The European Championsips in Austria

Alpine rigging with stunning scenery and a cracking restaurant as a bonus

You couldn't ask for a nicer launch, at least not for the Hangers

A nice flight on the Paragliders on another "day off"

Kaz celebrating putting it on the spot (again)

Between June 7th and 21st we were competing as part of the UK Hang Gliding team in Greifenburg Austria in the Europeans. What a stunning place to fly with scenery to match. The competition itself suffered from the Austrian weather resulting in only 3 tasks being flown although we did manage to fly on several other occasions. The biggest task was 155k which took us on a lovely tour of the surrounding area and over some lakes both frozen and warm enough to swim in. The team placed 6th overall which whilst not as good as we hoped for was not a disgrace taking into account the lack of flying and practice in the area.

Kaz got to fly her Paraglider in between tasks and enjoyed the 3'500 top to bottoms playing with the thermals on the way down and showing the locals how to land on the spot every time.

All in all a nice place to go with convenient accommodation/ campsite by the landing field, lovely take off with a super restaurant and variable weather. Would i go back......yes, who wants to come??

Sneaky one (well several actually)

Adam W gets up and away as a qualified hill pilot

...and boy does he look happy about it...

Nigel E sitting pretty in his new Peak 2 Harness

Pilots enjoying the evening lift

Having spent most of the day packing for our trip to Austria we spotted the possibility of an evening slot at Perranporth so headed out there with Adam W to hopefully complete his hill endorsement. The wind was light on arrival but some scratching had been done by Paul H and Glen earlier so we were hopefull. Sure enough by 18.30 things got better and Adam was soon in the air enjoying the bouyant conditions. A couple of landings later and he was sorted, looking very comfortable with it. he continued to fly until the breeze dropped again putting plenty of take offs and landings including a nice slope landing on his final flight, nice one. Paul H, Kaz P, Nigel E and a visitor kept him company making it a very pleasant evening indeed. Nigel tried out his new Woody Valley Peak 2 harness and gave it the thumbs up. Thats it next stop Austria....

There was "allsorts" going on

Whilst the day started a little misty it soon cleared and the sun came out to make it a warm one. Dave h was along for a Taster day on the Paraglider and after a bit of rolling on the mats for his PLF's he was out in the field getting to know the Paraglider with TI Pete C. Chris S had a queit morning taking his CPC exam which he passed well so completing his CPC, well done Chris. After lunch the usual suspects had arrived and the winch swung into action. Paul R came down from Southamprton to look at a Hang Glider and drove off with it on top of his car looking happy, another satisfied customer. Paul h was out with his NRG Mosquito and went off for a grand tour of west Cornwall for a couple of hours. Meanwhile towing progressed with Dave H getting airborne on the Paraglider and having a super first flight across the field ending in a good landing. As the wind got lighter mark F turned up with his Paramotor to try it out with his new Ozone Roadster. He had a couple of cracking flights the first upto 3000' giving amazing views along the north coast and the second playing with the low cloud that moved in towards evening. was it good? ask him but he certainly looked happy and the speed at which he could get around the sky was quite impressive.
Mick L completed his EPC tasks and eneded the day with a couple of high fligts and circuits to bring a smile to his face. Rick W completed his CPC tasks with a couple of Asymmetrics so now only needs the exam to qualify, all in a week. Dean F put in some top up tows as did Adam W both of whom are just waiting for that elusive hill day.
Another busy and varied day in the field with allsorts of flying going on, nice one