Easily my best task ever flown. With light winds a
150k box leading part way back to goal was called.
Starts were late due to a circle jerk figuring out
which direction to launch in. It is a big deal here
because they have to line the aerotowers up with the
car towers. Wind was about the lightest I have seen
aloft with most of the big thermals not drifting much
at all. Climbs over the tow field were around 5,500.
I couldn't quite manage to make the top of the stack.
No sweat since I had a good eye on most of the best
pilots (Oleg is my main target). We were right at the
edge of the start circle when the first gate ticked
off and about 70 percent of the field bolted. I
noticed a few top guys held back but I lost sight of
the slippery Ukranian. With so many other good pilots
waiting I knew he was doing the fake out and would
come right back. With less pilots in the gaggle it
was easier to get over 6k before the second start.
Climbs were much stronger today, 600 fpm wasn't too
kard to find. We charged to thr first turnpoint and I
held back a bit to make up being lower with a good
glide line. Our group got split between 2 different
directions. I was high and headed to some gliders
climbing. Oleg and a few others followed. The other
group eventually topped out higher in a fresh thermal.
By the first turnpoint we were catching other pilots
from the first start. They marked the patterns to
the sky, but usually not the good lift.
At the second turnpoint we got a bit low. Gliding to
a group I was down to 2k but confident with gliders
climbing ahead. That climb was slow until some pilots
leaving from the top of the stack found a strong one a
little further down course. About 3 or 4 core hops
later we were up to 7 grand with a big group ahead.
With pilots spread out over many levels there was a
steady stream of markers through most of the
courseline. For the next 3 or 4 thermals I flew as
perfect STF choices as I could. I would look for 600,
settle for 400, and leave at 350. In the process I
scored some 8 to 9s also. This morning I tightened
up my wing and she is gliding significantly better
then the other guys. I had caught this large group
but was low in the stack. I left when they were slow,
and made up distance a little at a time. Holding back
just the right amount of time paid off though, because
I suddenly found myself top of the stack with Gerolf
and Oleg just 10k from goal! I timed it right so I
got to their thermal before the other guys had climbed
up. I quickly found a strong core and got a few
hundred extra feet on the main group below. Those two
darted on course and I finished my 360 and followed.
Racing for the line with 2 of the best pilots in the
world was pretty dam cool! Just watching them duke it
out in the climb picking the perfect time to fake the
other out and leave was a sight to see. We took a
good line and came into goal way too high. I wanted
to race to the deck but my harness repair kept me from
getting head down enough to get over 70. Thats where
those fast speeds come in! 2 italians slipped into
goal very low ahead of us but I believe at least one
of them had the early start, hence 15 minutes slower
on the clock. I'm crossing my fingers that I slipped
in 3rd or 4th. That would help make up for my rough
day yesterday.
Kev C
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