29th July 2013 Belgian Catalan Open Day 2

29th July 2013 Belgian Catalan Open Day 2

http://www.belgianandcatalanopen.org/

Task 2 and my track  - ran out of time to complete the course!

View towards the Big Stuff from launch

Ben rigged

A wind dummy launches

Andreas and Gordon

Landing options????

North of the lake heading south to the ridge

Hunting for lift on the way to TP2

Climbing before TP2

Darren at TP2

Ben in landing field

Private airstrip!

Brett takes a spring shower

28th July 2013 Belgian Catalan Open Day 1

28th July 2013 Belgian Catalan Open Day 1

Hi All, 

After two stints as Team GB Manager, I am now on a flying trip to Spain, this time as a pilot.

The first week from 28th July to 3rd August is to fly in the Belgian Catalan Open in Ager as part of the BHGC www.bhgcomps.co.uk Training Camp  - an in initiative to coach up and coming competition pilots to widen the net for potential British Team members.

And then from 4th to the 10th August the British Nationals take part in the same place - so two weeks of solid flying, weather permitting of course!

I will upload photos as often as possible but will probably give myself a break from actually writing a blog. Hopefully the pictures will tell the story...

Ager launch

Task setting with Jochen, Gordon and Mario

Task briefing

BHGC Training Camp brieifing

Flying above Ager launch

 Wing wire testing!

Arriving at the goal field

Ben in goal. Slow, but in goal! 33rd or the day...

Scores after Day 1

The countdown begins....

Here we go again! Team GB is heading off on Tuesday to the Hang Gliding Pre Worlds 2013 for Class 1 Womens, Class 2 and Class 5 which kick off in Annecy, France on the 6th July.

As an "open to all" competition, the Class 5 "(Rigid)  team going from GB is a mix of pilots for selection for the Worlds next year including one of our new young "hot shot" pilots who will be attending as part of the BHGC's (www.bhgcomps.co.uk) training programme. Unfortunately the British Champion Tim King is still recovering from injury and will not be able to fly.

The Class 5 team is:

Neil "Bomber" Atkinson

Andy Hollidge.

Luke Nichol

Ben Philpott (Team Manager non-flying)

All the pilots have been stepping up their game this year with veterans Neil and Andy showing a re-ignited hunger to prove themselves on the international stage while young hot-shot Luke has put himself in the spotlight due to some very credible performances in the British Open Series and UK Cross Country League (www.uknxcl.co.uk).With lessons learnt from the Class 1 2013 Worlds in Australia, I hope, as their Team Manager, to be able to add some extra support to the team. As the famous saying goes "I have a cunning plan!"

There is also the Womens Class 1 competition running alongside with Kathleen Rigg flying under the GB flag. After her stellar "Bronze" performance at the Worlds in Australia, Kath is sure to make her mark. 

More updates and pictures will follow shortly, but I thought I would get this up to let you know the new blog address:

www.flyskyrocketmedia.blogspot.com