Pioneer Day is to Utah what Fourth of July is to the United States.
We celebrate the 'founding' of Utah with fireworks, BBQ's, and the like. Well... in the spirit of Pioneer Day, Shadd Heaston and I decided to head over to a 'new' site we've been scouting. The forecast was for big lift, but a Northerly winds aloft forecast didn't bode well for our West/South West facing prospective site. But it's Pioneer day, so we went...
We found this site because Shadd had been looking for a site on Google Earth, and found a dirt road that would lead to what looked like on Google Earth to be the perfect morning mountain site. Long story short, it was too shallow of a launch, and would require a quarter mile glide in ground effect before getting away from the terrain... just a bit too risky to be a regular site.
While exploring, I spotted another dirt road that looked to have good site potential. We found the road and explored... and we found a site!!! The launch is fantastic. Absolutely no trimming or maintenance needed. Room for 50+ gliders, easily! Steep smooth grassy slope with some rocks, but nothing that would trip you up while launching.
We also found an LZ... it's about a 4:1 glide out, and big. It's got some sage brush, it's not a heavenly grassy field (this is a desert, after all), but it's a good, safe LZ with a road right to it. If you're feeling cocky, there's a 6:1 grassy field next to a hotel, gas station, Burger King, Subway, etc... plush.
Well- on Pioneer Day, we headed down to the site to give it a go. Since I'm still nursing a post-shoulder-surgery arm sling, I was the designated driver. Conditions looked great, so Shadd set up. I brought my Zagi to 'wind dummy' this unknown site... finding a couple 'house thermal' locations. Shadd launched, and was 200' over before making his first turn. He spent some time playing/exploring out front, before hooking into a MONSTER thermal and getting up over 13k. He called on the radio that he was headed over the back... it was on!
He was awesome at giving me the play by play of where and how high he was, when he was going on a glide, etc. I followed as best as the roads would allow, most of the time keeping visuals on him (no easy task when he's at 15,ooo ft)!!!
Due to some radio difficulties I lost track of him North East of the town of Fairview, as he was headed toward Route 6. His cloud street had dried up and he was forced to land. It took me a while, but I finally tracked him down and picked him up.
Rumors are coming out that this was a site long ago, and was abandoned (no one knows why)... I sure can't imagine why, unless it's because the road WAS bad (it 'aint now, thanks National Forest Service!). It's, in my opinion, one of the best mountain sites in the Wasatch.
Shadd's pioneering flight, and subsequent 32 mile XC on his Sport 2, is a testament to the potential of this site.
Shadd also flew with my video camera, so look for some footage to come :-)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
20 Days Post-Op
So it's been 20 days since my shoulder surgery. Things seem to be going well, medically speaking... In my follow up visit we asked lots of questions about what they found in there, and how they fixed it. The doctor called my shoulder the 'grand canyon'.
The symptom was a glenoid labrum tear. If I understand correctly, the glenoid is cartilage around the shoulder socket, and the labrum is muscle. The glenoid and labrum sort of cover the opening around the ball-and-socket of the shoulder. Mine was torn and peeled (way) back, creating the 'grand canyon' as my doc called it. Google found me this diagram, which sort of depicts my symptom, only not nearly as extreme:
In this diagram the stick is pulling a healthy glenoid labrum back, and the arrow depicts the gap created. My gap was enormous. Chicks dig enormous?
Anyway- the fix involves using sutures and anchors to pull the labrum back into place and hold it there until it can heal properly. It sounds painful, but hasn't been bad at all. I was off pain meds by the end of the second day, and have only taken Advil once or twice since.
I'm still in an arm sling for another three weeks, then I start physical therapy. That about wraps up the (medical) update of how I'm doing...
Psychologically, I'm going insane. You don't realize how many simple tasks you do on a daily basis that require two hands. Buttoning your pants, tying your shoes... I've become a burden on Des, and I hate it. I also haven't driven since the surgery, so I'm more or less on house arrest. Lots of TV and video games have kept my mind and fingers active, but it's getting old...
I'm also not making any income, which obviously is a problem. I won't be flying again this summer, and I rarely fly in the winter, so I'm selling my T2: http://wingsoverwasatch.com/Misc/Ryan_T2.html
I also have a brand new Sport 2 155, Falcon 3 Tandem, Falcon 3 170, and Falcon 3 195 that really need to find good homes... then I have some (cheap) used gliders as well...
The symptom was a glenoid labrum tear. If I understand correctly, the glenoid is cartilage around the shoulder socket, and the labrum is muscle. The glenoid and labrum sort of cover the opening around the ball-and-socket of the shoulder. Mine was torn and peeled (way) back, creating the 'grand canyon' as my doc called it. Google found me this diagram, which sort of depicts my symptom, only not nearly as extreme:
In this diagram the stick is pulling a healthy glenoid labrum back, and the arrow depicts the gap created. My gap was enormous. Chicks dig enormous?Anyway- the fix involves using sutures and anchors to pull the labrum back into place and hold it there until it can heal properly. It sounds painful, but hasn't been bad at all. I was off pain meds by the end of the second day, and have only taken Advil once or twice since.
I'm still in an arm sling for another three weeks, then I start physical therapy. That about wraps up the (medical) update of how I'm doing...
Psychologically, I'm going insane. You don't realize how many simple tasks you do on a daily basis that require two hands. Buttoning your pants, tying your shoes... I've become a burden on Des, and I hate it. I also haven't driven since the surgery, so I'm more or less on house arrest. Lots of TV and video games have kept my mind and fingers active, but it's getting old...
I'm also not making any income, which obviously is a problem. I won't be flying again this summer, and I rarely fly in the winter, so I'm selling my T2: http://wingsoverwasatch.com/Misc/Ryan_T2.html
I also have a brand new Sport 2 155, Falcon 3 Tandem, Falcon 3 170, and Falcon 3 195 that really need to find good homes... then I have some (cheap) used gliders as well...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ryan's T2 144: FOR SALE!
Well, life goes on after shoulder surgery! I'm making due with one arm, and I'm 100% pain free (and off the pain meds)...
BUT- I'm looking at easily 6 months of no flying, and a stack of medical bills (no insurance)...
So, I'm selling my T2 144. Most of you have probably at least seen it in pictures... It's blue and yellow with a custom sail (two slightly-toed-in stripes midway on each side). The leading edge is white UVM, and the top surface is titanium dioxide (rare/exotic). It has the 12mm batten upgrade, and carbon leading edge inserts as well.
It does have a patch on the left LE, it was professionally repaired by Wills Wing (and looks every bit as professional as you'd expect- it's hard to see even when you're looking for it!)
Glider is exactly 1 year old, with probably 50 hrs on it....
Asking $5500. Email me if interested: Ryan@wingsoverwasatch.com
If you could pass this along to anyone that might be interested, I'd really appreciate it!
For more photos, check out: http://wingsoverwasatch.com/Misc/Ryan_T2.html
Cheers,
RV
PS glider is currently located in UT (Point of the Mountain), but shipping or transport could be easily arranged...
BUT- I'm looking at easily 6 months of no flying, and a stack of medical bills (no insurance)...
So, I'm selling my T2 144. Most of you have probably at least seen it in pictures... It's blue and yellow with a custom sail (two slightly-toed-in stripes midway on each side). The leading edge is white UVM, and the top surface is titanium dioxide (rare/exotic). It has the 12mm batten upgrade, and carbon leading edge inserts as well.
It does have a patch on the left LE, it was professionally repaired by Wills Wing (and looks every bit as professional as you'd expect- it's hard to see even when you're looking for it!)Glider is exactly 1 year old, with probably 50 hrs on it....
Asking $5500. Email me if interested: Ryan@wingsoverwasatch.com
If you could pass this along to anyone that might be interested, I'd really appreciate it!
For more photos, check out: http://wingsoverwasatch.com/Misc/Ryan_T2.html
Cheers,
RV
PS glider is currently located in UT (Point of the Mountain), but shipping or transport could be easily arranged...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
2010 KHK Spectacular
Edited some footage from the 2010 KHK Spectacular,
shot with my HD GoPro
Click the link to watch it in HD on Vimeo
shot with my HD GoPro
KHK Spectacular 2010 from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.
Click the link to watch it in HD on Vimeo
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sky Shadd
I put my HD GoPro on my buddy Shadd's glider the other day... here's da footie:
Shadd Cam from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.
Click the link above to watch the video in HD ;-)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Crash and Burn
For those that haven't already heard, I had a little 'incident' on Wednesday, May 25. I crashed my hang glider while flying the South Side of Point of the Mountain. I am fine, not a scratch on me... Below are the details surrounding the incident...
For the past two years or so, I have had some shoulder trouble with my left shoulder dislocating. I can go months with it being fine, but then I move the wrong way and out it goes. It always goes right back in, but once I've done it recently, it can be pretty sensitive... and usually pops out many more times. Over the years of dealing with this, I would say it has deteriorated a bit, becoming easier to trigger, even after several months without incident. Certain activities seem to be worse than others, skiing for example tends to be bad. Flying, though, has never been an issue. It has only popped out when I have my arm lifted up over my head, or extended way out to the side almost to the point of being behind me. Not movements used often in hang gliding, so like I said it's been fine...
There were a lot of shenanigans going on at the South Side on Wednesday. Paragliders kiting in the hang glider launch/landing area. Hang gliders crashing into these kiting paragliders. Shouting matches between hangs and paras. A little worse than 'the usual'... There has been some speculation that my accident was, in part or in full, due to flying angry. To be completely clear, yes I was fucking pissed... but being pissed does not make a shoulder dislocate, which is what caused the crash... so my mental state is pretty much irrelevant.
After all the shenanigans mentioned above, I launched and did a couple passes on the ridge. I found a nice thermal and began doing 360's and climbing up. I'm always amazed by the low sink rate and high climb rate of my T2... it does a good job of making me appear to know what I'm doing...
As I'm doing 360's in front of the hang glider launch, I see a paraglider kiting there. I can see that this is a local, a regular at the Point, and someone that should know better. There are now several hangs in the air at various heights, any of whom could be landing within seconds. I decide I'm going to do a fast fly-through of the hang glider area, and pass to the right of the kiting pilot. I check the pattern, and when it's clear I do a slipping turn over the parking lot and cruise through the hang glider area in ground effect. As I near the edge of the ridge I look left and right, and decide to go left when I hit the end of the ridge (there were gliders to my right). I roll left and begin to let my speed turn into altitude. As I am nearing parallel with the ridge, I shift my weight to the right to level out... and I feel a very familiar stabbing pain in my shoulder. I know exactly what it is, and what is going to happen next. I'm banked left, and basically trying to fly with one arm... and it's not working. The glider is rolling steeper into the turn... into the hill. I distinctly remember looking left as the glider is beginning to slip the left turn towards the hill, and seeing that if I do nothing, I'm going to impact the side of the hill, down wind, hitting the ground at about a perfect 90 degree angle. Well, needless to say, that would hurt! As I'm thinking this I see that, if I push out a little, I could get myself onto the top of the launch, and come in at an angle similar to ground. That seems like a much better option, so I push out with my right arm.
As fast as everything happened, I felt like I had plenty of time to think, evaluate, and react. Unfortunately NOT enough time to unroll and avoid the hill altogether... but enough time to make the best of a bad situation. Pushing out with one arm, I remember seeing the ground rushing by as I made it up over the lip and onto the flat top of the South Side. I let go of the glider, and pretty much went limp. I don't remember feeling when I was on the ground, it was so gentle... but I remember sliding across the gravel, as if I were sliding into home plate. I even remember thinking to keep my head up, as I just had my helmet painted, and I didn't want to scratch it!
I slid to a stop and the glider was laying on top of me. Both downtubes had blown out right in the middle, allowing the glider to lay flat and pin me down. The glider began to lift, and I almost thought it was blowing over, but then I saw very concerned faces and realized it was just people who came over to help. Everyone was amazed that I was ok... probably none more so than me.
People have been asking what was my initial feeling after the crash... and honestly... I felt like yelling 'Whooo! Did you see THAT!?'... but that wouldn't have been appropriate, so I didn't. I briefly examined the damage to my glider, packed up, and went home with my tail between my legs.
The aftermath of the incident has been amusing at times, and heartbreaking at times. Hearing the way the story gets twisted and contorted as the word spreads is pretty funny. Not as funny, is the repair bill for the glider. But it is a material possession, completely repairable... or replaceable if it weren't repairable (but it is easily repairable). The toughest part of the aftermath is facing the now obvious fact that my shoulder has deteriorated to the point that now it CAN pop out while flying... which obviously is a huge problem. Even if I only fly Falcons and take it easy, if it were to pop on launch or landing, I might not be so lucky next time.
I'm coming to terms with how different my summer is going to be than I had envisioned. I was picturing a hang gliding summer with cross country and frivolous looping and spinning until I didn't know which way was up. I was also planning on entering in my first aerobatic competition this year, something I've been waiting my whole life to be ready for. Now I'm looking at only flying falcons and floating around... if I decide to risk flying at all. Or maybe I'm looking at getting the surgery done ASAP (rather than wait until fall)... which means I'll be moping around with my arm in a sling for months. Very different than I had envisioned...
But I'm alive, just as healthy as I was before I decided to joust with the ground. My parents and wife-to-be have been very supportive, as have many of the local pilots (not many of the paraglider pilots, ha!)... things could be a whoooole lot worse.
For the past two years or so, I have had some shoulder trouble with my left shoulder dislocating. I can go months with it being fine, but then I move the wrong way and out it goes. It always goes right back in, but once I've done it recently, it can be pretty sensitive... and usually pops out many more times. Over the years of dealing with this, I would say it has deteriorated a bit, becoming easier to trigger, even after several months without incident. Certain activities seem to be worse than others, skiing for example tends to be bad. Flying, though, has never been an issue. It has only popped out when I have my arm lifted up over my head, or extended way out to the side almost to the point of being behind me. Not movements used often in hang gliding, so like I said it's been fine...
There were a lot of shenanigans going on at the South Side on Wednesday. Paragliders kiting in the hang glider launch/landing area. Hang gliders crashing into these kiting paragliders. Shouting matches between hangs and paras. A little worse than 'the usual'... There has been some speculation that my accident was, in part or in full, due to flying angry. To be completely clear, yes I was fucking pissed... but being pissed does not make a shoulder dislocate, which is what caused the crash... so my mental state is pretty much irrelevant.
After all the shenanigans mentioned above, I launched and did a couple passes on the ridge. I found a nice thermal and began doing 360's and climbing up. I'm always amazed by the low sink rate and high climb rate of my T2... it does a good job of making me appear to know what I'm doing...
As I'm doing 360's in front of the hang glider launch, I see a paraglider kiting there. I can see that this is a local, a regular at the Point, and someone that should know better. There are now several hangs in the air at various heights, any of whom could be landing within seconds. I decide I'm going to do a fast fly-through of the hang glider area, and pass to the right of the kiting pilot. I check the pattern, and when it's clear I do a slipping turn over the parking lot and cruise through the hang glider area in ground effect. As I near the edge of the ridge I look left and right, and decide to go left when I hit the end of the ridge (there were gliders to my right). I roll left and begin to let my speed turn into altitude. As I am nearing parallel with the ridge, I shift my weight to the right to level out... and I feel a very familiar stabbing pain in my shoulder. I know exactly what it is, and what is going to happen next. I'm banked left, and basically trying to fly with one arm... and it's not working. The glider is rolling steeper into the turn... into the hill. I distinctly remember looking left as the glider is beginning to slip the left turn towards the hill, and seeing that if I do nothing, I'm going to impact the side of the hill, down wind, hitting the ground at about a perfect 90 degree angle. Well, needless to say, that would hurt! As I'm thinking this I see that, if I push out a little, I could get myself onto the top of the launch, and come in at an angle similar to ground. That seems like a much better option, so I push out with my right arm.
As fast as everything happened, I felt like I had plenty of time to think, evaluate, and react. Unfortunately NOT enough time to unroll and avoid the hill altogether... but enough time to make the best of a bad situation. Pushing out with one arm, I remember seeing the ground rushing by as I made it up over the lip and onto the flat top of the South Side. I let go of the glider, and pretty much went limp. I don't remember feeling when I was on the ground, it was so gentle... but I remember sliding across the gravel, as if I were sliding into home plate. I even remember thinking to keep my head up, as I just had my helmet painted, and I didn't want to scratch it!
I slid to a stop and the glider was laying on top of me. Both downtubes had blown out right in the middle, allowing the glider to lay flat and pin me down. The glider began to lift, and I almost thought it was blowing over, but then I saw very concerned faces and realized it was just people who came over to help. Everyone was amazed that I was ok... probably none more so than me.
People have been asking what was my initial feeling after the crash... and honestly... I felt like yelling 'Whooo! Did you see THAT!?'... but that wouldn't have been appropriate, so I didn't. I briefly examined the damage to my glider, packed up, and went home with my tail between my legs.
The aftermath of the incident has been amusing at times, and heartbreaking at times. Hearing the way the story gets twisted and contorted as the word spreads is pretty funny. Not as funny, is the repair bill for the glider. But it is a material possession, completely repairable... or replaceable if it weren't repairable (but it is easily repairable). The toughest part of the aftermath is facing the now obvious fact that my shoulder has deteriorated to the point that now it CAN pop out while flying... which obviously is a huge problem. Even if I only fly Falcons and take it easy, if it were to pop on launch or landing, I might not be so lucky next time.
I'm coming to terms with how different my summer is going to be than I had envisioned. I was picturing a hang gliding summer with cross country and frivolous looping and spinning until I didn't know which way was up. I was also planning on entering in my first aerobatic competition this year, something I've been waiting my whole life to be ready for. Now I'm looking at only flying falcons and floating around... if I decide to risk flying at all. Or maybe I'm looking at getting the surgery done ASAP (rather than wait until fall)... which means I'll be moping around with my arm in a sling for months. Very different than I had envisioned...
But I'm alive, just as healthy as I was before I decided to joust with the ground. My parents and wife-to-be have been very supportive, as have many of the local pilots (not many of the paraglider pilots, ha!)... things could be a whoooole lot worse.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
VEE & E
Not that I would ever endorse this... but I set a new high score at the North Side tonight...
Read the last line of the Flytec's flight report and you'll understand :-)
This is on an aluminum Wills Wing T2 (IE not the 'C' model), which is 100% stock. The sprogs are not lowered whatsoever, it is straight-out-of-the-factory sweet. What an amazing flying machine Wills has created for us to enjoy this wonderful sport... thanks guys!!!
Read the last line of the Flytec's flight report and you'll understand :-)
This is on an aluminum Wills Wing T2 (IE not the 'C' model), which is 100% stock. The sprogs are not lowered whatsoever, it is straight-out-of-the-factory sweet. What an amazing flying machine Wills has created for us to enjoy this wonderful sport... thanks guys!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
"Dangerous" Dave Gibson
"Dangerous" Dave Gibson at Randolph, UT from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.
Last summer "Dangerous Dave" and I went to Randolph. It was looking like a strong but exceptionally smooth day, so I put my GoPro on Dave's glider and sent him off to do his thang...
I finally got a chance to edit the footage together... so... Here's Dave, goin' at it!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Season Opener at Inspo
Inspiration Point is OPEN!
First real mountain flight of the 2010 season...
First real mountain flight of the 2010 season...
Inspo Season Opener from Ryan Voight on Vimeo.
Friday, April 23, 2010
East Coast Visit
A friend's wedding brought me back to the East Coast, so I came out a few days early to spend some time with my family, and maybe fly Ellenville if the opportunity presented itself.
My first day here the forecast was good, so we headed up with hopes of flying. It was light, but the clouds looked outstanding, and Ricky Fitz was up cloud hopping, so we knew it could be done. It turned out being an absolutely outstanding day, with altitude gains of around 7500 ft over launch. It was great to fly my 'home' site, with friends and family, on such an epic day.
Loaded up, let's go fly!
We don't get this in Utah
My first day here the forecast was good, so we headed up with hopes of flying. It was light, but the clouds looked outstanding, and Ricky Fitz was up cloud hopping, so we knew it could be done. It turned out being an absolutely outstanding day, with altitude gains of around 7500 ft over launch. It was great to fly my 'home' site, with friends and family, on such an epic day.
Loaded up, let's go fly!Yesterday had the potential to be flyable, but it wound up being blown out. Not sure if it mellowed enough for a few antsy souls to hop off launch and live to tell the tale... instead of flying we had a nice family dinner at home, and watched a movie. Definitely good to be home... it's been a while...
We don't get this in Utah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)