settle into the thermic flying over here. sounds like it has already kicked off with some pilots already doing some xcs. good one.
i am leaning towards blaenavon on saturday. if it goes more easterly then i will aim for pandy.
i will post on fri evening for definite. we can always meet at the bottom of blaenavon about 1030 and go from there. does anyone know about getting the key for the gate?

blaenavon is closed from the first of march to mid may for the lambing season.