Chilean Paragliding Nationals

After a difficult 43.4km 3rd task I barely moved from 2nd to 1st ahead of Todd with a tiny 4 point lead. I was very excited and nervous as this is the first time I´ve ever been 1st place in the overall standings. I´ve been way psyched with the performance of my Gin Zoom Race and its ability to keep up with 2/3 and comp. gliders.

Task 3 sent us 38km downwind to our only turnpoint at Bandera Palo Buque and then 5km upwind to goal at Los Verdes. Most of the field landed short of goal, some being very close like Todd landing just 200m from the goal cylinder, to others who landed a few km out. After one attempted push to goal I realized I wouldn´t make it and flew back to the ridge and slowly worked my way higher and upwind. After fighting for almost 45min I had goal on a 5:1 glide and rather than flying directly into the wind I was going 30 degrees into the wind. I arrived at goal with altitude to spare and exhaustedly spiraled down. I was the 4th and last pilot into goal today and arrived almost an hour after Jose, who was first into goal. Winning task 3 was a great comeback for Jose who threw his reserve the previously day just before start.

Task 4. The final task sent us on a zig-zag back and forth 5 times with turnpoints placed out front away from the ridge. There was very little turning today as pilots raced hard hoping to find lift along the way. Todd and Gerald were almost always just in front of me and I flew most of the task on 50% or more speedbar trying to catch up. Just before turnpoint 3 I found a screaming thermal and quickly climbed out to make the 2km into the wind push toward the sea for the turnpoint just ahead of Todd. By the time we were back at the ridge looking for lift Todd had again taken the lead which he held until goal.


USA pilots placed 1st and 2nd. Todd Wiegand took first on his Airwave comp. glider and I came in 2nd on my Gin Zoom Race. The competition was an intense 4 days of flying and racing. There´s an entourage of pilots from this comp heading on to Tucuman for the next competition in a week. I catch an evening bus out of Iquique and today I am packing and recovering from last nights closing party.

Iquique, Chile

I´ve now been in Iquique 4 days and have quickly fallen into the laid back and exciting lifestyle of a paraglider pilot here. My friend Todd Wiegand from Oregon arrived just 1hr before me. He´s been coming here for 6 years and flies tandems for Hernan Parapente. I found out he´d be here one week ago. Hernan, a local instructor and guide, has a pilot house which is like a small hostel for pilots. I´m staying at Hernan´s as well as Andres and Jose, the two pilots from Columbia whom I met in Lima last week. They are also competing in the Chilean Nationals. Check out the results and pictures at the official competition website - http://www.campeonatoiquique.com/.


It´s spring in Chile and the days are warm though I understand that in a few months it becomes quite hot. I have never seen so much sand in my life: it´s everywhere from the vast beaches to 600 meter sand dunes (2000ft) just a few km east of the water. The ocean is crisp like southern california and the sun and sand are very warm. A refreshing breeze builds and blows like clockwork everyday.


Yesterday was the first task of the competition. We had a 38.8km task with 5 turnpoints launching at Alto Hospicio and goal was at Cavancha, the beach. Todd, Gerald (pilot from austria) and I took turns in the lead and finished 1st 2nd 3rd. Today´s task was a 35.1km task downwind from Patillo to Los Verdes. A Brazilian pilot took a real agressive low line and won the day with Todd, Gerald and myself arriving in that order afterwards. After folding up our wings we enjoyed a great seafood lunch at Los Verdes. The fish is caught right across the highway as the beach and ocean are vast here in this costal paradise. I enjoyed a delicious meal of ceveche and empanadas de haiba con queso (crab with cheese).


Yesteray evening Andres, Jose and I purchased tickets to Calima which is the Chilean boarder town with Argentina for Monday at 23:00, another night bus ride. We´ll miss the closing party at Club Kamakaze which starts about the same time we leave. From Calima we´ll cross the boarder and catch another bus to Salta, Argentina where we´ll relax and fly for a day or two before we head south for the Pre-PWC competition in Tucuman.


Todd made some small skis to play on the sand with. We all watched jelously.

telluride to lima, part 1

i arrived in lima at 3am last night and am staying with the family of my friend karla. i had many delays and modes of transportation getting here from telluride. after a ride to grand junction (thanks jeremy) greyhound took me to denver where i saw an awesome show with 5 bands whose music was a lyrical blend of harmonic fun (thanks ali), rta to DIA, ATA to MDW where i was able to visit my parents at the airport for 45min during my layover, SWA to tampa then fort lauderdale and a rental car to MIA where i boarded aeropostal alas venezuela for a flight to caracas (where all flights to mia were cancled due to the hurricane) a 6 hr layover plus a 3.5 hr additional delay before we finally left for lima. aeropostal gave out free travel vouchers because of the delay and so I have a free ticket to use in the next year. i wonder if aeropostal flies to cuba?

lima is much nicer than i expected. after listening to mixed reports from friends about lima i now know that lima is quite beautiful. art is scattered throughout the city and things are kept up very well. trees and flowers grow everywhere and decorate the city. i´ve seen little litter as the city is kept very clean. karla´s mom is an excellent cook and my stomach is full and very happy. karla´s brother pedro has been my guide throughout the city and the only thing i feel is dangerous in lima is the driving which while much less crowded than mexico df it´s much more disorganized with numerous intersections having no traffic signs and honking and edging out appears to be the norm.

tomorrow afternoon i begin the 20hr bus ride to iquique chile where i compete in the first of 3 paragliding xc competitions in SA. i awoke with gusto my first morning in peru at 8am after only 4.5hrs of sleep and now my whole body is tired. i took a couple of paragliding flights at the costal soaring site this afternoon and soared next to the highrise buildings that dot the coastal skyline. it´s quite amazing to fly just feet or meters from the side of a building or the top. i hear my pillow calling me and will write again from iquique.