SAFA Skysailor Magazine

16 SKY SAILOR September | October 2022 The topography is one issue, another is that I flew like rubbish, crossed the valley twice, lost heaps of time, even when the gaggle that took off from Peña Montañesa, caught up with me, I couldn’t stay with them. Actually, I wanted to take a deep line straight north, but didn’t trust my guts, instead, I deviated with the others, crossed to Castejón de Sos and we all got stuck there for ages with easterly wind. Where the heck was this wind coming from? I didn’t understand the air and felt like a beginner. I chose my own scenic route, talked to myself, breathed, sang, set small goals, used all the techniques I’ve learned over years, and kept going. I made some mistakes that put me very low, close to the main ridge of the Pyrenees, fighting in the strong valley wind and turbulence, but there was no way I would land, I was flying to France today. I made it work and soon surfed the main Pyrenees ridge. It was quite pretty, even if it took me four hours to fly 40km, I did it, I didn’t have to hike it. It might have been the most challenging 40km in my life, but there I was, soaring the sheer rock faces and finally gliding high over the low clouds covering the north side of the Pyrenees. I glided well and hoped I could figure out how to progress further against the strong northerly valley wind.The gaggle had already landed on the last reasonable field, but I hooked onto a spur and tried to decipher the puzzle. I love puzzles like this and was stubborn, tried different ways, but every time got flushed back, couldn’t figure out anything worth committing into the valley with absolutely no landings. Finally, I turned back and landed on that last good field, two hours behind the gaggle of six who had been well behind me that morning. I was pissed that I flew badly and lost much time, it would take me a while to understand what I’d achieved, in the state I was in after yesterday’s stress and exertion, I flew the same flight as the gaggle of these great pilots, mostly alone, crossed the main ridge of the Pyrenees low over the commiting terrain, in rough air, and held it together all the way. It might have been one of the toughest flights of my life, but I stuck to it and made it work. It’s easy when you’re rested, happy and in the flow. Holding it all together when nothing works and you’re mostly scared and exhausted, and other pilots (you had put so much energy and good decisions in to leave behind) just fly in front of you... Well, the push is what racing is all about. With my five minutes of whining over, it was time to hit the road and chase the boys! My X-Pyr