Blog for ZREA

Red Bull Xalps

Randi — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:32:09 +0000

I want to share some articles from XC mag for those who are interesting how Xalps athletes are preparing for the Race or about small stories from previous Red Bull Xalps.
Blood, sweat and fear
Blood, sweat and fear interviews

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Swiss champ in Fiesch

Randi — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:32:37 +0000

Winners are Steve Cox (m) and Regula Strasser (f), congratulations!
Alain and I went to Fiesch Friday evening, so we didn’t do first task.
Saturday looked very promising for flying conditions, but the thermals were weak. I struggled long time in every thermals, that made me very exhausted. I didn’t bring any water with me and I didn’t had any thing to eat, so my energy went low very fast. Empty!
Normally I never give up, but Saturday I did...shame on me. Alain did very well, he went to goal and he was very happy! Housi Bollinger asked him if he got paid by hours, since he used more than 4 hours to get in...ho ho ho.

Small brake....

Well, not so small brake…now it is 2nd August.

So yesterday the condition were better and with better climbs in the thermals, but the wind got much stronger in the end of the task. So I landed when I realize the condition wasn’t for me, and right after the task was stopped by the organizers. It was too much wind and combination with valley wind made it difficult. In the beginning it was excellent day and it was amazing to climb together with all R10s and Icepeaks4, I really need to improve my climbing skills because those pilots who flew this kind of gliders are maybe 10 times better than me to use the thermal advantages (nice to watch them and learn). Few thermals were pretty rough and I saw many R10s with small wingtip-collapses, then I was thinking: “wow, I am glad I have easier glider to handle”, my Aspen3 is very good for me. Well, although it can collapse as well, but it behaves well. Pilots who flying R10 says it is easy to handle the glider; it is maybe easier, but it is more difficult to handle if some glider-problems appear. It was anyway fantastic flying day and nice atmosphere! The pilot dinner Saturday was much funnier this year than last year, but food same boring. So altogether, Swiss Championship went well with good success.
I have said before, but I can say it again; Fiesch is one of the most fantastic and beautiful flying sites, it has everything; big summits, glaciers, view etc.

Here are the results.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

SM in Fiesch

Randi — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:07:18 +0000

It was not possible for me to join the first task of Swiss Championship in Fiesch today. Tomorrow I will be ready. Alain will also come to free-fly in Fiesch tomorrow...weather looks good :-)

Read news here from Swiss League

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Webcam in Villeneuve

Randi — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:43:56 +0000

Here is nice webcam in the harbour in Villeneuve. It is updating each 5 seconds.
Sonchaux (paragliding take-off), is mountain to the right, straight ahead in the middle is Montreux.

Just now the webcam says 27 degrees (it feels hotter), so I will end up in the lake very soon :-) I can't wait ... I have been bathing every day now, the lake-temperature is just great!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Red Bull Xalps 2011

Randi — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:08:54 +0000

According to Twitter - Red Bull Xalps, the application opens 15th of July. It will be exciting who will participate on next year Xalps!!!! I can't wait to see who will be selected!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Two times raft in Montreux!

Randi — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:25:28 +0000

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.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Montreux Jazz Festival 2010

Randi — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:38:59 +0000

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.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Chabre Open finito

Randi — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 07:07:12 +0000

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.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.