by andy » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Well I'm half way home in Bishop dropping of some stuff for Kari Castle, but I thought I would post the final day happenings. We had a 82k task to galena and back to Otto peak then the main LZ at River run. It was predicted l&v up high with the usual south valley flow and high pressure but tops in the high teens. Start was 2pm, so we all launched around 1pm as it had been working for an hour for the dummies they were pecked and heading out.
I launched and shortly realized I had a stick in the upper cacade between the c and d line in the middle of the wing, bummer. I tried everything I could think of to get it out, but no worky. Dean had the same problem but his was more to the tip of the wing and after some vigorous stabilo yanking he got his out.
The stick didn't really affect my climbs but glide sucked and so I had to tank up often thankfully there was plenty of lift.
About 3/4 of the way to the turn here comes Dean leading the pack heading back, he ended up WINNING the day!
Anyway I made the turn and was headed back when I hit something at about 4k aglthat took the wing away and I started the jumprope action whip stalling it every time it surged until I got tired of almost getting twisted when it surged so on about the third swing though I dynamic stalled it (my first dynamic full stall) then when I came back under still kind of asymmetric I let it out and it inflated most of the way then I let the slow side all the way out and it surged pretty much even but I was still of to the side so I stopped the twisting with super wieght shift and rode out the dive into a steep turn. That cost me about 1200 ft. And I went back to the beast that got me and entered smoothly and cranked it up to 17.2k. woo hoo. And the stick was now out!
I headed to Ottos but by now it was getting about 5:00 and it was breaking up from the south flow, I tagged Otto's but could not get high enough to escape the strong valley flow and ended up 3k short of goal. What a cool flight highest, first dynamic FS, and almost a second goal.
Besides Dean winning the day, Rob, and Bo made goal, I think only 23 made goal. Dave Prentice landed on a building in town because he couldn't penetrate the valley wind. He was unhurt and climbed down the fire escape and snuck away before the official arrived.
Overall Dean was 5th!!, I was 42 and Rob was 43, not sure where Bo, Ben, and Riss finished.
What a great place to fly, I would love to go back next summer for some long distance attempts.
Andy