2009 Lumby Air Races prove to be Challenging and Fun
By Randy Rauck

The Lumby Air Force would like to thank all the pilots, sponsors and volunteers that helped to make the 2009 Lumby Air Races such a great success. These types of events have been going on since 1976 in Lumby and we hope to do it again next year if possible.

The Freedom Flight Park at the Rauck Farm underwent a few major modifications before the event and the ones most appreciated by the pilots were the new picnic tables and the big see through shade covering donated by Peter Hamming.

A few pilots started showing up to practice a week before the event and many good flights were had. By Wednesday the 10th many more were racing around the valley forming strategies. By Friday morning close to 70 fliers were here to compete or free fly. Its always great to see old and new friends converge back in Lumby every year to fly and visit and to share information about our addicting foot launched flying sports. This year many new and intermediate pilots took advantage of the lessons offered by some of Canada’s best fliers. This has to be one of the most important aspects of this type of event. Education and Inspiration.

Eddie Desrochers and Jonathan Wreglesworth landed in a beautiful Lake Buccaneer with their gliders in the back and set up home base hanging under her wings.

Normally CYA 122 on the aeronautical maps, which covers the Lumby valley, designates the Lumby area as a hang gliding and aerobatic practice zone from the surface to 6000 ft.

Gliders and VFR traffic are allowed over 6000 ft, however it would be wise to be using an air band radio for monitoring and communication due to IFR traffic who may not be watching.

Friday morning after a promising flight briefing, we requested the NOTAM (notice to Airmen) to be raised from the requested 11000 ft. to the special 12500’ because of very warm yet unstable conditions and forecast winds were light and variable up to 12000 ft : ) Just what Lumby is famous for!

The start was classic for the fliers that got going earlier when the window officially opened at high noon. Even some of the later starts did well.

The valley was filled with near perfect fluffy cummy’s and unstable vertical air took pilots high fast. The gaps took some out as usual. Many soared for over 3 hours and some for over 5 hours bouncing from turn point to turn point around Lumby Days. Seeing 50 or so gliders in the air flying around Lumby Days is always a spectacle much appreciated by the community on their biggest day of the year.

Saturday morning at precisely 8am Martin Dennis raced over the runway and back over the campground in his hot RV 4 at around 200 mph to officially wake up the pilots on my request. The snowflakes RV6 formation team put on a nice display at noon for the start of Lumby Days parade and did a nice low pass over Coopers launch on request.

Unfortunately it was not so great conditions Sat. for racing so spot landings were judged in the early afternoon. Many decided to go up Saddle for an evening glass off flight. I am always reminded how blessed we are to have access to soar in most wind directions with two great sites on both sides of the Freedom Flight Park.

Peter Peru gave us a first viewing of his new Movie he shot in Columbia and everyone I talked with thought it was well done and very entertaining. I was able to catch bits and bites and look forward to the final release.

Joy and her crew from the local Mexican restaurant did a fine job of delivering a good Mexican meal to all the hungry fliers, support crew and friends. Many had seconds and thirds. Then her and her servers entertained us with a fine display of Belly Dancing just before the skydivers dropped in at high speed to the crowds delight.

The Giant Fire of Life and Light was lit in remembrance and gratitude to my Great Grand Parents and Grand Father who settled here in 1908 and for my parents who purchased the Rauck farm from them on the day of my birth.

Now it was time for the live music to start and this year a hot new band “Know Tomorrow” opened up the show with some awesome original tunes. HOT chick drummer too!

After that I got up with the Ravenators and did a few originals like “The Flying Song”, “Mexico” and a few old standards to get things going for the Fliers Jam. Bill Goglin jumped in on the Harp, Stein Myhrstad on lead and rhythm guitar, John Theoret and Sergio on Drums, Rick Hines on vocals, and Dale Arsenault on congas. Many other friends joined in and rocked on till 1:30. I know many talented fliers chose not to jam on stage this year. Next year we are hoping every region will supply a group or solo act with at least one original flying song. Details to follow.

We knew we needed another round so I sent everyone to bed and put the Fire of Life out at around 2pm.

Sunday morning I was pleasantly surprised to see only a minor mess and only 1 broken bottle! Our family really appreciate the way fliers have taken care of  this property over the last 34 years.

Sunday's air did not disappoint for the fliers that timed it right. Judgment is a big part of flying and most sites can be a bit unkind to those that don’t know her well. The Race was on again and a good mix of  fine judgment, skill and a good dose of Luck was required to do well.

A few TC’s stirred up a gust front that turned out to be a challenge for some of the last fliers. In the end there were only a few minor incidents so we were very fortunate once again.

We gave out the $3000.00 in cash and many great prizes from the prize table and will add this years winners to the LAR annual trophy and get it on display at the Blue Ox Pub. Many were eager to get on the road home and the ones who stayed and played around the fire till 3:30 really turned the tunes up a notch thanks to Greg Leslie, Rick Hines, Tim Middlemiss, Steve Parsons, John Theoret, Pawel Boryniec and the rest of the Free Birds.

Congratulations goes out to all the fliers that finished on top and especially to the first place open winners Ralph Herten for Hang Gliding and Claudio Mota for Paragliding.

We would like to thank everyone for flying safely. We would also like to thank all the Lumby Air Force and volunteers for helping out.

Peter Warnes- Launch Director

Garth Hemming – Shirts and spot landings

Peter Hamming – Landing site prep and shade cover and field mowing

Randal Wilford – Launch Safety Director

Luc Mailloux and Wendy– Windsocks placement and concession

Robin Wong – Landings

John Smith – Landings

David Bacon – Scoring

Tonya Torshin – Scoring

All the musicians especially Know Tomorrow

www.myspace.com/knowtomorrowbc

The Photographers... thanks for sharing
From Dave Underwood

http://picasaweb.google.ca/daveunderdog/LumbyDays2009

From Andrei Kravchanko

http://picasaweb.google.com/paraglide.kand/ LumbyAirRaces#


From Louise

http://picasaweb.google.ca/LKBouchard/LumbyAirRaces2009

From Terry

http://picasaweb.google.ca/tsbutcher/LumbyAirRacesFriday?feat=email#

Magali Lalonde-legault's

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/photo.php?pid=3414580&id=548710015&ref=nf

Randy Rauck

http://picasaweb.google.com/rauckon/LumbyAirRaces2009#


Anyone I may have forgotten I apologize

And we really appreciate the Sponsors

Please drop them a thank you email if you can

Lumby Days Society  www.LumbyDays.ca

NORD (North Okanagan Regional District) especially Area D rep Rick Fairbairn ricvic@vip.net

The Blue Ox Pub

Raven Aviation LTD. www.RavenAviation.ca

Wills Wing www.WillsWing.com

North Wing www.NorthWing.com

Muller Wind Sports www.mullerwindsports.com

Deimos Paragliding www.DeimosPG.com

Cayoosh Expeditions www.CayooshExpeditions.ca

Sky Country Canada www.SkyCountry.ca

FINAL Results

Lumby Air Races 2009 HG

2009-06-12 to 2009-06-14

Hang Gliding

Total results

Provisional

Lumby Air Races 2009 Paragliding Results

Total results

Provisional