Blog for ZREA

I have not written too much lately, the reason is I’m busy.
Two days ago I had the first flight of the year! That was amazing good; I flew until I got cold and when I had to pack all stuff after flight test session. The test pilots let me fly the last flight of the day and it was still thermal. I was almost 200 meter above winter take-off, but mostly I stayed lower. Olivier Nef from Niviuk was there and he borrowed me Hook 2 (which is almost ready for certification). It is great glider and easy handling in same time super stable. I just loved to thermalling with it; I guess it will be very popular for many pilots.

New equipments For xmas I got new harness, Kortel Kamasutra II. I had a hard decision to make if I wanted Kamasutra II or Kanibal Race. In the end I choose Kamasutra because I can easily change between 2 flying position in the air. Then I had to decide if I wanted Kocon or not. I couldn’t decide, so I bought Kocon as well. I also bought new rescue parachute, SOS Micro light. My old equipment: Harness Sup’Air Evo 4.9 kg and Calipt’air rescue 1.9 kg (total weight= 6.8kg). My new harness Kamasutra II (without Kocon) 5.3 kg and Micro light rescue 1.2 kg (total weight = 6.5 kg!!!). I am saving 300 grams, fantastic.

Right after xmas I tried Kamasutra II in Verbier in real flight. It was very comfortable and easy to change flying position, but not so easy to use speedbar with huge winter-shoes. I didn’t fly with Kocon, I will wait a little before I do.

without kocon

with kocon

Another hard decision to make is if I want to go to Chabre Open or Nordic Open. I can’t effort both competitions. Chabre is super nice and a lot of fun flying, while Nordic Open I have the chance to meet “Norwegian flying friends” and to fly in Norway again. Alain will also join me, but for Nordic Open he doesn’t have priorities to participate (he is not Nordic) and for this moment Nordic seems very popular. We have to wait until 15th of March to see if he can participate. BUT in end of January we have to say “yes” or “no” to Chabre. And if we say no to Chabre and Alain can not participate in Nordic, then we will not go anywhere...Shit, it is too many and difficult decisions to make.

I have achieved some personal targets this year, and in general it is one of my best flying year for ages. Although, I hoped to get more free-time for flying this year than before, but not really. -I start getting fed up with all the work.
I started this year in Saleve (Geneva) for first Swiss Cup; I love this place and pilots there are great! Well, not everyone; the third task I landed were I shouldn't and the farmer of this field was furious angry. He threatened me and screamed loudly. Besides this angry man, it was 3 great flying days. read zrea archive here & here.

Next competition was in Italy XC camp Levico Terme and I received my brand new glider Gradient Aspen 3 week before. I only had two small flights before I went to Italy. I was quite nervous because I didn't know this glider and thinking to bring my old Airwave Sport 3, but it is better to jump into it, so I started with my new one. First day was the training day and it was quite rough condition and it was hardly any sinking air. My feeling weren't good at all, and the wing tips were moving nervously. I couldn't figure out what the glider trying to tell me. After 1.5 hours I spiralled down and thought enough was enough. I spoke with Adrian Hachen who flies Gradient Avax XC 2 and he explain me about the wing tips and how to take advantages of it. -Oh my God, after that it was a dream to fly! Finally I felt the air when I was flying and I felt confident flying this wing. All the years with Sport 3 made me feel stuck in some kind of "prison", and it was big relief to change the glider. -Nothing bad about Sport 3, but it wasn't the glider for me. Ok, in Italy I finally had great fun and it was wonderful place to fly. Though, I never understood the wind-system there, it seems to be head wind everywhere. The first task (1st comp day) my glider and I flew 44 km I was super happy. I couldn't believe "we" did it. Some places didn't had any proper landing, so it was really exciting to cross the area. Phuff. We had 4 valid tasks with some good condition and other days with less good. Burkhard Martens was also there and gave us very useful advices for Cross Country (XC) flying. Martens wrote the fabulous book Thermal flying, he is a very good pilot. read zrea archive here & here & here & here.

The summer followed and I had few but very nice XC triangle flights. This kind of flights give so much strength to carry on the daily life. I feeling privileged to be able to fly.

My highlights is however this August and September. During the Swiss Championship in Fiesch I did my first "race" to goal! 104 km and it wasn't a race for me, it took almost 6 hours to finish the whole task. I cried in happiness and I was too exhausted to be stand up. I think it was Jocky Sanderson who told me; "if you want to make goal for the first time; stay high and don't push speed bar", and it was working! Thanks for those wise words! read zrea archive here & here.

Next step for me was Piedrahita in Spain. We had 7 out of 8 valid tasks! 7 days flying for me is not normal and last day I was "saturated" of flying...I landed shortly after take off :)
Piedrahita was for me very useful and I learned a lot about myself and my flying capabilities. During the evenings it was endless discussions how to cross the "famous Pass - Villa Torro"; believe me follow your instincts and you will cross it easy like this - PFAFF! Otherwise the Swiss group I follow were great and I learned a lot from them. Piedrahita is one of the greatest flying places, but gooosh how dirty it is. My glider and my equipments were full of dust and sand. read zrea archive here & several here.

In short words, Aspen 3 changed my life and I had a great flying year and great fun!

"edit 27.12.09. I have to tell you about the nice triangle flight together with Alain in Annecy this summer. We went to Forclaz take off, not many pilots were airborne, but I was impatience and took off quite early. Alain found a friend to speak with so he took off 10 minutes later and we could finally take the "road" around the lake. Alain is an expert to find the lift and it was good help for me to follow him. He even spiralling down to help me to get up (thank you my love)!! We have never done this route before and we wondering where we should cross the lake. We discussed via radio and found out right before Annecy we had to take the straight line against the ridge on the other side. It was an exciting crossing, we never knew how high we would end up, we are not experts to use GPS. At the other side Alain was lower than me and he struggled long time to get up. I tried my best to keep my altitude to wait for him, the time can be very long. When finally we were at the same level, I found only sinking air and now it was my turn to fight me upwards. I almost gave up and looking around for landing when suddenly I found amazing lift. We continued to next ridge and at this time it was easy to stay high. We arrived again at Forclaz take off but high and glided to Talloire landing. I spoke with one Norwegian via radio, he just took off and I told him about the beautiful flight we just had (using NAK frequency). It was an extraordinary flight, check my GPS track here"

-I cross my fingers for 2010 much better and longer....

We want to wish all readers a very nice Christmas holiday, and best wishes for a brilliant New Year - 2010.

the background of this picture is taken from our apartment last winter


I will soon write about my paragliders season (2009) on ZREA blog and what I am thinking for next year.

I just want to say few words, even if it’s not so easy. Our dearest papi Alex passed away November 18 after long struggling with cancer. Every time we visit him he was so strong and brave, he never complained about his pain. Earlier this autumn we saw a little hope that we will still have him here for a while, but the circumstances wanted something else... It is hard to face it; we can feel a huge emptiness and a feeling of no power. Now it is only memories left of a great man who is not with us anymore. He was great in many ways; I didn’t know him for long time, but I do know he had a big heart and he had a healthy believe of life.
There are many nice words to be said about Alex, and probably we could write a whole book about it and about his passions and so on, but in the end Alex will stay in our memories forever with or without “the book”. I was proud to call him "papi". All my thoughts are with Sylvian, Evelyne, rest of his family and all his friends.


We are very pleased that many have made a donation to cancer research. Thanks, that means a lot to us!

Small notice to tell ZREA had fantastic flying condition last weekend. The air was so calm and warm and the view was stunning. This is the time for autumn colors. Alain was so kind to be my passenger. Although, I haven’t flown tandem for ages and I have lost little of my “feeling”. I tested new tandem harness from Sup’Air, Walibi. It is no barrier when walking with it (or running), it is super easy to find position right after take off and it is comfortable during flight. I don’t know if I will buy it, because I will test the new tandem harness from Sky Paragliders as well...which looks niiiice!

Anyway, my take off was horrible, I had several missing take off. The wind condition was not helping either, small backwind and wind from the side. We waiting long time before take off to find a moment in almost zero wind.  Anyway, I was lucky to have instructors and Alain around, they told me what I did wrong. So next time, I will show you how to take off perfectly (even in backwind).

Here are some pictures from last Saturday.