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Jul
10
Written by:
Jeff O'Brien
7/10/2009 11:01 AM
Meeting challenges with success.
Chabre upper launch.
Launched off the north side and promptly sank to within 500ft. of the valley floor. Repeating the mantra, "You've got it, you've got it," over and over, I went to the last hills before I'd have to land. Found broken light lift that I turned in for the next thirty minutes and finally got to cloud base.
Played a good start game and was running fast to the first turnpoint. Had a great run for the first 20km after the first turn. Was with Andreas Olsen and Nene. Before Gap, things started to deteriorate and I found myself ridge soaring deep in a gently sloping mountain bowl covered in grass and wild flowers. Andreas went in, so I followed, I wouldn't have chosen to go so deep otherwise.
A fine venue to watch the evening.
We made circles swooping to within 40ft. of the terrain on the backside of the turns. I got puffs of wildflower smells every circle. Andreas found a better core, I waffled downwind eventually.
Tried to cross the valley, and found myself again just a few hundred feet off the valley floor staring at farmers roofs and desperate. Again I searched for a long time in broken lift before attaining cloud base many minutes later. Turns out many had a hard time in this area and got slow.
The traveling US circus prepares to hit the road.
I ran into Shapiro and others at the second turnpoint and was motivated to try and "catch back up" to some of the leaders. I felt like I was working only the most substantial lift and pushing hard. This was my mistake. There were good clouds, but the day was getting on and it was after 6pm. It was time to top out and slow down and I kept pushing on.
I deviated WAY off course to stay on the windward and sunny faces, but nothing got me high enough to connect with the cloud lines again. Again I was just a few feet over cliffs working my way to the town of Sisterone. At nearly five hours into the flight, I gave up a bit. I was low with the possibility of going for it over a ridge, but it would have meant a difficult retrieve if I didn't get up. I opted to work the area where I was which had less promise of lift, and eventually landed. I was happy with the way I'd met challenges during the task, but I'd made a mistake and gotten impatient.
Julia continues the legend taking Wasabi to Russia, Red Square, and beyond.
Airtime: 4:55. Flights:1. Miles: 75.
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1 comment(s) so far...
good post
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