P3!

I got my P3 today. Hooray! That means I from now on I no longer need to fly under instructor's direction at Torrey.

Bill gave me the written test last week. There's a great website here that helps you ace it: click.


Bottom line: Advancing now in paragliding for me is all about getting to mountain sites and cross-country. I love the ridge at Torrey, but I need to get in situations where wing control and making decisions about conditions is paramount.

It was light air when I arrived, perfect for finishing and reviewing the written P3 test with Bill. I didn't know what a parachutal stall was. A parachutal stall is a nasty little bitch: you descend vertically while the wing is still fully inflated. To exit you push the A-risers or momentarily accelerate with the speed bar.

After the test I helped Bill aid a 3-time kidney transplant recipient land with Ki on a tandem flight. Her brother and father were there, very loving and excited about the flight. She couldn't walk so it was important to keep an eye on them in low wind conditions that they didn't land on the beach without help. I would gladly fly down there and carry her back up on my back. They landed without a hitch. What a wonderful experience.

Flight 99 -10 minutes

Today was my day to fly so I didn't mind going to the beach. In fact, I planned my flight so I could go find my glove. I was never above the ridge after launch. I held on for a few minutes on the north ridge, scraped a bit, then headed due north to look for the damn thing. After walking around and sniffing just about everywhere I gave up. That issue's over.

Then the long walk back up. 10 minutes of flight, 30 minutes of scanning the beach and a 15-minute walk to the top. I never mind the walk. That's the only exercise I get paragliding. I enjoy it.

Back at the top the wind was on. 6 o so paragliders were flying the north ridge. I was eager to get back up there.

Flight 100 - 5 minutes

I wanted to do a quick launch / land just to practice my approach. I got up, turned around, waited for a good entry and came in. I made a classic mistake: too much brakes on approach. You really shouldn't have any brake on in your landing approach. Slowing down reduces your wing's ability to maneuver. I was far too slow as I came in. I turned into the wind and dropped like a rock into a PLF, hurting my left heel. I knew instantly what I did wrong.

Now I was thankful to be at Torrey. Little lessons like this can be learned here without breaking a leg or taking a week off to heal.

I rested for a moment and got back in the air. I had no idea that was my 100th flight.

Flight 101 - 50 minutes.

My longest flight of the day was a beauty. I actually started off trying to do another launch and land, but the LZ was too busy. I went far north. The tandems were in action dominating the ridge. I just wanted to get out of the way and enjoy my flight. After 30 minutes the wind started to soften. I came in to land but couldn't get up above the ridge. Oh no, not another beach landing. Well, I tried and tried but could not prevail. I'm starting to wonder if it's my wing. Probably not. I am sure I still have a lot to learn.