Almudaina

Almudaina, one of the oldest sites of the region.

Flew this site back in the early nineties, when Toni and Jose were running Looping.

Looping, one of the oldest schools in Spain, was based near Santa Pola. Amusingly thinking back, about the arguments they had, ending up in both running seperate schools, without succes.

Nothing changes.

"Best pilots" can't live with other "best pilots", they all want to have the biggest one, instead of having the most fun with it. It is so silly, but maybe maybe oh so human. Is it the same in your country ? I guess so.

Luckily it doesn't affect our guiding and flying. But sometimes it feels so ridiculous that some avoid sites not to meet the other. Or they gather under another tree, hide their car, to avoid eye contact, bloody pussy behaviour.

Anyway this has nothing to do with the flying today. I was just there and looked back, how things were when I was totally relying on their experience of the sites etc... .

We flew it, but lift was too strong, too much without asking. A cold front is approaching, the sky told, the forecasts predicted. A new site for Marcel and Milan. With spectacular views of La Serella in the back, and Monte Cabrer on our left.

Bright sunny thermalling day at Villena

Bright and sunny weather, western winds, great thermalling day at Peña Rubia. Not the warmest day, but conditions up to 3.5 m/s and cloudbase at 1600 m ASL, which is 800 meter above take off.
Again no complaints, best day in january so far ...

Darren from Ireland was here, weekendshopping with his girlfriend. Luckily he brought his glider, he had an amazing flight, one he can only wish for back home in Ireland.

Alternative activity

- uhh uhh uhhh
- come on baby, come on
- oooohhh
- that's it baby, more of that
- uuhnghgrhrrrrnrr... ...
- slow down now, slow, slow
- ooooohhhrrrrgghhh
- just like that, oh, you are strong
- roooaaaarhraaaah
- give it to me, come on, finish
- rhaa ... rhaaa.... aaaarhhh...
- yeah yeah yeah

Been to the gym this morning, and hate to be near those bloody athletes with their pesonal trainers.I am gonna stick to my daily beach walk I guess. Man, man, man.

No flying today, winds from north too strong.

Vall d'Uxo

Foto's taken by Alex Campoy. Several sites were flyable today, he flew Planillo near Vall d'Uxo. It all was down to the hunger you had to fly today.
There was an orange alert for rain today, we didn't see a drop.

Friday 27th january - coastal

Yesterday flying over the cliffs untill storms arrived. Not the best foto, taken with my smartphone this is.

No play

Early morning stubborn fog. We knew it was coming, the fog before the cold front tomorrow. The northern winds, better put the stove on for a couple of days.

No colours this morning, but later in the day here and there some sunshine on our hiking trip.

Near Agost, always nice to check out the old coppermines. In the distance we saw the clouds appearing above the inversion. Hey there, whats' up !

Foto's in disorder ....

Whatever gets you through the day

Simple, get wing out, check out windsock, take off, and soar the clouds. Lift everywhere at times, untill couds hit the tops of the mountains. It was more reassuring to have a compass on board, in case you got lost in the clouds. Great.

Winter still has to hit us

As you can see on the foto's, another blimey good day inland. Still blue sky, still thermalling, still hours of airtime daily. Soon though we are gonna get hit by winter, and it is gonna hurt.
No longjohn out yet, still summer socks and silk underwear.

Funny

One step forward, one step backwards.

Its funny. A local pilot that I know for years now, is still hiding his after-flight-joint when I come up and greet him.
If only he knew that if I piled up what I smoked during my younger years, we'd probably have a soaring site.

Anyway, doesn't matter, it is funny. Another splendid day inland. Thermals sweet, although conditions weren't january smooth. No, here and there a punchy one. And flying in our micro climate near Alicante, with prevailing winds on heights from the back. All good fun.

Graham and below youngster Russell from England.

Proud ladies

Pre flight stretching - part 2

A sea of clouds. Spectacular views at Peña Rubia. A wait till it burned off. Of course the day wasn't epic for flying. The weather was too good actually. Nice summery temperatures and in the afternoon a bright blue sky. But hey, no complaints, we had a good hike, a good stretch, and even got some flights in.

Pre-flight stretching

The average age practising our sport paragliding is around 35 years old. So not a lot of youngsters on the hills.

To have an idea, two foto's. First pre-flight stretching and then doing what we love to do, climbing up to the clouds.

Today we had Peña Rubia on the menu and it was rich.

Lemon too yellow

Winds too strong today. White horses on the sea and very very overcast inland.
A bad spell today, lots of rain inland on the hills, at the coast sunny, no surprise there.

Soaring at the coast

We were warned for strong rainfall and even snow on our hills. And indeed sky looked dark. It showed its teeth but didn't bite. My french and english guests even had a flight in late afternoon. An hour of soaring at the coast.

Foto's are from yesterday. My friend Miguel and family were picknicking on the Bernia Hills. They took those shots.

New kid in town - Adrenaline

Adrenaline, the new kid on the block. New brand, check out there website Adrenaline. Pretty impressed by the looks of their harnass Kangu. Soon out on the market for you.

Paragliding in Calpe

Best flights since long time in Calpe. Most pilots made the triangle Toix - Bernia - Calpe. Landing near the beach La Morena, where the hot waitress was serving ice chilled beer.

Winners fotocontest 2011

Top foto won third price and was shot by Richard Gorst.

Second foto won second price and was shot by 'Cloud' Spoor

And winner this year is the foto of Dougal Porteous.

Dougal you won a free stay at Doyouwanna, meaning as always a rent a car, accommodation and guiding for 375 euros.
Hope we see you soon, just get a cheap Ryanair ticket and call me when you have landed.

Thanks to Robin Vandenabeele, Belgian photographer, for choosing the winning foto's.

The return of the vikings 2011

Not in time for the big paragliding film festivals unfortunately.

But here is a taster of the soon to be released new promotion video about Vikings flying in Alicante.

All credits for Hans-Henrik PGSYD

Flying full on

Top foto is from Ager. Foto below from Aguergour in Morocco.

On february 11-18, we are off to Morocco for flying with pilots. We will fly Aguergour, Ait Ourir amongst sites near the High Atlas, and will fly on the Atlantic Coast, near Tiznit, Sidi Ifni and others.

The trip is fully booked.

This summer we organise for the 7th time our roadtrip to the Pyrenees, we will fly Ager - Organya and Berga again. If interested let us know. We still have availability, we only take 6 pilots with us, nice and cozy.

Bottom foto is Cabo de Santa Pola where is was flyable today till dark.

Flying full on I'd say.

Photocontest 2011

Last foto's of 2011 can be sent in. The 15th of january foto's will be sent to Robin Vandenabeele, semi professional photographer from Belgium. He is not a paraglider, so will choose independently who made the best shot.

Best shot wins a free stay at us Doyouwanna Alicante, worth 375 euros, you just have to get down here, we'll do the rest.

Flying flying flying

foto : Carmen Blauvent

Last three days flyable inland as well at the coast. Not the most epic flights, smooth winter flying. But fun in nice temperatures. No winter so far, although my toe says it is coming ....

Myanmar - Burma

Just got back from Myanmar - Burma, family trip.

Amazing country, most genuine people. Lets hope upcoming tourism is not gonna a spoil their pure heartwarming smiles and spirit.

Foto of female buddism monks in Bagan.