The perfect wing

If the wind is too strong for hang-or paragliding, there are other toys, and Ecki quickly got them up the mountain. It was fun trying to fly this wing - Ecki has already mastered it, while it looked like wild, uncontrollable aerobatics when I tried to steer it ;)
The northerly was howling first, and it didn´t look too promising for flying, but then the wind died down and we were finally able to take off from Kronplatz. It had rained a lot on Saturday, the lift was very weak, so I could not fly over to Sand to join Alex, Guido and Regina at the flying day.
No more comps here in northern Europe this year, but they just finished the Santa Cruz Flats in Arizona. Congratulations to Kraig Coomber for winning that great comp after 7 tasks, Jonny Durand came 2nd and Carl Wallbank 3rd. Moyes rules!

Italian Breakfast

It was the greatest joy this morning when Alex taught me how to use the big pro cappuccino machine here in the hotel "Gran Paradiso". I managed the coffee, just the milk did not quite turn into the perfect "Bauschaum"-froth. I think I have to try again... ;) Oli, you would marry me for this cappuccino, best one I ever made!

Flying with Regina and Alex

Yesterday Regina and I went to St Cassian to visit Alex Ploner and go flying in the Dolomites together. His friend Roman went up the mountain with us, so we were four hang gliders in the air. Even though the forecast was marginal, we had a beautiful flight from Kronplatz. We filmed a lot, Im just reading everything into the computer, and we will edit a nice short movie soon. This weekend there will be a big party of flight at Sand in Taufers, but the weather looks quite dreadful. We will see. Tomorrow we might have a chance to fly again, and then Saturday. It is like a holiday here, just great scenery, friendly people and a secret language called "Ladinisch". More tomorrow.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

And the heli-taxis are still buzzing the city of Sao Paulo. I just arrived this morning and will only be back on Monday, so if I don´t answer telephone calls, might be because we are 5 hours back in time here in Brazil. The sun is out, but when we landed this morning, it was quite gusty. Up to 48 km/h at only 1000m... the clouds look a little blown apart, so I will just go training in the gym and if I am brave enough, in the cold pool too (it gets below 10 degrees these winter nights, and the water is not heated...)

Somewhere in Bavaria

Back in Germany, up to adidas to Herzogenaurach where I met a few of the other outdoor athletes today. Amazing people doing incredible stuff, I am so lucky to have this chance. There are journalists from the international press interviewing us for outdoor magazines, and we got to see the center of the shoe development, superinteresting! Now I know why the adidas gear works so well... ;)
Tomorrow we will go climbing with some of the best, like Thomas Huber and Beat Kammerlander. We had a blast when those guys were trying to show us the way to the hotel with their gps and got really lost ;) ;) at least they find their way in the mountains!

Kolkata, India

After a brief stay in Munich with a lot of rain and cold, I am glad to be back in summer. Stinking hot and humid here, it is not yet midday, and you see the clouds already overdeveloping... won´t be long before the first rain of the day!
Im in Kolkata for the first time and now Im curious to explore this vast place of 11 million inhabitants. Behind the hotel, there is a soccer field (the one you see on the photo), so it is amazingly quiet - the most quiet night I ever had in India, usually you hear the cars and tuk tuks honking all night.

My friend the camel and me - Cairo, Timezone UTC +2

I had a great flight from Oslo to Frankfurt with Scandinavian Airlines. I was allowed to sit in the cockpit of the 737-600 and had a look down on Bremen, my home, which looks very similar to Oslo, except beer is a lot cheaper ;)
In Cairo I always have to go to the pyramids and find a friendly camel to ride. We had great fun with those beautiful animals. Finally somebody who understands and appreciates my jokes.

Meeting Morten

The reason for my trip to Oslo - Im writing an article for the Red Bulletin, talking to Morten Harket, a conversation between artist and athlete. Not so much about music in particular, but about life, opinions, experiences, attitudes - it was fantastic and very inspiring, and a little difficult to keep my brain switched on when he started smiling at me ;) I could write a book now, trying to catch at least a few of all the topics we were talking about, God and the world, I could go on soaring around the philosophical skies with him forever.

Holmenkollen

Today Georgia and Oyvind took me to Holmenkollen - some time ago, they had been able to fly from a hill around the corner from the big ski jump ramp, but now there are too many buildings everywhere. What a great view of the Oslo Fjord though!
We also went to the beach at the old airport of Oslo, there is still a small, visible part of the runway, now used for roller hockey. Oyvind said they used to aerotow there, but now they built too many obstacles. Too bad, it looks like a great place to find seabreeze convergence. Except it must be very difficult with the airspace restrictions of Oslo.
This is one of the most beautiful big cities in the world, as it feels very small and comfortable, with a lot of trees and nature. And forests full of chanterelle and porcini mushrooms! I would love to live here in summer, but summer really is too short, and winter too long and dark. It is nice to sit in front of the fire place in winter, but I am always glad to escape to the south for some flying in warmer climates ;) yet I really want to go to Vaga and Voss - maybe they could organize the next Women´s and Rigid Worlds in Vaga?

Oslo, Vigeland Sculpture Park

Early on Saturday, I flew up to Oslo. The first surprise was the purser of my flight - Britta is a friend from my first flight attendant training, and she is also a fan of a-ha and Morten and was thrilled to hear where I was going...
In Oslo, I took the bus to get to Helsfyr where Georgia picked me up and brought me to her and Oyvinds flat. She spoilt me with some pao de queijo, my favourite Brazilian delicacy - and confused me completely with that, because I was still in Caracas jetlag and with the familiar smell of those little crispy cheese rolls, I thought I was in Brazil, not in Norway.
Georgia and Oyvind took me to Vigeland Sculpture Park in the afternoon, as I had never been there before. Amazing to see so many sculptures in a park!
In the evening, Oyvind took me to Ulleval Stadium for the a-ha concert. The first time ever that I heard them in Norway. Pål seemed more ecstatic than ever on stage, it was fun watching him, as he obviously enjoyed playing and being on stage. Mags entertained the audience and I was happy that I got some subtitles every now and then from the people around me, as my Norwegian is not quite that fluent anymore.
The light show had advanced a great deal from the Buenos Aires stage, but the absolute highlight of the evening was Morten´s heavenly voice, crystal clear, absolutely on top of every key! It was the best performance of him that I have heard so far. And I guess also the other 30000 people in the stadium appreciated it, even if they did not express their enthusiasm as openly as the South Americans. Audience wise it looked very much like a concert in Germany. Well I guess German fans are a bit more hysteric than the people in Norway.
Sunny but very windy in Oslo today. I will meet Bjørn and his Italian mountaineer friends tonight for dinner and then have an interview for the Red Bulletin magazine tomorrow. Can´t wait!

Caracas, Timezone UTC - 4:30

As short as the stay in Venezuela is, it is still always very relaxing. It is hot, about 35 degrees, and a little overcast in the mountains behind us. I have been training this morning in the pool, fantastic to have such a big pool on my own, while the others are having breakfast.
In one hour, we will go back to the airport to fly home, aout a 9 hour trip on an airbus 340-600 with about 300 passengers.

Early morning in Frankfurt

This morning I got up at 3.50 am to catch the first flight to Frankfurt. I have to work and go to Caracas today, looking forward to that very much! At the moment Im waiting in Frankfurt for my briefing. I was a bit tired, but luckily it is possible to take the small Red Bull Shot through the passenger security control now! That one saved me from falling asleep here at the Lufthansa base ;) Now the passengers can come, I have wings and will run fast for them.
Weather forecast is for rain in Venezuela today at the coast, but nice and warm, and sun for tomorrow. If Im lucky I will briefly meet Patrick, a pilot friend of mine who will work on the flight back today.

Best friends

This photo was taken in Spain at the European Championship in Ager. My father found these two beautiful sunflowers close to the goal at Vilamitjana for Regina and me, and when I looked at the photo, I thought I should introduce you to my best friend in hang gliding for many years.
Regina Glas has been the team leader for our "open" team at the Euro´s and Worlds, and she is a member of our women´s team when we are flying the women´s worlds. Also she is probably the one who put the biggest effort into organizing the Women´s World Championships at Tegelberg this year. She is one of the most patient and good hearted people I know. And one of the most dedicated to our sport of hang gliding and paragliding. Regina is working for the DHV, the German hang- and paragliding association, where she helps to promote a positive public image of our sport.
Many people have confused her and me, even though our "dialects" are extremely different: I am from Bremen, from the very north of Germany, and Regina is from the southern part of Bavaria close to Tegernsee. Even pre-world Champion Manfred Ruhmer can´t always tell us apart ;)
This year, Regina had trouble with the discs of her back and had been in big pain for a while. I hope all is good again and she can fly very soon. I know that Regina went to Slovenia for the Kobala Open, and even though she might not, as planned, be able to participate, Im sure she will take some great photos and write updates for us on the DHV home page. I wish I could be there as well, but I have to work on a flight to Caracas this week. Too early to take Claudia back home I guess, Jamie and her are in Tolmin as well.

Luanda, Timezone GMT + 1

People are friendly and helpful, and after asking a few times, I understand their Portuguese. Food in the supermarkets is expensive, as almost everything is imported. About twice the price of the same goods in Germany. Even fruit and vegetables that I thought were local produce are extremely high priced. Apparently the land is still full of mines from the civil war, so it cannot be used extensively for agriculture. But I found no coconuts, no big yams, nothing that I would expect here. There are women on the streets with big baskets full of bananas, plantains, oranges and (small) avocados. I have seen goiabada and feijoada in the shops and restaurants, the food definitely has a Brazilian influence .
So how does the average Angolan survive here? I have no idea how they can afford all these goods. Even rice, pasta and bread are twice as much, and a can of Red Bull in the supermarket is around 2,30 €!
Well the average flight attendant survives by bringing some of her own cans of Red Bull, and enjoys the ready made organic vegetarian curries bought in india a while ago, as it is too difficult to find some food without meat or fish in some of these countries that still regard meat in the food as a status symbol. I read a great article in the "Zeit" newspaper yesterday about vegetarianism these days, that people become more aware of what killing an animal means (and the torture of animals in mass production) when it is unneccessary in our times and western European countries. It was the leading article on the cover! Quite impressive for a German newspaper.

Luanda, Angola

So I am in Luanda for the first time. All I knew is that it used to be a Portuguese colony and that they had a long collaboration with East Germany, it was one of the Interflug destinations, connecting East Berlin and Luanda directly.
Also, it is the most expensive city and our most expensive crew hotel in the world. Don´t expect luxury - it is just clean, has power, and is airconditioned, but not exactly quiet or anything posh. Because we arrive in the morning and leave in the evening, they charge for two nights, which is 800 US $ per room per stay!!!
I have not walked around this place yet, but it is supposed to be very expensive in the shops as well. I have no idea how a "normal" person can survive here. Probably by cleaning out a plane ;)
On the photos the views from my hotel room.

Cairo, then Luanda

After coming back from Monte Cucco, I had a day trip to Cairo and back, just enough to see the Pyramids in the haze. Coming back, they already called me for the next work trip to Luanda (Angola). Washing, ironing, packing the suitcase again, flying up to Franky and now off to Luanda.
Ive never been there, but I know that they speak Portuguese in Angola, and maybe some German with and East German dialect? Lucky I had a bit of language training last week during the pre-worlds with my friends from the Brazilian team...
More pictures once I am there, tomorrow early morning. I brought my mozzie net and I hope I can keep the Malaria guys out!

Where are the Russians???

First of all, the teams got their trophies yesterday at the award ceremony of the pre-worlds. The Italian team won again (like in Ager at the Europeans), ahead of the Austrians and the French, followed by Britain and Brazil. The Brazilians won the Cucco Worlds in 1999 and are keen to do that again next year. My team (Roland, Gerd, Christian, Markus and me) was in 7th place, the second German team ("Teambuktu" with Monique, Stefan Boller, Uli Eysel, Jörg Bajewski, Stefan Kohlmeistern, Konrad Schwab and Stephan Mangelsdorf) ended in 17th and team "Bavaria" in 21st out of 38 teams.
After the teams they tried to call us women on stage, but where were the Russian women? No Yulia, no Natalia in sight! So Flavio called the top ten guys instead. Roland Wöhrle was the best German pilot in 10th place! Manfred won, followed by Jonny and Mario.
We were about to leave when I saw Natalia and sent her to Flavio to get her trophy and to take a photo. When I arrived there, she was gone, but Yulia was there... Finally we found Natalia again too and managed to take a photo with the top 3 women of the comp: Yulia in 1st, me in 2nd and Natalia in 3rd. I am sorry that Yulia has to go back to Moscow now to try and get a new visa. The fires around Moscow are still burning and are turning the air in and around the city into a very unhealthy fog.
The next days I have to work standby for Lufthansa and I have no idea yet where they will send me to.

Pre-Worlds Premiazione

At 10 am, we will have the award ceremony of the pre worlds at Monte Cucco in the centre square of Sigillo where we had the awards for the world championships two years ago.
Manfred won the comp, Jonny came 2nd and Mario 3rd. Roland is the top ranked German pilot in 10th place, a very good result! Then it is Hans in 25th, me in 36th, Gerd 37th, Markus 65th. Yulia won the women´s ranking with a great overall result of 21st! Natalia is 3rd in 61st, tehn Carole, Monique and Christa.
More later after the awards.

Monte Cucco Task 4: 80 km around 4 turnpoints

It rained and stormed all night, and it was very wet in the morning, with a cloudbase way below take off. We went to Cucco South take off anyway, but we had a late briefing and start of the day. Slowly base was rising, but then it looked a bit like the top of the clouds was rising too fast... By 15.20 when our startgate opened, it already rained behind take off.
Yet the task of 81 km around 4 turnpoints was not stopped or cancelled. Lift was strong and reliable, but here and there we saw some showers. Luckily no lightening or thunder. When we came back along take off, the rain had gone and the last part or our task up to Scheggia looked sunny again.
Jeff O´Brien (US) won the day with a very low and marginal final glide into goal at Vila Scirca. Overall Manfred stays in the lead, but Primoz will have dropped out of the top 3 today, and Jonny moved probably up. Great effort – Jonny´s carbon leading edge was broken on take off so he had to fly a different glider, then he had forgotten his shoes and hopped off in thongs. Maybe the pilots´party was a bit intense last night?

Pre-Worlds Day 7: cancelled for rain

We went to Gubbio yesterday for a tourist day, to look at some of our turnpoints of two years ago. It is a nice ridge that usually works fine, with really good landing fields around, but now it is in the restricted airspace, so we can´t use it this year.
there were spectacular storms in the afternoon and this morning, with some beautiful rainbows inbetween, and now it is one wave of rain moving through after the other. with low clouds and and cold air. It feels a bit like autumn already. The day was cancelled at the first briefing this morning and gives us more time to explore this unique area. Tomorrow, the day after the frontal zone, looks like the best day of the whole week, so we will have a last, big task to fly which makes the end of the comp interesting.