Last weekend was quite windy, we got two days of HG lessons on Årvoll, and it was flyable from Sundvollen. Strong but smooth winds gave good altitude. Winter is closing now, it’s getting darker and colder every day.

We had to cancel today’s hanggliding lessons because of strong wind, but it looked like soaring at Sundvollen. It was good, northerly 5-8 m/s and thermals made it fun, but a little turbulent at landing. Erik, Terje, and I flew, but the paragliders were grounded in the strong conditions.

About 25 pilots were at Tronfjell this weekend. It was good conditions on Saturday, with exellent ridge soaring conditions mixed with thermals, great for top-landing. Barbeque and tronfjell games in the evening made it a perfect day. Sunday was blown out.

Saturday we set a task to Frya, in lousy conditions. only 8 pilots got away, and Tor-Erik made it to Frya. That flight earned him the championship, Johannes Moger got close but did not get to goal, and lost his lead. Final results at http://www.nak.no/hp/sider/resultater/2000/res-hg-nm-2000.htm

We have had the worst weather anyone can remember during this comp, we did not have a single day with conditions for a fair competition. Too bad, but the weather is not under our control…

Vågå, Day 3-5
Day 3 and 4 was cancelled due to rain and generally bad conditions. Day 5 looked great, but a layer of high clouds moved in over the area and shut down all thermal activity. Most people got away before it died completely, but only Werner got the first TP at Otta. Werner leads, Johannes Moger on second, Tor-Erik and Robin on third.

Today is totally overcast, we’re hoping for a change to the better, but is does not look promising.

Day 2
… Arrived with showers and slow conditions. We set a task from Salknappen to Otta and back to Vågå and Sørem. A few pilots got the 20 km to the first TP, and landed on the way back. Most pilots bombed out. The forecast for tomorrow is not better…

Vågå, Day 1
Today looked good early, but it soon overdeveloped and became unflyable here. We drove to Bøverdalen in case it would calm down and we could get a late task back to Vågå, but the conditions stayed bad, and we had to cancel the day.

34 pilots have entered the competition, including one Austrian. Tomorrow is south winds, and hopefully more stable weather.

On Saturday we drove to Bismo, for some serious XC flying. It was good when we arrived, but switched to the back as soon as we started rigging. Knut got off in a brief launchable window, but did not get up. We de-rigged and drove to Bøverdalen where we got good conditions, and cloudbase at almost 3000 meters. We tried to fly back to Vågå, but it was 25-30 km headwind. Most people landed in Bøverdalen, Knut, Olav and me landed in Garmo, Finn got to Vågå, and Nils Åge flew to Tretten wich is 111km. That’s pretty good flying, he landed around 21:30…

Seems like Ruhmer won the Europeans. Results at http://www.hanggliding.at/fast/em2000.htm

Texas seems to be the place for XC right now. Dave Sharp flew 500 km with his ATOS yesterday, that’s a new World record for Class II (And 5 km more than the current Class I record, set by Tudor) Can I go please? :-)

Erik got a extended sledder from Ryggåsen yesterday, I did not set up in detoriating conditions.

(Now that put thing in perspective…)

I’m going to Vågå for the weekend, Saturday may be good if the forecast is correct.

Just in: Davis report from the flight;
http://www.davisstraub.com/OZ/Ozv4n135.htm

Some new pictures in the gallery, from the spring flying. Olav and I flew in Bøverdalen on Sunday evening, wery good conditions for hung-over pilots. We launched at 19:30 into big slow thermal and ridge soaring conditions. There were still thermals at 20:30, when I landed.

The european championships are not seeing the best conditions, so far it’s been only two tasks.

Looks like OK weather for a after work flight tomorrow.