From: Benson
Activity_Date: 2.2.02
Remote Name: 208.3.185.37
My second day on my Airwave Sport was great fun. I launched behind SD and TP. Working up the ridge was so slow Tom had to wait for SD and I had to wait for Tom in order to allow enough space to work the lift. It was mostly fig 8s to the top of the ridge with steady gains of ten to 15 feet per turn. Transitioning over to the pyramid I got stuck in a canyon for twenty minutes or so, but finally got high enough to make the jump to Pyramid. I was eyeballing cozy Dell trail for landing options for a moment.
John came in above me at the pyramid just in time to see me take a full front tuck in the rowdy air. After working my way up the spine I came into Nordhoff where TP was topping out at 56. I had been here just a few weeks ago for some time so it felt like familiar territory. The new glider allowed me to work the lift more efficiently and I topped out at 5300 and headed for Three Stooges. I got a fair glide into the light east and got an extender over the Stooges which was going bring me to the ridge about 50 ft below Twin Peaks.
As I approached TP I started getting lift so I headed for a higher intercept and wound up flying straight up the ridge to 4750 without a turn. I have struggled up this spine so many times it was a special treat to float up without effort. It did take some time to get above launch. Since SD had suggested that we top-land at Chiefs and regroup, I gave it a look. I made two passes but the flags were stiff and it felt like there might be rotor in the set-up area behind launch so I passed.
By now John had joined me, but TP was over TP (Twin Peaks) in a convergence and climbing above launch. I headed down the ridge without loosing much alt, joined Tom and flew to E Repeater.
Being out of time I opted for a Summit School landing. The convergence was working so I played in it for some time, flew almost to Bocallies and back to SS for a fold on the grass.
The Sport turns beautifully, and seat steers better than anything I have flown yet.
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