The UK XC league ends today, and subject to no late submissions, the placings have been decided. I have come second woman and 39th overall, which I am really thrilled with. Last year was my first year in the league, so I am pleased to have improved from 71st overall to be in the top 40.

Before the beginning of the season I had set myself the goals of coming in the top 50 overall, and the top 3 women. I am sure the weather helped. Because the weather was so bad, anyone who can fly any day was going to do better this year. Another factor was that nearly all the UK comps were rained off, so there were few declared goal flights in the league. However, saying all that, I put in 30km more than last year with no ridge runs, which shouldn’t really be in the XC league anyway.

Looking back on the season, it was a shame that there were not more good days. I came back from Spain in April having spent the winter getting to know the Zoom really well and feeling that we were really in tune with each other. Some good distances had already been done in March and the weather got steadily worse as the summer progressed. The exception was the 10 days when I was at the Chabre Open, when it was fantastic and Geoff went XC nearly every day. I really wanted to progress as a pilot this summer and put into practice all the things I was practising over the winter. It wasn’t really to be, although I did get my PB this year. So goals for next year?

I’m thinking about entering a comp, possibly abroad, depending on when/where they are. The Chabre Open is apparently not happening next year, which is a huge shame. I’d also like to get in the top 30 in the league.

The Aspen is packed away for the winter so it doesn’t get trashed on Santa Brigida, but will come out in February for me to learn how to fly it. So I am back on the trusty old Zoom.

Roll on 2009…

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