Monday, August 5, 2002
    The first cumulous clouds begin to pop up just after 8 a.m. over the crest of the Low Tatra Mountains. The meteorologists have predicted no storms, and so it is decided at the regular morning briefing, held at the Hotel restaurant to take the cable car up at 11 a.m.

    "In that case, I only want a wafer, because as of tomorrow we're paying for the cable car", says Jan Stehlík, alias Hormone, as he orders a frugal breakfast right after the briefing. The cable car operator has changed the pricing system this year and the ride up costs an even 100 Slovak Crowns. The ride down is free, but that's of no use to a paragliding pilot. This means that the registration fee only included three trips up and today's trip is the third.




    However, before 11 the first shower comes in and the 100 Crowns are saved. The ride up to Chopok is postponed indefinitely and subsequently cancelled altogether after the second shower. And while some fall prey to the much-loathed alcohol, others head out into the woods to gather mushrooms, only to come back and join those of the first group.

    "And off we go, pouring beer down our throats!" A keg of beer is rolled out in front of the hotel entrance, peppers are brought, along with tomatoes, onions, mustard, salted peanuts and a pile of sausages. The rain stopped some time ago and occasionally the sun shows through the thick clouds.

    "Máme tu špekáčkov ako za igelitku šípkov!" call some unnamed pilots to attract girls passing by, after half an hour of complicated building of a fire. (Moravian translation: there's a pile of sausages here"). Light blue smoke blended with the scent of roasting meat rises to the heights of the pine trees and the jaybirds fly unabashedly up to the fire for the leftovers.

    "Look at those eyes ...!" mumbles one of the pilots late at night by the bar and points at a 16 year old blond waitress. But judging by his bleary eyes it's not entirely certain if he actually means 'eyes'. And, a tragic blow to some, by the end of the day we've run out of Vavřinec red wine.



    In the overall placing of the race then, no changes have taken place and the weather forecast is uncertain for the following days.