Marge Variano
Saturday, 11/13/10

So, I got up at launch in the house thermal and headed towards the Thermal Factory.  There were several gliders already up over the Thermal Factory and we had talked about flying to Padaro in Carpinteria.  I really wanted to go with them.  The real reason the whole event happened was I got greedy and wanted it too bad.  After falling out of 2 thermals, I turned too aggressively in the next one and the wing was still behind me from being hit by the thermal.  This was my first event on a DHV-2 wing.  I just moved up to this wing over the summer.

Attached is a link to the video I took on Saturday.  The camera was pointing up at the wing and I was going to re-set it when I got out of trashy air and went on glide but that never happened so I got this educational video instead.  It's been great to get feedback from veteran pilots about what happened and how to handle the situation.  I have to say the thing that made the most difference was not getting into a panic and staying calm.  Having been to several SIV with Eagle Paragliding and being coached by Brad Gunniscio made all the difference in the world.

After recovering the glider I thought about pushing on and turned in the next thermal which was ratty and then decided I had enough landed in Parma.

BTW... My vario read...1628 fpm up and 3287 fpm down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztWvxWUWH0o

Link to [Solicited Comment from SD]