paragliding injury at Daniel's today

[Flying Lobster]

Well, as Steve the K mentioned elsewhere, it was a great day at Daniel's today.

Right sfter launching I could not rock back in my harness, even after struggling and loosening the straps. This put me in a nearly vertical stand up position with all of my weight concentrated on the two leg straps where they cross the groin area--pressing and constricting at the same time. Needless to say this was very uncomfortable--and the more uncomfortable it got the better the soaring conditions became.

My paraglider is an exceptionally good climbing glider--but never in my life have I hated thermals as much as I did today. Paragliders transmit the increased pressure from rising air throught the risers--which unfortunately where basically anchored to my, eh, frontal probe, as it were. So if hanging by your nuts isn't bad enough--imagine adding the extra tugging of a good core--I was constantly saying "oh no, not another thermal..." and when the glider hit the core..."AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH"

I tried pulling big ears, but for some reason the glider would surge strongly forward and getting a frontal collapse with ears at that point seemed like it might result in a permanent sex change, so I continued blundering through thermals "Ouch....Oh no, not another one....please let this be a wealk core...AAAAAAYYYY."

Since I could barely walk after landing, I decided to track down the LZ owner for some intel and had a nice discussion with him--he seems like a pretty happy camper and is pleased with flying there (as long as there continues to be no liability risk to him).

Happy Holidays my frisky ponies,
marc