Alex, although he had a poor launch, had one of his best flights at Woodside: coring small thermals getting just above the South Noll.

Congrats to Peter for his first Woodside top landing. Peter was quite helpful today with his air to air guidance while I was setting up the next pilots, not to mention driving my truck when necessary.

Note: to all pilots – if you see a new pilot flying in a weird location, feel free to say something (directly to the pilot or myself).

Elena K, after a series of wingovers, completed her first spiral dive today: it took a few tries, the entry was slow, the spiral was sharp, the exit was off course – but she did it!

She just needs a few more spot landings and pass the 3 minute kiting tests for her Novice rating! Check here for more info:

Honourable mention to Wally for offering to drive down.

Elena T had five flights this weekend: although one launch was less than perfect the others were quite good and one was perfect (maybe she will write something up under my tips forum).

Honourable mentions to Aaron Price for completing his first tandem flight, and Gerry for his longest and highest flight ever at Sumas.

Elena had some amazing launches today – and apparently nice landings too; not to mention she did her first asymmetrical collapse. Honorable menstions to Wally for driving a huge crew of pilots up to 1100m.

Some amazing flights from many of my students this week: longest and highest flights to date, first flights off upper Bridal and best XC flights; but it was Grama Elena that blew me away with her two near perfect reverse launches and her generous offer to drive down two times today. Honorable mentions to Wally for his near record flight of seven plus hours; Stef’s first solo flight, and Elena T’s spot landing (less than 6’ away from the cone). Special thanks to Peter for his ATC work.

Elena T., with her keenest to fly every day, allowed her to have her best flight to date: hike and fly Upper Bridal.

Brad Murphy was amazing as usual: six tandems in two days (in tough conditions); landed a few more new students; not to mention drove down the truck allowing me to unwind on the Vitamin for the last flight at the end of the day – outstanding!

Honorable mentions to Wally and Jeremy W for their very long flights (51/2 hours).

Some impressive flying from Wally, Clif and Andrew these days, but I think Gerry took top marks for his first solo flights. After almost two and a half months he was finally up to the Deimos high standards and did his first solo flights – great to see how patience and some extra training time can really keep the launch safe and easy. Well done Gerry!

After a couple of years, Layne finally finished his novice rating - congrats! Too bad you had to leave you missed trhe free beers and dinner! Well free beer anyhow.

Finally a bull’s eye landing from JC (less than 6’ from the cone) – not to mention some nice launches. Keep up the good work! Honorable mentions to Jeremy W for his first top landing and Lawrence for his extra long flights (Wally would be proud)!

An amazing week of flying with lots of students excelling: Alex and Clif doing their first reverse launches, Lawrence and Laura’s amazing XC flights, or Wally’s endurance flight of six plus hours! But the student that stood out the most this weekend was Tonya, managing a huge crew of Deimosian and her own students like a pro; and in her one hour break, she flew almost to Cheam and back then top landed.

Jeremy out did himself with his personal best XC and subsequently the best for the BFAR event (more than 40 pilots) – I think they said it was 17km out and return.

Congrats to Wally, Laura for having one of her longest flights; and thanks to Wally for giving up his flight to drive down Woodside.

Laura did a couple of nice XC flights this week (to Cheam and back) including a couple of low saves – maybe next time we can fly to Butterfly and back? Honorable mentions to Wally for finishing the novice course including his first spiral dive.

A couple of pilots really stood out this week: Leon and Louise. Leon was super helpful at Burnaby Mountain teaching up to four new students, and did a great job to control a 60%+ collapse very low to the ground; and Louise solved the mystery of well timed wing overs and a spiral dive (-22 m/s she claims)! While Wally and I were fixing his truck, she stepped up to the plate and started coaching my newest student Allan - many thanks Louise!

Wally saved me again this week, sacrificing his truck to the Bridal gods (while my truck gets a new engine) - thanks Wally. The Bridal gods rewarded him with another 3+ hour mega flight almost to Upper Launch!

Elena (Grandma) managed to land her self, within 3m of the target, with zero guidance throughout her flight (because her radio battery went dead). Honorable mentions to Warren for his first solo flight.

An easy winner this week with Andrew out flying his instructor on day one of his first paragliding comp and finishing 2nd in his class and 6th over all in a tough field of about thirty pilots.

Great progress from John these days – he has a natural gift for this sport (too bad he waited so long to start paragliding). In just a few hours John has learned the basics of the A’s and D’s reverse launch and the Deimos “CCB” forward launch. Honourable mentions to Elena - for her strong progress lately.

Peter's been flying like a pro, lately he has been to Elk and back, and yesterday (with me) he completed his first valley crossing, and later finishing his day with a top landing. Honourable mentions to Wally, in just a couple of days he has logged more than six hours of air time. Both pilots have been incredibly helpful at any and all occasions - guiding students and offer drives up to launch.

After a year of practice Elena (Grandma) finally did her first solo flight off Bridal – well done!

Jeremy's first flight off the Chief, unfortunately conditions changed and I could not launch my tandem to help celebrate.

Zenon after more than a year finished his last novice maneuver (baby spiral) and exam to complete our course – well done. Honourable mentions to Peter and Andrew for their big XC flights and extra help today, and Wally for his three hour plus flight.

Some tough conditions for Wally today, but he manged them well, except for an almost spin landing. His offer to drive most of the rag-tag-pilots up to launch (twice) was well appreciated. Honorable mentions to Pattie for his big acro show.

Peter performed quite a few SIV maneuvers without any issues, and was extremely helpful throughout the day. Honorable mentions to Jeremy W for his first deep spiral dive and completing his novice rating.

After many months of patience, JC finally made the leap of faith and flew solo off Woodside – more flights coming soon!

Congrats are in order for Dans first big XC from Elk to Bridal Falls. Honorable mentions to Jeremy W for his first self guided landing into Riverside LZ and a few nice launches and smart aborts lately; and JC for his extra help throughout the day (driving).

Wally offered his truck for the day, as well as setting a new Deimos record for the longest student flight (with just one previous flight under his belt) - about 40 minutes at more than 1000' above launch. Honourable mentions to Jeremy W. for his epic flight of more than an hour and a half on his 22 flight.

First solo flights for Wil at Whidbey - it took about an hour for him to sort out his first flight (in the strong air).

Amazing reverse launch from Jeremy W. - one of his first from a high site.

Great flying from Peter today at Woodside as he had to eventually land due to cold hands.