On our way back

We're traveling back to California after flying some really nice XC in the big skies of Texas. Although we had some weather days, I think most of us had a pretty good time. I had some of my best comp flying yet and managed to make goal. I'm sure we'll have plenty of stories to tell back at Kagel.

Development

On our way through New Mexico, we can see the clouds probably in Arizona with tops likely to 35,000'.

Glider wash cancels task

The skies open up and dumps on is as we are getting in the launch line. Pilots in the air run away to the south to escape the rain. Although the rain doesn't last all that long the clouds are really showing rapid development and the day is called. Now the next race starts, getting to the hangar. I'm not on a cart so I must walk my glider to the hangar. The south staging line is about 1/4 mile away so it's pretty far. Luckily I get there in pretty good time to beat the mad rush in from the staging lines to the north

Task Change

Task Change:
Big Spring to Denver (tp)
92 miles
Clouds start popping (even though they aren't supposed to) and the clouds to the North are starting to show rapid vertical development. After notifing the chase crew and setting the general stratigy, I go back to the glider to suit up. Rick Holman is right next to me and I tell him we better get going.

Day 2 Task

I started out early staging my glider early (but from the looks of things I didn't really need to). Pilot meeting was at 10 so we had spare time since we had setup the glider the night before after returning to Big Spring. The days weather, given by Davis, seemed to call for no clouds and weaker lift. The task was set for a 60 mile triangle (first leg to the west then north and finally back to the airport).

Day 1 (Off to a good start, for most)

Task:
Big Spring to Brown
76 miles

Good task for many pilots with probably over half of the field making goal. Most of the Kagel crew flew well today, I'm not one of them, this time. I had a good climb at launch but that was about it. Most of the time I was in the air I was with or around Ron Wiener. I was looking to take the 2nd start clock at 2:30 but got drilled and missed a critical climb and down I went. I heard Rick going down as well around the same place that I got drilled. Most of the pilots got up just west of where we were getting sucked to the ground. The weather is supposed to be good tomorrow as well so I'll be looking for a better performance.

Pilots at goal: (click on names to download Google Earth tracks)
Phill Bloom
Ron Wiener
Chris Smith
Shawn Zabo
YaRon
Greg Kendall
Kraig Coomber
Jonny Durand
Bill Soderquist

Pilots with tail between their legs:
Jeff Chipman
Rick Holman