The Circus

From: T. Pipkin
Activity_Date: 3/3/02
Remote Name: 209.178.161.14

Comments

There's nothing like the atmosphere at launch the day after a local pilot, (Ojai John), flys from Nordhoff to Parma. We saw faces that we hadn't seen in over a year. 12+ PG, 6+ HG pilots. Launch was maxed out.

I was 3rd off, not wanting to get stuck in the bottle neck. 100' from take-off, hands off brakes & postioning my speed system, I got drilled from the left by a thermal that turned my wing directly at the hill on the right. The flight almost ended right there. I managed to find the left brake & pull-off an ugly high banked turn away. The next time I let go of the brakes was 3hr 40min later after landing in Carpinteria. "Lesson learned".

Topped out over Nordhoff Pk. at 6400', then heard Tony say the west wind was starting to push through. Thats all I needed to hear & started glide to jump the canyon. connected at 4k & had a fairly easy climb to the top ridge behind White Ledge.

Wanted to let SD go over the pass 1st so I could watch his route, but things were going well & I could hear reports from pilots behind fighting to stay on course, so I pushed on. Tried to hold on to the high ground, it seemed to work well.

Crossed east divide, SD caught me at west divide. This is where the flight really became fun! SD pointed-out land marks I've only heard about. As I followed him west, SD coached me through an up wind flight 1 mi. short of Parma. He explained & demonstrated how to work lee side convection, & the safety/hazards of wind shadows. I'm sure SD has helped me become a safer pilot.

Once at Montecito Pk., the strong west prevented us from continuing on so we turned back (east), working the low road to Carpinteria. We both came down close to the High School.

Lots of low saves, a few collapses & even learned some new tricks. Fun day. Thanks Eddy for retrieve & SD for the education.