Blog for ZREA

Task 1.

In the morning it was already many cumulus and the forecast said thunderstorm and overdevelopment. So, we knew early that we had to take off first and quickly do the task-route and fly far as possible before task was cancelled. I took off first and got a good climb, although it was difficult to get the lift behind the Chabre ridge, and it was little bumpy here. I got my first frontal collapse with this glider, normally I feel when it is coming, but this time it arrived too fast, but nothing too serious. The clouds were already building fast, and I had to keep going. At B06, I was low and struggle before I could take the real core of thermal. Then it was racing against the cancelling time, and I almost got to next point before the task was cancelled. It was the right decisions; it was raining just a head of us. I was in the leading gaggle from the beginning and I ended on 9th place overall today…pfuff, I guess I was very lucky…I don’t think it will happen again. Alain was just behind. Another great day!!!

By the way, the team TOP GUNS still running, and for this moment we are ranking as number 1. Here is a story about TOP GUNN last Chabre Open. Although, it is only me from the last time.

Training day.
Blue skies, cumulus, hill of Chabre, lots of pilots, nice atmosphere…it can’t be better!!! ZREA were ready and motivated on the launch. We tried to get orientated on the training route and we tried to get all the advices we could. Alain took of early, while I was not really ready..too much concentrating of the task. Well off I went to B01 middle of Chabre before heading to B06. I got nice lift here, around 2100 m, and I continued to B05. Alain was at that point extremely low, but he was able to take one thermal all the way up to cloudbase. Off I went to next ridge and next turnpoint, B04. The air on this ridge was bumpy and not very pleasant and I didn’t want to stay too much. After B04, I took straight line to landing, but the area was in shadow and not much lifting left. A whole lot of pilots landed here. It was fun task and a lot of happy faces. Conclusion; Great day.

Tomorrow ZREA leave to Laragne for Chabre Open. Laragne is a beautiful place South of France, and here we can do many different activity if the weather is not good for paragliding.

Next question; for whom?
FAI and CIVL want to make paragliding competitions safer. They have commended a working group to make proposal for next years competition, “to make something!” ….and fast. Working group has already worked intense with some proposals the last month and yesterday they invited group of paraglider manufacturers, CIVL and test laboratories to discuss further the proposals, also to defining what is relevant. During meeting yesterday in Abtenau, where Europeans is flowing over in water, we concluded that most of the time what causing the accidents are the wrong pilot inputs and not the glider itself. Manufacturers have no intention to make “dangerous” gliders, the gliders is well calculated and tested. So what needs to be done – to make competitions safer? Everybody in the room agreed that improving pilots skills will help the safety aspect in comp. The final proposals aren’t ready yet, but we have already solid foundation to continue with. In short the gliders will be tested even more and pilot skills must be improved before future competitions.


I am very enjoyed that Swiss league is doing something, they will do SIV course with their comp wing. There are too many who never have for example tried full stall with their glider. I hope other national league will follow this direction….

Very nice to follow the competitors like that :

Phufff, I am stuck in front of computer.

you can find live tracking here.

Today is the Norwegian national day and I wish all norwegians brilliant day!