Sunday, March 24, 2013

My new harness/ Moja nova buba


What a day on Friday! Already when driving up the mountain small 3 year old kid jumped on the road in front of our car. On the other side big truck was coming, so I rushed out to keep him away from the road. He escaped from the kindergarten. Everything finished well, since we found a lady who knew the little explorer.

My first flight this year in Slovenia was not up to my expectations. I was testing my new harness. This time harness actually fit my size and is, very important, red. So now I am totally stylish. I even bought red shoes. But looks like style doesn’t make you fly good...
 I was hanging on the glider lower than before. Probably that is the reason I found handling more difficult, it felt like I am flying glider too fast. It was not controlled as I would like it to be. I also forgot to turn on the instrument because Brauniger asks you if you really want to turn it on press enter – no shit – I want…Well, I guess it is a good lection. I will not forget to confirm I want it to work next time. That wasn’t a big problem because at Kovk ridge on a day like this everyone can climb, even without it. So I climbed up and tried hard to find a rope to close the zipper. I tested it already on the ground, but not with big thick skiing gloves.
  
Because I had too much work with all the stuff I decided to fly to the landing and test what my new harness can do. I slowed the glider down. I didn’t like the new position of my hands, it felt my shoulders have too much work. I took down the glove and felt all the ropes, change my hanging position with one, open and close the zipper with another two and went to land. I like the up position for landing. It is easier to get upright and put myself into standing position for landing, I don t like to be lower because clearly I didn’t have my glider under control when flying close to the ridge, I didn’t like my goggles because I can t look down on my harness to see all the new »buttons« and I hate skiing gloves. They are bothering at launch and are annoying when trying to find stuff on harness the only good thing is that they are warm…

My new to do list:
-          Put my hanging higher
-          Take my normal gloves
-          Cut the stupid wire that is hanging out of my helmet
-          Test the harness on the ground with gloves
-           I have to find new flying glasses
-          Make leg loops more loose
-          Take Jurgen to fly with me J

First thing on the landing I texted Jurgen about my flight and went for a drink and salad.
 Later I called Matjaz to tell him about my experience. He gave me some advice and told me about his beautiful flight in Tolmin.
We had great sunny day in Vipava valley again and I am anxiously waiting spring to come and take me higher. 

Jurgen preparing a harness for me.

First time trying my new harness.


Coming to the landing field...

V petek smo imeli zanimiv letalen dan. Ko smo se vozili na Kovk nam je pot ustavil komaj tri leta star otrok, ki se je odločil, da bo prečkal prometno cesto. Našli smo gospo, ki je malega ubežnika poznala in nadaljevali pot proti startu.
 Jaz sem prvič sprobala mojo novo gurtno. Vpetje sem imela nižje kot pri prejšnji zato je bil zmaj bolj odziven. Malo me je presenetilo. Pozabila sem tudi prižgati inštrument, največ problemov pa sem imela s predebelimi rokavicami. Saj nisem našla vrvi, ki zapre zadrgo in vrvi ki spremeni naklon. Mislm, da se mi buba prilega bolj kot prejšna in upam, da se jo čimprej navadim.
Ker sem imela preveč dela z vsem skupaj in premalo kontrole nad zmajem, sem se odločila da jo mahnem proti pristanku in sprobam naklon in zadrgo stran od hriba.
Všeč mi je da se na pristanku lahko postavim bolj pokonci, vpetje bom naslednič spremenila, z debelimi rokavicami pa nimam v luftu več kaj iskati.
Na pristanku sem poslala sporočilo Jurgnu, kasneje pa poklicala Matjaža, kateri mi je dal par dobrih nasvetov in se pohvalil da je naredil lep let v Tolminu.
Imeli smo čudovito topel sončen dan in nestrpno pričakujem pomlad, ki me bo ponesla še višje.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

We did it! Aeros Winter race.


22 pilots decided to join the winter race. We made two racing days. It was freezing cold and I believe everyone who went flying is already a winner. I was really happy that Slovenian pilot Iztok Jarc raced basically to the ground and won the second day. Overall he was second. Smile on his face just makes you happy. People that are so happy to be on the podium deserve to win more often.
Jurgen and I had a little too much fun on non flying day, so I ended up with a blue eye. Unfortunally not with flying glasses trade mark Blue eye... I am not gonna write about details, since we all know that for hang gliding pilot nothing is more dangerous as a non flying day.

Samo 22 pilotov se je udeležilo letošnje prve tekme v Evropi. Še dobro da nam je uspelo narediti dva tekmovalna dneva. Bila sem zelo vesela Iztoka Jarca, ki si je drugi dan priboril zmago in bil skupno drugi s svojim čisto novim Aeros -črnim vranom. Pardon črnim biserom, kot so ga poimenovali drugi piloti (Black Pearl). Tekma je bila zelo mrzla ampak še vseeno zabavna. Jaz sem našla tisoč in en izgovor da mi ni bilo treba it letet. Poleg mraza še otečeno oko in moj zmaj skoraj 100km stran. Počasi bi burja lahko odpihnila zimo in nam pripravila prave letalne pogoje.   



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Winter race 2013



Again is time for the winter race and this time it really looks winterish. Snow is still in the dark places in the valley, rivers are growing, it is cold and rainy with the forecast snow. In the morning I was packing like I am not going anywhere. My boyfriend was joking all the time about the weather conditions. But sooner or later we were on our way to Vipava valley. You will never believe I went to one of my favorite flying spots without my Spicy.  I left it at home. My friends promised they will bring him – my glider- when nice breeze shows up. I don t want to have poor Spicy all wet on the rain the whole week, since I don t even have a decent rain bag.  
We stopped at Postojna airport restaurant, that is one of our favorite after flying spots.  Great wine, awesome food and nice service keeps us coming back.
We came to Ajdovscina where we started with registration. Unfortunally, because of bad weather not many pilots showed up.  Primoz tested a glider at Lijak, so it was possible to launch.  Weather was bad but for good night sun played a game with clouds while saying goodbye from the day.
Today it was again too rainy to make a competition day. But rain still didn t turn off some pilots to go flying.  We were trying local restaurants and wine. I can t eat any more, but for a glass or two of this valleys wine I will find some more place.
I am hoping the weather will get better soon and we will make a nice race on Friday and Saturday. Tomorrow the forecast is strong NE wind. So we are going to visit Postojna cave. I hope they still have the human fish in there. I am happy to be at Karst.