I had a commission last week to do a banner design for the Aerothlon sports events in Mexico in Ensenada, Baja California.  The event is a race on bike, paraglider and foot, so all these had to be included in the image.  I initially went with a design incorporating the village, but was later asked to do more of a desert feel.  The colour sketch below was approved.  I was also asked to include a caricature of Pal Takats, who in the final image is the character who is landing.  Here is a bit of detail from the final image, and also the rough sketches.  Unfortunately just as I was finishing it seems the Government of the area have refused permission, so I will probably have to adapt the background at some future time to the Valle del Bravo.

Poster Sketch

Detail from final image

Aerothlon Sketch. FB Banner

T shirt design for Belgians

Here is my latest design of for T shirts.  This time for Luc and his club freeparagliders.be.  They are a regular visitor to Piedrahita.

The wind may be on the strong side today but does show very good potential for XC, though the N aspect may make if difficult with a cross tailwind from  Avila onwards.  Climbs to over 3000m and Cumuls forming in abundance though no storm risk.

Skew T

Surface Pressure

Surface Wind

BL Max

An excellent XC day yesterday from Lastra with good Cu and climbs to 3000m.  Romain made 50.8 km and Anne 60,8 to near Peñaranda.  When I landed after near Peñaranda with wind was picking up to around 20km/hr and thermals getting very strong with streeting, so a day with a lot of potential.

Our star pilot Ian Mchardy, with us for the last 2 weeks and with a freshly minted CP mad a nice XC back to the N of Piedrahita with a great thermal climb out from Lastra.  Now with well over 20 hours, most of them in thermic conditions.

Seems like an easier day with the wind in the west and should be at Pn by mid afternoon.  We may still go early to Lastra to ensure an XC day as it looks good with good thermal climbs to over 3000m and convergence effects north of the Avila Valley.

yesterday, after a swim with the dogs in the Tormes, we finally got flying at Chia, at around 5pm.  Some very good thermal climbs, but nobody got away.

Still some wind from the SE this morning but by late afternoon the wind should be on PN.  Temperature trace looking decent with good thermal climbs to around 2800m, mainly blue thermals.  

Not a great day as the winds are quite strong from the SE.  Our site, Chia, will likely be to strong early in the day, so  I think we may try a small hill as a soaring option earlier in the day out towards Salamanca (near Alba de Tormes).  Quite a poor thermal forecast for the day.

East wind yesterday and the most successful morning flight by Michal, who made Barco and back to San Lorenzo.  A decent evening flight later soaring on the PN rock face side.

Wind further around to the NE today and  a little stronger.  Climbs similar to yesterday, but a little more turbulent on the hill due to the direction.  today best to go XC with the wind towards Barco.