The Rat Race Paragliding Comp June 18-23, 2007

June 16 – We got started from the house around 0800 but had to turn back for my computer before we reached I-90. It took just about 8 hrs to get to the HQ where I signed in as a volunteer and attended a meeting and C.J. went to the mandatory pilots’ meeting. We had dinner at HQ then drove out to Humbug Creek with Diana Gerion (from Cali, Colombia) and found the yurt. Irina, Andrei and Chris had already arrived. Later Terri and Geoff stopped by; they had some food for Diana since they thought she had not eaten. Hawaiian "Rat Race" T-shirt -->

June 17 – After the pilots meeting we drove up to launch and I set up seven or eight packing boxes and fitted them with rocks for weight and plastic bags for garbage. Kristine, Arun’s girlfriend helped me. The task (Launch-Rabies-Launch-Burnt-WoodratPk- WoodratLZ-MuleLZ out near Applegate Dam) was relatively short and a large percent of the competitors made it. I collected all the garbage and stupidly put the bags in the back of the car. As a result, I had to wash out the rear area when I got back to HQ. We went out with Beth, Ernie, Irina, Andrei and Chris to Bella Union in Jacksonville for a good dinner. I hope they don’t send us a bill for the detached tabletop… Mike Haley -->

June 18 – The task was almost the same as the day before. Attended Len’s Mentoring session at 1800. Dinner at the Back Porch BBQ in Jacksonville was organized by the comp.

June 19 – Windy so the task was changed to a short downwind to Donatos from Burnt via Cemetery. It was too short – first finisher did it in less than 16 minutes. Since the nominal time was 1.5 hrs, the validity was low – 120 points instead of 1000. Other factors include 70 people in goal and few pilots down along the route. The meet official put on an “impromptu” barbecue at the goal. On the way there I took the wrong turn and ended up driving almost all the way up Andersons Butte so we got to the party late and had to eat hot dogs.

June 20 – Long task day first to the west almost to the yurt in Humbug Cr valley then back to Jacksonville Hill and other turnpoints finally to Donatos. Chris made goal on this day. C.J. went down after the Wellington turnpoint in the Applegate Valley and got a retrieve on the school bus. Dinner party at La Fiesta in Jacksonville was organized by the comp.

June 21 –The task was cancelled after most of the field had launched and some had re-launched. Light conditions at first kept the gaggles low, below and barely above launch. Then the wind speed increased abruptly especially in the valleys. Mike was getting input from pilots in the air, Len Szafaryn, for one and when he heard that the comp pilots could not reach the turnpoint on Rabies Ridge, he stopped the task. C.J. had tried to launch early but stumbled and backed off launch to watch the sometimes entertaining launches. After driving down we hung out at HQ until 6 p.m. when Rob Sporrer did a mentoring session. Then we went in to Jacksonville to gas up the Trooper using a Rat Race voucher. We had dinner back at Ruch at the Magnolia Grill where we ate on the patio and watched PG soaring above mid-launch – turned out to be Irina, Andrei and Chris. C.J. getting launch assist -->

June 22 – A long task to Donatos LZ followed by the Rat Race party. I missed a good bit of the party because I went up to fly from mid-launch with Julie and Gever Tulley at 1800. It was too windy so we and a bunch of others waited until 1930 before we launched into soarable conditions. It was windy from the W and I was making only 5 mph toward the LZ and 29-30 mph back towards the mountain. I got up about to the level of the upper launch and headed out to the LZ where the last 500 ft or so was turbulent with alternating lift and sink. I made a couple of circuits of the LZ gaining some and losing some, and had to core sink at the NE corner to get down. Gever called on the radio to say that the wind had turned catabatic and I set up over the lower LZ and landed toward the mountain. Later I got back to the party in time to see the amazing “Magic Mike” do phenomenal card tricks. C.J. and I gave Gever a ride back up to mid-launch to retrieve his vehicle.

June 23 – Last day of the Rat: A relatively short task to LZ-Jville-Poormans-Cemetery-Donatos. C.J. launched early and flew with the poorly organized gaggle until the wind picked up, then went out and landed in the LZ. I helped out on launch and then collected garbage, disassembled the boxes and drove it all down to HQ picking up David Salmon along Sterling Cr Rd on the way. Leaky garbage bags made the usual mess on the car; I washed it off later at the HQ. We’re off to Lakeview tomorrow where it is supposed to be windy and cold. At the awards ceremony this evening I caught some photos of the awardees then we went out to eat with Irina at the Magnolia (again). People were soaring after 2000 but we decided to go back to the yurt and get cleaned up and rested. First Place in Women's Division Kari Castle -->