Monday, May 5th
    The good flying conditions exceptional visibility on Sunday, the training day, seemed to indicate that this year the weather will be much better than last year, which was windy and stormy. The peak of Stranik was literally covered with pilots and tourists, and the longest flights ended up in the city of Ostrava. A broken snap hook made by AustriAlpin (with a bright advertising slogan "Simply The Best") broke just after take off, but thanks to the quick reactions of an unnamed Czech pilot, ended in only a slight fall. For those who are asking how is something like that even possible, see article on DHV pages from 2001. But beware - the surface of yesterday's broken snap hook was not chrome-plated, but blue. What is there left to believe in?




    "Well that was something!", says sleepy Renáta Kuhnová in the morning after spending the night on Stranik under the open sky with one of the pilots who wishes to remain anonymous. Meanwhile, the hangar buffet is preparing sausages, gently marinated steaks and Rudy's meat goulash with bread for a mere 45 Slovak Crowns.




    Almost 90 pilots are standing in line to pay their registration fee so that they can meet just before noon on the southeast starting ground for the announcement of the first discipline. The start window is open from 13:20 to 15:20 and a route of 40 km is announced with turning points at the broadcast tower at the end of the crest by Žilina, Straník, Stará Bystrica and the goal past Čadca.

    The wind at the starting ground is today, in contrast to yesterday, southeasterly and relatively fast and tangles of chutes, lines and people so unfortunately well known from last year don't happen only thanks to the two strictly maintained take-off aisles. Even though catching a drift after take off is not too difficult, staying up after turning up to a usable, working altitude is not free by any means. Progression from the first turning point along the low crest back to Stranik is tough and becomes the end of the flight for 19 pilots.



    Maximum flying altitudes are barely 1700 meters today and only 28 racers get past the third turning point at Stara Bystrica. Martin Orlík lands in the suburbs of Čadca with just under 4 km left to reaching the goal.



    In the end seven pilots make it to the goal past Čadca and the best time is made by David Ohlídal, who, after his second ride up, started just 6 minutes before the closing of the start window. In the overall placing of the race this put him in the lead. It takes Tomáši Braunerovi 30 minutes longer to fly the route and Peter Mensák arrives at the goal two minutes later. The Magnificent Seven group is completed by Martin Gorayski, Jaroslav and Jan Kupka and Petr Kuhn at the goal.

    "Draw Czech blood! Kick Their Asses!", cheer the Slovak pilots that evening in the hangar, watching the Czechs vs. Slovakia hockey game. The final score is 3:3 and makes peace, and the beer and wine are enjoyed by all regardless of nationality.