About a month ago, I started flying again as I got tired of being so fragile with my body. I’ve flown about 5 times since then, but wasn’t super-comfortable doing much acro. While I did some right side helicos, they weren’t perfect and any little deflation or oscillation made my heart jump and I immediately shut it down. With my bad left shoulder, I tried to do some left helicos but got out of them in half a turn. Needless to say, I wasn’t very confident and concerned if I would ever “engage” – kinda like Maverick from “Top Gun” after Goose died.

Well, that all changed when I went towing last weekend with my friends from Torrey Pines – Robin & Max Marien and Gabe Jebb. For me, this was the test to really see where my head was at and get a baseline of my physical limitations, if any.

On my very first tow, I wasted no time and go right for the tumble. Considering what I’ve been through and that I haven’t tumbled since last August, I was very stoked on how I did – not only technically, but also psychologically. After a great weekend of towing, I realized that my problems aren’t when I’m doing acro, but everything else around it – carrying all my equipment, running while launching, and bending down to fold my glider. These are the hardest parts of flying for me right now!

In the video here, you’ll see my first set of tumbles over the lake which then cuts to my first leftside (bad shoulder) helico at Mussel Rock. I’m very happy with my progress – with more time over the lake, I feel that 20+ turns in Infinite is coming soon (as long as the FLX2 doesn’t run out of gas on me!). In addition, since spring has come, we’ll see 20+ flyable days a month at Mussel so I’m confident I’ll have all my helico combos comp-ready. One of my goals for 2010 is to compete in all the APWC events – luckily there are only 2 this year so it’ll work with my schedule.

Thanks for all the encouragement and inspiring words from everyone . . . . I’M BACK!

It’s been awhile since I posted on Thanksgiving as I obviously haven’t gone on any flying trips or done anything close to paragliding besides staring at my equipment, watching videos, and wearing some Ozone clothes. But, much as happened in terms of my recovery.

When I left Utah in mid-December to spend the winter back home in San Francisco – snow and ice is dangerous for someone who’s trying re-learn their walking! – I was 135lbs/61kg. (I lost about 30 lbs/13.5kg due to the accident.) Thanks to some herbal medicine, lots of protein, working out, and eating cookies after 8 p.m., I’m happy to say I’m now 146/66 and getting fatter every day! In addition, I haven’t touched my cane in 2 weeks and I’m starting to walk up stairs without using the handrail.

As season approaches, I’m starting to get the itch. Of course, I will take it day-to-day, but I still manifest flying this year and competing, even though there aren’t any comps on the calendar yet. Despite my back surgeon’s recommendation that I don’t “hangglide” until a year after my surgery (I didn’t have the heart to tell him I parasail), I don’t see – as long as I listen to my body and not push it too much – how I won’t be in the air in 2010.

But I should probably make sure I can run first as that’s kinda important . . . .

My accident back in mid-September, resulting in 2 broken legs, a broken back and shoulder, could’ve been far worse. My physical therapist has told me he’s had a patient who’s slipped on a puddle of milk in their kitchen, and because they unluckily landed the wrong way, will never walk again. Whereas I, despite falling 200 ft., hitting the ground at over 40 m.p.h., and then being dragged 100 ft. like a rag doll across the face of the mountain by my reserve, have the chance of walking in time. (I’ll be disabled and not able to work, though, for at least a year.)

Because I’ve had so much time since my accident for reflection, I often see how lucky I have it and how grateful I should be for what I have. Despite 2009 being one of the worst years for me, I’m soooooo thankful I can experience this day with a sound mind and spirit. And even though my body’s pretty broken . . . . 2 out of 3 ain’t bad!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

I’m very blessed to have the support & love of sooooo many friends through my accident & recovery over the past week, especially from Loren & Sabrina who spend most their time with me in the room. For those who’ve come by – thank you! For those who’ve sent me texts, emails, FB messages, well wishes via Loren, or called dir ectly, please know that I got them but it’s too difficult to respond individually. As soon as I can type with both hands, I will get back to you personally.

Again, thank you Ozone everyone else for your love and well wishes!! I’ll spend my recovery in Utah for a while but will be back flying soon!

Nova

I’ve put up some new videos of the work I’ve been doing this summer – mostly focusing on the Twister and the Infinite. My Twisters are looking pretty good and the left-to-right direction is definitely comp-ready, but I need some work on the right-to-left. This trick is the one that almost killed me last year in Murren, so I’m glad that I’ve got it down. Through a week of trial-and-error way back in July, I found the technique that makes the transition faster with no deflations which is obviously the goal in the comps.

As I’ve said in previous posts, the Infinite is one of my goals this summer. But, it’s been a definite challenge as I haven’t had many chances to train over water or go anywhere close by having at least 800 – 1000 meters/2500 – 3000 feet with re-fills (either by ridge or gondola lift). This is where my bros in Europe have the definite advantage! If I was in Europe, I think I’ve have it down by now. But, as it stands, I have to wait for someone to go towing and last weekend, I met up with Robin Marien of Torrey Pines Gliderport who gave me some great tows. My entire focus was the Infinite and I learned a lot about the FLX2 and when to give it inputs. In the video you’ll see, I did 6 turns on the first day which gave me a ton of confidence to do 10 – 15 turns by the end of the weekend. But, it didn’t happen so I’m gonna need to review all the video to see what went wrong. Even though I didn’t do the true Infinite (but would count in a comp), doing all these tumbles only made me better, so now I can’t wait to up there again when I have some height!

Enjoy!

This from the 3rd & final solo run from WAG. I placed 10th for the day which I was happy about, but I definitely would’ve placed higher if I nailed the Helico-SAT and did my Helico like in the 2nd run (got an 88 on it that time).

For some reason, the shin camera didn’t record. So, you’ll have to enjoy the video from my perspective!

Felix and I were invited to represent our countries at WAG last week in Lake Avigliana near Torino, Italy. It was a fun week as the organizing committee put us up in a nice hotel, provided a delicious lunch and dinner every day, and made us d-bag from a helicopter for all our tasks!

While not considered an APWC event, the first comp of the season was loaded with the top 12 pilots in the world to make it like one, including Raul Rodriguez, who returned to the competition scene after a brief hiatus. We had only 3 runs each for solo and synchro with the helicopter giving us enough height for 5 solo maneuvers and 4 synchro ones. I was very happy with my 3rd solo run as I finished 10th for the day with high scores for my tumble, SAT-to-helico, and Twister – if I had not messed up the Helico-to-SAT (usually nail this one) and made a more perfect helico, I would’ve finished higher for sure!

My goal for the comp was to finish in the top 10, but I missed it by 3 for 13th place, while Felix finished 6th. He and his brother won the gold in Synchro . . . . chapeau Felix!

I look forward to WAG 2011!!!

I just returned from a trip to Southern California to train and prepare for the World Air Games. Specifically, I went to check out a site called Soboba located near San Jacinto in Riverside County which I was told would remind me of Organya.

After 3 days of flying it, I’d definitely say Soboba is a smaller version of the famous Cataluyan site! Even though I only got a window of a few hours to train, I consistently got 700m/2000 ft over the ground which gave me 6 – 7 runs. This is the only site I know of in California where you can get this height, look forward to refills, and not be so far from civilization! Thanks to Bob for the rides up to launch!

I also spent some time in San Diego where I finally flew the famous Torrey Pines Gliderport and met the owner, Robin Marien, and his son, Max. Max has been flying for 9 years (since he was 12!) and does some pretty sweet acro. Having just bought his son the FLX.2, Robin was excited to have me there and asked if I wanted to go towing in exchange for helping Max with some tricks . . . . how could I refuse that, eh?

After 2 days, I hope he learned some things on the FLX.2- especially with the helico! – that’ll take him to the next level. As for me, I’m definitely on my way to making the Infinite as I piloted the most turns I’ve ever done in tumble. While it was only 5, I feel I’m getting what it takes to patiently take it step-by-step and focus on the trick, tumble-by-tumble.

Here’s the video.

As you’ll see, my braking is off and I miss a right input on the last tumble (could’ve kept it going if I nailed it). But I think with more practice, I feel – more than ever before! – that the Infinity is right there.

In the last few weeks, I took my new FLX.2 through a bunch of tricks both at the coast and over the lake. So far, I’ve obviously not only done the basics but also some difficult combos such as the helico-to-SAT, SAT-to-helico, twister, and misty-to-SAT . . . . the wing does it all. However, the Rhythmic SAT proved to be a bit elusive last weekend as I mistakenly applied what I successfully did on the FLX to the FLX.2 and I had deflations on every attempt. I just couldn’t get it going like I did here.  But after some advice from one of my Austrian acro buddies, I made some adjustments and it started to work. The Deuce is a beautiful wing but very sensitive to a mistimed brake input or unintentional weight-shift and will definitely let you know where you go wrong. This incredible wing from Felix, Dav, and the rest of the design team will do everything if the right thing’s done . . . . at the right time. I’m getting over the water in a few weeks again so I look forward to refining my technique and getting the Rhythmic dialed in. In less than 2 months, I’ll be Avigliana, Italy representing the US in the World Air Games so I need to get ready!

More pics with the FLX.2 at Mussel Rock (photo above by Jim Jennings):

A few Saturdays ago, I was finally able to get over the water since October, so my goal was to focus on the rhythmic and getting to tumble, which would set me up to make the infinite in the very near-future. Not since September have I had the chance to really focus on it, so it was really encouraging that, on my very first attempt, I was already getting over the wing. This would also be the case on every attempt I made thereafter, which gave me lots of encouragement. I have a great video of one of those flights, and got some very detailed feedback from my acro buddies in Europe who both think that, with more practice using their advice, I will make the infinite very soon!

Here’s the video.

Even though I ended up in my wing on the last tow (that’ll be on a bloppers video) which tore some uppers and snapped a brake main (!), I’ll be towing again next week on the FLX with some new replacement lines. Perhaps I will get the FLX.2 by then, but I don’t think I’ll be that lucky!