When we started this project that has become the Womens Paragliding Open: Àger 2010 I guess we all had some expectations and preconceptions.
I know I had doubts about how 40 paragliding women from 16 different countries and with different levels of experience, from World Cup pilots and national champions to 1st time competition pilots, would interact and if we as organisers could meet the needs and expectation of all these pilots.
But sitting here in sunny Àger on Sunday morning as the last girls have just left I feel a little sad that it is over.
Without doubt, the concept works!
The girls experienced in competition learnt from the position of leading instead of following gaggles of faster guys, while the less experienced girls were able to make first goals, personal best flights and gain experienced of how a competition runs.
The speed that the lead gaggle were racing was equal to any male dominated competition, there was no mincing around the sky in girlie-gaggles going on with these girls.
The pilots here put all their enthusiasm for flying into the event. Girls who landed early were happy for the pilots still flying about over there heads (how often does that happen??!!!) Spontaneous parties developed in the goal field, by the pool and in the back of retrieve buses!
The support from the experienced competition pilots for the newcomers was incredible. And just to be all-inclusive, the local boys were very happy to have their take-off mobbed by girls in boots and bikinis!
The micro-climate here in Àger allowed us to fly all days but 1, in a week when much of Europe was under cloud and rain. The weather-god is obviously female!
There have been so many highlights this week: so many new friends who I know will become important to me, so many laughs...and even a few tears.
I have to thank Karolina for just being there and getting things done in her quiet efficient way and Chris for taking up the challenge and scoring 36 women each day for a week ;-)
Joa and Bea were my 'partners in crime' on the task committee and I think between us we did pretty OK :-)
The safety commmitte pilots Esther, Judith and Kirsty were brilliant at advising on conditions and it was so rewarding to hear other new voices on the channel reporting how it was for them. Hopefully we are nurturing a new mentality amongst pilots who feel at ease reporting goings-on in 'full view' of everybody.
Our Colombian slaves, Lucho and Santi were full of ideas for avoiding sleep; and what with star gazing at the observatory and full-moon midnight kayaking we all had a few nights where going to bed and getting up seemed only minutes apart.
The prize-giving party will remain with me for a long long time :-) :-)
I really don't know exactly how I made the mayor cry, I hope he has forgotten, otherwise its going to be a tense moment when i next bump into him!
All our helpers, drivers, chefs and slaves along with the goal-virgin butterflies with their sparkly wings, the little angel and the party girls in their cowboy-hats danced until even the noise-tolerant Catalans asked us to politely shut up at about 04;30!
Kussy certainly has a way with words on the mic and a great choice in latin music to keep things rocking.
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| Our 'goal-virgin' butterflies |
Its great how the men have taken on the role as our supporters, slaves and cooks leaving the girls to play!
Jordi the medic has insisted that he is allowed to work with us for the entire week next time, thankfully we didn't get any opportunity to put his skills to the test but its reasurring to have him there ready to spring into action ;-)
Thank you to everyone in Àger for welcoming us - we came, we flew, we laughed, we danced and we will be back!
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