Bright and Just a Little Bit Breezy
More ploufing today, but great for Tom our new One to One client. He’ was the only one on launch this morning, except Tizzy having a scratch on the launch area, where as the rest of us were having a scratch just below the launch area, a bit later on in the day as we gradually descended into the lower inversion. Tom had five really good flights, but then he does kite, ski, has a PPL licence and does most things so it all seems natural. He’s doing his own lovely landings already and only on his second day, which is excellent.
Tom, preparing for his first flight of the day
We’ve got flyable weather until next Tuesday, so we should be out ploufing ourselves whilst waiting for the snow. It wasn’t all ploufing today though, as there was a good face breeze, which certainly helped Tom, get some reverse launch practice in, he did an independent reverse launch without a hitch, as well as four forwards launches, and completed most of his EP tasks, so he’s well on the way.
Whilst I was preparing to have my own plouf, another pilot landed after getting some reasonable height just above the Fiz, it was possible to climb out if taking off from a higher altitude. A couple of gliders managed a scrape out. It’s ok, if you can hike up there, but with full xc gear it can be a bit tough. Chamonix lifts are still closed for the time being so we don’t have that luxury for a number of weeks yet.
Preparing to Plouf
Lots of Prepping for Ploufing
Well the weather’s been well, boring! I know dreadful thing to say, but apparently the Meteo forcaster in Chamonix has been saying the same thing, just emply blue skies with nothing happening. I can really appreciate the clouds and know exactly where Gavin Pretor-Pinney is coming from! Well all that’s happening on the flying front is ‘ploufs’ be they ‘bon’ or otherwise, “That’s all we’re getting and be satisfied!”, say’s mother nature! Well we’ve had a late in the season beginner pilot learning with us, and he had his first flight today. It was a bit touch and go whether to launch him to be honest as it was a nil wind situation, anyway I need’nt have worried, as he’s got a natural touch and a good run, so all was well.
There were a couple of tandems working unusally this time of the year, but maybe the seasons are on the change and we could be entering a new age?! Who knows?!
Pumpkin Pie and the Sky
spot the glider, competition!
Our halloween celebrations went as far as enjoying the fruits of the season in making a delicious pumpkin pie which is rapidly diminishing, but that was it! Not much doing on Halloween around here, well maybe there is but not on our road, and I can’t say as I’m sorry… a bit too freakish for me!
Anyway, on to more important things! We went flying. .. gorgeous Autumnal colours, and we got a lift up which was a bonus! The farmer’s made it difficult to land now with our usual approach given over to the bovine contingency, whilst us humanoids are now restricted to the outside perimeter, there were some interesting landings! We really enjoyed the flying today, happy and relaxed. We were all unearthing what minute hints of lift we could muster and just about maintain, but there wasn’t much on offer although enough to have a pleasing time of it.
Mild Mannered October
It’s been flyable.. but there’s not really any strength in the thermals now. We had our last one to one client of the season, Harry, finish his EP and is now partway through his CP, all done in five days with four good days of flying! Needless to say the weather provision has been perfect for the job.
Harry, Clouddodging
We’ve enjoyed some tandem and solo flying, and will hopefully be out again tomorrow. This good weather just seems to be hanging on! There’s a short, sharp, bit of an occluded front destined to arrive on Tuesday, and depart again late Thursday opening up for more good weather come Friday, so maybe a few blips will sound in the minor pre-frontal conditions tomorrow (17th).
Tandems Mostly
Yesterday was a wash out, but the rain did clear Plaine Joux launch from all the snow, and a timely visit of late afternoon sunshine did an excellent job of drying the area, that, with an added touch of Northerly wind; Plaine Joux launch was left with a blow dried finish even Vidal Sassoon would be proud of!
This is the Ozone 'small' Magnum Tandem - 'I like it a lot!'....
Tandem Assessments
It was mainly tandem day today, meaning, a number of tandem pilots were going through their assessments. It was a beautiful October day, maybe a tad warm for the time of year but lovely all the same. There was really only light flying to be had.
We have a beginner with us as the moment, and the conditions have been just perfect for him, so he’s progressing in leaps and bounds.
Tomorrow the weather is looking good again, so perhaps more of the same, but not so many tandems about.
Empty Blue
It’s been a while since the last blog reason being… busy! We’ve had a pre CPC pilot with us for a while now, and we’re pleased to report a new CPC pilot joins the paragliding ranks. The week took us to Annecy a couple of times, and the rest of the time here.
Alex Rodriguez, incoming... after a flight of some perserverence!
Unfortunately, we didn’t make St. Hilaire as we were teaching, it sounded like a good gig this year though, with plenty of exhibitors, as well as the country being blessed with good weather so it sounded like it was an all round success. We had our own little successes in as much as managing to fly most days, although struggling in cloudless expanses of lifeless air didn’t fare much for any flights of substance, but fun was had and it was perfect for the ‘L’ platers.
Most pilots have been doing speedriding, and acro… to alleviate the struggling lack of airtime, but at least we are flying. I’ve been spending some time Tandem flying which has been a new dimension for me, and most enjoyable, so will keep that up now for the time being.
Plan d’Aguille for Some, Plaine Joux for Others
View from the Aguille du Midi
The wind was calm on the Midi, so the decision was to try to fly the Plan d’Aguille later this afternoon. Dennis and Rozi went up to the Aguille du Midi first, as Rozi had never seen snow, coming from the Southern Hemisphere. I, meanwhile stayed here… believing it was actually going to be better flying here at home than the Plan today.
As it turned out by the time they’d got down to the Plan, there was not much to hold them aloft so they had landed after a somewhat short flight.. Taking off from the Aguille du Midi, without crampons, a stout heart and protection rope would have been a fools errand, an error that would only have been made once, if you got it wrong! Apparently it was precarious to say the least.
Anyway, I was on my way up to Plaine Joux, and was rewarded with a lovely afternoon evening extended flight accompanied by friendly waving Ben again… we circled around and about, took some good glides, some close scratches and landed at more or less the same time. Dominic Guenard was having a great flight, before going off to St. Hilaire tomorrow. Dennis and Rozi arrived at Chedde to pick me up. As soon as I’d landed, without further ado I was whisked into the bus and driven back up to launch so Rozi could have his last flight, as he leaves tomorrow, and I could drive the other vehicle back down. All in all, it’s been a nice few days.
The Doussard Downwind Dash
Dennis & Rozi, doing the Doussard Downwind Dash!
We went to Annecy today. Following a happy VW camper en route! Nice to have a trip out and a change of scenery.
This time of year, the charm of Annecy still remains although the pilot numbers are much fewer, the thermals much more scarce and the xc’s (today) were non-existent, well it seemed so. We went up to Montmin, they’ve done a lovely job up there now, it always was good but it just got better. With a terraced area, w.c’s, parking all very accommodating. Conditions were stable and as it started to improve a high white cloud shield arrived putting swift closure on any hope of air acitivity. Dennis and Rozi had a desperate scratch to get some sort of anything, abandoning the challenge before completly running out of glide steam and headed for Doussard. Meanwhile, I had a nice walk with Tizzy then drove down.
The next stop was Plan Fait, where again the same scenario ensued, only this time more pilots huddled in little clusters around launch, going nowhere. They did manage to get a little above launch, but that was the extent of it. It just didn’t appeal to me, so I decided to give it up for the day so Dennis and Rozi flew again… they were already almost at touchdown when I arrived back at Talloires. So not much doing…
I did however get to sit in an Advance Impress 3… in fact, I didn’t really sit in it, I was engulfed in the the thing! more like a tent… could have fitted a kitchen in there with me! Admittedly, it was a large but I just wanted to have a play… Michel Ferrer showed up in Les Passengers du Vent, shop we had a little chat..as he was thumbing through this months action packed XC mag!
It was a day out… which is always nice.
More in Daily Pics.
Weather Change on the Way
Today looks like it’s going to be the best day to fly, as the next couple of days are looking a bit iffy. Dennis and Alistair went out early to do some Spiral Dives, whilst I had the morning off and decided to potter about in the house until the thermals started to improve. It was looking mighty stable all day and as I looked over towards launch and checked the webcams the extent of the excitement was nothing more than a few float downs. I went out later in the afternoon banking on it improving around 3pm, which true to form it did. It turned out to be really nice flying and again climb outable which is good for this time of the year. Just some nice pleasant autumnal flying… before the change in the weather started to show.
A few more pics of the last couple of day in Daily Pics.
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- change approaching..
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- change rapidly approaching
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- yep, definately on the way..
For Sale
We have for sale two Kortel Kamasutra 2 harnesses with pods. 1 XS and 1 M. They are both the latest models purchased in Sprng 2011 and the condition is ‘As New’ Both for €750.00 each + postage.
Kortel Kamasutra 2 with pod
We also have for sale a Small Kortel Kanibal Race, again in ‘As New’ condition with the new modified flight deck/chest strap arrangement. Yours at a mere snip of a price of only €600+ postage
Kortel Kanibal Race
Please feel free to email us at info@flyers-lodge.com …
Autumn Is Upon Us
Autumn is definately here, with the treetops all turning, the temperature dipping, a regular dampness in the morning, and condensation on the windscreens. The snow has made a fleeting appearance , settling on Varan, and the surrounding mountains although then disappearing… just a minor taste of things to come. Our flying has now taken on the more serene character of gentle air and mild soaring. It is all still very enjoyable as what we don’t have in the spring and summer months in the shape of strong thermals and xc potential, we make up for in the sheer beauty of the changing landscape and the depth of colour, artists revel in. So here’s to welcoming in all the changes that mother natures offers….. We are still flying, but just scraping climb outs now.
