Superfinal task 1

After a couple of really fun warm-up days we started the comp with a bang today with a 79k race to goal along the local mountain range and across the valley. At the opening ceremonies last evening they announced that this was the highest ranked paragliding competition ever held..... Conditions were full on for racing and that's exactly what happened. I pretty much got left at the start - wondering what the heck happened.... Seemed like the race was over for me today before it ever started!! I flew the prestart perfectly, and two minutes before the start I was wing tip to wing tip with two of the top 3 finishers today. Then I decided that I was smarter than everyone else and pushed out front more towards the start cylinder and proceeded to get completely drilled with about 4-5 other pilots.... by the time we got re-established in a climb, the start window had opened and I had the pleasure of watching over 100 pilots flying over my head towards the first turn point about 1000 feet above me! There was pretty much no chance to catch up after that point - even though there was still 75 kilometers to race! The gaggles were unbelievably smart and strong, and very few mistakes were made after the start. If you weren't right with them, or immediately behind them, they were pretty much not catchable for the entire race. Brad was the first of the US pilots to make goal, but pretty far back, and I made it in in the 90s I think, and Pete Schaffer took the last into goal red lantern award.... The other US pilots landed short of goal.

As expected, the pilots are ALL exceptional with many prior world champions in attendance, and many prototype gliders being put through the paces. Conditions were strong in places but manageable. I witnessed one reserve deployment right in front of me.... I circled down right over where he went into the trees and yelled to him "Are you OK?", and the reply that came back was a booming Italian voice yelling that he was OK....

So, tomorrow is another day and they are going to bus us to another launch site which is about 50 kilometers to the south of here I believe. I guess there was a town that was decimated by an earthquake 6 months ago with over 300 local residents killed. Apparently moving the comp there for the day is an act of goodwill towards the local community. We are going to stay in the area after the race for dinner and a party.....

Sue is enjoying her time and is looking forward to taking a flight of her own one of these days... the conditions in the evening are spectacular with incredible views and very mellow conditions - just what she likes.