|
Round-3
Toowoomba was our weekend penciled in for this Round.
I had been following the forecast with keen interest in the days leading up to the weekend. Initially it had looked very hopeful, however a upper level trough decided to form out west and pushed through to the coast creating the wind and upper level instabilty.
The best place to be was Toowoomba for the forecast, Inland and North, furthest from the approaching front.
The Saturday showed promise with the impending arrival and change of conditions.
Big Dad's Pies did a roaring trade while we gathered and did the Rego and waypoint Uploads.
Hardly a puff of air was moving on the drive from Brisbane.
There didn't seem to be any hurry to get going as it was still clamped down buy an inversion.
Off we went to Stringy Bark Creek
Wicked Wings newest site after much work in securing this great hill.
Very impressive, great face and huge Take Off area and great view down into the Lockyer Valley.
Alas, as we arrived the front started to hit. The sky had great development as the Cu's popped above our heads from the new and unstable airmass. Just starting to blow out , it was unlikely we would Fly today.
Fear not, Peter was quick to get the BBQ going and soon had us gathering under the the lone Tree having a snag and catching up with friends, enjoying the day out at least.
Sunday was going to be less spectacular but still worth the effort none the less.
We had arranged to meet back at Stringy Bark and as I arrived there were many gliders dotted around the ridge. There was a great dynamic flow from the Easterly post frontal conditions.
The Base and cloud cover were always going to be the problem for Sunday, none the less we knew there would be some flying to be had.
Didn't look like that on the instructions...............
After an hour or so of nice soaring things started to look slightly promising as the odd bubble came through propelling the gaggles to 800m.
That was it, Task On, 2km minumum and Open Distance for anyone game to drible over the back.
Dribble they did...... Grant Middendorf was the first to venture over with the local Wedge Tails marking the bubbles or was that chasing him ?
There was the odd patch of sun hitting the ground to create the crucial temperature difference to giving us those little bublle thermals to float to the huge 900m base by 1:30pm.
Tim & Dave took advantage of this, with Dave revelling in the English like conditions.
Next was Gavin, in bubble cling mode and looking for any form of a lift line he could sniff out.
Many hours Airtime was had and the huge distance of 17.5km was milked out by Gavin Zahner to claim the day and claw a few points closer to the Top Dog of the moment, Lloyd.
The Wicked Wings Club is truly a great group of people all gathering to make this Sport of ours survive in these turbulent times. They never cease to amaze me with their great attitude and the now Famous BBQ on Launch !! There are not many people who go to such great lengths to accomodate and encourage visitors to their sites.
I have to say a Special thanks to Peter Schwenderling for coordinating the event and Richard, who was on
Bomb Out duties making sure everyone had the chance to have a fly.
Of course the rest of the club members were all crucial in making the Toowoomba weekends a very memorable occassion.
 |
|
|
Round-3 | 2008 |
