https://issuu.com/us_hang_gliding_paragliding/docs/ushpapilot1904_issu_68d23770c1b65a/52

On March 24, 2019 I flew my first 100-kilometer XC flight. It was a big day for
me as a developing pilot, with personal records set and many lessons learned.
Fortunately, none of the lessons were the kind that lead to unwanted landings in
strange fields or send you to Urgent Care. It was a very good day.

I began entering competitions in 2018, starting In March with the Green Swamp
Sport Klassic. The Green Swamp is a sport-class competition that matches
intermediate pilots with mentors who coach them through a week of cross-country
flying in a competition environment. As an Oregon Hang-3 pilot flying some
fairly tricky local sites, I was at the frustrating cusp where I didn’t have the
thermaling skills to get high enough and far enough to find more thermals and
improve my thermaling and XC skills. The Green Swamp looked like the perfect
crucible to move my game up a notch.

Green Swamp 2018 was great. I had my first out-landings (disregarding landing on
the wrong beach in 2006). I flew 40 km on my best day. I never made goal. With
the encouragement of other pilots and bolstered by great experiences, I
proceeded to compete in sport-class competitions in Texas, Arizona, and Mexico.
“Compete” is a strong word, as I never made goal and always finished in the
bottom 25%. With my intermediate XC skills, I thought of myself as more of a
“participant.”

March of 2019 found me back in Florida for my second Green Swamp. Not wanting to
ship my glider across the country again, I purchased a new Moyes Gecko to fly
and store in Florida. Saturday I took two short test flights on my new glider,
which went very smoothly.