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Click image for more picturesRick Heatley: Tandem P.I.T. (Pilot In Training)

With a forecasted stable lapse rate (read: smooth conditions) Paul and I decided that today would be a perfect day for Rick to have his first high flight as a tandem pilot.

As those of you who've been following the VIParagliding News know, Rick has been consistently working on his tandem skills at the Training Hill and has been making significant progress.

Click image for more pictures!Students David, Paul S., and Paul Mac all saw lots of action
As did Pierre, Charlie, Lee, and Rick!

After such a stellar flying day yesterday at Mt Prevost, we weren't that disappointed with the high pressure, northerly day we were greeted with today. The Training Hill was the place to be, somehow pulling in cycle after cycle of nice wind as the day went on.

Click image for more pics!After landing with Yvonne, I met up with Petra and her young family who had come along to see her fly tandem.

On this the second round of the day, only Rick and Shabe were going to fly again while everyone else had had their flying tanks filled so the skies, presumably, would be pretty open. Charlie was still trying to make his way back from Chemainus.

Click image for more pics!Two year wait for a tandem flight proved more than worthwhile and sweet solo flying all around!

I had a tandem scheduled with a childhood friend of mine today but it was rainy and foggy in the morning so I pushed it back an hour (after already having made the meeting time an hour later than normal because of the forecast). It was going to get better though, I just knew it.

Click image for more pics!Overcast, but unstable soaring for some free fliers
And then more tandem training for Rick (with passenger Paul), and solo training for Paul S.

Caught on the webcam: Click for bigger imageSoarable winds at Dallas Road. All...Day...Long

At this time of the year the seabreezes are pretty much gone so, instead, we rely on systems blowing through from the south. Hopefully they don't bring rain with them and, if they aren't too east or too west or too strong, we can soar the bluffs along Dallas Road in Victoria. Today was one of those days.

Click image for more photos!Paul S. flies tandem then his brother David solo trains
Rick and Paul M. each fly solo as well and then practice some tandems

Paul, Rick, and I had a later start to the day today, hoping that the weird clouds that had moved in would burn away and they did. Sort of.

Click image for more pics!Tandems for Connie, Holly, and Dalton
Solos for Shabe, Lee, Simon (!), and Rick

Sunny with blue skies on Saltspring and lots of people keen to run off Mt Maxwell! After Shabe executed a fine forward to start the day, I was next with Connie from Nanaimo. Her son had set up a tandem flight for her birthday and she was excited to paraglide!

Click image for more photosSolo training for John, Nathaniel, and Oliver
Tandem training for Rick (with Charlie and Fynn!)
Mountain flights for John and I, Mark, and Rick

After the 'Summer End/Parahangar Opening Party' Friday night, Mark, Rick, and I met up with father John and sons, Nathaniel and Oliver, at the Training Hill by 10am.

Kuno joins Caroline and I for some island soaring

Hailing from France's northwest region of Brittany, Caroline is spending a year in Canada working and travelling the country. She joined Kuno and I on sunny Saltspring Island today for what turned out to be some nice thermal flying.