Blog for ZREA

We (ZREA) were looking forward to participate in our first skydiving competition this weekend (Scramble), but the sad and wet weather forced us to stay indoors. Sukk, next time?
Well, we have big week next week (from tomorrow) and we have done a lot of preparation this weekend to make the week perfect. Tomorrow we are starting with course for manufacturer test pilots. They will be trained to understand the EN standard and to fly according to it. We have to give a lot of attentions and guiding the pilots through the two-days course. Cross Country magazine will also participate on this happening, and hopefully they can make a good EN article in next issue.
Wednesday we are starting with shock/load test for rescue, we have to be super concentrate and working as a good team. We are working with a helicopter, so the tests will go very fast and successful (?). By mid day we finally have the Opening day for our new office. We moved here in May, but we didn’t have time to celebrate it yet. And the big event Coupe Icare in St. Hilaire starts on Thursday, and we will go there to meet all manufacturers and probably meet friends over there.
See the links for Coupe Icare here.
Link to our job

So, we will have full rush from morning to late evening the next week. Phu, I hope we can breathe in between!!!

Task 2 was set last Sunday in Fiesch. The condition looked stable at the take off, and it was. It was difficult to get high today for all of us. I think I didn’t gain more than 100 meters above take off and that means difficult to get anywhere. I jumped from hill to hill to the first turnpoint, but I was too low to get it (it was on top of the hillside). Then I had to find lift to keep me airborne and I hoped to get enough height to take turnpoint 1 and get further on in the task. No, no, no I struggled in same area in one hour and had lost all my concentration to stay in the small lift, so I landed on the golf field close to Bitsch. It is the first time I have landed in such a nice field; the grass was cutting nicely, big trees made a shadow when I was packing paraglider and my stuff, WC, garbage box and a bench where I could sit peacefully to eat my lunch and to watch the other pilots fly above me for the second last turnpoint. At this point it didn’t matter I had to land, I was thinking I did a great job today and that I found a great landing field including windsocks. Well, I was happy I was alone and no other dangerous golfer around.

Finally I found the train station and heading for Official landing field in Fiesch and the price ceremony.

Result Task 1
Result Taks 2
Total result

We had 50% chance for a early task today before the front coming. The task was set, but changed half hour later since it begun to rain at one of the waypoints. The new task got smaller, but there was no sign of thermals, so we wondered what will happen. Two wind dummies tried, but buuuuuu they glide to the landing. The wind changed to cross wind and back wind, so difficult take off conditions.
Finally Task 2 was cancelled and everybody flew down.

Tomorrow is looking worse, but the organizators will decide tomorrow at 8 am if they will set a late task. Fingers crossed.

I went home, I was tired of tent life including several types of insects. It's scratching everywhere. BUT probably I will go Sunday when the good weather coming back :-)

The weather condtition this morning didn't look too good, wind and hard inversion at 2200 m. The take off is approx. 2100m so many of us didn't think about long distance today because of the inversion.

The condition turn out to be good but windy. Many did goal and the task about 60 km. I started late and almost last. It was hard to find good thermal in the beginning, but I found something and heading for turn point 1. I had to cross the valley where the glacier coming out, and ended very low at the other side. Next I was in lee side, it was more difficult to find any good lifting air. I stayed in the same level long time, but when I came little higher I fly away....Ja ja, I know I am impatience (very). I jumped from hill to hill, and I had at one time strong wind and hard working with my glider. I was worried about landing in valley, I thought valley wind was much stronger, but it showed to be nice. The last 100 m (altitude) before landing was much fun. I fly and fly and had a glide like 10!!!! I think?! Great feeling....to fly/glide and not sinking a lot.

winner today:
1. Michael Sigel (CHE)
2. Marc Wensauer (GER)
3. Urs Schönauer (CHE)

Anja Kroll best woman. The ranking for Anders Baerheim (NOR)around 11 (congratulation). The full list will come on the Headquarter later this evening.

13 km for me today. I am happy, but I wanted to go at least to the first point. Well, better chance tomorrow. Hysssjj, I am flying for Switzerland. Reason is I don't have insurance in Norway anymore, only Swiss.

We see what happens tomorrow with stronger wind? Saturday looks bad, while sunday is good...

Zrea has been doing different things since last writing; SIV, Skydiving, spa + +, painting and working.

Tomorrow starting Swiss Championship and 1/2 of ZREA (Randi) will try to stay up in the air as long as possible and fly far away. -Well at least try to follow the competition route. Randi still want to reach goal one day, but Swiss Champioship is little too high level....?
Swiss-League.ch or this page

Good luck!!!