Following Tom (2): Grisedale Tarn
- Graham Kendall
- 4 hours ago
- 1 min read
This video is the second in a series, called FOLLOWING TOM. It is a series of "reconnaissance" or training videos for the 2026 X-Lakes, based on trying to repeat the most tricky sections of Tom Hodgkin's run & fly Bob Graham round in June 2024.
In this video, I try to repeat the Grisedale Tarn section:
Dollywaggon Pike
Fairfield
Seat Sandal
Steel Fell
The wind was light NW: not ideal. I'm flying a secondhand Phi SOLA GT, and an Advance Easiness 3. As ever there was huge sink - falling air - above the tarn itself. This is a common feature of Grisedale Tarn. Either that or broken turbulence! Generally it is not a safe area to fly in Grasmere, except for light winds.
For the 2026 X-Lakes, race director John Westall has said that the 2-day event will be based broadly on the Bob Graham round, as a race to goal. We don't know the exact rules yet, or the turn points that John will set. These details will probably be set by John closer to the time, and based (probably) on the weather conditions and safety factors.
But, I thought it would be good training - and fun! - to repeat the hardest "transition problems" from Tom Hodgkin's magnificent round. If nothing else, I hope that it might encourage pilots to come and try the X-lakes in 2026, in this new format, and to help pilots who don't live locally / don't have time to practice in the Lake District through the year.