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Award Winning Instruction
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2009 Monarca Open - Task 6
The start time was 12:30 and it seemed to be the perfect call. It was cracking at the start. The thermals were very strong and sharp. We saw lots of deflations, and everybody seemed to be a little more willing to give right of way and space considering the conditions. Atuk had a deflation that went into a cravat over Crazy Thermal Mesa. He managed to get the glider out of the spiral it wound up into, and surfed between trees with the cravat very low. He was able to barely get off the mesa with the cravat steering himself through the trees. That got everybody’s adrenaline pumping, and it sharpened us all up a bit as we readied ourselves to grab the pressure quickly if it disappeared. People were getting up high enough out in front of launch to make the transition to the Penon Zone. People were climbing on the spines below the Wall, and the Penon, and on the Wall itself. After everyone got established the place to be was Crazy Thermal Mesa once again. Pilots were climbing nice in the G spot at times, and even between Crazy Thermal and the Penon. There were many pilots high at the start, and everybody headed out toward the ridge which leads to Divisa. Some of the pilots took a line out front, and managed to get a bit of altitude. Pilots weren’t stopping to turn until they got very low and had no choice but to tank up. Some of the pilots kept flying on glide to where the ridge swings out toward the west. Most pilots got some altitude out to the west and dove around the corner to grab the turn point at Divisa. A handful of pilots got decent climbs before the turn point and were able to avoid surfing around the corner. They flew over the top of the rock and went directly to the turn point, and were able to turn back around with enough altitude to avoid having to surf around the rock. Pilots were happy to have more of a tail wind as they raced back towards Maguey. A few pilots made a play directly to Cerro Gordo from Divisa trying to make a fast line. We never saw them again. The leaders pushed on towards Maguey only turning to grab enough altitude to arrive there and have enough altitude to be on the mesa. The leaders were stuck at Maguey for a bit and the chase gaggle arrived just as Jamie Messenger and some others found it out to the south in the valley a bit. It came together nicely and everybody tanked up before we made the move for Cerro Gordo. A few pilots took a bold line toward St. Augustine, and a couple of them connected. Most of the leaders came in Cerro Gordo, and we could see a pilot out past Cerro Gordo toward the lake pretty high and still climbing. Four or five of the lead gaggle went for this thermal and connected and a handful of others fished and found nothing out there. These pilots ended up getting low. It was a bit desperate, and the rest of the lead gaggle who had flown in from Maguey started to get it in the lee of Iglesia. The pilots who found this climb first got to the top of the stack and then pushed toward St. Augustine. The pilots who were lower followed with less altitude. Some pilots were coming in from Maguey to the back side of Escalares and got climbs to join pilots turning at Escalares. The leaders were now climbing at St. Augustine, and behind Sacamacate as well. The clouds were showing the convergence line, and the leaders got to base and put it on glide toward the Saucos turn point. The chase gaggle made the same move and followed the cloud street to Saucos. The chase gaggles and leaders passed each other 3km from Saucos, which meant the leaders had a 6km lead. The convergence was in full bloom and the leaders were going to be impossible to catch. There weren’t many turns after Saucos. Pilots surfed the convergence line back toward St. Augustine, and some took a line towards Sacamacate. Most pushed in the mesa looking for a climb to base where the clouds were set up. It didn’t happen but the air was very buoyant, and pilots were maintaining altitude as they moved along the edge of the mesa. Some of the pilots from Saucos made up time by cutting the corner and heading more towards Escalares. It was smooth sailing from here. Some of the pilots tanked up after Iglesia just to be sure they had goal. Most pilots arrived high with altitude at goal. It was a great way to end a wonderful week of flying. I looks like Yassen will be the winner, Brad Gunnuscio and Stefan Wyss will fight for second, and Jamie Messenger may sneak in there. We will have to wait for the awards ceremony to see how it shakes out. We owe a big thanks to the team at Alas Del Hombre and the Nextel Extreme team. The folks put on quite a show. Valle De Bravo is such consistent flying, and it’s set up to run amazing competitions. However, the people who organize, and volunteer to help with this event are the reason it is so special, and why we can’t help but come back year after year. There is such a positive vibe from the people in Valle, and everyone involved in the event that you find yourself feeling good and smiling most all of the time. Unless you sink out and don’t make goal of course. Calvo did wonderful job as meet director. He is a true professional, and is well in command of his job. Be sure to check in with us in two weeks for the paragliding worlds. You can be sure we will be here reporting the daily activities, which will include video and other fun stuff. Until then, goodbye from Valle De Bravo. We will post results as soon as they become available. Rob sporrer reporting form the pit.       
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