US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

                                          Screen shot from the GoPro at 10K on the 2nd day


Well we're done. They called off the last day due to high winds. I had already decided not to fly due to the blood blisters under my big toenails. Ill spear you the details on that.
   What a week! I flew 16 hrs and 395 miles! I had two 100+ mile days back to back and flew in some of the strongest air I have ever flown in.
   You might be able to talk me into coming hear again;-)


Ps, I hope to edit some gopro footage and post it here soon.
And thank all of you for your texts and emails of encouragement.

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

WOW what a day. I didn't make goal but had some great flying. You wait and wait and wait in the launch line. It was 105 deg on the ground and it was 48 deg. at cloud base. So im wearing a t shirt and two speed sleeves, gloves and helmet standing next to the asphalt taxi way sweating my but off. Finally I get a cart and im way back in line. Put the glider on the cart lay down get settled and turn on my instruments and find out my route is gone. Now im next in line and trying to put in the route laying in the cart. I move to the side and set up my instrument get back in line and im at the back. Today you needed to launch early so you can fly with other pilots because it a blue day. Only a few clouds early. When I got in the air there were about two clouds left in the sky. I get off tow and climb out to 8k and head out. Im flying toward three pilots climbing 3 miles away. I know I cant make it to them but im hoping ill hit something on the way because im flying through 800 down a lot. Im down to 2000 (i know that sounds high at blue sky but when you are flying at 10-12k it seams low) I finally hit some lift and get up again to 9k. It wasn't strong (400) but it got me up. Now im out in the blue by my self searching for what I think might be triggers. It worked I hit a boomer (750 up) VG is at half and Im on my way. I topped out at 10.5k and off I go. Now my vario is screaming 800 down. I turn and pull the VG tight and run away. Now ive caught up with two other pilots and they were turning. It was only 500 up so I search for a stronger core as the two other pilots leave. I find it and the vario is showing 850 up and Im turning right (and that's my bad side) with 3/4 VG and the nose is pointing straight up. What a blast. Until I fall out of it and my right wing drops and the nose is now pointing at the ground. That scared the crap out of my. I said I had enough of this and I take off. Now im hitting 800 down and then 800 up I kicked the keel twice and was white knuckling the bar saying to myself get me out of here please! That happened to me one more time. Now im on glide at 11k and dolphin flying and staying high and getting cold. It must have been the predicted 48 deg. because im cold. I glide about 10 miles and start to hit that 800 down again. All the way to 5500 feet. I start to search for lift at places I think it might be and bam I found it. 950 up. Ive got 3/4 vg on and I'm pushing out because this one is smooth. In no time Im at 12k and I bail out before I hit the top so I don't get the crazy rodeo ride again. Don't like the crazy rodeo ride! I take off and hope I can find more of those. Im gliding and im gliding and nothing. I hit some sink and turn 45 deg. to get away and still nothing. I sample as much of the air as i can and find nothing. So, basically I was on a 17.7 mile final. I pick out a nice flat field do my DBF and see the field isn't flat it slopes down hill. Thats ok because I have plenty of room. Oh yeah my VG is still at 3/4. Thats ok because I have a good head wind. Now im low giong across the field and im getting hit with the blast furnace coming off the field and im pulling in to stay down. Finally im down without incident. Perfect landing and only 50 feet to the fence and some grass to break down in. There isn't a lot of grass here so it was a real treat not trouncing around in the dust. Its the driest year ever since records were kept. I didn't make goal (103mi) but what a fantastic day!

                                                         Ahhh Grass!

                                                   Dow! Down hill.



Flights 1  Duration 2:15  Distance 69 miles  Alt. 12k

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

                                                    The sign and clouds tell the story.


Today they called a 125 mile triangle. Winds were SE at 12mph. 12mph here is almost calm. It usually blows 15-20mph. Our first leg took us NNE so we had a crossing tail wind. The second leg was W but now the wind has changed to SSW and we now have a crossing head wind. And the last leg was SSE. I got a late start AGAIN. Roger and I started out together but after a while we took different lines. I didn't realize it but I was flying with Dave Proctor. I never saw the bottom of his sail so I couldn't tell who it was. I found a nice cloud street and flew down that to the end and started to jump to the east so I could tag the first turn point. Twice I was on glide and got tossed 90 deg. before I could even think about keep it in a straight line. I also went negative in the harness quit a few times. It was a pretty rowdy day. I hit the turn point and headed west into the crossing head wind. That made for slow going and the clouds were all drying up. Every one I went to wasn't producing any lift. I would fly to a cloud and it started to disappear before I got there. I meandered around for a while and landed at 55 miles. Dave landed in the same field and Roger who took the different line came in and landed 2 miles down the road with harness problems.



Flights 1 Duration 2:34 Distance 55 miles

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

Needless to say I am pretty tired with all this flying. Today I was hoping it would be an easy task. Nope! 97 mile triangle. Got out on the first tow and worked to get high to go out on course. Finally got to 9k and left. The first leg wasn't too bad. I hit the first turn point and turned directly in to the wind to the second turn point. That's when it got tough. heading into a fairly strong head wind climbing in ratty lift was wearing me out. I took a few climbs and told myself if I didn't find a good climb I was going to deck it. Little did I know there wasn't any lift in the area and 4 of use went down within a mile of each other.




Flights 1  Duration 2:23  Distance 46 miles  Alt. 10045

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

                                                     The task board at the pilots meeting.



Got in at midnight last night. I'll post details later.
So, they called the longest task in comp history, 236 miles. I didn't see the wx that we might be able to make that. We had an alternate task of 150 miles. The wx wasn't shaping up for the big task sgot o they call the 150 miler. Towed up about 12th or 15th and got nothing. the early guys up and out. then a bunch struggled. and the group i was in we all found nothing. I landed back at the field along with many others. I got back in line and launched 2nd to last. I got dropped off in a great thermal and got up to 8k and took off on course. Had some great climbs and hit 11k a few times. Unfortunately since I took off so late the day was getting weaker. My last glide was 13 miles. I landed and broke down and waited for my retrieve. I didn't know it but our driver got lost picking up Roger and I had to wait for an hour and a half. Luckily the land owner came out and invited me to his house for a beer. I didn't make goal but back to back 100 milers isn't bad.







Flights 2  Duration 3:45  Distance 106  Altitude 11589

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

Yeah! I made goal today (Monday we got in late last night) It was a good day. my second longest flight and my highest flight. I stayed to the west of course line where the safer landing areas are and paved roads. I could have gone faster to the east of course line but fewer landing areas and dirt roads. Its more difficult for your driver to find you out on a dirt road. No pictures today but this is the link to the results.   http://soaringspot.com/2011bsn
There are rumors of a very long task today



Flights 1  Time 3:15  Distance 101 Miles   Altitude 10430'

US Nationals Big Spring, Tx.

First day was tough. I launched early before the clouds closed in. Stayed in zero sink for a little while but people where landing so I came back to the field and landed also. It looked like the sky was clearing so I got back in the launch line and we all waited. I was second to last to launch at 3:00 and headed out. I got up and started on course only to see a huge rain cell right in my path. I drifted close and was climbing and went around it only to find no lift anywhere. I went on a long glide with another pilot from Mexico and still nothing. We landed in a harvested cotton field. In the picture you can see the rain cell that put me on the ground.


Flights 2  Duration 1:20  Distance 18 miles