Soaring vacation this January or February?

I got my glider add-on last winter, he http://www.miamigliders.com. Great people, I recommend them 100%. There was normally some lift in the afternoon, when fair weather cumulus would build.

But variety is the spice of life, and if I go again this winter, I'm just wondering if the weather in Phoenix, Tuscon or SoCal is going to be good for soaring. Any local knowledge would be appreciated!

On Sunday, November 24, 2013 10:37:18 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I got my glider add-on last winter, he http://www.miamigliders.com. Great people, I recommend them 100%. There was normally some lift in the afternoon, when fair weather cumulus would build.



But variety is the spice of life, and if I go again this winter, I'm just wondering if the weather in Phoenix, Tuscon or SoCal is going to be good for soaring. Any local knowledge would be appreciated!

I can answer for Arizona. Our normal soaring season is March through October, but we have the occasional good winter day when frontal systems push through. Otherwise generally quiet conditions with low to non-existent top--of-lift.

Mike

Kinda the same in central New Mexico (Moriarty), except if the sun is
shining, we'll have weak thermals (2-4 kts) which carry us up into wave.
Looking at my logbook, I see 3 wave flights above 15,000' MSL last December.

We also have good food, several motels, and a brewery about a mile from the
field.


wrote in message
...
I got my glider add-on last winter, he http://www.miamigliders.com.
Great people, I recommend them 100%. There was normally some lift in the
afternoon, when fair weather cumulus would build.

But variety is the spice of life, and if I go again this winter, I'm just
wondering if the weather in Phoenix, Tuscon or SoCal is going to be good
for soaring. Any local knowledge would be appreciated!

Hawaii?

Dillingham Field on Oahu is working anytime the trade winds blow. I have flown everytime I have been on Oahu and only once did I have to wait two days for the winds to be favorable. It is beautiful. However,you are not going to get any cross-country miles in. The ridge is it. For me it is good for two days out of a week with some diving, surfing, sailing, hiking, sleeping, or eating in the days between flights.

I'm taking a trip to Minden, NV and renting from SoaringNV late January. They get a lot of wave days there. I think you are more likely than not seeing at least one soarable wave day a week, maybe 2. There were 2 my last trip in 2012. I also got some ridge flying on the non wave days. Check the requirements for rental on their web site.

Also great hiking, skiing and amazing scenery. ... Aaron

Paul, Check out OLC for areas you'd like to visit to see if the locals flew during the same time last year.
www.onlinecontest.org

Not on your list and certainly a jump in cost for the airfare, but if it is within your means, Glide Omarama in New Zealand should definitely be on your bucket list. The people, the scenery, it's a pretty amazing experience to fly with Gavin Wills or his team of instructors in the Southern Alps.

Central and Southern CA have some thermal soaring and wave in the winter months, but the days are short and there aren't a lot of operations with extensive rental fleets like SoaringNV in Minden or Williams Soaring.




On Sunday, November 24, 2013 9:37:18 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I got my glider add-on last winter, he http://www.miamigliders.com. Great people, I recommend them 100%. There was normally some lift in the afternoon, when fair weather cumulus would build.



But variety is the spice of life, and if I go again this winter, I'm just wondering if the weather in Phoenix, Tuscon or SoCal is going to be good for soaring. Any local knowledge would be appreciated!

On Sunday, November 24, 2013 9:37:18 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I got my glider add-on last winter, he http://www.miamigliders.com. Great people, I recommend them 100%. There was normally some lift in the afternoon, when fair weather cumulus would build.



But variety is the spice of life, and if I go again this winter, I'm just wondering if the weather in Phoenix, Tuscon or SoCal is going to be good for soaring. Any local knowledge would be appreciated!

Crystalair Ca offers year around soaring; thermal, ridge and wave
They also offer an extensive fleet of gliders to rent.However cheap it isn't.

Jan - Feb . . . Hmmm, there's the SSA convention in Reno beginning of Feb. Then there's typically pre-frontal wave on occasion. Minden, NV would be a good choice on both counts!

bumper

Minden, NV