Tuesday, August 5
    Today's morning wake-up call was provided by a helicopter whose crew decided to begin cement work on pillars for some new ski lift on the steep slope above the Björnson chalet. The sun is beating down from the clear blue sky and there's no longer a single pilot without at least a sun-burned nose.



    "God almighty we're going to die," exclaims sweat-drenched Mišo Čierny, clutching his heart during today's climb to the starting ground, and puddles of his sweat remain glistening on the flat rocks of the mountain walk. He doesn't have the guts for the more comfortable method of getting up the 200 elevation meters by air, which Jaroslav Jandúch and Peter Vrabec try along with Juraj Kleja today. All three land successfully at the starting ground after several minutes of circling.



    At the briefing, the discipline assigned has 7 turning points and is indescribably complicated. It involves flying zig-zag over Chopok, Jasna and the Demänovska valley and the goal line for today is laid out in Svarina. The overall route is 60 kilometers long and the start window will be open from 12:00 to 14:30.



    Juraj Kleja, as usual, takes off first, this time nine minutes after the opening of the window, followed a bare minute later by Peter Hvôrka. Soon they are followed by the entire racing field - the thermals are great and the route is, after all, a long one today. Within 40 minutes of the taking off of the first pair, all racers are in the air, and because the entire route is within visibility of the starting ground, today's race is reminiscent of watching the horse races from the grandstand. All that's missing are the hamburgers and the ice cream.

    Shortly before 14:00 Robert Kralik, and shortly after, Vlado Tranlik, lands in unenviable spot on a little meadow high in the mountains. They can be seen through binoculars packing their chutes and heading off on the long march down into the valley.

    The third leg of the route proves to be the problematic one today, as its turning point is high above the crest, requiring sufficient altitude, and after 14:00, there are more wings than flies at the landing field of Lucka. A total of 26 pilots ends their day today between the fateful 7th and 15th kilometer, and only 21 continue onward.





    The calibrated glide ins to the goal at Svarína of some of the racers end in flights over the line at heights of barely 20 meters. Juraj Kleja, on the other hand, is 700 meters short of the goal line. A total of 9 pilots reach the goal after four hours. The winner of today's discipline, with the best time of 2 hours and 43 minutes is Miroslav "Radar" Stěhula, with Michal Orolin coming in second 16 minutes later and Štefan Bendík third. The fourth best time today is made by Michal's brother, Pavel Orolin.

    The Vyparinovs start roasting the pig this evening in front of the Björnson chalet, along with the steaks and sausages being grilled. Barreled wine appears from somewhere and Renáta Kuhnová, after her second glass of Modry Portugal begins speaking Polish so fluently that not even the Poles can keep up with the conversation.



    No dramatic changes take place at the top of the overall placing for today, except for "Pro" Juraj Čiernik replacing "Hobbyist" Miroslav Matovič in third place.