I don not use the word amazing very often..It has been overused in my opinion and therefore lost its impact...I once slept with a girl who told me the morning after I was amazing..."maam you are welcome ..."I said to myself inside a head swelling so much I had a stiff neck...when we finished our breakfast in the cafe she said "that was amazing..." "bitch..."my completely deflated ego said to itself..like I say...overused...this .season HAS been amazing but it is playing its swansong, the sun is further away in the cosmos every day. The heli practice continues for a while but although it’s still perfectly flyable most days gaining real height for manoeuvres is getting difficult. A slow but immediate release from the deep stall seems to work the best but it’s still very tough work getting all three stages, entry, rotation and exit right consistently. Weightshifting in the rotation also helps to keep it stable. Inevitably with learning this type of flying I do end up with another sick set of twists and a locked in spiral on one occasion, but it’s amazing how just having seen and been through something like this once gives you the confidence to stick at the recovery attempt that much longer. I decide not to back down from the bully after my previous experience and even though it’s hi G spiralling with twists I am determined to make a decent effort at kicking them out and within half a dozen or so revs I am able to untwist the risers, stop the spiral and regain normal flight. I am also so pumped with adrenaline by this time I let out a screaming celebratory yell that can certainly be heard through the entire valley and probably as far away as London. At this point I feel like fuckin superman. (this is more a reference to my state of mind than any sexual desire towards men in blue tights with belts round their outside undies)
Within a week or two the season ends in Organya and the rain starts to fall in earnest. Within a month or so the mountain tops will begin to turn white and the beautiful summer days and near constant sunshine I have enjoyed here for so long will be just a beautiful memory. The approaching winter has forced the native out of me and once again I must become accustomed to wearing shoes and shirts. I say goodbye to the many good friends I have made here who’s hospitality has known no bounds and have made me feel so welcome. Tentative plans are made for reunions on the rebound in the spring. Contact details are exchanged. My accro scoreboard goes something like this. Wingover/loop 100%, assemetric 360 100%, sat 100%, rhythmic sat 75%, dynamic fullstall 100%`, helico 35%, infinity tumble, don’t take the piss. I have learned loads.
My plan is to head south and spend the winter flying the coastal sites from Alicante to Aluminacar and the mountains from the Sierra Nevada to Andalucia. Southern Spain is the only place to be in Europe in winter and I am looking forward to spending lots of time honing my thermalling skills ready to attack the best sites Eastern Europe and Asia have to offer next year. I am almost shaking with excitement at the prospect of flying the mountains in The Alps, Slovakia, Pakistan and the Himalaya to name just a few. Watch this space.
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