New Launch Technique

[Rick M]

Nothing like getting sucked into the air.

[jj]

LMAO

Watch it, you could pull a hamstring runnin that hard.

[Fred Kaemerer]

Popped ur nose.

[Rick M]

It's not that simple. I was preparing to launch and was still getting my wings and nose level when I started getting lifted from behind. Then I got light on my feet and then I was in the air. It was a totally unplanned departure. I didn't take a single step on the ground.

[AnnC]

Looks cool... A bit o' luck in that technique... Anybody there to be your wire crew?

[Rick M]

Nope, just two of us and I went 2nd.

[Fred Kaemerer]

It's not that simple. I was preparing to launch and was still getting my wings and nose level when I started getting lifted from behind. Then I got light on my feet and then I was in the air. It was a totally unplanned departure. I didn't take a single step on the ground.

Don't think you would have left the ground if you hadn't lifted your nose. Maybe you lifted it so that you felt less pushing from behind?

Not giving you crap, just making an observation.

Fred

[Rick M]

Could be. I was struggling to get control. This was my first time on the new launch ramp and the cycle got pretty strong. I was having trouble keeping my nose down. I still find it weird that even with an apparently slightly nose high attitude as I picked up the glider, I felt like I was being lifted from behind.

[AnnC]

Sounds like 'ramp suck'. You don't need a ramp: a steep slope/cliff, and a windy day will do it.

[Dean M]

I think you did a great job given the conditions. I did not see a nose pop, if you had you would have been on your back. Well done

Dean

[Rick M]

It definitely felt like ramp suck. I've been forced off of a launch before I was ready two or three times over the years before this one. Luckily in every case they turned into non-events. But this is the first one where I just went up with no steps - truly a strange feeling. The other cases I was able to take charge and run it off with at least a couple of steps.

[HangDiver]

On Ricks behalf... I launched just ahead of Rick and I've never felt stronger lift right off the ramp (new launch). I had to hold my glider - struggling to keep the AOA neutral for the longest time while waiting for a lull to lift the nose. It was booming to 14K right off launch.