My first 100km paragliding XC
Vložit
- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- I've been coming on my annual pilgrimage to Steve and Puri's at www.flypiedrahita.com since 2004 and love the place. It's usually reliable, weather wise, super organised, with conditions and tasks set, now with real time trackers where Jorge magically arrives in the retrieve bus, but above all its super friendly. Like a home from home. Most paragliding pilots who go cross country want to break the 100km barrier and it was my turn in this flight. I'm really happy that it was amongst old and new friends.
After and initial struggle to get above launch height I pushed into the valley to follow the group, and there managed to get high at 2900m in a broken climb. Down to the pass, I arrived at 2300m and counter to what was said on the radio I opted for the traditional quarry spine route. The lift was sparse and broke and I was getting concerned about mixing it in the rough stuff lower down, when three buzzards showed me the way. My climb turned into a decent one then, and I crossed the pass at about 3300m.
As per usual there was nothing to be had just after until I caught up with some of our group at Munana in what was a very scrappy area of lift. I was above them but they decided to go North after a short while, because of the deteriorating conditions in the Avila valley. I stuck with it until I was above 3000m again though and that made life easier later on. Playing catch up, I saw the Stu marking a climb far below, and then apart from the occasional radio chatter only saw a couple more paraglider for a while. Loads of raptors though. Stu caught me up at about 65km, which marked a personal best distance for me and we thermalled together, shouting greetings at 3000m. We diverged at about the 70km mark, and I also heard that Steve and TinTin had landed about 82km, so that was my next goal. Imagine 80km. I'd be chuffed with that. I was not to be disappointed though, as I was leaving climbs at 3500m and straight lining it at 60kph whilst still going up at 2 m/s. I even had to go around some clouds to avoid being sucked in.
Sitting at 88km and 3700m I really started to believe it was possible as I was gliding at 28:1 with a tail wind, and one short climb later, I crossed the 100km mark still high. As looking behind me was scary, I needed a pee and was tired, I decided to call it a day, found a patch of blue and glided to the deck. I spiralled some of it, but gently as I g forces and a full bladder don't go well together. 108.9 over four hours and definitely my PB.
I was very pleased to see Stu had also crossed the 100km barrier too, which made the experience all the more enjoyable.
Thanks for all your videos there. I am going there in two weeks and now with inside knowledge.
Colibri1931 I hope you have a great time. It is good fun here.
Good job - nice vid! Congrats to 100km flight.
My human will join the 100 club someday! Kudos! Great vid, very enjoyable. Takes the edge off of couchgliding when we can't get airborne.
Buzz Zeefive it is good fun. Spain is a great place to fly distance and there's also the time to commit to flying when on holiday.
amazing though, what ever the date ... I'm saving up .. This is going to be my new hobby
It's a privilege to be able to fly like we do. Only a small minority get to taste the cool air at cloud base, fly for tens of hundreds of km with the contents of a rucksack, and land in a new place. Flying in a thermal with a buzzard it a red kite, or see straw sucked up to you from a field far below. 😀
Great, congrats!
well done mate.
Hi Francis. Yes Paragliding and Hangliding are very much legal and regulated activities in the UK. If you want to see UK flying, I have many other videos from sites here. When experienced and qualified, it is possible to fly cross country (XC) in uncontrolled airspace. For details on clubs in your area please visit www.bhpa.co.uk. There is a uk league if XC flights at www.xcleague.com/ where you can see some flights have been made of over 200km in length, with a number over 100km on Saturday from near Swindon and Brighton.
Please note that It is very important to receive training from a BHPA regulated school as paragliding is a dangerous sport. With proper training it is possible to minimize the risks however and I thoroughly enjoy the privilege of flight in its simplest and most accessible form.
nice one.. I'll be there in 4 weeks
Enjoy these paragliding videos some of them are done very well. A lot of guys however will give every damn detail on the flight cross country except what equipment they're using. Just sayin'
Nice Mike Thomas. How are you
Suttikalai v good. Hope you’re well
Hello Mike. I love Piedrahita. Well done on the 100. ! Can you help me out. How is your go pro mounted to the carabiner. Thanks alot. Frank Manning Kilkenny South East Ireland.
frank manning I did a little video on the mounts I use. It's available here. czcams.com/video/P_WRpXKQNK8/video.html thaks for your interest. I'm back in piedrahita again in the summer. Can't wait!
Great video, it is just amazing 100km.... one question though.. how did you get back??? :D
Ilti Mehmedov thank you for your kind comment. It is also a good question. Whereas in the U.K. Should I fly a distance I would take public transport,
in Piedrahita I pay for accommodation,
guiding and crucially a retrieve service from www.flypiedrahita.com.
We all wear little GPS trackers that register our real time location, speed and altitude to Steve and Puri's driver. Sometimes the bus is actually waiting for you when you land, at other times they can find you having an ice cream outside a nearby bar. 😀
Congratulations!
Question: why was there so much wind noise in some portions of your video? ( I was wondering if it is due to the camera facing the relative wind. Though was still curious as it sounded pretty strong and gusty).
Have fun flying more and be safe.
Sruti Raju the wind noise is exaggerated because of the GoPro camera cases, it wasn't gusty at all on that flight. I have now made a couple of wind covers for my cameras, and it cuts down on the background noise considerably. If you check out my channel you'll see a short video on how I made them. I'm back in Piedrahita in a few weeks and the sound quality of those vids will be much improved. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Got it. thanks for your reply posting the videos. I have never left the hill where I launch from but someday would love to cross country. Happy Flying! :)
Congrats on your first 100 , you can join the facebook group "Paragliding 100 km Club" :)
Can I do this legally in UK ? or ? how far etc?
How much is lifespan of paraglider?
royal hunter hi. I think 200-300 hours is realistic but it depends on the conditions it flown in and how it’s packed and stored.
congrats mate welcome to the 100km club on face book facebook.com/groups/727543287381079/
That date not happen yet
True. It was June 28th not July.
what wing are you flying?
John H. Ozone Rush 3. It'll last me another couple of years yet.