Day 7, after thoughts (long read)

Day 7: Well another Nats is in the books. What a fantastic way to end a comp!

I should mention that going into day 7, Fred and I were tied for second place in the Standard class with Martin 15 points out in 1st. Greg was just 10 points back from Fred and Me. Randy was way out of contention with about a 45 point spread! LOL. If you’re getting the idea that it was anybody’s comp… you would be right! It was down to a 1 thermal comp for us in the Standard class. We had a really good laugh about game face earlier at the pilots meeting and I told each of the top 5 contenders that I was gunning for all of them. A healthy dose of competition is really fun and very exciting.

On launch, we were a little unsure and very uneasy about the last task as the winds looked pretty strong. It was the last day of the comp… the points were so close in both categories that the contenders in each category needed to launch to stay in contention.

I was on the safety committee and I decided that we should go. I was aware of the implications so, before voting I informed my closest competitors that I intended to fly. I didn’t want my decision to force the others to launch but it was apparent that some of them would launch if I chose to do so (and ONLY because I chose to launch). I was quite uncomfortable with this reality so I chose to stay on the ground to anchor my flying buddies while they launched. There were some exciting launches but no incidents. After all my competitors (top contenders in the Standard class Martin, Fred, Randy, J.Y., and Greg) had launched, I suited up to join them.

My launch was good and somewhat less dramatic than some of the other pilots. Some of us milled about with the Hang Gliders, Rigid wings and non-comp Paragliders for just a short while until a beautiful 2 m/s thermal snatched us from the ridge and took us to cloudbase. We drifted over the back and topped out then we headed out on glide. There were 4 or 5 gliders ahead (and above me) and a few down lower than me. One of the lower Gliders looked to be Greg. The lift seemed to be dieing so he headed out on course as we did. The 1st glide was really nice and not too sinky (as had been the case earlier in the comp). I quickly caught the group ahead of me and found a solid thermal to climb up to them.

When I got up to their altitude, (Eric, Fred, Randy and Guy), Eric and I were thermaling together and chatting. He said he missed me and I got all misty and choked up! Fred was still much higher than I was, as was Randy. Guy was just joining us but he too was higher. Randy and Eric had a close call as Eric dove away to prevent a mid-air. Eric gave randy shit. Randy said it was OK since he was a visitor! Eric laughed and we all continued climbing. The radio was alive with reports that Bruno had made goal. It was in French so I couldn’t determine if any other pilots being mentioned had made goal as well. I was concerned that Martin and Greg had made it as I lost sight of Greg back at the mountain and I never saw Martin after his huge climb-out at the start gate. J.Y. Also had a huge climb-out and I thought he may be in goal as well. I like to hear that pilots make goal but I don’t like to be beat at comps. I really thought I needed to make goal with good time just to stay on the podium.

The Thermal died out and we wasted a bit of time and altitude by hesitating to race out into the blue hole. There was a cloud street to the west of us that followed the course line but it was about 5 km away from us. I was hesitant to dive for it for fear that we wouldn’t have the height or glide to make the cross-wind trip. Eric (in his usual Go-For-It style) set out for the cloud street. Randy thought the town of Saint Sink would offer better chances. I split the difference and went right up the middle. My Compeo gave up the GPS function and switched to vario only mode. The battery showed dead but I had charged it all night! I was now relying on my back-up GPS for position and track log. Nervous? You Bet!

Within about 5 mins on glide, I saw Randy climbing and was about to join him but checked Eric to see what his line was like. Just then I ran straight into a 3 m/s up with a wide smooth core. Suddenly I had lots of friends as Fred, Guy then Randy and Finally Eric jumped in under me to top out. The banter continued, this time between Fred and me. I told Fred to stay lower than me for the rest of the flight. He told me to “F*ck off”! (LOL) in his usual happy smiling way as we shared the same core. Within minutes Fred climbed right through me and left me below to sulk! Damn! Fred doesn’t take requests well!

It is in these moments that I’m truly alive; sharing this beautiful gift of flight with great people in a way that so few of our fellow humans have ever experienced.

As we topped out on this climb we again hesitated driving out on course. It was somewhere around this time that I felt we had a legitimate shot at making goal. I tried to remain focused as I led the pack on course again in search of the one or two last climbs we would need to make goal.

Eric and I separated again to look in slightly different spots for more lift. Randy took a more direct course line to the right (east) and drove forward like he was on fire. I looked behind me to see Fred and Guy on my tail and higher than me. It was starting to get warm as we got lower and lower. I was really focusing on any clues that might help us find lift and stay in the race. I found some 0 and occasionally a bit of 0.4 m/s up. I came off the speed bar and entered search mode. I milled about with my friends for a few minutes but we found nothing. I checked to see Randy’s progress but he was in desperate search mode and very low. It looked like he was headed for the tractor in a field but I had to concentrate on helping myself.

After a brief search, Eric and Fred raced ahead hoping the thermal was still on the course line and thinking we may be able to pull off a low save (Very low save). I wanted to keep searching the area of 0 m/s but I knew I had to beat Fred on distance. I was suddenly realizing that I was trying to beat Fred and not the course. I had the advantage of being slightly higher and behind Fred. I too went on glide. Sadly this turned out to be our final glide. I watched Fred land, then Eric land as I continued on the course line. Finally I chose to turn and land in the same area to avoid crossing a stream and having a different field to walk out of. I went to the end of the field then I ridge soared some trees for a short time back toward my friends and landed in the field next to Eric. I had beaten Fred by a mere 400 meters and Eric by 200 meters!

We all packed up and walked out to the road for a pick-up. I don’t think you could have wiped the smile off our faces for love or money! Fred, Eric and me went to the house next to the LZ and saw Guy emerge from the opposite field. Guy did what I wanted to do (stay in the 0 lift and search for a core); he eventually landed after a valiant but fruitless effort.

We still didn’t know who made goal (other than Bruno). I didn’t know if I’d flown far enough to beat Fred. I didn’t know if we (he) would get leading bonus points, etc. so we all started playing out scenarios that would determine a winner. The truth is we didn’t know anything so the anticipation was killing us!

Sylvie and Will came to pick us up and it was then that we learned where most of the pilots had gone. We stopped to pick up Greg on the way back. It turns out that he went for the cloud street right after leaving the mountain but found nothing on the way. He’d been waiting 2 hours so he seemed pretty happy to see us and pretty sad about not staying with our gaggle. That’s flying! He might have had the right idea and made goal with ease.

We dropped off our GPS’s and went to get ready for the wrap up party.

We were entertained by the Bullshit Blues band until it was time to award the prizes.

Bruno solidly won the Open Class with Will in second and Jeff (our American superstar pilot freind) in 3rd place.

The Standard class was the big unknown. We thought there might be a full shake up and it sure was.
Randy finished in 3rd (up from 5th the day before) after a great flight.
Next Mark called Fred to accept the 2nd place and it was only then that it became clear that I had won. It turns out that I was 3rd for the day behind Bruno (in goal) and Will (just short of goal). Will told us that he landed at a birthday party. He packed up and was handed a beer. The land owner commented that Will lost to Bruno to which Will replied, "Yes but I have a Beer"! In true french hospitality form, the land owner handed Will a second beer!

As it turns out the difference between Fred and I was 5 pts. He missed a day due to work pressures so I told him (and the group) that his boss needs to give him a raise! Had he flown on the day he had to work he would have solidly won the title of Standard Class Champion 2006.

I’m again so happy that I returned to Quebec for this meet. The site is really fun and incredibly challenging. With low launch altitudes, often soaring wind conditions, mountain launches that quickly convert to flatland flying, lighter climb rates, etc. Your skill must be sharpened to maximize your XC potential. The landing opportunities are everywhere so the 'pucker factor' is very low. The pilots and pilot community are among the best people in the world (so says me). The atmosphere is relaxed and joyous. This must be one of the best kept secrets in Paragliding.

I have even more friends after this meet. It was wonderful to again see the friends I made last September. I was warmly welcomed and every effort was made by the local host pilots to speak English (rather than allow me to insult the French language with my ultra limited French vocabulary). Information and local knowledge was freely shared for the benefit to all.

The organizers (too many to name and too easy to overlook someone) were absolutely incredible. Our every need and whim was seen to. Mark, Donna and Brodie (Judge, Jury and excecutioner! lol) ran a solidly scored and fair meet. The rules were clear and simple and the competition was both pleasant and lively. Our retrieve driver was astounding! Most times I hadn’t packed up before Sylvie arrived with a full cooler! I can’t remember any tense moments in meetings or flights, other than Keith stealing the launch show on day 1. That guy will do anything to entertain a crowd!

I’d go back in a heart beat. I encourage everyone that wasn’t there to make it a 'must' on your flying calendar (Comp or just to free-fly)! The comps are set up for all to participate in. They are a relaxed easy to follow format, even if you’re a 1st time comp. pilot or an XC hunter.

Bruce Busby