Won't You Lie Down in the September Grass

We arrived late yesterday evening in Brasilia after a solid 12 hours of driving from Andrades. Although Jonny, Chris and I slept much of the way (late and rough night the night before) it was still cool to see the interior parts of Brasil flying by at 150 kph. One of my favorite things about hang gliding and especially hang driving is seeing places I would never see but for this sport.

Here is a church in the middle nothing on the dirt road heading down from the Andrades launch.



Chopper is happy to be back in the air after close to 6 weeks without flying. He stayed at the hotel to catch up on work today while the boys had a practice day. But, he'll be back at it tomorrow. The first comp day is Sunday.


In a couple of hours it will be September...three quarters of the way through the year. I feel restless here....not sure why.

On to Itamonte

We left Rio night before last for the first part of our roadtrip to Brasilia. It was quite an adventure. We were bringing an old car of Konrado's to leave in Andrades to be repaired. Needless to say, the car wasn't running perfectly. Getting out of Rio it wouldn't go much faster than 40kmh, so we decided it was best to tow it with the good 4x4. This was hilarious....kind of like towing a hang glider with a climbing rope tied around the base tube...no release, no weaklink, no safety margin (short roap about 5 feet from bumper to bumper). So, while I thought that was going quite nicely, those in the car being towed didn't care for it much, so we finally left the car at a truck stop and drove the rest of the way to Itamonte where Conrado's family farm is without the car.

Konrado has a beautiful spread up in the mountains with a giant house that could easily be a hang gliding lodge. There are rooms and beds enough for 20 or so and the launch is just a short drive up the hill. We arrived on launch a bit late yesterday, so conditions weren't the best. Konrado was the only one willing to hang out on launch for a half an hour waiting for just the right cycle to get off into. Everyone else packed up and drove down the mountain.

After a little stop at The Rock, we made our way to Andrades last night.



Now we're up on launch watching conditions and deciding where to fly to. This launch is plush! Nice parking lot surrounded by manicured hedges, green grass covering the whole set up area and yes, open wireless right here at a nice little picnic table. What more could a hang gliding bum ask for?



This shot is looking out from the north facing launch.

More Art for Jeff

This city has the most amazing graffiti I have ever seen....very creative people. We must have taken several dozen shots for Jeffo.

Christ the Redeemer

After near fatal passport and glider problems, I thought I wouldn't make it to Rio with the boys. But, here we are and all is good. I've decided there is no more spectacular city on earth and we are very lucky to be right in the middle of it. We're staying here with Guga and his very sweet and typically gorgeous Brasilian wife Simone in a great apartment overlooking the hotel where we stayed on Copacabana beach a few years ago.

We'll spend the weekend here and then venture out to Andrades sometime Monday on our way up to Brasilia.

We took a ride up to the Christo late this afternoon and got detoured along the side of a favela...closest I've been and I would have loved to get right into the middle of it I thought we would survive. I don't know why I am fascinated by these places.













At the last minute, Wasabi decided to join us again. Unfortunately, the Jeff's couldn't make it and we really miss them.

Chopchop's Got a Ticket

We're Off to Rio

What's Next?

I'm waiting for my flight out of Dallas and found this self-serve
kiosk that offers all sorts of high tech services...laptop rentals
with wifi and printing included (printed pages come out on the
opposite side of the kiosk) for $6.96 per hour and charging portals
for pretty much any electronic device like a cellphone, laptop, iPod,
etc.

What will they think of next?

American History

I was suprised today to learn how few Americans out on the street in Dallas know what the "grassy knoll" and the "Texas School Book Depository Building" are. Pretty sad really. Even makes me wish I paid more attention in history class.

Prize Giving

Three Moyes pilots on the podium this time. Although I know Gerolf would have preferred to be first, he was happy to have all of the top three flying his glider.

1 Attila Bertok (Hungary)
2 Robert Reisinger (Austria)
3 Gerolf Heinrichs (Austria)



The team gold medal went to the UK. They were thrilled and I was especially happy for them since they are good buddies. It's always a pleasure to hang out with them at the meets. Silver to France and Bronze to the Austrians.

Yesterday's Spot Landing Contest

The spot landing contest happened after all yestreday. Many had already short packed their gliders, but the die-hards were there for the $1000 prize money.



David Glover (meet organizer), Davis Straub (meet director) and Bobby Bailey (famous tug pilot/designer) all gave it a try. They didn't win the money, but they entertained us all!





That's David on his rear end.






In the end it was Jonny in first, Dustin in second and Rodrigo (Mexican pilot) in third. It was really fun to see Bobby Bailey in a hang glider - have never seen that before.

New Caption

A good friend of mine pointed out that this picture was much more fun with a proper caption.

Beautiful Sky

While they're all busy short packing gliders in the hangar, the sky is looking gorgeous.

It's Over :-( I always hate this part....

Still more rain forecast for today so there is no task other than a possible spot landing contest this afternoon. The prize giving and closing ceremonies will be tonight and then everyone is out of here. I'm off to Brasil in a few days....helps ease the end-of-the-comp depression ;-)

Rain

We're on our way to Midland for shopping and a movie. Rain all day and no task....probably the same tomorrow :-(

Rules of the Road

There's this cool sign coming in to Hobbs, New Mexico where goal was today. Of course, I didn't take this picture while driving 140km per hour and I of course I don't type blog posts on the iPhone while I'm driving ;-)

Some Pictures for Tina and Julia

Hangar Games

Brasilian pilot Marcello Zanetti's kids found some ways to have fun while dad was out flying.

Robert first

....according to Attila, he was 2 minutes faster than him. This might
just change things!

Sent from my iPhone

Its raining gliders at goal

....at least 30 here already.

Sent from my iPhone

Nearly at goal

...about 2km away and I can see at least 10 gliders over goal!!

Sent from my iPhone

Lightning Fast

Just spoke with Vix and apparently Kraig is reporing 10,000ft couldbase and awesome climbs. Last transmission they were 76km from the turnpoint (about 87 from goal)!! I'm driving 140km/hour trying to catch up!

Sent from my iPhone

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Gerolf just gave me a heart attack by radioing that he was landing,
just 30 minutes after taking the start. Of course, he came on 10
minutes later to tell me that he had gotten up again from 50 meters
off the deck. This man is invincible ;-)

Now it seems there must be some confusion on my part. Gerolf's last
report a half an hour ago said they were 120km from goal....I don't
know how they could be going so fast in these conditions. Hmmm...more
soon.

Sent from my iPhone

Task 7

They're predicting weather much like yesterday's. The task committee has tried to call something straight downwind (assuming they really know which direction will be downwind - seems the models were a bit off yesterday) with the hope that it might be doable. It will be a 172km run to Hobbs, New Mexico. Hobbs is the Zapata of the 90s where Davis and Michael Champlain used to go for records. It will be strange and a bit sad going back there today.

Pilots at Launch Yesterday

Stupid Human Tricks

Pretty cool trick Brian Porter can do with his ear ;-)

Yes, it's Erin, not Flossi. Freudian slip - I guess I'd rather be in Hawaii right now. Grumpy pilots worry that there might not be any more good tasks thanks to Erin.

I don't know who won the day. I heard rumors that it could be Alex Ploner or Robert Reisinger. I just know for sure it wasn't Gerolf or Attila. Hopefully the scores will up be soon.

Tough day

Driving from goal back to the second turnpoint...Kraig and Filipo and
one Colombian pilot beside the road just at the second turnpoint. Four
pilots just went over my head, but they are low...can't tell who they
were.

Sent from my iPhone

Landing...

Reports are saying that a big group has landed near the second
turnpoint. I'm headed there now...Gerolf thinks he is landing there as
well :-(

Sent from my iPhone

Still Waiting...

No one yet...

My buddy Brian Porter is here to watch the action for a few days.
Brian has been flying since I was just a baby and is one of the beat
story tellers I know. We'll have dinner tonight and get the update on
all of his latest exploits.

At Goal

We're here at goal but the sky looks bleak....but at least it is
relatively cool for those of us on the ground. I don't think it can be
more than about 90 degrees here, which is about 10 degrees cooler than
it has been.

The radio reports are few and far between and mostly they just say
that they're low :-( I hope they make it.

Task 6

The weather prospects are looking grim for the coming days....hurricane Flossi is heading toward the coast of Texas and it will likely effect our conditions.

Still no out and returns or triangles. I sure would love to hang out at the airport today instead of in the car. Anyway, not today. They will fly 3 sides of a square, ending up just north of La Mesa for a total distance of 165km.

Party Fouls

They always say that the rests days are more dangerous than the flying days. That certainly held true for yesterday. We had a pizza/pool party at the Whitten Inn last night and it wasn't long before everyone and his brother was being thrown into the pool. I had to be an outright bitch to avoid being thrown in...maybe I'm getting old, but I just don't find this so amusing anymore. As I am typing, Ecki the German team doctor is examining Jonny who was thrown in on his head (or playing chicken fight with a girl on his shoulders) (the pool is fairly shallow). He will go get x-rays this morning and it seems there's no way he could fly today and possibly not for the rest of the meet. This really sucks and if he was leading this would completely spoil the world championships for him. The Portugese FAI rep, Vitor also visited the hospital last night after attempting a back flip from the pool side. He has a broken heel bone and will probaby fly home today or tomorrow.

Seems kind of a waste to me.

Task Dancers

David Glover created this and showed it at the Pilot's meeting.

Rest Day

In case anyone didn't know already, we needed a rest day after the long task yesterday (especially the drivers ;-). So, today is the blogging, working, glider tweaking, hangover recovering rest day.






This is Christian Ciech landing at goal yesterday. I thought he was the first in, but apparently the Frenchman Mario Alonsi beat him across the line by one second.

At launch yesterday....

The sky was finally looking like what we're used to here in Texas....and looks weren't deceiving in this case. The 284km task was a great call with 60 pilots in goal. Everyone there was happy and wishing they had gone for 300 instead!



Here are Steve Kroop and Nicole at launch.

My Favorite Wind Dummy

Bly is here with the Spanish team. At just 18 he's already flying like a madman! Although he's not yet on the Spanish team (he is here at the wind dummy), I'd put money on him being on the team for the worlds in Laragne. Everyone is enjoying his great attitude and adorable smile. Each day after the competitors launch, Bly takes off and flies to goal (well, almost to goal in some cases). He was short just 20 or so kilometers on the long task yesterday. He will definitely be one to watch in future comps.

Richard Lovelace

The whole UK team is here!

Jonny and Michi

At least 35 happy pilots

17....

In the first wave....likely more coming.

Sent from my iPhone

Dustin top American!

Dustin is just in....about 7th or 8th!!

Sent from my iPhone

Christian Ciech 1st in

...Primoz, Jonny and one other are th first in.

Sent from my iPhone

Christian Ciech 1st in

...Primoz, Jonny and one other are th first in.

Sent from my iPhone

Here at goal....

Today's goal field looks about as wide open as it could possible be. I
am here with the French, Italian and German drivers and it shouldn't
be more than 15 minutes or so!!!

French

The French team van just sped by me ;-) I wonder how they are doing?
Gerolf is at 60km out...shouldn't be too much longer!!

Sent from my iPhone

5pm

Just got word by radio that they have just 100km to go. Its a hot and
lonely drive out here...I haven't passed another retrieve vehicle in a
few hours and actually started to wonder if I put the wrong
coordinates into the Nuvi. The clouds are getting smaller and thinner
with every kilometer and I can't help but think it will be difficult
to make another 100km so late in the day. We'll see!

Sent from my iPhone

4pm update

They're on course but not moving as quickly as expected. Gerolf's
gaggle is 168km out from goal. The clouds don't look as good up here
as they did back in Big Spring...not bad, just fewer of them and more
blue holes.

Sent from my iPhone

94

At the breifing this morning David reported that there were 94 pilots into goal yesterday! That must be a record. It sure would be cool if as many made it today. Already there are cu's popping all over. The starts are earlier today because they have so far to go. Launch opens at 12:40 and the first start is at 2:00. Of course, pin in won't be until tomorrow morning as it will likely be a late retrieve and a long night.

American Team

In general, we're not doing great. Dustin was around 18th or 19th yesterday, top for the Americans. The whole team made goal yesterday, with the exception of Kevin, who is sick. He apparently spent the night before last and much of the day yesterday coughing up his cookies. Sounds like he's feeling a bit better today, but probably still won't fly. Glen Volk has been his usual consistent self, making goal every day so for. He is 18th overall as of yesterday.

I'm just sitting in the back of the terminal building eavesdropping on the task committee meeting....tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day, so they are calling the longest task in competition history for today, 284 km just across the stateline into New Mexico! Will be fun if people make it!!

Before today's task

Bobby Bailey and Christian Cowboy

Goal Shots

You can sort of see in this picture of Gerolf how nasty this goal field was. Behind him was nothing but barbed wire, oil pumps, power lines and mesquite bushes. In front is asphalt, which is where Primoz is landing in the other picture.

Tonight Kraig was running a very busy store from him room, selling landing supplies.

Many Many here....

I would guess at least 50 gliders here...maybe more.

Sent from my iPhone

Primoz second

Dave Seib....

First across the line...don't know which start he took.

Sent from my iPhone

Ugly goal

It may not be visible from the photo, but the landing are either
asphalt or oil fields full of oil pumps.

Not such a nice goal field

We made it to goal after a big scare from Gerolf. He was 100ft off the
deck and reporting that he was landing. I turned the car around and
started back when he came back on and said he got up again. The
Amwrican team driver was watching him and called us to say he was
100ft off the deck.

This is a scary looking goal field....more soon as they are on final
now.

Sent from my iPhone

Driving...

On the way to goal with Steve Kroop...the sky is full of cu's and
looks so much mover than the previous days. The boys sound happy and
fast on the radio.

Today's goal field is apparently a bit sketchy. The guys will have to
cross over a small town and quite a lot of closely spaced oil pumps
just before goal. Should be interesting.

According to the last radio report Gerolf is about 70km from goal and
moving fast! I expect they should be in goal around 5.

Sent from my iPhone

Italian Families

By far my favorite thing about goals at the worlds this year is watching the family of Italian pilot Ilio Cataldi. His beautiful wife and daughter are here and I have never seen a more supportive and geniunely excited family. Yesterday Ilio's daughter Lisa was so overjoyed to see him come in to goal that she was in tears and running toward him before he even touched down. It is absolutely the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I wonder if there is a more happy hang gliding family on the planet.

Task Day 3

Here in the briefing, Attila just spoke about his flight yesterday, winning the day again. He said it was the most memorable competition flight of his life.

Today's task is a 149.4 km run to Denver (not the one in Colorado) to the northwest. Conditions are still not changing, looks like a blue day again. But, they will start a little earlier today so that maybe we can be back for bowling night in town ;-)

Luis in 2nd today!!!!!

Many in

At least 30 at goal. Attila says he made a huge mistake 30km out from the start and had to fly nearly the entire course on his own. Even with that, he was a solid two minutes ahead of the lead gaggle.

Sent from my iPhone

Its Attila again!!!

Almost here

Gerolf and Alex Ploner are about 10km out, but not quite high enough
to make it yet.

Sent from my iPhone

Goal Crew

Just waiting. Last radio report the lead gaggle was about 50km out.
That was about 10pm minutes ago. They should be here soon.

Long drives

These long drives can be productive sometimes. Waiting beside the road under the lead gaggle I discovered that I can in fact post photos from the iPhone. What do ya know! That was a shot of our injured US team member Chris Smith who had to pull out of the comp just a few days before it started. We were at Walmart cheering him up by letting him cruise around in the motorized cart...he is easily amused ;-)

Sent from my iPhone

Photo test

On the road again....

On my way to goal again. From my perspective, things look better than yesterday. There are a few small cu's popping off in the distance but on course line. The boys are on the radio sounding very high and pleased with themselves. Launch is getting faster each day and David's biggest gripe today was that it went too fast. Maybe if there is time when I arrive at goal, I will post an update on the Calcutta shares and who looks to be in the money at this early stage.

Sent from my iPhone

Task Day 3

169 km downwind run to Level (up northwest again). It just seems to get longer and longer....as a driver, I'm already exhausted and this is only day 3!

Pictures from goal on Day 2

The Brits are really kicking some butt in the team competition. I'm sure they will be in first after today's task. Richard and Gary were in with the first 4 or 5 to goal.











Jonny was in pretty late today...he's not such a happy camper.

Unofficial order into goal

I don't know much about which start times were taken by whom, but here
is the order into goal so far:

Attila
Richard Lovelace
Gary Wordnam
Hans Kiefinger
Antione Bousilliet
Raymond Caux
Tulio
Gerolf
Carl Wallbank
Lars Bo
Hakan
Olaf Opsanger
Kraig Coomber

There are a few other gliders, but we couldnt figure out who they
were. Should be more coming.

Sent from my iPhone

More coming

Attila first in, then two Aeros, then Hans Keifinger. One more way out on the horizon. Sent from my iPhone

First in

A Litespeed first....could be Attila!
Sent from my iPhone

Still waiting....

Just heard from Gerolf who is happily still in the air!!! Things were
starting to look grim here as it is nearly 6:30 and no one is in site
or talking at all to their crews. Gerolf is about 30km out and we all
have our fingers crossed. More soon....

Sent from my iPhone

Waiting at goal in Crosby

I'm at goal with the Moyes, Rob Kells and many others. Got a report
that Mikey and Dustin have landed. Gerolf is struggling low about
50km out. Vix is on the radio with Jonny and Dave Sieb and it looks
like they are getting ready to go on final!! More soon.

Sent from my iPhone

They're off like a herd of turtles...

Here is one of the Japanese team - they're currently in 1st place in the team competition!







For Michi's secret admirer.

Task Day 2

I’m here in the pilot briefing now. Conditions look much like yesterday….hot, windy and maybe not such strong lift again. A task has been called again to the north with a turnpoint at La Mesa. Goal is at Crosby (a crop dusting paddock) for a total of 185.3 km.

The Japanese are in first in the team competition! I’ll get some shots of them today, along with a few of Michi (to satisfy an anonymous commenter ;-)

Here's a shot of Kevie with Rob Kells at goal yesterday.

Pictures from Goal Yesterday

Atilla is in first after Day 1!









So far my $480 investment in Gerolf is looking very promising!!! He was third yesterday.

The Count

Looks like at least 35 at goal so far with a few top guys
missing....like Michi and Nene.

The American team looked strong....so far Kevin, Dustin and Glen are
here...hopefully more to come!

Sent from my iPhone

At Goal on Day 1

Just watching the first guys come across....looks like 50 of them all within about five minutes of each other. Kevin was the first across the line with Attila second. But apparently Kevin took the first clock and most of the others took the second!

Sent from my iPhone

On the Road

I'm headed toward goal now. They called a 148km task to the
north...straight downwind to goal with no turnpoints. The wind is
pretty strong, the sky is mostly blue and the lift isn't all that
strong, so we will see how it goes.

Quite a hoopla at the briefing this morning. The Italians and Swiss
didn't like the composition of the task committee or the fact that the
start times were so spread out. I thought it might come to blows
before all was said and done.

David organized another Calcutta and all the top guys were bought,
some for bargain basement prices and others for top dollar. I love
this game, it makes things much more interactive for the spectators.
Jonny went to an Aussie trucker for $750!! I bought Gerolf and Guga
and I expect them both to pay off nicely! I might try to post a chart
of original purchase prices along with daily values.

Sent from my iPhone

A Few Pictures from the Opening Ceremonies

Belinda did a great job with the Opening Ceremonies. Although it was super hot, I think everyone enjoyed it along with the real Texas BBQ for dinner afterwards.

Worlds Registration

Registration is on this morning and everyone is in a tizzy. We arrived day before yesterday in Big Spring and it is hotter than hell here. I've been running around taking pictures with the iPhone...the camera is not too bad, as long as you don't need a flash.

Here's Alex being his normal dorky self.


The local rangers found a snake (not poisonous) and were teaching the German team how to spot the dangerous ones. There are quite a lot of rattlers around here.


Cool Timezone Logo


Gerolf loves Texas....

Happiness is Lubbuck Texas in the Rearview Mirror

There is something that feels so good about packing up the suitcase
and glider and taking off again. Sometimes I wonder what defect makes
me this way, but most of the time I just don't care...I like it. The
Nuvi says I will be in Dallas by about 11 tonight, but I will likely
stop somewhere around New Orleans.

My parents have been visiting since an hour or so after arrived home
from Europe last week and that was great fun...nightly Yahtzee
tournaments. I have the greatest parents on the planet and I miss them
already. But, I have the scorching Tezas heat to look forward to ;-)

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