Corner Canyon Snow Hike (with my new favorite dog!)

I'm hoping that this won't be the weather that I am competing in next July in the X-Alps!  But my training is ramping up and I've got to get out on the trails even in the snow.  Luckily I had a houseguest join me for the hike up into Corner Canyon, Rok the wonder dog!

Yup, taking care of Becca Bredehoft's dog for a week was really fun (made me want a dog a lot!)   He enjoyed coming out for hikes with me and rolling in the snow.

Corner Canyon is close enough to my house that I can hike from home, linking a few paved trails with some city streets to get to the real trails.  And there are a lot of them around the Point of the Mountain...enough that I can take different trails for many hikes and not get bored.   Or even hike to the top of North Side and fly home.

It was pretty early in the year for this cold and snow stuff, but I picked a nice day to head out and even saw a few deer (luckily Rok didn't).   Let the training begin!

I made the US Paragliding Team!

Wow, so cool to be on the USA Paragliding Team!  Check out our page here:  http://www.usparaglidingteam.org/team.html

2015 US PARAGLIDING TEAM The 2015 US Team will be traveling to Roldanillo, Colombia in Janruary to compete in the World Championships (a.k.a. "The Worlds"). The Worlds are held every 2 years, and the best pilots from each country battle it out for their spot on the podium. The level of the competition at the Worlds is amazing. The US Team is selected based on the performance of US Pilots in competitions over the last 2 years, and this ranking is called NTSS, or National Team Selection System. You can view the current NTSS rankings by visiting USHPA.aero. The 2015 Team consists of the following four Pilots plus the team leader.

Josh Cohn Josh Cohn is perhaps the most accomplished pilot in the US competition scene. Josh has been at the top of the field for as long as anyone and continues to rule the skies. If you are at a US competition, you will likely see most pilots following Josh before and after the start of the race. As Nate Scales puts it, "People have been following J.C. for two thousand years". Josh has competed at more World Championship events than any other U.S. Pilot.

2014 US NTSS Ranking: 1 Current World WPRS Ranking:176 Age: 41 Height: 5'9" Weight: 70kg Hometown: El Cerrito, CA Birthplace: San Francisco, CA Education: Masters, Geology Occupation: Buyer, Independent Music Distributor Local Paragliding Club: BAPA Favorite US PG Site: Chelan, Washington Home Paragliding Site: Dunlap? Favorite World PG Site: Roldanillo Sponsors: Eagle Paragliding, Flytec USA Year Started Flying: 1989 Glider at Worlds: Ozone Enzo 2 Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley X-Alps GTO Instruments: Flytec 6030 Achievements: 2014 US Paragliding National Championships 2nd place 2013 Monarca Open 1st Place 2012 Chelan XC Open 1st Place 2012 Rat Race 2nd Place 2011 Rat Race 2nd Place 2012 PWC Superfinal, Valle de Bravo 5th Place 2011 Paragliding World Championships 4th Place 2010 Chelan Paragliding World Cup 1st Place 2010 Monarca Paragliding Open 2nd Place 2008 Pre-Worlds Mexico 4th place 2007 World Championships 8th place 2004 World Championships Portugal task 5 winner 1999 US Paragliding Champion

Eric Reed Pound for pound BADGER is the toughest animal in the paraglidng kingdom. Period. Enough said.

2013 US NTSS Ranking: 2 Current World WPRS Ranking: 44 Age: 22 in badger years Height: 5'6 Weight: 150 Hometown: New Jersey Birthplace: a deep dark hole Education:Bachelors degrees in Cognitive Science & Biology Occupation: Paragliding & Software Local Paragliding Club:Bay Area Paragliding Association Favorite US PG Site: Telluride, CO Home Paragliding Site: Dunlap, CA Favorite World PG Site:Himalayas Sponsors: Eagle Paragliding, Niviuk, Sup Air Year Started Flying: 1997 Glider at Worlds: Ozone Enzo 2 Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley X-Alps GTO Instruments: Flytec 6030 Garmin 76s, Android Achievements: Longest bivy flight in World (2010, 1182 km) Longest bivy flight in US (2012, 663 km) 2011 US Paragliding Champion 2003 US Paragliding Champion 2011 1st Colombian Open 2010 1st Sun Valley Nationals

Nick Greece Nick Greece, a man with innumerable talents, is tough to define. Poet, world traveler, philosopher, rap impresario, big game hunter, philanthropist, contortionist, ladie's man, man's man, nick is one of the great enigmas of our time. On an average day our USHPA magazine editor might spend his time fishing off his porch, slaying trophy grizzly bears, or saving the children of impoverished countries. Despite his many pursuits Nick still found time last year to set the National foot launch distance record and completed the longest vol biv expedition ever in the USA.

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 3 Current World WPRS Ranking: 453 Age: 37 Height: 6' Weight: 185 Hometown: Jackson Hole, Wyoming Birthplace: Ohio Education: Beloit College, Wisconsin Occupation: Editor for the USHPA Magazine Local Paragliding Club: Jackson Hole Free Flight Club Favorite US PG Site: Jackson, Chelan, Sun Valley Home Paragliding Site: Jackson Hole, Wyoming Favorite World PG Site: Aravis, Piedrahita, Colombia Sponsors: KAVU, KEEN, Ozone, Flytec, Goal Zero, Sharkies Year Started Flying: 2001 Glider at Worlds: Ozone Enzo Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley XAlps GTO Instruments: Flytec 6030 Achievements: 2014 US National Champion 2014 Longest paraglider flight by an American, 419km 2012 3rd Place Rat Race/US Nationals 2012 2nd Place Chelan 2011 1st Place Rat Race 2011 Paragliding World Cup Americas Champion 2011 Paragliding World Cup Colombia 7th place 2010 Paragliding World Cup Chelan 2nd place 2010 Paragliding World Cup Americas Title 2nd place 2010 US Nationals Series 2nd place 2009 US Nationals Series 3rd place

Jared Anderson Jared Anderson is a self-confessed paragliding addict, he even sold his dental clinic to chase his flying dreams. As a relative rookie in the competition scene, He placed an impressive 3rd overall at his first PWC in Argentina. Having flown in the Pre-worlds in Colombia last year, Jared is ready for battle.

2014 US NTSS Ranking: 4 Current World WPRS Ranking: 112 Age: 44 Height: 6'2" Weight: 198 lbs Hometown: Medford, OR Birthplace: Bend, OR Education: Doctorate Occupation: Dentist Local Paragliding Club: Rogue Valley Hang/Paraglider Assoc. Favorite US PG Site: Chelan, Woodrat Home Paragliding Site: Woodrat, OR Favorite World PG Site: Valle de Bravo, Roldanillo Sponsors: Eagle Paragliding, Thermaltracker Paragliding Year Started Flying: 2007 Glider at Worlds: Ozone Enzo 2 Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley X-Rated 6 Instruments: Flytec 6030 Achievements: 2014 PWC Argentina:  3rd place

2015 US TEAM LEADER

Matt Beechinor Matt was a member of the 2009 US Paragliding Team and will use his years of competition experience to help the team achieve their best results in Colombia. Matt Says: "As President of the U.S. Paragliding Team I hope to help raise funds so the team pilots can enjoy this experience they have worked so hard to earn. I will make sure the team is ready for battle, and support them so they can focus on the flying."

Hometown: Sun Valley, ID Birthplace: Wenatchee, WA Education: B.A. Occupation: Paragliding Guide, Tandem Pilot, Carpenter Local Paragliding Club: Sun Valley Paragliding Club

2015 Red Bull X-Alps The Red Bull X-Alps is the world's toughest adventure race, a bold claim, but one it surely deserves. The concept is a simple one. Athletes must race from Salzburg to Monaco, by foot or paraglider, a straight-line distance of approximately 1,000km. Its simplicity is something that has attracted and tested to the limit some of the world's top adventurers over the last 12 years. Among adventurers, it's known as the ultimate race. It's an incredible challenge, demanding not only expert paragliding skill but extreme endurance. Some athletes will hike over 100km in a day and will have covered over 900km on foot by the time the race is over! Each team consists of one athlete and up to two supporters. No technical or outside assistance is allowed. The support team is just there to help with logistics, food and mental help. For the fans following the action live, the seventh Red Bull X-Alps promises to be an unforgettable spectacle of action. The USA will represented this year by three teams. USA-1, althlete Honza Rejmanek with supporter Jesse Williams. USA-2, Athlete Gavin McClurg with supporter to be announced. USA-2, Athlete Dawn Westrum with supporter to be announced.

Honza Rejmanek USA-1 Honza has been specifically designed to compete in the Red Bull X-Alps, one part mad scientist, one part pure animal. His birdlike flying abilities combined with his master’s degree in atmospheric science that he obtained from UC Davis gives him a unique ability to maximizing the flying days in this brutal race. On those race days that require athletes to cover massive amounts of distance on foot Honza excels, he eats pain and suffering for breakfast, he thrives on it. After a podium finish in 2009 and multiple top 10 finishes he is more motivated than ever to land on that raft in Monaco.

Age: 39 Height:6'1" Weight: 175 lb before the X-Alps, 165 after Hometown: Davis, CA Birthplace: Prague, Czech Republic Education: Masters in Atmospheric Science Occupation: Atmospheric Scientist Local Paragliding Club: BAPA Favorite US PG Site: Sun Valley, Idaho Home Paragliding Site: Berryessa Favorite World PG Site: The Alps Sponsors: US Pilots and Enthusiasts who support the U.S. Paragliding Team, TAKA UP Paragliders, Sup-Air, Black Diamond, Hammer Nutrition, Foundation for Free Flight, GoFly Project, Atlanta Paragliding, Eagle Paragliding, Super Fly Paragliding, Seattle Paragliding, Orthovox, XC-Skies, Brave Soldier  Year Started Flying: 1993 Glider: UP Trango X-light 2 Harness: Sup Air XA13 Instruments: Flytec 6030 Achievements: Top ten last three X-Alps with a podium finish in 2009

USA-1 / Honza Rejmanek Supporter 

Jesse Williams Jesse Williams, 35, first took and introductory paragliding course in New Zealand in 2000. Since this first flight, Jesse embraced carrying the heavy gear up mountains. He attributes hiking heavier gear up the mountain frequently with pushing his fitness to top level in spring 2011 when he placed first in the Sun Mountain 50k trail race (4h 28m). Jesse is thrilled to be part of the X-Alps as a supporter this year and is hoping to bring flying knowledge as well his trail racing background to this great competition. Jesse is expecting to put in a lot of tough miles doing foot support and is eagerly awaiting the ultimate competition of strength, strategy, endurance, and flying skill."

Hometown: Bellingham WA Birthplace: Mount Vernon WA Education: Associate degree in nursing Occupation: Registered Nurse Local Paragliding Club: Northwest Paragliding Club

Gavin McClurg USA-2 World-class adventurer Gavin McClurg spent over a decade sailing around the world – and may be the only person ever to learn to paraglide while living on a boat. With some of the longest vol-bivvy flights in the world under his belt – and the North American foot launch record of 387km in one day – he's ready for the Red Bull X-Alps. To learn more about Gavin, check out his blog www.cloudbasemayhem.com

Age: 42 Height: 5'8" Weight: 155  Hometown: Sun Valley, ID Birthplace: Vista, CA Education: Bachelors, Business Occupation: Owner, Entrepreneur, dreamer Local Paragliding Club: Sun Valley Favorite US PG Site: Sun Valley! Home Paragliding Site: Sun Valley dammit! Favorite World PG Site: Sun Valley for crying out loud! Sponsors: Patagonia, Niviuk, GoPro, Sup’Air, Smith Optics, NocoXGrid, Klymit, Pocketfuel Naturals, Patagonia Provisions, SteriPen, BlackDiamond Equipment, Flytec  Year Started Flying: 2006 Glider: Niviuk IcePeak 7 Harness: Sup’Air  Instruments: Flytec 6030 Achievements: 2014 Longest connected flight log (vol biv) in the world? (Mackenzie to US border) 2014 2nd Place, Pre Worlds (Colombia) 2013 North American Foot Launch Distance Record (387 km) 2012 Longest North American Vol-Biv (Sierras)

Dawn Westrum USA-3 Dawn can't seem to figure out which sport to pursue, so she tries them all. Triathlete turned adventure racer, she has completed hundreds of races including marathons, ultra marathons, Ironman triathlons, expedition races and even a hundred mile run. Add paragliding to the mix and it's a recipe for a female comeback in the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps. Dawn has been paragliding for 6 years and loves the challenge of XC, as well as having fun doing lots of top and side hill landings on South Side of the Point of the Mountain! Combining her love of running with paragliding is the ultimate challenge.

Age: 36 Height: 5'9" Weight: 135  Hometown: Draper, UTAH Birthplace: Boone, Iowa  Education: Bachelors, Humanities Occupation:Nutritionist and House Flipper Local Paragliding Club: UHGPGA Favorite US PG Site: Inspo, Utah Home Paragliding Site: Point of the Mountain, Utah Favorite World PG Site:Iquique, Chile Sponsors: ????????????? Year Started Flying: 2009 Glider: Ozone Delta 2 Harness: Woody Valley X-Alps GTO Instruments: Flymaster Nav Achievements: 2015 Red Bull X-Alps Participant 2014 Point Rat Series 1st Place Overall 2013 Open Distance Nationals Utah, 3rd Woman 2013 Rat Race Sprint, 3rd Woman

My training for the Red Bull X-Alps is officially started, and now I'm starting to think about all the details for the race. LOTS of them. Including funding. If you would like to make a donation to the US Paragliding Team (no pressure!), then follow links on the website, or write to: 

IF YOU WISH TO DONATE WITH CHECK,

YOU CAN MAIL YOUR CHECK TO: 

US Paragliding Team

9680 W Tropicana

Las Vegas NV 89147

Thanks!