Comps series: Why fly paragliding competitions?

For many pilots, free-flying is their time-out from a hectic life. It’s a time for relaxation, for reconnecting with nature. Meditative, almost. It’s not about racing. It was this way for Koen Vancampenhoudt at first, albeit pursued with enthusiasm verging on obsession. His desire to fly more, longer and further, to become a better and safer pilot, was always for the sheer art, freedom, and pleasure of free flying.

But gradually he discovered that competition had lots of plus-points, none of which were necessarily anything to do with winning. His article in issue 190, from which this extract is taken, explains why a little competition might be just what you need to take your flying on a level:

THE CONCEPT of “competition” was anathema to the sensation of freedom I found in running off mountains and flying up and away on my own accord. The concept of “racing paragliders” left me cold, in my distaste for time-frames, flying windows, rules and regulations; forever messing with instruments on launch, waiting in crowded start-lines… Not to mention the horrors of scrambling for a place in overcrowded and chaotic start gaggles.

However, as I found myself chasing ever-longer XC-distances, and especially, after being convinced by my Brazilian flying buddy Michel to participate in a regional weekend comp in Roca Sales (Southern Brazil), I realised that I needed to review my old prejudices and that I was ready to burst through my flying bubble. I had awakened to the enormous learning potential that flying with many other great pilots of all levels in a comp-setting offers. I needed to fly faster, in order to fly further.

Fly Further

You fly 85km somewhere, on your own, and you think you did great. But maybe a competition-style lead gaggle, or a more astute pilot, might have flown maybe 120km on the same day? How are you to find out, flying Lone Ranger style?

I soon had another chance to experience a few days of comp-flying, this time in Roldanillo, Colombia. Again, tons of learning, and I felt the tasks had been a fantastic tool; not only for optimising air-time and flight performance, but also for maximising site reconnaissance. I would like to share some thoughts on a few crucial benefits of participating in comps, which not only enhance our flying but also make signing up attractive for pilots of less competitive nature. It’s not only, “just about racing”.

Site Exploration

Comps are a great way to explore a flying site. Good tasks will be designed according to the day’s conditions and forecast, to optimise the day’s flying potential and to guarantee a good percentage of pilots making goal. Over a few days you’re likely to explore several routes, and you will be challenged to go places and push the bar. And the best part is: you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself; the sky is mapped out with pilots! Faster pilots ahead, slower pilots behind you. Tens or maybe hundreds of wings in the air: thermal markers everywhere.

LEARNING

Most of us are eager to climb the fastest and highest. We train and fine-tune our skills to find thermals and ride them up to cloudbase as quickly as possible. What better way to do a reality-check on how polished your skills really, than by comparing with the other thermal-suckers out there?  Glider-skills are one thing – you can learn those by yourself; Strategy and decision-making are something else – the result of years of practice and experience. When to leave a thermal and move on; when to go full bar or when to slow down; when or where to be aggressive; where to be conservative? Which line to take, and when to change cloud streets? And to discover what a fateful difference those last 100 metres below base can make if you start transitioning too early and the lead gaggle gets up and away from you, and no amount of speed bar can save you.

Logistics

So how cool is it to have a shuttle pick you up and take you to launch in the morning? You’ll probably get a picnic-box or a snack as well! One of the biggest advantages of comps is having retrieve set up. How many huge XC flights are never flown, due to concerns of how to get back? How about landing, sending out a message, and chilling while you wait for the comp-shuttle to pick you up? Priceless! Retrieve alone compensates for the comp fee, and sets you free to go all out.

Community

I don’t want to judge people one way or the other, but most paragliding pilots that I have met over the many years and sites, are “pretty darn’ cool people”. Lots of them have travelled, have exposed themselves to different cultures and languages. They’re open minded, often good athletes, and generally healthy people. Most like to enjoy life and to fly high, and have many amazing stories to tell. Comps are great opportunities to meet people and run into them again in different places (hopefully not in the air). Add a few good parties in to that flying circus to solidify friendships, and it won’t be long before you too have found your own part in the incredible international flying subculture. See you up there!