Today was another practice day as well as the opening ceremony.

The ceremony was held at an out door amphitheater which was very roman feeling. We were paraded in and across the stage. We were greeted by the mayor, the FAI CIVL president, the airport manager and others. The pomp and circumstance was a little weird but cool non the less. After the ceremony the town of Big Spring hosted us for a BBQ and we had a chance to visit and talk. David Glover is at the pool right now with most of the comp pilots taking bets on who will be in the top 5. The favorites are Attilla, Robert, Jonny, Primoz and Robin. I put my money on my good friend Brett, I think he will win.

Everything is bigger in Texas.

Even the wind mills. These blades were freakin huge! and to top it of thy are made out of fiber glass. at over 100 ft long it was quite the trip to see them.

VG

I got these2 pics that may look the same but they demonstrate the difference pulling your rope makes to a hang glider. Not only can you see more billow in the sail but the camera angle also rotates as the leading edge twists. Cool! (to me at least)

In the air over a green Texas.

Today was the first practice day for the world championships. There was a practice task planned, a 70 km 1/4 tail wind dash to Lamessa. As I was hot, bored and really eager to find out if a 3 degree tip in my left wing would finally tame the right turn in my glider I towed up first, right at 1:00. The tow went well and I was towed to 2500 ft, 1000 ft above the inversion which worked great as I got to fly my glider in some smooth air. The turn was gone (thanx Brett) but the lift was light, broken and only going to 1200 ft off of the ground. So rather than drift away low by myself I landed and took another tow right away to get up wind and try again. There was more of the same and no one else seemed to be in a big hurry. I flew around for a bit trying o get a good feel for my glider( I like it). After I landed this time I went back to the hanger and had some water and a sandwich. After a hour guys started to stick so I hooked up with Ross, Brett and Bernie and we towed up right after each other and I had a great time up there with my friends. I flew for an hour, climbing out over the prisons and then punching back into the 20- 25 km head wind. I got a chance to glide head to head with a all carbon RS 4 and I am happy to say that thanx to my fat ass I glide just as well. Tomorrow we have another practice day and then the gloves come off.

Bernies and my glider with the team logo.


The staging "cluster f**k" on the first day of flying.


The launch Line, it was short as not many tried the task today so no one was in a big hurry but this will all change on thursday. I am getting mentally ready to sweat my bag off.



It is my turn now. Just starting to roll out on the dolly.


I love when I break free of the earth and start to fly. This is just a second after I left the dolly.


The airport and he town of Big Spring from a couple thousand feet.


A few friends. I did climb up to them after a little while.


The hanger is on the right and the terminal building to the left is the meet headquarters. 1/2 of the tugs we have here are tied down between the 2 buildings the other half were towing us up.

Things are starting to change.

The hanger at the airport was pretty empty this morning when we got ther. Just the twins , Brett and Berrnie had set up last night when they got here.


By noon it was getting busy with pilots from all over the world assembling there wings. I am sure by tonight the hanger will be completely full.


Gilders are being delivered from all over the world.


The town of Big Spring is really behind the event. The local paper published a 12 page supplement all about the event and I was proud to see my good friend Jeff on the cover. (wish you were here dude)


There are signs all over town advertising the comp and the locals are very excited to meet us.


A local fire marshal had caught a bull snake to show us and ask us not to kill them as the aren't poisonous and are quite beneficial.


He pointed out to us how to tell the difference between a Bull snake and a rattle snake but also said to stay away from them as they can be aggressive and will bite you. I love Texas even more now!!!!


Prisons in Texas are big buisness, they are run by public corperations and are one of the main employers in Big Spring. There a couple of prisons at the airport and this one is a roadside motel that they wrapped barbed wire around and made it into a prison. Weird!


Lucas, Jorge and Adam.

Jammie Sheldon the naughty lawyer.

The twins, Brett and Berrnie in their pimpin wheels.

Biscuits and gravy.

Moore and I got here early sat morning. After a good nights sleep it was time to get my gear set up on the front lawn of the motel.


My glider survived my trip in gret shape (thanx AA).


I felt very proud to put the tem logo on my wing.


And On Moores van that he bought just so we could all be retrieved in comfort.


On Moores trp down here he took slight detour and flew at Kitty Hawk.


mmm mmm good! When in Rome.


Home sweet home for the next 2 1/2 weeks.


Everyone is starting to arrive today. I had breakfast with the Italians this morning and yesterday I helped Adam Parer from Austrailia put his glider together. I am so excited to see so many friends from so many remote places all come together to celebrate what we love.

OK, OK...... I know it's been a while.

This is how my last day at the santa cruze flats race ended up. My glider is pointing to a tower at the airport that was goal, 2 km away. Ahhhhh. I hate landing short!










The next stop was the Canadian nats in Lumby. This is a picture of coopers launch at one of the only times it wasn't raining. We only had 2 valid tasks, I finished second.









I did get to hang with a great group of friends for the week, made hanging out in the rain worth it.








I did get to do a few tandems though.










Good thing Chris had a full face helmet. ( sorry dude)

Jon Orders had his car decorated, the poem on the winsheild made it all worth it.


I spent a ton of time with my little girl. Emma you ROCK!
I flew in Glden almost every weekend. The picture is of Lake Windemeere, 120 km down the range from Golden. I have also been working on a little tattoo.