Here It Comes

Looks like its time for my annual where the hell did summer go. The first big winter storm of the season is setting up to drop 1-2 ft of snow in Flagstaff. This will surely change things as far as frequency of my blogging. I seem to blog more in the winter due to the fact that I'm having more fun. I tow paragliders more and the snow in the mountains means water in the desert and a lot of Kayaking. A lot of folks don't know it but Arizona is loaded with creeks and rivers that come alive in the winter. Not to mention that getting paid to ski keeps me quite busy in the winter also. Looks like that will be happening next week after this storm leaves the mountain buried.
I've been working with some outstanding students from down south. Phoenix brings Donna up here. And Vann of Tucson have been expanding their flight skills when ever we can get together. I'm stoked to have them on board to represent what I know to be the finest paragliding education available in our area. On that note I'll be working with Chandler Papas of Desert Wind Paragliding on a winter tune up coarse. WX understanding, ground handling and towing will be the focus. I'm looking forward to this as he is the only Instructor in AZ that has a solid program. And getting us both on the same page benefits the entire community. Look for these clinics to show up some time in early Jan. and late Feb. Stay tuned to my website: www.flagstaffparagliding.com
It looks like I have some work to do as Laura has just yelled down the hall that its time to go find a Christmas tree. Thanks for checking in here gang!
Happy Holidays!

Been A While

After battling a broken hand from a boating accident and dealing with the busiest Autumn I have ever had I thought I'd keep Ya'll up to date. The hand was broken on Lake Mead. Scott and I were motoring up lake to surf our kayaks on a new wave that has formed as the lake has dropped. Chilling out in the front of the boat not paying attention I was flung from the boat when Scott swerved to miss a rock. Thank god he saw it or the out come would most likely been worse than a broken hand for both of us.

As you can see the wave was quit large and those that weren't broken had quite a time. Don't worry I'll be back.
The Dixon White Memorial Fly In came and went without a hitch. This was the largest ever. 67 pilots and we flew all three days. I even flew twice even though Laura doesn't approve due to the fact that my hand isn't fully healed. Pell broght his balloon and we had the first balloon launch fron the shop. It was a magic moment for me to watch such an undertaking really happen.

Will Victora has put together a fun video of a couple outings we had last summer.
the link is here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IchkdSlCp1c

Sorry I'm not tech savvy enough to make it show up on this page.

Good Luck as of Late

Ben and I getting ready for a good one

We have had some luck getting out as of late. I got to share my love of cross country with Chris and Roy on a great flight from Apache Maid. Sorry no camera but the two of them got their first xc which is a pretty magic day in any pilots flying career. I'm sure many more miles will come for the two of them. The Perry brothers have had a busy summer with work and family but both got out recently. Scott got to test his new glider after watching it collect dust all summer while he was on the river. He got after it the last few days like he had never missed a day. Ben, between family, work and the normal life stuff has been getting some flights in and earned a sweet thermal flight today. It was a rowdy climb out together but he hung on nicely to savor the view from a grand over. I top landed and drove down to a huge smile waiting in the lz. Jon has been kiting with every spare moment he can squeeze in and his launches are showing huge success. We have had a super week, getting out three out of four mornings has really helped him get to be a safer pilot. Thanks to our friend Dominic Z. for driving on Tues.
Ben and I climbing out together.














Scott's maiden voyage




















Jon kiting

Elden

Sometimes its just too easy. Chris and I rode up from the house on our dirt bikes and 15 minutes later we were on top of Mt. Elden scurrying to get our gliders ready.

WOW!

This morning we got a gift! A huge gift! Roy was wanting a lesson on thermalling. Brandt, Paul, and Chris wanted a sweet flight. Everyone got more than they dreamed.
We got to the hill and it seemed really soarable. I told Roy to get going before it got to out of hand for him. He went up and out and then up some more and more and more. I coached him a little and he was thermalling like an old hand in a few minutes. Chris and Paul were hot on his heals. Brandt and I in our hurried attempt to get up the hill over looked his helmet at the bottom of the hill. For those of you that don't know, Brant is the reason I am where I am today. When He said he had no helmet I was more than glad to lend him my helmet and watch the show. As an instructor and friend to all four pilots there is no better reward than watching great flying and hearing thier shouts of joy as they soared for an hour! It alll happened before 9 a.m. I think there may be somthing to this whole climate change thing.

Can I Get a Hell Ya!

There really isn't anything much better than doing amazing things with your pal's. From a Merriam Session to the Aubrey Cliffs Scott, Layback, Paul, Brandt, Ben and I experienced some damn dood times in the past couple weeks. We have also been working with Wil Victora. Wil got this first flight from Merriam and is bound for great things. Check out some of his amazing Photo's and writing at:

http://bordertownlensworks.blogspot.com/

Here is some of my work with an old camera that I fly around with.

Almost Spring!

Looks like its happening. I can see my back yard again and you can go outside without a down jacket on. I have managed a couple short XC's already. Both to the shop from each Crater. Nothing to rave about but both were thermal flights that took me over launch and required at least a second climb to get the job done. Friday afternoon I hoped to get in a flight but got skunked. After what seemed to be a great forecast the day seemed like it would line up nicely for a great afternoon. Yet as I headed to the hill I watched the sky start to change. Blue sky began to turn a light grey and a mackerel pattern formed in about a span of 10-20 minutes. To the north lens shaped clouds slowly formed up near the Utah border and the grass, trees and bushes along the roadside started shaking in a frenzy. Then at last lens shaped clouds formed over our own peaks.

After being shot down Friday afternoon by mother nature I looked forward to Saturday. My friend Jon Gauld was to try out his new glider and harness. We got to the shop, put in his reserve parachute, adjusted the harness to fit and headed to Merriam. I thought I could whip out a quick test flight with a top landing and Jon would be in the air and loving it in no time. Yet the conditions were not quite soarable and I scratched around in vain but ended up landing down. I think it all worked out for the best because by the time we got back to the top it was coming in nicely. Jon was able to kite a bit and then was able to get a nice 20+ minute soaring flight before things heated up and shut down the morning session. I finished off the day with a sweet thermal flight to the shop followed by a cold beer. Here is Jon on his maiden flight.

Bring on Spring!!!

More Towing

Chandler Papas came up for some tows the other day. Chris and Scott made it out also. It was a good quick session but everyone had fun and the boys had a good time watching Chandler throw down some acro.

Scott on tow.

Earn Your Turn

Its easy to forget your roots some times.

Today I went for a quick walk up Sheba for a late morning flight.

Don't forget that this is how the sport was born. Just ignore the fact that I walked up a road. Still every view is worth mention like to the east towards Leupp.

The reward of more views and the flight down are always worth a little sweat.

Merriam Crater from the top of Sheba. The flight to the truck took 10 minutes. I was rewarded with a light thermal 400 ft over the truck that stole the photo I was hoping to finish with as I was a bit busy having fun.

Still Going

The sunset from the north side of Merriam after a fun filled afternoon.

Here we are deep in the heart of winter and having a lot of action. From towing on the Rez to great flights from the hill, the action just never ends around here.

Scott setting up to land after a sweet morning tow.