Latin adventure

Oppressive heat hits me as I arrive in Cali, the air smelling of kerosene. I take a deep breath to take in the new surroundings, setting the mood for the holidays!

Palm trees, music, and honking taxis at the exit quickly immerse me in the Latin vibe — the two weeks of flying in Colombia can begin!

I arrived in Colombia a few days before the group and am enjoying the first days with beautiful flights and as much peace and quiet as possible. However, finding peace is generally almost impossible in South America, and especially in Colombia. If it’s not overlapping reggaeton and salsa blasting from two different sound systems at the same time, then countless mopeds with loud, rattling exhausts are constantly driving around.

After my first few acclimatization days, Chrigel Erne flies in. Not by airplane, but on his Zeolite, coming from the north. Having started in Roldanillo, he warms up over the first hundred kilometres and overshoots the destination quite generously by a few kilometres. Via WhatsApp I guide him back to the village of Santa Elena, and in the evening we enjoy a nice — and very large — steak together.

On Saturday the group finally arrives. It’s time to get started. At the beginning, Sven gives us simple tasks adapted to our energy level after the long journey: up the valley and back again — an easy 40 kilometres to get us going. For many of us, flying over flatland is still unfamiliar, and we first have to build up the courage to let go of the familiar mountains.

Once you’ve realised how it works in the flatlands, we hop from thermal to thermal. With a bit of self-confidence, you can reliably reconnect even when sinking low above the ground. Vultures mark the thermals, and low saves over the sugarcane fields start to become really fun!

After the flying days, Sven, Chrigel and I repeatedly bring in new input on flight tactics, but also on stress management, movement theory, and relaxation techniques for cross-country flying. Interesting discussions develop, a lot of new things are learned and integrated into the next flights.

The weather is unstable. “La Niña” — a weather phenomenon in the Pacific region that alternates with “El Niño” — has the Cauca Valley firmly in its grip, from Cali through Roldanillo all the way to the northern end of the valley. In all my years in Colombia, I have never experienced such changeable conditions. Normally, during La Niña it is generally more humid than in an El Niño year, but the daily conditions tend to remain consistent over longer periods.

Thanks to La Niña, the local foehn wind — which normally brings a strong westerly flow from the Pacific into the valley every afternoon and makes flying difficult — either does not occur at all or only sets in late in the day. As a result, we are able to fly every day, and most of the time very well. Sometimes the rain starts earlier; other days it remains flyable and strong all day long. Ideal for us — we can fly for a long time and enjoy varied conditions each day!

The flights in Piedechinche, at the southern end of the valley, are calmer, with gentle, large thermals, whereas further north in Roldanillo you occasionally find stronger lift, more similar to what we know from the Alps. These thermals make the vario beep more intensely over long periods of time and are especially enjoyable for Chrigel and Tobi. Overall, the air is pleasantly smooth, there is little wind, and the turbulence is manageable. This is another reason why flying in Colombia is so worthwhile!

Overall, Colombia is an incredible country for flying and travelling. Anyone who enjoys flying a lot and without stress, who loves adventure, smiling and open people, and very creative architecture and music, will be very, very happy here. Being on the road with the group, racing together across the flatlands and planning flying days together was fantastic. Thank you to everyone — the time with you was wonderful!

We will definitely come back next year to discover even more of this vast country with a varied round trip.

Ueli