socal xc

[Marge]

Well we've been waiting a while for a good Socal Comp Day and today proved to be that day at Marshall.

Blowing over the back when we arrived at launch. Started a pool to see when it would turn. I think whoever choose 2:30 won.

Dean got on his game face and the wind finally turned... task time.

Owen launched first and tested the air.

Chris Santacroce over the top

Happiness in the air..

Happiness in the LZ...

Several Hang Glider pilots launched Kagel and landed at the Marshall LZ (a couple landed a short distance way).

It was a bit ratty but I got to 7550 and had a great flight. The Mexican resturant wasn't quite as exciting as the last wedding we went to in San Bernedito but it was a lot of fun! Thanks for putting together the great day Dean!

[Tony de Groot]

Right on Marge. It's late but I'm going to head down there.

Tony

[Mark Miyahara]

Saturday : I was to aggressive with trying to move along the course. Should have milked the thermals longer before heading out. Got to the second way point and didn't have the altitude to come back against the west wind. Lift around towers was not there for me. I ended up landing out in foothills between lz and Marshall launch. 31 min flight...kicked myself for not still being up there with all my friends. Met up with Dean and about 20 other pilots at
Zandejas after Rob Milley called me with the heads up. A great time...thanks Dean for putting this on!

[Southside]

I was one of the pilots that landed a tad short (1 mile ) of Andy Jackson from Kagel. My son had a softball tournament in the morning so I didn't have time to go anywhere but local or I would have tried to join you guys. Maybe. The forecast looked like there might be a possibility of making the Kagel to Crestline flight -- something that I always wanted to do. I didn't get exceptionally high anywhere (7k twice). And east of San Dimas I never cracked 5k. A lot of west. Nothing was going upslope; just across the faces. I crossed the 15 at 3k, but found some really light lift just short of the foothills south of the 215. Thought that it would drift me right to Andy Jackson, but I lost it once I got on the other side of the foothills.

John

Full write up here: http://socalxc.blogspot.com/2009/03/kagel.html

[Tony de Groot]

Southside, oh man that's TOO close. Well, you still have that goal to go for. I waffaled here in SB then decided to drive over myself late on Sunday. Met with a guy and we waited for his driver and when I got up to launch I saw the only other hang glider there climbing out, and he was in my king posted class. Dean..HELP, I don't know how to enter my waypoints. I know, I know, I should have learned by now how to do it. Dean talked me through it fast and was gone. I set my Falcon up fast and launched and just followed the arrows. No hesitation. I didn't do anything last time and this time i just topped out and went every time. Didn't think I'd make it back from last chance in the head wind but climbed up from low all the way to cloudbase, yeah baby, and used the street to get me back to Pine. Again to cloudbase at Billboard, just clipped Towers on the eastern edge of the range and didn't think I'd make it back as it was now west down low. Made it back but had to hit the CVS turnpoint beyond the LZ in the headwind and it was late so I took about half an hour to climb Regionals at 5:15 or so and headed out with 4350 feet. Just clipped the CVS turn cylinder, no bells but my vario said I was within the circle....maybe, and milked the bouyant tailwind and crabbed to land with nothing to spare back at Marshall!! SWEET!!! Thanks Dean for putting on this contest. Great practice.





Weak representation from the HG's but I'm sure it will be better next week.

[Marge]

Maybe a look at this hot trophy will get their interest Tony..