Saturday, August 2
"How can a Czecho be president of the Slovak LAA?!", someone exclaims in surprise. Ivan Priesol is a native Czech, who has lived in Slovakia for many years now and who several days ago replaced Marián Turan as president. So unlike last year, this year the president of the Slovak LAA, the Director of the Race and the main sponsor are all present, all being the same person.
The price policies of the local cable car operators have not changed since last year and while the ride down costs nothing, the ride up costs 100 Slovak Crowns. A perfect system for getting the most out of skiers in the winter and paragliders in the summer.
Today has been set aside for practicing and real points will begin to be given tomorrow. In today's typically distance-weather most pilots choose the route to Liptovsky Hradek and back. Even though the bases at altitudes of up to 2600 meters above sea level can be reached, coming back down against the westerly streaming in the valley between the Low and High Tatras mountains proves very difficult.
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In addition to the Slovak and Czech racers, this year pilots from Poland have come as well. The same ones that participated in the Victoria Cup two weeks ago in Donovaly.
"Depends on who and when", answers Renáta Kuhnová as she lights up the proffered cigarette. Peter Magnusek is celebrating a birthday today, (23 or 32), and, just like last night, there are already several varieties of wine on the table. The motto is: "Better to see a child fall out of a carriage than wine spilled". The Vyparinovs have promised to roast a pig tomorrow evening.
Someone has inadvertently loaned a pack of matches to the big and little Roberts, (Setnička and Cisár) and soon a fire rages skyward in front of the Björnson chateau. Tame, local squirrels run around and a few days ago a frightened-half-to-death hiker came out of the forest having seen a bear near the Chalet Bjornson. He had to be revived with Borovicka liquer - the hiker, not the bear. And this is just the beginning ...
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