Bates 4/11

[Chris G]

We knew the mountains were out for Wed and the forecast looked good for the coast, but we didn't know just HOW good. Big crew, and epic conditions with winds nearly straight in for 6 hours. We alternated between paragliders and speed gliders and a few hangies showed up for afternoon action. Looked like there might be a push downrange but we were a hair short on altitude and I was plenty content to point my speed glider at the beach for a few turns. Forecast looks similar for Thursday!

[NMERider]

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[Aaron]

Wow! Awesome! Not too often that bates has straight in conditions. The ridges have provided an unusual amount of mesmerizing opium all week long.

Monday the cox was on all afternoon till dark, tuesday bates was soarable all afternoon w sweet southeast conditions giving string pullers fun floats to the pier and back, and today the cox was also getting carved up by a handful of junkies from 11am till dark.

Like chris said it will probably do it again tomorrow so jab the needle back in and get sum!

[NMERider]

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[Aaron]

Not much protocol at bates. Take the 150 exit before u get to carp and its the bluff on ur left. 25mph sw will get u the 700 ft u need to hop over the back to la conchita where those ridges will get you 2000 feet of glory for ridge hoppin down to the ventura beaches. Also connectable from eliminator on some days for a sb classic

[andy dainsberg]

Bates reminds me of a plaza in Barcelona where underemployed guys like me sit around and sometimes do something productive. You park and wander over to the gatherers. You glance at the water and say “hmm, should be flyable soon’” and then continue being idle. Occasionally it is flyable! On Wed it was all flyable. At a point, we had conditions change rapidly from good fun to pelicans 400 over (more fun!). Took a smaller pg out and launched from under the top in hopes of downrange splendor. Theses stronger conditions were kindof a tease though; even hgs were setting up to get in them while winds receded toward the horizon. VC Star was there taking pix; I’ll link if they publish.