Blog for ZREA

I took the opportunity to fly and landing on the raft in Montreux. The temperature is amazing these days and no clouds on the sky or wind yesterday. There was some thermals where I could stay up for a while, not so high tough, but it was nice and gentle. The view is fabulous and the color of the lake is turquoise. Fantastic day! Fabien Maillard (Fly -Xperience) as I told in previous post, he organizes tandem flights in Montreux during Montreux Jazz festival and landing with passenger on the raft. If this fancy you, what don’t you contact Fabien? – www.fly-xperience.com, he is always happy to fly tandems.

I landed two times on the raft yesterday, it is great feeling to land dry, although the lake is not cold at all. I had a nice swim afterwards...while listening to the music in Montreux.


edit 09.07.10, video of ZREA flying tandem in Montreux, 4th of July.

This weekend Jazz Festival in Montreux started with great weather, music and paraglider flights! Our friend Fabien Maillard, Fly-Xperience, organizing tandem flights from Sonchaux or Jaman with landing beside the beach in Montreux during Jazz Festival. See the videos from today on this web page:
www.fly-xperience.com.

Chabre Open is finished and I won the women's class and 5th overall. It feels unreal, because this isn't me...I normally don't win anything. I guess I was very lucky the two tasks we had, first task I started early and next I started late, I think the point of take off is crucial (at least for this comp). Unfortunately the weather didn't co-operate with us and we didn't have one good task. Besides of that we had great time, nice to meet friends and make new friends. We had presentation each evening, Jocky Sanderson talked about safety and XC flights + debriefing, Ed Ewing talked about flying in Himalaya, Alain Zoller talked about EN certification, David Dagault and Mike Cavanagh (Ozone) spoke about their amazing flights last year! When the days was cancelled there were organized groups to make hiking, climbing, Via Farrata, canoeing, shopping, bicycling tour, chilling at the bar etc. We had a great time in Laragne. I want to thank Chabre Open for well organized event, one of the best comp I have participated on. The fun factor is high and the place is very beautiful....pictures will follow, otherwise there are tons of pictures www.flylaragne.com.

Amazing stuff for prices, I got these two nice crystals cubes (pics below), rucksack, beach-fleece, fleece-vest, DVD, cap, balaclava, wallet (I don't remember everything), subscription for XCmag and 50 punds for using in xcshop! AND ALL THIS FOR ONLY TWO TASKS!!!

Photo from ZREA here.

After long waiting at the take off, the organisators decided to cancel the task because of strong wind. Check the web page here for last days report and results.

This evening we will go to Ribiers for pilot dinners. Tomorrow and Thursday looks not very good, but Friday looks very nice for the last task. I hope, because now I want a real task and real flying.
Alain had a talk about EN certification together with Jocky Sanderson.

Difficult day, cirrus all over the sky and wind from west, meaning Chabre is no good. We went to Seredon and hoped for a task. We waited until 4 pm (I think) before window was open. Take off were in the shadow and I waited maybe 15 min when I saw little sun coming through. Although, it was difficult and I had to ridge soaring long time before I hit the thermal. I was on the course when the task was cancelled ….again, because of Nimbus a head of us. The valley floor worked very well, much better than the ridges.
Alain was one of the first one took off, meaning he was always in the shadow and in difficult situation. He landed few km away.

I landed beside the bar and main road beside bunch of pilots. Nice place to wait on the shuttle!!!(beer, shadow and nice people)