Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Feb 4, 2012, 8:27 pm
The PWC Superfinal's final task was a very fast 76 Km. task.  The winners were almost 40k/hr. and the top-60 into goal all flew faster than 35k/hr. average speeds.  Josh and Nick were running in the lead gaggle and accrued many leading points, placing 22nd and 23rd.  Eric found a hole and was slo...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Feb 3, 2012, 8:59 pm
More good racing today.  The longest task of the competition was called this morning at over 120 Km. The route tasked gave the competitors a couple of important route choice decisions that proved to be very important in the final outcome. The first two turnpoints were flown very quickly, with the l...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Feb 2, 2012, 8:38 pm
Today's weather was an improvement over the last two - sunshine and some good conditions.   A 95 Km. task was called and many had fast runs at more that 33K/hr. average speeds.  There were holes though.   Some casualties were forced to land when they found unavoidable areas of shadow.  There w...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 6:46 pm
Official sites Official PWC site Organiser's website Paragliding World Cup TV Pilot list Live tracking Taskboards Live Leaderboard Retrieve map Results: Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 | Task 4 | Task 5 | Task 6 | Overall Task Tracklogs: Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 | Task 4 | Task 5 | Task 6 Task Animations:...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 31, 2012, 10:35 pm
Today's task was a 93 Km. task that produced some good racing with climbs to 9000'.  Josh was leading the pack much of the day.  It all went wrong, for the lead gaggles, behind the mesa on the North side of launch.  The leg between the 6th turnpoint and goal at the lake, just wasn't producing lif...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 30, 2012, 6:41 pm
The 5th task of the PWC Superfinal was held under cloudy skies.  An optimistic task of 68 Km.   The start was very tentative and slow.  It ended up being a sub-600 point day with only half the field exceeding 20 Km.   This task will likely be the second discard of the meet, but conditions look...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 28, 2012, 10:00 pm
Approach the Lake LZ in Valle de Bravo     Photo by Josh Cohn Today a 7-leg 120 Km. task was flown in strong, rough conditions.  The pilots in the lead gaggle report that they were on full bar all day.  The predictable did occur - there were many fully accelerated blow-ups but only 1 reserve ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 28, 2012, 11:42 am
Valle de Bravo has been producing the consistent strong conditions that it is known for.  This will require the pilots to maintain a high level of airmanship while fighting the insidious effects of fatigue.  It appears that the major shift from uncertified gliders to EN-D gliders (the latest and g...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 27, 2012, 2:23 am
The second task of the Superfinal was a 6-leg 92 Km. task that had4 of the U.S. pilots in the top-10 and arriving at the ESS within one minute of each other.  This kind of grouping, in the top-10 of a competition of this caliber, shows the depth of talent possessed by our U.S. crew. Eric, Jack, Jos...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jan 25, 2012, 11:34 pm
The first task of the 2012 PWC Superfinal was flown today in Valle de Bravo, Mexico.  The task was a 4 leg task of 62 Km.  with goal at the lake.  I, like many pilots, hoped the Live Tracking would provide a clear picture of the race in real-time.  Unfortunately this was not to be.  Many of the...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Dec 11, 2011, 1:10 pm
Another great day at Cayucos. This time I had a lot of company. Get some air - TimThe feed from www.timospgblog.com
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Dec 6, 2011, 1:10 am
Had another fun day on the hill. Conditions looked just barely soarable, but I still got in 90 minutes or so before taking it to the beach. Here's a short video of my flight - all alone but having fun! Tim The feed from www.timospgblog.com
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Nov 22, 2011, 1:32 am
I've been sitting out the debates regarding comp classes and the latest crop of EN-D wings that are in the pipeline for release next season. I'm keeping up with the discussions that have been rampant on the web lately and I'm happy to be a spectator to it all.  I'm going to sit back and see how the...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Aug 11, 2011, 9:21 pm
Another great video - I've gotta fly more ;-) La Duna de Pyla, Parapente & Timelapse from Marco Campazas on Vimeo. The feed from www.timospgblog.com
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Aug 10, 2011, 11:40 pm
Here is a brief video that I found recently. Nice. Elemental Freedom from Terry Stubbs Jnr on Vimeo. "Paragliding will never lose its soul or spirit. The contentment it instils in the heard is too profound." Pilots - Terry Stubbs Jnr & Zebur Mercan Location - Bishops Hill, Scotland Camera - Lumix ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 31, 2011, 6:58 pm
I've been worthless for the last few days, due to my addiction to the X-Alps - and I wasn't alone.  The most active thread on the Paragliding Forum was the X-Alps thread, with many posters supplying play-by-play and local weather info.  XC Mag seemed to take point in getting information to the mas...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 26, 2011, 2:39 am
This week has been very rich in stimulus for those of us relegated to spectator status.  Watching the XAlps pilot/athletes endure extreme hardship in the form of extreme cold, high altitude trekking, and flying in extreme conditions, while we sit comfortably at home, is both exciting and a bit frus...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 14, 2011, 3:34 am
"It's a funny thing. From the outside the X-Alps looks like a hiking and flying race. When you look closer, you realise that really it's a flying race. And when you look closer still, you realise that really, at the heart of it all, it's a mental game. The very concept of risk for someone who is...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 11, 2011, 1:16 pm
The Red Rocks National Paraglider competition is scheduled to begin on July 24th.  This is the first competition in the U.S. since the FAI / CIVL bombshell on Friday outlawed Competition Class paragliders in CAT 1 competitions and went on to, "Strongly recommend that this ban be followed in future ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 8, 2011, 2:11 pm
In a dispatch from one of the US Team Pilots: "The FAI, ... has instituted an immediate ban on competition class paragliders in Cat 1 events, and has strongly recommended that this ban be followed in future Cat 2 events. Due to this FAI rule making, the organizers have ended the competition. The c...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 7, 2011, 9:59 pm
Those are words that Xavier used, on occasion. Sometimes he was less polite. But he always had an infectuous smile and a good humor. From the look of the social networking sites and the mainstream PG info outlets, Xavier's loss in Peru has stirred a lot of emotions. I only know him from the Chel...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 7, 2011, 1:45 pm
The mood in Piedrahita is a somber one.  At 10AM an open pilot meeting was held with pilots and Team Leaders to discuss their feelings about whether or not this competition should continue after the 2 fatalities and numerous reserve rides yesterday.  Conditions during the second task of the compet...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 6, 2011, 5:59 pm
Click for larger graphicTask Two at the PG World Championships was a 77Km task to Avila.  Conditions were forecast to be a bit lower top-of-lift than yesterday.   This will come as a relief to those pilots who were buoyed over the 10000' ceiling during yesterday's task and received a "0" score for...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 6, 2011, 1:53 am
It sounds like the first task was a doozy - 153Km! The conditions provided for some fast XC with final glides over 110KPH and average speeds over 45 KPH. Airspace bit more than 30 pilots who either clipped some of the airspace protecting arrival and departure paths to airports, or exceeded the 304...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 5, 2011, 7:08 pm
Click on image to go to Donation site. For those who know Xavier, there is no hesitation to get involved in his SAR effort. His personality and character have an infectious knack of making PWC events more fun than they would otherwise be. His antics at pilot meetings, punctuated with bawdy T-shir...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 4, 2011, 6:51 pm
Brad Gunniuscio has passed along this bit of video.  You can see the terrain and conditions are looking excellent for the first week of the comp. The feed from www.timospgblog.com
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 1, 2011, 8:27 pm
 The 12th Paragliding World Championships begin on Tuesday the 5th of July in Piedrahita Spain.  The weather forecasts look good and you can expect some long tasks.  147 pilots from all over the world are registered.  For those who are keeping track, the newest 2-liner offerings will be well rep...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jul 1, 2011, 5:32 pm
Mike and Gail Haley with Roger BrockThe last Rat Race task was a great day of flying and I think all who flew this week were treated to some great weather and great tasks. Here are some podium shots, generously passed along to me by Andrew Zoechbauer  http://foxyvoxel.com/ratrace . Congratulations ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 27, 2011, 2:39 am
Today was a day similar to yesterday.  The Rat treated us well and the valley winds didn't kick in until shortly before most made it to goal.  The Rat Race had just less than 30 pilots into goal at Longsword Winery.   The Rat Race task was from Burnt Ridge to Prospect Ridge to Burnt to John's Pe...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 25, 2011, 11:15 am
The weather in Ruch is treating us well this week.  Today was fun.  The task was well built for the conditions and the pacing of the day.  I didn't get a useable photo of the task board but the task was: Exit start from Burnt Bald Mtn. Burnt John's PkJacksonvilleDonato - Total distance 65kmI had...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 24, 2011, 11:49 am
The skies were overcast, the hills were obscured, and the temperatures were chilly when we awoke this morning. All the forecasts were indicating an improvement could be expected so the collective headed up the hill. As forecast the day was a good Woodrat day with convergences to be exploited and w...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 23, 2011, 12:14 pm
Today looked like another good day at Woodrat Mountain. The forecast for the day indicated that lift would be to 6000’ and winds wouldn’t be too much of a factor until late in the afternoon. The task committee went with a suggestion that a “do-over” was a good idea. The task was yesterday...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 22, 2011, 12:22 pm
Today's task was a great use of the day - Conditions improved as we headed North to Grants Peak allowing climbs to 6500-7000'.  The lead gaggle was playing it cagey - conservatively working towards Grants Pk. at a pace that allowed me to make up for my 8 minute late start.  I joined a couple perfe...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 21, 2011, 10:32 am
Today’s Rat Race task was a 62Km task with 2 crossings of the Ruch valley and then a beat upwind to John’s Peak (North of Jacksonville) then a downwind leg to Immigrant Lake via Donato.  A restriction of 6000’ in the area of the Medford final approach corridor. Many of us got into the cue ear...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 20, 2011, 11:48 am
The weather improved today and it was a fun day of flying.  Classic Woodrat convergence and occasional snotty air, but the afternoon valley winds that everyone was waiting for, never materialized.  This year the Rat Race has two races running concurrently - The SPRINT race and the RAT RACE.  The...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Jun 4, 2011, 7:55 pm
For many who view paragliders, they seem like big, slow jellyfish - unable to do precise and exciting things.  But for those who have the skills and cajones to do acro, these little buggers can do a lot. Exhibit A - Showtime from francois ragoski on Vimeo. Fly Safe  - TimThe feed from www.timospg...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - May 30, 2011, 11:27 pm
A number of NorCal folks headed to Dunlap this weekend and conditions were reasonably good compared to Woodrat, OR and here on the coast, where the winds were howling. I was unable to get to Dunlap due to work commitments. On Saturday Josh Cohn, on his new Ozone R11, flew South well beyond the di...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - May 27, 2011, 1:07 am
Big Congratulations go out to Jack Brown, who won the PWC last week in Korea. His consistency allowed him to top the results in the two-task event. Jack has really put a lot of effort and time into his flying in the last two years and the results speak for themselves. Jack(USA #3) joins USA #1 B...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - May 14, 2011, 7:03 pm
The annual discussion flurry about "Serial V. Open Class Competitions" has flared up this month. . . The ignition point was a letter of resignation from Mark Hayman to Brit team leader Kitt Rudd. In it Mark criticized CIVL for making banal rule changes that essentially did little to improve safety....
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 27, 2011, 8:40 pm
I must admit, I'm a bit biased against Powered Paraglider pilots. . . Most of the ones I've met have been, well, a bit, um . . . odd.  They are the recumbent bike riders of paragliding.  A few of them have insisted on the title, "Captain" or "Super-(insert-name)" and generally, they have not impr...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 22, 2011, 2:23 pm
In his new book on XC competition flying, “Flying Rags to Glory,” Mads Syndergaard writes extensively about the subconscious and its ability to process more information and react many times faster than the conscious mind. This weekend, at the first gathering of the NorCal XC League in Dunlap, C...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 18, 2011, 12:49 am
Good news from Eric's Facebook post - The feed from www.timospgblog.com
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 15, 2011, 9:46 am
A recent dispatch from Antoine Laurens indicates things are going well for the guys.  He writes: The other day , i had a call with Brad…. First of all, they are fine, and they are expecting out of Sikkim very soon…Maybe , he will be able to make it at the Ghana Festival.Brad and Eric were pa...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 9, 2011, 11:24 am
Driving past Cayucos at 11 amThe XC Skies forecast models all said Friday might be sporty so I headed up to Cuesta for some rodeo action.  On the way to the mountain I snapped a couple of shots along the coast. The development was already fairly active by 10:30 so I knew it wasn't a question IF it ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Apr 7, 2011, 10:53 pm
The U.S. Paragliding Team Inc. is a non-profit corp. set up to help subsidize the expenses of our U.S. PG team.  They have made it easy to make tax-deductible donations to the team and the fund raising has begun. The team consists of Brad Gunnuscio, Josh Cohn, Jack Brown, Nick Greece, and Meredyth ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Mar 21, 2011, 7:05 pm
Killing time in Sikkim.  Photo from Eric's Facebook post.The latest news out of Sikkim is good, relatively.  The guys are comfortably under house arrest.  They have been ensnared in a kind of "catch 22" bit of red tape, but they are optimistic about the final outcome. For a complete update see th...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Mar 18, 2011, 12:21 am
The news out of India is a bit disturbing.   According to the Telegraph, out of Calcutta, Eric and Brad have been arrested in the small, land-locked, Indian state of Sikkim.  According to the article in the Telegraph,  the guys, "were arrested yesterday in Sikkim for travelling to the strategic b...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Mar 7, 2011, 8:09 pm
At this very moment, a couple of paraglider pilots are doing something special. They are truly exploring areas of Western Nepal that have not been seen from their perspective - or with the degree of difficulty. I knew Bay Area pilot, Eric Reed was headed to India for the trip last month, but I had ...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Mar 5, 2011, 11:41 pm
Fun Day at Cayucos - We had a fairly strong East until 1PM then it came in from the ocean with some convergence.  I launched early and paid for it with a short extended sled-ride.  Jack launched a bit later and got teased with some lift along the highway.  I drove Jack up to his car and decided t...
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Mary M. posted an article on Tim's Paragliding Blog - Feb 24, 2011, 2:07 pm
It's the off-season in the Northern Hemisphere and there is a noticeable shift in the winds.  This competition season will be interesting at worst and exciting at best - There are many changes coming this year. CIVL Plenary 2011 Our Sport is evolving.  As always, change brings with it some insecur...
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