< Previous20 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2024 dead centre Prague Open In late August I set off for Prague, with judge Hanna Statham, for the first of four consecutive competitions. Our travels would take us first to Wasserkuppe in central Germany to pick up my new Advance Lightness 3 harness – to go with my Papillon Himalaya 2 paraglider – from Papillon Paragliding. Then on to Prague, where registration was completed on the Friday. The event is held in a large square with a gravel surface near the centre of the city. It’s quite small for a winch operation. Number 3 wasn’t my favourite place to start, but it meant I could get the round done early. I was all ready for the accuracy, but I was also nervous as to how it would play out. It was super hot – around 34 degrees – and I expected lifty, thermic conditions. Day 1. As the flying started I put my nerves to the side and got my competition head on. It was game time! I was pleased with my first-round pad score of 13cm. It’s always good to get the first round out of the way to relax and concentrate on the rest of the competition. By the second round it was getting warmer and the thermic conditions were more noticeable, but I made another pad score, this time hitting 2cm. Changing wind directions were making target approaches more challenging as the day warmed up, and my next score was not great at 125cm. I was getting fatigue after a long day and the next round was my worst, but my 500cm maximum score could, I thought, be wiped away in the 5th round. I had to take five and walk away from everyone to recompose myself and take it, remembering that we all make mistakes. Not my best flight, for sure! After giving my head a wobble and re- centring myself I was up for my last round of the day. Conditions in the air still seemed to be hot and thermic and I needed all my attention. But I was able to get back on track and hit the pad, getting 12cm. I was happy to end the day with that! Day 2. Conditions were similar to the day before but the winds were not on our side. Surrounded by building and trees, changing wind directions caused the competition to stop and start; crosswind towing is generally not good. As a result only two rounds were achieved and my scores were not great: 261cm 304cm. I hit the pad in the next round, but unfortunately the wind and a minor incident meant the round could not be completed, leaving me 19th out of 37 pilots. With the heat, weather and all other factors, the competition had been a tough one. Nevertheless I did well, and the pilots, judges and organisers did a fantastic job. Congratulations to winner Linus Schubert (12cm), followed by Petr Garbier (27cm) and Vlastimil Vachtl (29cm). German Open After Prague I returned to Wasserkuppe the following weekend for the German Open, where 11 rounds would be completed. The Wasserkuppe, in the Rhön mountains, is a 900m plateau with soarable faces, and an airfield and a small tourist village on top. In the 1920s and ‘30s it was the cradle of sailplane development. European aeronautical engineers like Anthony Fokker, the Horten brothers, Alexander Lippisch and Willy Messerschmitt, and pilots such as Robert Kronfeld, Hanna Reitsch and Phillip Wills, perfected the art of gliding here. It’s a fabled location. I started off really well with some good pad scores that put me in the top 15. Then a mistake resulted in a 437cm score, reducing me to the mid 20s. Not great, but again I hoped I could drop this in the 5th round. Unfortunately I had a hand touch; my legs had given in due to walking up the hill so many times! After this second mistake I had no chance to climb back up the ranking! There were a lot of very good pilots and competition was tough. I finished 40th out of 57. Congratulations to the winner Yang Chen (10cm), followed by Lennard Schubert (11cm) and Matjaz Sluga (18cm). Czech and German Paragliding Accuracy competitions COLIN JONES, AKA ‘SPARROW’, REPORTS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND GERMANY The inner-city Prague tow site Matjaz Sluga, twice on the podium at Wasserkuppe in September Photo: Aart de HarderNOVEMBER 2024 SKYWINGS 21 FAIRHAVEN ELECTRONICS LTD MICRO ALTI 2 Now available with bluetooth! The Micro Alti 2 is our latest wristwatch- size multifunction vario-altimeter which now includes Bluetooth-5 to connect to paragliding apps! It provides ultimate vario sensitivity with a loud audio tone system, QNE and QNH references, G-meter, weather trend, humidity, vario averager, weak lift thermal finder, FM radio, time clock and timers, and gives up to 70 hours of battery life! The Micro Alti 2 also has USB-C and headphone sockets and is supplied with wrist strap and riser mounting clips. Bluetooth Micro Alti 2 £139 (no Bluetooth £119) for more info and FAIRHAVEN 01332 670707 German Friendship Cup The next event, also at Wasserkuppe, was the midweek German Friendship Cup. The weather had changed from hot and sunny to cold, wet and windy, like typical British weather. Because of this, and often changing location due to adverse wind directions, we only managed to get in three rounds. The landing area was tricky for most, and the conditions didn’t help. I had scores of 6cm and 85cm in the first two rounds, but another hand touch due to my leg fatigue meant another 500cm maximum that put me 49th out of 60 pilots. German World Cup The following weekend, again at Wasserkuppe, was the German leg of the Paragliding Accuracy World Cup. That too was plagued by bad weather and we struggled to finish four rounds. After scores of 7cm and 8cm in the first two rounds my 3rd-round score of 130cm was not great. I was able to pull it back with another pad score of 6cm – pretty good for my first World Cup. By this time my body was screaming at me to stop! Sadly the weather took over and prevented any further flying, but I ended in a respectable 23rd place. Congratulations to the winner Yang Chen (3cm), followed by Matjaz Sluga (5cm) and Linus Schubert (7cm). Overall it had been a great series of competitions, and very well run by everyone. For me it had been tiring but thoroughly enjoyable. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year – let’s hope the weather is better. Next on my list this year is to represent the UK at the European championships in Albania early in October, and then off to the PGAWC Superfinals at Jingmen City in China. I really can’t wait! Photo: Colin Jones Colin Jones with World Champion Yang Chen, who won both the German Open and the PGAWC round The Wasserkuppe flying site Photo: Victor RodriguezSage ultralight 2-liner Skywalk say their ultralight Sage EN C wing combines outstanding performance with excellent flight comfort. It’s aimed at experienced XC pilots who seek to fly big distances, and hike-and-fly/vol-biv exponents. B- steering and ‘smart link’ colour-coded risers are a feature; the wing itself has a shark-nose profile, 3D shaping, nylon rigid foil leading-edge wires and mini- ribs at the trailing edge. Cell count is 69 and flat AR is 6.4. Five sizes cover 55-115kg all-up, the ‘95’ size (75- 95kg) weighing 3.8kg. It’s available from UK Airsports on 01768 779800, Easiness 4 The fourth iteration of Advance’s lightweight reversible harness offers enhanced comfort and weighs up to 200g less than the Easiness 3. Also new are lumbar support, new side panels with a zippered pocket, and a redesigned backpack featuring X-Alps-tested shoulder straps and mesh pockets. Its low weight (from 2.1kg) and durability point to hike-and-fly, travel and extended XC use. The Easiness 4 is available in two colourways from all Advance dealers. More information at Range X-Alps3 AV The ‘Athlete’ version of Skywalk’s ultralight race harness is a pure hike-and-fly race harness that weighs just 1.37kg (M size). Proven in the X-Alps, X-Pyr and Bordairrace comps, among others, its features include front-mounted parachute stowage, built-in hydration, plenty of storage and Permair 2.0 protection. Three sizes are offered, based on pilot height. From UK Airsports as above.NOVEMBER 2024 SKYWINGS 23 Ultra X-Alps backpack Despite its minimalist design and weighing only 365g, Skywalk’s Ultra X-Alps backpack has some well-thought-out features. Designed to complement ultralight wings like the manufacturer’s own Sage and X-Alps, it features a running vest-style harness. It’s aimed at extended hike-and-fly adventures. From UK Airsports as above. Skywalk is promoting the Sage wing, X-Alps3 AV harness and Ultra X-Alps backpack together as the ideal hike-and-fly package for ‘your own X-Alps route’. Details are at Syride release Evo V2 Seven years after launching the Sys’Evolution flight computer, Syride have updated it to incorporate current technological advances. Its existing readability, low weight, good battery life and 3D view are now enhanced by faster vario response and improved sounds, and seamless connectivity with the Syride app via Bluetooth 5. It now allows real-time tracking of other pilots and instant loading of tasks accessed by QR code. Better mapping provides a new topographic representation with detailed contours. The touchscreen has faster refresh and a redesigned input keyboard. An optional ADS-L module will allow integration with this EASA-derived anti-collision protocol when it is implemented. Go te of functions. The Evo V2 will be available from Syride dealers in the new year at 699 euros or 749 with ADS- L. From novice to confident flyer Turning 60 was supposed to be a grand affair. My wife and I had planned to celebrate by cycling to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. However our plans took a sudden turn when my wife suffered a dental issue. With our 1,100km ride no longer feasible, we altered our destination to a place close to our hearts, but still a 1,100km car drive away: Andalucía, the region in south-west Spain where we were married 16 years ago. To make this birthday special we focused on a paragliding adventure for me, while my wife could relax and work on her business plans. The trip didn’t get off to a smooth start as my wife’s tooth issue worsened, needing immediate medical help. This led us to Ronda, famous for its stunning clifftop views and whitewashed buildings. By the time my wife’s tooth was sorted we were ready to pursue the main purpose of our holiday. I had chosen chose to fly with Paragliding Guide at Algodonales, a well-regarded BHPA-registered Development School run by Nick Craven and his support team, Alan and Jorge. From the very first moment it was clear that I had made the right choice. I arrived feeling both excitement and apprehension. I had my CP list in my hand, ready to share my 40 flights (all top-to-bottoms). Having learned to fly in the Pyrenees with limited experience of thermals, I felt like a novice compared to the seasoned pilots around me. The vast experience of the other students became immediately apparent. Many had done extensive cross-country flights and competed in paragliding events, and had a natural ease when talking about advanced flying techniques. I felt out of my depth. It was at this point that Nick offered me a piece of advice that stayed with me: ‘David, you will become the average of those around you.’ At first, I didn’t quite grasp what he meant, but by the end of the week his words resonated deeply. What I soon learned was that the true value of the course came not only from the flying but also from the environment. Being surrounded by experienced pilots, listening to their insights and picking up on the nuances of their conversations, was all part of the learning experience. The fluid exchange of ideas and advice allowed me to soak up knowledge like a sponge. The flying itself was exhilarating. Andalucía’s diverse landscapes of rugged mountains, rolling olive groves and vast plains stretching to the horizon offered a perfect backdrop. While my fellow students were doing 60km XC flights I was still finding my feet, but I felt supported throughout the process. Pilots with years of experience took the time to offer advice, helping me develop confidence bit by bit. Their generosity and insight made the experience feel collaborative rather than competitive. Nick, Alan and Jorge ran the week like clockwork. Nick’s calm, understanding demeanour helped ease any nerves, and his unwavering focus on safety allowed us to push ourselves without feeling pressured. I was constantly reassured that my learning pace was my own, and each small milestone felt like a significant achievement. The atmosphere created was one of warmth and genuine care. From pre-flight briefings to post-flight debriefs, the focus was on improving technical skills and ensuring everyone had fun and embraced the spirit of adventure. While I was learning to navigate Andalucía’s skies, my wife enjoyed her own form of peace on the ground, finding a sense of calm in the Andalusían surroundings. The region’s tranquillity and slower pace of life made it easy to relax after the stress of the dental emergency. As my 60th birthday came to a close I reflected on how transformative the week had been. This unexpected paragliding adventure had turned out to be even more special than our planned journey to Santiago de Compostela. I had pushed myself to improve my flying skills and embraced the wisdom of those around me. Nick’s words, ‘You will become the average of those around you,’ were no longer a mystery. By surrounding myself with talented, experienced pilots I had learned far more than I could have imagined. I had gained confidence and skills that will stay with me for years to come. The week wasn’t just about paragliding; it was about the journey: learning, sharing, and embracing the unexpected. Without hesitation I would recommend Paragliding Guide to anyone, novice or advanced, looking to grow as a pilot. It was a week I’ll never forget, and turned out to be the perfect way to celebrate my 60th birthday. David Tweddle Lyght fantastic One of our customers, paraglider pilot Jeremy Perl, emailed this photo of me testing the new Ozone Lyght and Supair ALP harness in September for new Flybubble reviews. 24 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2024 airmailThe Lyght is Ozone’s new lightweight high-end EN C 2-liner, a light version of the standard-weight Photon. The ALP is Supair’s new high-end ultra-light hike-and- fly racing pod harness, featuring a full Submarine-style envelope and weighing 1.61kg in size M. These photos were taken on a fantastic autumn day at Devils Dyke. It was very busy on the hill, but those who managed to climb out in the challenging conditions were rewarded by abundant lift higher up, with some big areas of lift averaging over 3m/s! First up was Guy Impey, talented son of long-time Flybubble customer Peter Impey. After reaching cloudbase Guy went XC; I stayed on to continue testing and filming. Later Adam Reynolds got up on his Ozone Enzo 3. He later commented that he got a bit freaked-out when getting over 3m/s lift flying in a straight line. Not bad for the end of September! In the UK we do get good thermic days in the autumn and winter, even some very good ones. For those who like numbers, 100km-plus XCs have happened as late as October and as early as February. It’s usually pretty chilly at cloudbase at those times of year. Carlo Borsattino, Flybubble Jane Cooper. 8.7.1962 – 16.9.2024 It is with great sadness that we report the peaceful passing of Jane Cooper after her recent battle with pancreatic cancer. Jane was a popular member of the Derbyshire Soaring Club, loving her flying and hillside friends with equal vigour. Her real pleasure was to be found in the simple act of flying itself, and she would often be seen, in her own words, ‘pottering’ around the local ridges. Jane was also an excellent primary school teacher. It gave her the opportunity to fly the French Alps every summer, including her beloved Col de la Forclaz and the Annecy lake. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. We remember that she touched the winds which touch us still. Mike Winslow Valais end-to-end … and another wonder of the hang gliding world: the Aletsch glacier. Photo: Jeremy Soper NOVEMBER 2024 SKYWINGS 2526 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2024 I had originally trained with Bertie Kennedy, a saint of a man, in 2002 and was signed off after seven months. The first time I even heard of Pyla was after gaining my Tandem rating in 2007. I read in Skywings that a British pilot was doing commercial tandem flights. I had never heard of this or believed it possible. Who should I talk to to find out? At that time I figured there was only one person in paragliding that would tell me straight: Dave ‘The God’ Thompson. For those who don’t know, Dave was the BHPA’s head Tech Officer at the time, and only retired last year. To me he is a legend. I explained to Dave that I had been led to believe that only an instructor could fly tandem commercially; we were always a little out of touch here in Northern Ireland. After frying poor Dave’s head again, as I have been doing for the past 20 years, he recommended that I go to France to meet John Welch, CFI of Flight Culture, who runs a yearly intensive tandem-pilot course. At the time I only had a Tandem rating, but through Dave I learnt that I could could become an Air Experience Instructor with the support of the local club. Sadly this wasn’t forthcoming, even when I bought my own kit to get the required flying in. So France it had to be. But I had never ever been on a plane before. I know – how sad I was! But Dave had said that Flight Culture would assess me and see if I had got the goods to be a commercial tandem pilot. Chatting to John Welch on the phone, I was struck how his California accent put me at ease. And I was determined to show the people who had looked askance at me, here in Northern Ireland, for wanting to carry on in the sport. I had encountered a lot of resistance to making progress in paragliding, from older heads who thought I should know my place and keep my head down. If you want something, go and do it. I really don’t know how I did it, but a plane, a bus and a train eventually got me to Arcachon. And there I was in France, hungry, tired and a little bit scared, waiting for a guy called John to pick me up. I plucked up the courage to go into a pizza place for pizza and chips. I asked for ‘Pizza pommes-de-terre’. Yeah, I thought, my French is amazing! The guy laughed and said something to his sidekick. I got pizza with raw potato chunks on it. Wtf? I know now of course, but that’s how raw I was! John Welch still loves to laugh at my inexperience. At the Dune I was introduced to a big group of fresh faces, all tainted with the madness of learning to paraglide. New people with all different accents, but some of the nicest people. Students? I love their enthusiasm! So I humped the b*****y tandem gear up and down the Dune, flying students over and back, up and down, for the week, but I made many new acquaintances who are still great friends to this day. After coming home, and John putting in his report to the BHPA, and getting my website up and running … only then did I feel I had done well. Returning from the week at Pyla I felt changed, and after speaking to John again he asked me to join the Flight Culture team as a TI. Me? Mr Nobody from Nowhere! It was amazing to think that this cool dude who had helped me so much now wanted to help me more. I didn’t realise that he had seen a bit of passion in me that I hadn’t seen myself. Thank God he did. After once again frying poor Dave Thompson’s head (sorry Dave!) I learned that TI means ‘In the pursuit of being an Instructor’. Now that would be cool. And so it began, away from the dirty looks and the hisses and stares and the nasty comments back home. I started taking people up on tandem flights and doing courses in the UK, and heading back to Fight Culture as often as I could. The BHPA, of course, were keeping a very close eye on my progress, and Dave Thompson came out to Pyla to check me out (and eat my crisps!). At home I was having to leave job after job, changing work several times and spending thousands of pounds on flights. And taking time off work because my father had died again, or my mother-in-law had died for the third time. I had to lie many times in different jobs to get away to be a TI with Flight Culture. And then go back to work with a sunburnt face. Sometimes I said I had been on the sunbeds. I got some stick, but I did it. I didn’t realise at the time that all the running about the Dune – and I still run about it – had affected me, got in my blood and bones. For goodness sake, I even got married there, at the Panorama du Pyla restaurant on the cliff that overlooks the sea! But this year has been a really special one for me. I got to spend a month at Pyla PHIL BARRON LOOKS BACK ON MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THE SPORT Where do you start? At the beginning! I’ve been flying for the past 27 years. You meet a lot of amazing people in this game, but there’s one thing about the legends of paragliding: for me they have all appeared at the Dune du Pyla in south-western France. Phil in instructor mode with student Liz Davenport, a firefighter Thomas Bourdeau and partner Marcinha Finelli – more wonderful people! Cormac McDonagh, a very good friend who always goes to Pyla with us Photo: Louise B arron Photo: Phil B arron Photo: Phil B arronNOVEMBER 2024 SKYWINGS 27 ‘John Welch – another legend’, Phil and Sean Barron. ‘He’s a much better flyer than I was at that stage!’ Photo: Louise B arron Photo: John W elch/Flight Culture Photo: John W elch/Flight Culturewith John ‘The Legend’ Welch and Dave ‘The God’ Thompson. Not only that, but my 16-year-old son Sean was there for the first time too after gaining his CP last year. He’s a much better flyer than I was at that stage! And then Thomas Bourdeau, owner of Little Cloud and visiting the area from his base at Briançon, came over. He’s very good-looking and makes me look like a pasty. I would never have met any of these wonderful people without paragliding and Pyla. To sit at night and listen to the gods and legends of the sport you love, people that have helped you and so many others without a blink, who look at you as their friend and equal … I am blessed to have spent the month with such friends. Meanwhile, in 2011 I had gained my Senior Instructor rating, and in 2012 I opened a paragliding school – Cloudsurfer Ireland – and started a new paragliding club – the Northern Ireland Paragliding Club. And Pyla became one of our annual family trips. All the students and cool folk I met and taught were straight into the club. All these people from different backgrounds and religions and jobs and this and that. We who were brainwashed into believing that we, us, they, them, shouldn’t be friends. Crap to that, I thought. Not in my name! The people in our club come from every walk of life: ex-police and military, plumbers, drivers, brickies and bakers, often with their lovely families. We are all the best of friends and there’s never a bad word, just flying friends trying to get through life and forget the past. 35 family and friends went to Pyla on the first trip we went on. Some are crazy characters – you meet the real person on holiday! – but all are great people. Some fly, some don’t. But all are great people. France, Turkey, Spain … and all that from a scared kid who just wanted a little bit more. And to keep people away from bad elements in the sport here. I did OK, I think. After nearly three decades in the sport I’m hanging up teaching paragliding here in Northern Ireland. It’s hard for me to admit this, as I had to fight so hard to get what I needed to start Cloudsurfer up. Sadly three schools, including Bertie Kennedy’s First Flight, have closed here this year. I am keeping on my Instructor and Air Experience ratings to help John Welch out when needed. If I hear of any prospective students I take them to Pyla to train with Flight Culture – it’s quicker and the weather’s better. Then they come back and join the NIPC and we let the BHPA know. I’m not the only person whose life has changed through paragliding, or who who feels honoured to have met, and learned from, such wonderful people. In this sport, that’s how it is. 28 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2024 Dave Thompson: ‘To me he is a legend.’ Photo: D av e Thompson Pyla – superb training ground … and where the gods meet! Photo: John W elch/Flight CultureNOVEMBER 2024 SKYWINGS 29 Part II: Mission accomplished, heading south … Ben, Mark Hilton and Giles Fowler had set off from Darley Moor intent on proving the practicality of PeaBee/Adam microlights as touring aircraft. Their destination, Balado in Perthshire. Part I left them entering Scotland via the Solway Firth having camped overnight at Troutbeck … We had truly entered Scotland, the mystical land. Wind farms stretched from horizon to horizon. We seemed to have entered a sci-fi movie. Flying such tiny aircraft, I was blown away by the enormity of these sentinel structures. It was humbling indeed. Eventually Strathaven came into view. We joined in the overhead, a C42 taking off for a training flight giving away the runway in use and circuit pattern, which of course we already knew. Landing in front of Colin McKinnon and Marta Briongos’ famous Grand Designs house, a remarkable piece of architecture, reassured us that we were at the right spot. Colin was there to welcomed us to his microlight heaven. I was impressed, and slightly jealous; it was a truly amazing setup. Well done Colin and Marta, I take my hat off to you. Michelle and Mella – the best ground support team on the planet – soon appeared, and after a quick re-fuel we were off to Balado, our course slightly altered to take in Glasgow, the Falkirk Wheel and Stirling Castle. Although the weather held, the sun didn’t play ball and hid behind a veil of cloud. In a way it was a good thing, considering the instability of the air. Soon after Glasgow we descended to view the Falkirk wheel, a wondrous feat of engineering and a novel way to lift a 30+ tonne narrowboat from the Union Canal to the Forth & Clyde. Truly a wonder to truly behold. Then we headed due north to Stirling, to examine the western flanks of Stirling Castle and then skirt around the south side of the city. From there we turned into the headwind and battled our way along the Devon valley in the lee of the Ochil Hills, and on to Balado. We, or more precisely I, missed the Kelpies, and we all failed to capture Stirling’s Wallace Monument, despite our many cameras, as we circumnavigated the castle. After an age, and with a ground speed of 25 mph or less, we spied Loch Leven in the distance, and soon Balado airfield. Calling for information, we were invited to join for runway 07. Falling into the circuit pattern, I was slightly unsure who might be on the ground, and what sort of reception we would receive. It was bizarre to see, on finals, what I thought were members of the public walking across the runway. Just before touchdown, they all were waving and punching the air furiously. I was caught out, again, by the tremendous welcome given by the resident flyers of the airfield. It brought a tear to my eye; we had arrived at our primary goal. Balado or Bust was done. Next? To get home, as it is all downhill from here. James Alexander and Colin Logan have done a fantastic job with improvements to the airfield. New hangars, clubhouse, briefing rooms and taxiways, and to see so many PeaBees and Adams under one roof made me awfully proud. BEN ASHMAN RECAPTURES THE ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT OF POWERED HANG GLIDING’S EARLY DAYS Leaving Troutbeck … and about to leave England!Next >