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Sep
28
Written by:
Jeff O'Brien
9/28/2009 5:24 PM
I should have followed Derrick...
Day 7 was a fun one. We called a 97km triangle. The gaggles at the start were dense, and I lost my cool a couple of times. There are just a couple of pilots that maybe don't realize it's possible to collaborate in climb and eek out every foot of altitude at the same time.
DAVID GLOVER'S PHOTOS It is FUN here.
One of the biggest thermal mistakes I feel pilots make are circles that are TOO big when there's a defined core. I love going tip to tip banked up high with Dustin or Zippy or Shapiro when the core is strong. Daisy chaining in huge circles isn't the way. Sometimes you have no choice. When the core is small and stronger, turn it up and twirl.
Photo by Carlos - Blu-eye photographer.
We were at 8300ft. at the first start, so how could we not take it. We had a wicked fast run to the first turnpoint staying high and getting good climbs.
Most of the way to the second turnpoint was spent in fast climbs and high. We were making good time, but Dustin and Derrick were gaining. They took the second start. Zippy was out front gliding to the second turnpoint getting over the cultivated areas instead of desert, and a significant gear change was necessary. Lift was dropping in strength dramatically.
Getting out of whack - launch sequence by Karen Johnson.
Zippy got stuck out low, the rest of us went back to a dust devil climb a km out of the way. We were all relatively low, so staying aloft was paramount.
Zippy called out 100fpm low, and I almost ran to him. I stuck with the group instead. His 100fpm turned into 400fpm and I could see him getting up well. I was now too far away to get in the same thermal. (I thought) I stuck with the group. I was near the top with Kraig and Robin just above me, so things were looking good. (Zippy would go on to win the day)
Photo by Karen Johnson.
Further into the last leg, lift was still light, and we were bucking a headwind to goal. With just more than 20km to goal, Derrick Turner flew 600ft. below me and headed to the north into the desert areas. I had decisions to make. I had Kraig and Robin in visual. They were south. All I had to do was cover Derrick and I'd stay in 3rd. That's not my style though. I didn't want to shadow Derrick simply because I wanted to ensure I'd keep my place in the meet. It seemed lame at the time. I watched Derrick go and saw him hit a climb. It looked like the same strength as the one I was in. I decided to fly my own race.
Photo by Karen Johnson.
There were several more light climbs on the way in, Kraig and Robin flew with me now and then. Robin made the comment later that he'd left me for dead a couple of times, and I'd come cruising back to hook up with he and Kraig. They were trying hard as I was to get home, and I guessed by this point that Zippy and Derrick had made goal. I tried to milk every foot and push into the headwind, and landed 7km short. Derrick had closed the distance and beat me by thirty some points. I'd made a competition error.
Photo by Karen Johnson.
Like Shapiro's told me, you can't fly comps expecting to win. You have to fly them to be the best and most consistent. Try to limit your mistakes. If you try to win, you fly into the ground most times. If you try to use others when appropriate, take risks when the likelihood of success is high, and fly to be flawless, you might win.
I felt I flew well for myself in the comp. I certainly had a TON of fun. I felt I minimized my mistakes, was consistent, and perhaps just a bit too conservative in a couple of instances to be the fastest. I'm still very much in the learning process.
We enter competitions for the flying, the fun, but ultimately the finish. I'll learn how to be more competition savvy and if it's appropriate to "cover" in the future to ensure a placing, I might resort to it.
One more note. My final glide was into the wind. I eyed up a set of power poles that were about 100ft. high from 1/2 mile away. I vacillated about whether to push it and pass over them, or s-turn and land just short. I know it's stupid to push things for a few points. Points are never worth risking safety. However, sometimes the demons get the best of you and with a twitching nose, (from the nervousness), I pulled in, sank below the tops of the poles, pushed out clearing the lines, and milked my last 100ft of altitude.
Airtime: 4:45. Flights:1. Miles:56.
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10 comment(s) so far...
Re: Santa Cruz Flats - Day 7
Ditto on the "too big a circle on tight core thermals" thing
I often find myself turning inside of other pilots because they are way too far out side the thermal. Crank it up guys!
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9/30/2009 9:00 PM
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