I’ve uploaded the pictures from Algodonales into the gallery. Let me know if there’s errors.

Back in Oslo. I flew really bad the last day, and landed out between first and second TP. Got a little too low and lost the thermal that would have taken me back up again. It feels good to be back in normal temperatures again, but I can do without the rain.

We hope that Erik B made it back the 4000 kilometers with our gliders and equipment. We heard he had trouble with the water-pump in his car, and had to refill water every 17 km…

Pictures coming up in the gallery in a few days.

Algodonales, Spain
Day 6-7. The conditions were quite windy yesterday and we got a task into the mountains towards Ronda. Few pilots wanted to fly the task, but the organizers did not cancel the task. Gerolf organized a mutiny and only the English team took off to fly the task. There was no thermals, and a few pilots ridge soared a few kilometers to the first TP, and landed there. The winner got 21 points…

Today we got even stronger winds, and the task was cancelled. We took the day off and drove down to the coast near Tarifa. Swimming in the Atlantic was refreshing after the inland heat and dust. Lots of windsurfers, kitesurfers, and three hanggliders soaring over the windmills in the hills behind the beach.

The forecast for the last two days of flying is good, the wind is getting weaker and we’re supposed to get good climbs and thermals to well over 2000 meters. Today there was lots of cumulus clouds for the first time since we came.

Algodonales, Spain
Yesterday was not so good for me, got away early, too early as I landed after the first TP. Nils Åge got to goal, Olav and Erik B half way. Still we got over 2000 meter for the fist time in this comp.

Today was an eventful day, first the car was broken into last night, the car was empty anyway so nothing was missing exept Erik V’s dirty old windbreaker. At take off Erik found a broken webbing int the heart section of his glider after replacing a broken upright (again :-)). Then Christof Kratzner from Germany tucked and broke his ATOS in the air, he got out the chute and came down OK. I was flying over, and watched the whole decent. It was not a pretty sight. On the road to the HQ in La Muela there was lots of police and a dead paraglider pilot in the road. He was killed under landing.
Nils Åge made goal again today, he’s now at 9. place total. I flew better today, and landed near TP 2 after a long and difficult flight. Got a few low saves but could not reach the hill to soar up over the second TP. Robin and Olav also landed near the seond TP. Both Erik’s had broken hanggliders and could not fly, both are OK now and ready for tomorrow. I hope for a short task, as days are long. It’s 2 AM now, and we just had dinner!

Algodonales, Spain, Day 1 and 2
We had two days of good flying, the inversion stopped us at about 1500 meters both days. Yesterday we had a task of 47 km, 9 to goal. I landed out about half way to goal, around 40. place. Today we had a 97 km task, going NE towards Orsoua and then to goal in Antiquera. Around 20 made it in a little better conditions than yesterday. I pressed a little too hard, and had to land 28 km from the second TP. Nils Åge made goal today and landed out near goal yesterday. Retreive has worked great both days, but the days are long anyway. Now it’s 2 AM. Good night!

Algodonales Spain, Day 3
Best conditions so far, we got to 1800 ASL and quite good thermals. 64 km task. I got off early, and was among the first on course, flew fast and good, until I came low under a gaggle that was going slowly up over the end of a ridge. I never got that thermal, Robin was 50 meters over me and got up. Argh! I was lying on my back under the glider watching the world flying over me… Nils Åge and Robin made goal, Olav and Erik V landed near the second TP, and Erik B busted.

The forecast for today is a little lower inversion at 1800, and winds from SW. It’s probably going to be a long task today.

Algodonales, Spain.
We had a few day of flying, it have been stable and blue, but OK for local flying. Today was gray and overcast, soaring on the west launch and a few weak thermals. Lowpasses over the start for the camera crew pissed off the local Spanish paraglider pilots :-) Last night someone broke into Erik B’s car, and stole some CD’s, in addition to breaking the dashboard and window.

Lots of people have arrived, I met the Ozzies today – First question was: How’s your roof rack? They had not forgotten how much trouble we had finding one in Manilla earlier this winter. This time we had ordered a car with racks, but there was no racks on it. After some dealing we got one in the next town.

Algodonales seems like a nice place to stay, it’s hot and dry, cheap beer and food. The landscape around here is small hills with olive trees and few good landings. I don’t like this site for comp flying, the launches are too small for 150 pilots with cars, and the landings in high winds looks scary.

I’m off to Spain for the Pre-WAG competition. I’ll update these pages whenever I can with results and reports.

This server might be unstable the next few weeks, as we’re moving offices and I’m in Spain with no control of the process. Hopefully it’ll stay up, but come back in a few days if it goes down.

Hasta la vista baby… :-)

Hjartdal Cup was held last weekend. The weather was not so good, with strong winds and showers. We got a nice evening fligth on Saturday, and a few got off on Sunday. I waited for better conditions on Sunday, but it never cleared up. Sverre Bjølgerud won, total results are online.

The party at “Bottom Bar” was great though, but no paraglider pilots had the guts to stay.

Milsukern 2000 was held last weekend, we only got one competition day on Thursday. Ingar Johansen flew to Røros and won the comp with 153 km. Werner, Trond Olsen, and Sverre also got over 100 km’s. I flew into bad weather and landed after 30 km.

Next weekend is Hjartdal Cup, see you there.

Soaring in ridge lift over Salknappen on Saturday, then the snow came.