Sunday 29 May: Report by Craig Morgan
Neil Roberts (right) and Wagga Watts were reunited with their R11s in time to come first and second in the first task of the British Paragliding Open Slovenia, 2011
TASK ONE: 56.7KM
So, Sunday dawned clear, dry and blue and up we headed.
A nice sensible task was set avoiding the Tolmin end of the valley due to strong northerlies affecting the top layers.
Smooth two to three- up thermals prevailed and base appeared at 2,200m.
Again Chris Harland nailed the start and headed off a good kilometre ahead of me and many others, and off we banged along the first ridge. The French academy side were strongly represented on their Aircross U6s. R10s were everywhere and Martin Orlik stood out with his very quick and unique looking Axis.
I managed a short spell out front before another schoolboy error allowed the gaggle to leapfrog me.
A lengthy ridge run gave everyone the chance to tuck in tight and test their mettle against unfeasible cliff bands and steep rocky meadow pitches. Tom Payne barged his way to the front and cracked the whip whilst Wagga Watts kept everyone in his sights.
The next progression took us into the Tolmin valley,where by now the northerlies were forecast to decrease. The front gaggle now consisted of Watts and Roberts (R11s), Payne, Harland and Morgan (R10s).
By now we had flown roughly 45km and completed no more than four turns in thermals. With one more push out into the valley required, Chris found the last climb and he and I hooked into it. Neil, however, had other ideas and in a very uncharacteristic move surged for the turnpoint before we had a chance to make the decision. It was the killer move and from there he led us all home in consummate style. Mark Watts took second and I squeaked Chris for third with Tom Payne emerging as the next class act and scooping fifth.
It was clearly a day for head banging on the ridges, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. But more importantly it gave me the chance to evaluate the R11 in the flesh, up close and personal. They’re fast, solid and seem to float that little bit better than the R10s, but one finished in 71st place and one gave cause to throw the only reserve of the day. This was done by ‘Mali’, our residential Polish nutter, and it’s his ninth reserve deployment so draw your own conclusions there. What I’m trying to say is they go very well but the monkey beneath pulling the strings is more important. More tomorrow as we should be good to fly till Wed.
Craig Morgan
Follow the action from the 2011 British Paragliding Open in Slovenia
Mark Hayman and Craig Morgan
Follow their daily XCmag.com blogs here
Paragliding Comps UK
Full results, live tracking and task reports are here
Slovenian Paragliding Open
The competition website is at www.slovenia-pgopen.com
