Monthly Archives: July 2006

Competitions

Vågå Open 2006, Day 8

The last day of the competition, and another good flying day. It was a good chance of overdevelopment, and a cu-ni started building over Rondane quite early. We changed the task to keep us local, also to keep pilots so close that everyone have time to get back to the prize giving.

The task became a 75km multiple out&return, race start at 14:00. I took a nice core to cloudbase and was there 15 minutes before the start gate. I then planned badly and lost height while searching around for lift closer to the start circle edge. I did not get up again, and got a piss-poor start when I had to go back and take lift over the takeoff to get back up again. Lost 6-7 minutes there.

On course it was very strong conditions and quite turbulent because of the speed we fly, I did not risk flying with full VG much of the time, gliding at 90-100 km/h between lift. I raced the task, and had big problems getting down around the second last TP, from there I glided through the last TP and passed goal with 500 meters to spare, and got 7. place.
All in all a great competition, with 6 out of 8 days flying. Now I have some hours in the air again, and wish we could start over with a new comp.

Competitions

Vågå Open 2006, day 6 and 7

1 Comment

Two great days in Vågå, with nice strong lift and not much wind. The task for day 6 was a 91,1km out and return race task, from Vole via Otta to Kvam, and back to Vågå bru and then goal at the center. I flew the task without any major drama, and came in as number 5. Some parts of the course was in shade, and Arnt, Speidern, Jan Erik and me struggled a little in Heidal, but when we got back up again it was easy to get to goal.

Today we had a shorter 50km triangle, race task, with some extra turnpoints for the start circle and final glide. We had to postpone the start gate one hour because of cirrus shading the aree, but when it broke up we were rewarded with great conditions and nice clouds. It was a little crowded outside launch, so I found a nice core to be alone in and took it to cloudbase at 2600 meters.

After the first TP at Otta I chose different than the lead gaggle, and went on a course more towards Lalm. The plan was to take the last lift behind Andershøe, and glide the rest of the course from htere. But the lift behind Andershøe was too weak despite a nice cloud there, and I spent 5 minutes too much there, before crossing over to the last TP in Heidal and joining up with Arnt and Otto. I got in as number 6, and we had 15 pilots in goal. Lots of happy faces and some first goalers too. Great day. Erik V went for open distance and roumour has it he made 175km.
Tomorrow look like it will be another classic day!

Hanggliding

Vågå Open 2006, Day 1 and 2

Stable conditions, blue and inverted. I really feel out of competition shape, the first day I landed at the main landing without getting up. I did not fall through, but decided to land down. Today was a little better, and I did my first XC since last August… The task was 56km to the NW, with two TP in between. I landed halfway after forgetting the golden rule of not leaving the gaggle in blue conditions.
So far Olav Opsanger seems to be in a strong lead.

Hanggliding

Vågå Open 2006

The Vågå Open 2006 competition starts on Saturday, and last for 8 days. It’s the Nordic and Norwegian championships, as well as an open competition. I’ve not had much thermal training this year, and I feel quite rusty. It will be interesting to see how it feels to get back into competition mode again. Last year I was organizing and running the scoring for the comp, it was too much and my flying suffered from it. This year I will help out doing the weather, but that’s all. Forecast for the weekend is very good.

We drove to Vågå last night, since the forecast was OK and I wanted to get at least one flight before the competition starts. But on the way up from Oslo I had to slow down many times because of very strong winds, and after arriving in Vågå I woke up because of the wind shaking the house. Still today looks like it will be flyable later in the afternoon. There’s quite a few people here already for the competition. I’ll try to go up even for just a sled ride down tonight.