I've been coming on my annual pilgrimage to Steve and Puri's at www.flypiedrahita.com since 2004 and love the place. It's usually reliable, weather wise, super organised, with conditions and tasks set, now with real time trackers where Jorge magically arrives in the retrieve bus, but above all its super friendly. Like a home from home. Most paragliding pilots who go cross country want to break the 100km barrier and it was my turn in this flight. I'm really happy that it was amongst old and new friends.
After and initial struggle to get above launch height I pushed into the valley to follow the group, and there managed to get high at 2900m in a broken climb. Down to the pass, I arrived at 2300m and counter to what was said on the radio I opted for the traditional quarry spine route. The lift was sparse and broke and I was getting concerned about mixing it in the rough stuff lower down, when three buzzards showed me the way. My climb turned into a decent one then, and I crossed the pass at about 3300m.
As per usual there was nothing to be had just after until I caught up with some of our group at Munana in what was a very scrappy area of lift. I was above them but they decided to go North after a short while, because of the deteriorating conditions in the Avila valley. I stuck with it until I was above 3000m again though and that made life easier later on. Playing catch up, I saw the Stu marking a climb far below, and then apart from the occasional radio chatter only saw a couple more paraglider for a while. Loads of raptors though. Stu caught me up at about 65km, which marked a personal best distance for me and we thermalled together, shouting greetings at 3000m. We diverged at about the 70km mark, and I also heard that Steve and TinTin had landed about 82km, so that was my next goal. Imagine 80km. I'd be chuffed with that. I was not to be disappointed though, as I was leaving climbs at 3500m and straight lining it at 60kph whilst still going up at 2 m/s. I even had to go around some clouds to avoid being sucked in.
Sitting at 88km and 3700m I really started to believe it was possible as I was gliding at 28:1 with a tail wind, and one short climb later, I crossed the 100km mark still high. As looking behind me was scary, I needed a pee and was tired, I decided to call it a day, found a patch of blue and glided to the deck. I spiralled some of it, but gently as I g forces and a full bladder don't go well together. 108.9 over four hours and definitely my PB.
I was very pleased to see Stu had also crossed the 100km barrier too, which made the experience all the more enjoyable.
Негізгі бет My first 100km paragliding XC
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