A Little Bit of Hypoxia. Santa Cruz Flats Race 2011, Task 6

This video shows the last thermal and final glide from task 6 of the 2011 Santa Cruz Flats Race. I reached 13000 ft MSL and very suddenly felt ill from Hypoxia (starting at 1:13 in the video). The remainder of the video shows my slow recovery and 31 mile glide to goal.

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  Sports

[heroineworshipper]

Wonder what the starting altitude was.

[smorrismlbco]

Everyone starts at 2000' AGL (3400MSL). My lowest point on this flight was 700 AGL (2000MSL).

[ebach1]

I think some of the hypoxia is caused by jeans and belt that are far too tight :)

[ebach1]

is this a combo sailplane and hung glider?

[Miguel Acevedo]

How do you take off in one of those???

If you fly often enough at altitude, you'll get used to it. It took me about a year, but about 13000 is the highest I can go before I start to feel happy and sleepy, if you know what I mean.

Awesome flying!

[Flyzguy]

The obvious solution is a pressurized fairing. Given that the symptoms could be euphoric or nausea, sorry to see you getting the less fun one.

[glendeco]

You are a pilot sir. Great job!

[Schpankme Verimuch]

Another awesome in-flight video. I can not get over the amount of room inside that pod.