SCPA & SBSA Discussion Board

typical light cycle skyport roulette w/ some pilots up and some down @ lauch. tim was off first (flying very effectively)... ~ i followed him to the r&r and then West. we hooked a solid thermal over la cumbre, calling out as we climbed @ 5K. we surfed the ridge and found some lift @ alternator. eventually flew back over skyport to thermal factory but just managed to maintain. i limped back over to the r&r, got up again and flew straight to E beach; Kevin and Kevin followed out. speaking for myself, a very fun paragliding day given the lack of stellar conditions lately... thanx marge 4 retrieving us!

Strangely enough, I owe a bit of my successful flight today to my family. I decided that waiting at skyport for stronger, better cycles wasn't in the cards, as I wanted to spend some of the weekend with Jaden and Kate. I launched first, something I try not to do, and hooked a great thermal to start out the day. Above launch I decided to try heading East, also something I haven't done much of. I scratched around the corner of the RR and found the next spot, then went to La Cumbre Peak. I felt pretty small cruising around under the peak, along the ridges and rocks. I found the next big thermal on the west side of the slope and boomed to five grand. I tried to go down to the alternator but turned around in sink, not sure I'd make it back. That's when I met up with Andy. We circled around, seeing all the islands from our lofty perch (including Catalina). Then he led the way to alternator, showing me where the next thermal was hiding. On the way back to Sky Port, I was excited to see the hang gliders setting up on La Cumbre Peak. I wish I'd stuck around and watched them launch. But, decided to ride the light west wind down to the RR. I Enjoyed a few more thermals there and went to thermal factory. I boated around there looking for a thermal that would take me to the beach, but it didn't come. I should have gone from the RR where I was up around 4600. I kept slapping my head against a 3800 foot inversion at the factory. So, I headed out and landed at Pharma. What a day. The whole flight I was in my board shorts, having been tired at home from a sleepless night with Jaden, I forgot my pants. I'm stoked I did because it was a wonderfully warm and pleasant flight.

I was setting up at Alternator when you guys did your flyover. I went there thinking the lapse below 3k was marginal and Skyport might not work but you guys made it look easy.

The lift in front of launch was only in the 200-300 fpm range, we had to be patient and work the slow climbs to get over launch. The pilots that opted for West Bowl could stay airborne but not bench back up from there.

Left for La Cumbre with 4k and got there a little low, coming in on the saddle on the front spine. Managed to surf the face and get to the top but couldn't find the lift to 5k that others were getting. Back to Alternator and gaggled with Doug, Jim, and Orange Jumpsuit Guy for twenty minutes before heading to the T.

Beautiful day, people flying in T-shirts and shorts in December!

Vario log: 520 fpm up, 480 dn, max alt. 4510, 1 hr. 20 minutes.

Nice Flying Tim !!! And everyone else that inspired me to mad dash up to the mtns !

Beautiful day.