Sunny & Hot, that was the weather at the 28th annual Panorama Easter meet.
Saturday was an exceptional day with pilots flying up to 3000 meters and 2 flying out to Invermere.
I ended up landing at the Invermere airport and getting a ride back to Panorama shorty after.

This years winner is Pete Peter Kozak followed close by Kelsey, Frank, Tanya and Erik.
Thanks again to all the staff and the Panorama Resort for accommodating us and to everyone who came.

I am back from Brazil… 9 days, great experience, lots of flying, great food and people.

I was not ready for this at all and would have never done this if the kids would not have insisted on accepting the invitation from Frank.

Frank Kernick, who is a long time family friend, is the one who connected Penny and me and the kids call him “Uncle Frank”

Frank was already in Brazil and sent me a business class ticket to join him on his paragliding trip to join him.

I started the trip down south by Floripa flying along the coast and interior mountains, then traveling to the mountains NorthEast of Sao Paulo and then driving and flying in Rio de Janeiro.

Frank was very aware of what the weather was doing and that is why we traveled to different places… he is an amazing tour guide and did all the drinking for me as well. Thanks again Frank!

For me it was very hard to go to the airport without Penny… It felt so strange and very emotional. The hardest and most emotional day was Penny’s birthday by waking up with a beautiful sunrise. I was able to fly at 2 different coastal sites for hours that day… felt like she was with me all along.

As to the kids, both are doing well considering the circumstances.

Katia is back working at Panorama and has a lot of support and fun with her colleagues and friends. Thanks again to Stacy and her family for having their house open anytime for Katia and treating her as one of their own.

Erik is busy in North Vancouver with school and Hockey. Thanks to a very helpful and supporting team, coaches and a huge thank you to Erik’s billet family Terri, Steve, Logan and billet brother Jaxon, simply outstanding.

I, and maybe Katia, will be going to Penticton March 13-17 to watch Erik’s play-offs. Erik will come home with me/us after the playoffs for a week or so. We plan to do some skiing or other activities together as a family… Life goes on and we do feel and know that Penny is always with us, like a guardian angel and smiling when she can watch us living life with the spirit she showed us.

For those who want to see more of the pictures, I do have a album at

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rEFJMwUapEgizmyn6

Pilots tasks will be dropping Easter eggs (plastic bags filled with snow) and target landings at the designated landing site (Golf driving range). And if possible race out to the valley to Lake Windermere.

Not just about flying, it is also about socialising with pilots, family and friends.
Free social and paragliding event. Pilot lift ticket is $40/day.
Pilots meeting is March 30th at 8:30 am at the day-lodge.
Let me know who is planning to come this year so we can make arrangements for the Saturday evening dinner.
Contact Max Powers at max@flyingMax.com

What an amazing day and celebration this has been!!
Thank you very much to everyone coming and making this such a great event. My apologies to anyone I was not able to speak to.
It is estimated to have more than 450 people come and 95 online viewers.

I like to thank again:
Welcoming, services and closing speech – Brent Woodard

Family tribute to Penny:
Max, Erik, Katia, Craig & Bridget Powers (siblings) Astrid Krueger (Penny’s niece)

Group tributes to Penny:
Columbia Valley Businesses – Pete Bourke
Columbia river Paddle – Fiona Pickett
Toby Creek Nordic Club – Lyle Wilson
Babes on Blades – Andrea Dunlop
Edgewater Fire Department – Jon Tames
Endeavor Fitness – Lainey Wilson
Paragliding Group – Tanya , Dwayne, Amanda, Sara

The slideshow about Penny is at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yrLbk335bDduoSZ18

Live stream of Penny’s Celebration of life is at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kJqd8Iqd4-auGeDq9NHD65wI2TkgRdrK/view?usp=sharing

We invite you to come and celebrate the life of Penny Powers in the picturesque setting of Kinsmen Beach. Surrounded by Windermere Lake, the WhiteWay and the beach, we’ll share stories, laughter, and love as we remember our beloved Penny.
Location: Kinsmen Beach
Date: Friday Feb 9th
Time: 3:00 pm
Food: Penny’s Chili

If you can’t come, we will have a camera setup with a life-stream video at
https://meet.google.com/iso-zadi-hvx

Note: for locals, bring a chair.

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of my soulmate, Penny Powers the love of my life, mother of my children Katia & Erik, who passed away early this morning.
Penny was taken away from all of us unexpectedly she had suffered with an aggressive form of cancer which took her from us within 7 weeks.
As Penny was a social butterfly and loved by so many, please, anyone and everyone is welcome to come and join us tonight and tomorrow for a wake to share stories at our house (5761 Lautrup by Edgewater)

Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Panorama Mountain Resort is already in very good shape and several ski racing teams are training in full swing.
If all goes well, we should be able to start flying at Panorama within the first week of opening day (Dec 8th)
More information about flying at Panorama click here