Summarizing a few weeks…

The winterseason went of with a blazing finish.

http://vimeo.com/11227681

Here’s some pics from life as it is…

Happy fred

making place for newer stuff…

new bushings on indys…

Coppers eh…

i bet U havent seen a scullcandy loggo on a panncake before?

The last two weeks was finally giving us some good flying and even some xc’s was had. Sadly, the planned funcomp Årecupen was let down by crap weather.

So me and Jonna took a couple of lastminutes tickets from Trondheim to Nice.

Driving to t-heim was an adventure, snowstorm before Storlien almost put us off… Though we got all the way safe and sound.

On sunday afternoon we enjoyed the picknick in Greolieres. It was Charlotte Kings birthday.

Though the clouds were low. Very low. Russ and Kingy flew tandem with kids, Dav came down from the clouds flying his ultralight19…

The forecast for the week was utterly crappy. Sadly the forecast was dead right

Dav at kennedy.

No flying at all. A first for me visiting Alpes maritimes. but we had loads of fun thanks to good friends and the fact that we had a good rentalcar.

Some days we stayed in Greolieres and just chilled, drank wine and ate cheese.

Some dats we drove around and checked things out.

St Paul.

The Simpsons new house.

One day we drove to Italy to get some parmesancheese. Spent some time in Ospedaletti, were they have spent alot of money rearranging the beach. Later that day it was destroyed by the mediteranian Tsunami:-/

These photos are from the same day…

Nice was trashed as well.Scary meteo. El nino year.

Later in the week we took a trip to St Martin de Vesubie. We did not see the big mountains because of low clouds. Scenic village with friendly people.

Airdried ham with herbes de provence. Fantastic!!! Get some if U go to St martin de Vesubie.

We also spent an hour at the wolfpark at 1500 meters altitude. It was snowing up there… Wolves are beautiful.

On a late day we drove to Antibes for some lunch and beach. Got both

On the way back to Greolieres we ran into this monster of a skateboard ramp thangie. X games style in Opio… Courtesy of Basti from Vendetta skateboards…

After a week of fun we returned to Nice and flew back home. To sunshine…

Now we are back in Åre.

I have flown a couple of days. Little cloud and one with my X-light.

Kim resting.

Cool dog.

Beautiful xc skyes

Ended up getting a short xc. Very windy flight, but still fun!

Remember splitboarding?

I did a couple of articles awhile ago. Found them in a backstash…

Little Clouds tandem BIDULE is now tested and ready… Looks sweet!!!

Photos by Olivier at Parapente-max.

Little Cloud tandem and other fun stuff…

At Coupe icare Little Cloud showed their new little tandem. At 31 m2 it is shure to be amusing and fun for two people. Cant wait to get my hand on one.

I will have one in Åre this winter.

Tom is the Little Cloud designer.

Well the glider i was to bring to Brazil, a Niviuk Artic2 got stuck at GLS depot in Nice. This after calling them to get it myself and being told i could get it between 9 and 11 on sturday morning. This was offcourse wrong…

I hope the glider gets to Brazil some day

Anyway a BIG thanks to Niviuk.

Today i looks like i will bring a P81…

Last week british paraglidingschool Flying Frenzy was in the area…

Paul did his best to amuse the clients and others…

Done a few headers lately. From Coupe Icare.

Enjoy.

Frode thought he looked angry on the last picture i published with him on it… so here’s another one.Looking abit happy. 

Well tomorrow i leave for 20 days in Brazil. I will try to update blogg atleast once. Take care and fly hard

Wow, long time no see! Here’s news from Greolieres again.

It’s been a long time since i updated my blogg. Weeks. Sorry. Will try to update more often… Hiking up Dent de Crolles with Little Cloud.

It’s the first of october today and i leave for Brazil on monday. Very exiting! Though as usuall nothin is ready, Kingy still working on his mags, i still wait for equipment… It will be ok i hope.

Frode Fester and his lovely Brita was in Greo for a week, Filip Haraldsson and his lovely Helena was there too, both couples were staying at Gite du village.

They had lots of good flying. These 2 pics by Filip.

I tested a Paratech P81 for Crosscountry mag, here’s a picture from one of the flights. Marcus King took the photo, www.xcmag.com.

Kingy also did his third tandemflight on the 24th of september. Congrats.

This week Nic from Streamer(norway) is here with a group. They had some good days this week.

I will however only tell U about the last days. The rest is already forgotten

Last weekend i took Charlotte King and the little monsters to a Skateboard exibition in Opio. It was good fun. The boys loved it! i talked to a skater that said the local shop could supply a big skateboard for me! So the day after i went there, together with Anthony Green and his friend Nick.

Got a nice 33×9 inch skateboard with Indy169’s and 60mm Sector9 wheels. Good stuff. Happy  Fred. When leaving the shop Nick tried to pull the skate out of my hand to feel the weight of it? and i would not let it go in disbelief of his intentions :-). He then managed to step on the back of my beloved Coolshoes flipflops(used 3 days!!!) and as i was moving forward the flipflop was torn apart. Not happy Fred…

However this tuesday it was abit stable at Gourdon so i canned flying and went to Vence to get a new pair of Coolshoes flipflops, realy, they are the only good ones.

On my merry way there i stop to get fuel for Charlies car. I fill 20 euros worth of diesel.

Only problem is that it is a gasolincar…:-/ FUCK. Serviceminded people from Peugotgarage in Vence come and tow Charlies car to garage, empty diesel and put gasolin in it. Cost, 107 euros plus diesel plus gasolin. 150 euros.

But i did manage to find a new pair of Coolshoes flipflops so all in all a damn good day!

Yesterday i went to Col de bleyne to fly xc with Ulric Jessop. It was looking fairly good. When arriving there the northwest wind ruled and mission was aborted. Insted the Jessops, Ruth and Ulric invited me to a lovely lunch in their garden. Epic 3 course meal. 3 hour meal… They have a studio for rent, www.pottyplace.com

After that i went towards Lachens but stopped at the bottom, listened to the balise, took a powernap in the car. Woke up and the balise said 18 to 32 km/h west.

Magic afternoon at Lachens, i flew 30 minutes, toplanded by the westtakeoff and drove to greolieres happy again.

Barricade, yesterday evening. Me, Dav, Russ had pizza and chated like schoolgirls about everything from fucked up royal houses of our countries to designing gliders, freeflying or not and lots of other things.

Andres Floren and Cissi, who’s also in the village, joined in for dessert and beer… It was a realy fun evening. Good to catch up with Russ. He’s a jolly good fellow

A BIG thank you to Phillipe at Barricade for letting me use the wifi and being able to update this blogg! He even took this photo of me at the office…

Now i start to feel the travelfever coming creeping… Brazil here i come!

Some pics from the last two weeks… coupe icare, flying here in alpes maritimes and more. If You want the full Coupe icare report, read crosscountry magazine, www.xcmag.com, enjoy.

That’s it folks…

Ozone Swift in my hands…

The Ozone Swift

I’ve had the opportunity to fly some with the Swift, and since it’s a new type of glider, in my opinion, i thought i should write some words about it.

First of all, the Swift is a crosscountryglider. It’s not a special lightweight glider. If You want a glider for xc, thermals and fun, this could be your only glider.

It’s made out of 36 and 27 g/m2 porcher marine fabric and it’s light and packs really small. One day when i went flying i honestly though i forgot my glider, but when i checked it was down there in the sack with my Supair Vampair harness.

Unfolding the Swift a first time is intresting. No mylars, just tine small plastic tubes keeps the leading edge up in the wind. It look’s great and works perfect.

The risers is a choise of normal black ones or white light shoestring looking ones made of dynema. The later mentioned are sexy and makes You feel faster… Though since i fly with a wrap i dont like the handles without a stick. Cramps the hand after awhile. In my opinion. This problem is easily fixed. Get a plastictube and fix it in existing handle. Bingo:-)

Launching the Swift is ultraeasy. If U cant launch the Swift, please stop flying

Groundhandling the Swift is almost to easy. It stays above You and it stays up in very little wind. If it’s flyable You will get in the air.

Flying then? well thermaling is something it likes. It bites in to the thermal without hanging back at all. It wants to climb. Flat or on tip is up to the pilot. No flaping on the ears in strong conditions and any movement in pitch or roll is slow. Every bit of information is easily understandable. Once You reach the top of the thermal the fun really begins. Gliding! This Swift is one hell of a glider ;-), speed and sink is in good harmony and it will take You places… I have no numbers on glide but it’s very good for it’s class. When gliding with others it’s rather noticable.

Handling. Hmm, it’s a fun glider. I weight 95 kilos in shorts and t-shirt so my hookin weight, flying with my superbly comfortable Supair Vampair, is around 115 kilos.

Almost at the top of the large Swift. At this the Swift is playfull and will do nice high wingovers. Fun for soaring and such activities.

Overall i like the Swift alot. The fact that it’s a full on xc glider in a light package makes it very intresting for me. I think this type of glider is the future. Good enough to fly far and easy to always bring with You. A Ozone Swift and for example, a Supair Hybrid harness is in my eyes a perfect kit for alot of pilots.

All photos of me flying the Swift was taken by Jonna on her brand new Canon Ixus95.

She also got some nice ones of me with the Gin Sprint.

Flown the green one some more…

Hmm, i have been flying the Gin Sprint large for some hour now. Even some xc. It feels good. Very safe and still okey performance. Sinkrate is low and it thermals nicely. All in all it’s very easy to fly. Agility is good enough for it’s category. I like it and think it’s a well finished product.

Anything bad? Well the glider i flew before the Sprint was the Ozone Swift and that is so lightweight and packs soo small. Big difference when going back to a “normal” glider. All of a sudden the backpack is heavy again… Make the Sprint in lightweight… infact make all gliders light!!! 

To get it small when packing You need a xcertina bag.

The new Gin rucksack is well done. Maybe i find the pack a bit high? It feels like it wobbles around abit on the back. Hmmm, not shure. The shoulderstraps are comfortable even with heavy weights. Nice limey details.

Gin Sprint is a nice limegreen glider.

(i think there’s other colours too;-)

Epic week. Sooo much good flying!

We have flown almost every day, and good flying! Smiling and flying takes a lot of power

I have flown the Swift from Ozone and soo has two of my posse. It’s a very good performing lightweight 1-2 glider. It is a superb product.

Now the last two flights i have been flying a Gin Sprint, also a great product. Good sinkrate, easy to thermal and fantastic colours!!! limegreen rules!!!

During the last years i have always said to my posse that most gliders are good, just find the one U feel safe under and like the colours… and i have been right the whole time

On the 5th of september we stayed on Cheiron for the night, sunset and fullmoon. Realy nice with wine and cheese. Later Kingy joined us and in the morning we waited for the northwind to go away. Then we had a lovely flight.

We had two days of mistral, one day of rest and fixing gear. One day checking the Canyon du Verdon. One big crack in mother earth.

We had a long nice day in sunny provence. Jonna spent the days in Nice and got back with another blond Finn…

Yesterday i flew from Lachens to Col de bleyne, alone, conditions were abit rough. Only me and sailplanes in the air… Got to try the Gin Sprint in turbulence. Check. No probs. I then hitched back just to get back in time for lunch. After that we went up again to takeoff and waited for the conditions to settle abit… It was hard. At 17.00 it went smother and the posse took off, into great conditions. Once the southside lost the sun the westside wentoff!!! 1900 meters and tree pilots headed out on xc. The four others had some nice magic air in the sun. Take care and see U in the air

Greolieres puts up and we shut up…

Last week was fine but this week started fantastic, with some epic flight for the Swedish posse. Col de bleyne, Gourdon, Greolieres and Lachens have shared themselves with us. Mini xc in Gourdonvalley, Greolieres to Coursegoules outandreturn, great local flying at Greolieres and a toptobottom at Lachens.

But,

now Mistral is here. Sadly it seams to ruin flying the next days. Posse abit dissapointed and so am i but i think they will smile at the end

Here’s some pics from the last ten days. Enjoy.

Photos by Jonna.

Some of mine…

Blackberries and reserve…

It’s been a warm and very nice week. Flyable every day, with good thermic conditions. I only flew six flights. Three with my Little cloud, two with my Octane flx and one with the Ozone M3. I’m editing the movies from yesterdays St Andre flight…

Me and Jonna went blackberry picking up in the ruins of old Greolieres and it felt like we were the little squirrel in Ice age the movie. The big berries were always to far up in the bushes. And the torns were horrible. Here’s a photo guide on how to… 

On friday i borrowed my Octane flx to a friend. He managed to hit the reservehandle on something on takeoff, or maybe he lifted the harness in the red handle ;-).

However, when doing some small wingovers, the reserve “fell” out. And down he went!!!

Though, a c-stall kept the octane stable and the reserve did a great job. He landed rather smooth. Good the dirty laundry together and flew down… He offcourse had to pay the beer that night :-).

Now i have a bunch of Swedes here for some flying. Today was their first day and they flew…

Blue skies, some flying and lots of partying…

In gréolières life goes on in a nice gentle mode. No stress. We got here last sunday and since then it’s been holiday.

I’m sitting in shorts and t-shirt, in the shadow, at the local restaurant, updating blogg and having a coffe. Life is good

During the last week it’s been thermic flying every day. Though i have only flown a little. Saving myself and Jonna for the next two weeks of flying and guiding. Here’s some pics from last week…

Tor has been here before, but he still managed to bomb out at Gourdon on a good day Here’s the picture of him(pink dude) after walking back up… Håkan took the picture.

The Green twins are in the vally too, funloving maniacs living in Paris and traveling the world. Sadly i have not managed to get around to fly with them. Only partying and socializing;-) I havent even seen their new film, LIFT. It can be bought on www.xcmag.com.

Two nights ago it was partytime, Mike Cavanaught was in town, a good reason for a little party. So we all got together at Barricade, made a long table longer and had pizzas and beer in massive amounts… It got late… In all the years i’ve been in Greolieres this was the most people i’ve seen at one table at Barricade. Everyone came around. Marcus King, The green twins, Verity, Ulric and Ruth, Me and Jonna, Marie and Stefan, Mark Mayhem and his lovely girls. Russ Ogden, Tor and Håkan, Nickynoona, Mike C, Nick. I think there might have been 20 people. At the end it was me, Kingy, Mike C and Jonna… and we drank beer not thinking about next day…

Next day came and we were hungover… how unfair

Yesterday i got a realy nice morningflight from the 700 takeoff in Greolieres, my Little Cloud was the weapon for the day. Great choise. I stayed up and had a great littleflight. Check video.http://www.vimeo.com/6302701

After that flying we went for a roadtrip in the area, buying good cheese on a farm, fresh fruit on Route de napoleon, took a swim in the gorge, just to mention a few… From CDB it looked like a 100k day. I metioned it to Tor and Håkan, they were flying at Gourdon. Later it was thundering in the area. But just a short while.

I also managed to get tickets booked for mine and Kingys october trip to Brazil:-)

We are having a great time, ralaxing and waiting for Jon to get our home ready back home in Åre

What a beautiful day :-)

Well saturday was windy and i kept an eye on balises in the area. Trying to find a place i could fly. But it was a pleasant wait. Sunny and around 30 degrees celcius. Some well chilled rosewine and a nice breeze made me stay in the sun…

However i was not to give up thought of flying and i was to be revarded in the end. 

Gourdon was perfect. What a finish to my short little holiday in alpes maritimes. Got there just in time for launching. We were three pilots and the conditions were on. Superlifty everywhere. I was smiling. Alot.

(Photo above is from first day this week.)

Had the opportunity to test the Niviuk Artic2. It was green and it flew…

See it on my latest film:http://www.vimeo.com/4941167

After and halfanhour my knees got cold. Flying in shorts after 18.00 was not a good idea. So i toplanded a couple of times and played around. Enough. I had to go to Bob Drury and help him pack a lorry full with his stuff since he is moving to the Chamonix valley.

After hard work we had some food and then called it a day. I went back to Greolieres and packed up to leave for Sweden next day.

Bob drove me to the Nice airport and i landed safely in Trondheim three hours later. When walking out of the airplane i noticed that the locals were flying over at Forbordfjellet. Sweet.

It was a great week of flying and having fun with my friends in Greolieres and the surroundings.
I’ll be back…

Oh yeah here’s a picture of the trimsystem on the Little Cloud Spiruline 18. I have ordered one…