Equipment for beach soaring and it's care.

[Flyboy BC]

I know I have been monopolising the forum for the last couple of days. Don't worry I'm not a mad troll I just have a number of things I have been working out in  my mind that this group is ideally suited to help me come to grips with.

I have learned about the best time of year to fly your wonderful coastal sites and have posted questions about what locations would be best for a novice to gain lots of beach soaring experience. Now I have questions about the equipment and it's care and feeding when used for this kind of flying.

First of all the only thing I know for sure about beach flying equipment is you have to have a proper harness for this activity. How does such a harness differ? Is there any other equipment I should consider purchasing for a long trip to a sandy Oregon beach?

I am aware that maintenance and cleaning are a HUGE issue when beach flying as the sand gets in the wing and causes much more mechanical wear than any other paragliding activity aside from literally dragging your wing across the rocks! I have seen people advertise looking to find a cheap used wing to use for kiting practice exclusively. This seems like a great way to offload the wear and tear of kiting practice onto an old cheap wing rather than scuffing up your main flight wing. My question is does this kind of thinking make any sense with regard beach soaring? Clearly you want a wing that is in acceptable flying condition no matter what kind of flying you are doing so a professional examination and porosity test goes without saying whenever considering the purchase of used wings but is it a reasonable idea to look for a bargain on a used wing that passes porosity and has good lines and line lengths but may be older and SOMEWHAT porous? You know what I mean, it is safely flyable but with only a season or two left in it so it is  sold inexpensively. Probably purchased from a school that does their own examinations like FlyBC at Eagle Ranch here in Agassiz.

I understand that this is probably a financial risk in that it may not last as long as I hope it will but it should NOT be risky in any way that increases physical risk due to it's condition as it PASSES all porosity and condition requirements. The way I understand it safety (and ease of launch) is more a function of correct line lengths and fabric rip-resistance than the measured porosity. 

Clearly I would have to have a good examination done and would have to clean and care for a used and somewhat  porous wing carefully to stay safe and getting a good enough deal on a wing that is actually going to last for a while may prove to be a difficult balancing act but it seems to me that putting a brand new wing through the ordeal of sand wear is just madness if you can avoid it. 

I am hoping and suspect that the lift conditions you find when flying the beach can be more forgiving of some excess porosity as you do have lift available. It even seems to me that you may even be able to fly in stronger conditions if your wing is SAFE but more porous than a new wing. Or is this just wishful thinking?

I know to stick to wings that are of newer design and manufacture (about 5-6 years old maximum) and I am making myself aware of how to properly clean and protect a wing and how to measure, stretch and replace lines when required. I am even considering building a porosity meter of my own to use to do COMPARATIVE testing so I can monitor the (hopefully slow) degradation of my "beach wing" so I know when to have it examined and tested again by a real expert. Don't worry I would never examine or porosity test a wing and purchase it based on my own examination. I would get an expert exam and do my own periodic porosity tests  and simply compare the results to what I measured when I first got the wing. If my school has a  wing that JUST fails (or  JUST passes) porosity I could use that and my new wing and a tested, porous but acceptable wing to get a reasonable calibration of my home made meter.

Anyway, do you think I have my head screwed on straight? Do I have a good grasp?

Then there is what may be a hot button question. What about reserves? Do you always fly the beach with a reserve? I have seen many videos of people unexpected finding themselves at 50 to 100 feet above the beach but as far as I know it seldom if ever happens that you find yourself high enough to deploy a reserve when starting on the sand. Sure there are high launch coastal sites and a reserve makes sense there but what about Area B and Kiwanda? Would you even bother?

Anything else I have not though of? I would bring a hook-knife just for the (unlikely?) possibility of finding myself tangled in my lines/wing and floundering in the water. 

Again, This is a great forum and thank you in advance for all of your well considered opinions and advice.

Gary In Agassiz BC.

[Dirk Larson]

Gary,

In my opinion, as an intermediate pilot who’s been flying the Oregon coast for 4 years, you will wish you were here in the spring rather than July. Soaring the dune on a big wing is fun but limited. Realistically there will be no flying other than Cape Kiwanda that time of year and you’ll find the dune blown out for a big wing a lot of the time. 

My two cents is you should contact either Discover paragliding or Max-Roc Paragliding and get some lessons in the area right when you come down. Discover tows from the same area Area-B is in and they have a wealth of knowledge on coastal flying and conditions. Max-Roc doesn’t tow but they are down in our little spring flying mecca of Oceanside, Cape Lookout, Cape Kiwanda and a coastal mountain site named Sollie Smith often and can get you flying off those sites quickly and safely. Contact either of them and I’m sure they will be open to giving you some insight about conditions, your skill level readiness, and of course gear recommendations.  I think this option is the safest and best way for you to enjoy your trip out here. Come down and wing it and you’ll be putting yourself at risk and not having the best time. Come down here to get trained and prepared first and you’ll have a blast. 

FYI, there is also no sales tax in Oregon so you might even want to buy some gear while you’re here.

Also, keep an eye out for our event called the Oceanside Open that happens in the spring. It’s a blast and will be a great time to connect with over a hundred other pilots who flock to the area.

Cheers,

Dirk Larson

CPC President

(503) 505-1112

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[Flyboy BC]

Thank you Dirk, Oceanside Open it is!

I think you are right. The idea that later in summer is better would not necessarily apply to me so springtime is probably better. I guess I would plan to be there during the event but I would also like some time before or after when it is likely to be much less crowded. I suppose since I plan on at least a month I can show up before so I can get my feel of the place before the party really begins.

I actually had thought of contacting Discover for some on-tow time. It seems like a great way to introduce myself to the local conditions and gain a whole new and different skill at the same time! I have seen some instructional stuff from Discover and it looks like a blast! 

Is it reasonable for a novice to use a smaller wing for beach conditions? As per my OP I am thinking that I will have a separate wing for the beach anyway. I guess the real answer is to use the big wing when it's appropriate. Like when I am still new to the slope and the conditions are quite light. All of which I am looking for in  the first place. Then once comfortable and the conditions are stronger but not beyond me I could use a smaller wing. At least that means my new wing would only see sand on light days when I will probably be able to keep it from getting too contaminated or dragged. The smaller used wing would be the one to take all that abuse.

It sounds like a plan! I may also take your advise and purchase my "beach wing" while I an there since as you say there is no sales tax.

Gary