Saturday, May 10th
    The night storm brought the claustrophobic doldrums to the tent of David Ohlidal, which set up next to the hangar, and an avalanche of mud into the village of Zástranie. It is almost 10 degrees colder this morning than it was yesterday and the cold northern wind rushes the low clouds over the peak of Stranik.

    "It's not fit for flying anymore, only racing.", says Radek Simonik , evaluating the meteorological situation with an experienced eye. Martinska Hola is hopelessly drowned in fog and the sun struggles to get through.

    The clouds don't break up until after ten and their bases lift to 1500 meters above sea level. The wind decreases and the sun once again beats down upon Stranik, like it has in the preceding days.







    Shortly before noon the first thermal draft is manifest on the southeast starting ground and after several changes, a 41 km long triangular route between Lutiše, Vyšné Vane and with a goal in the saddle beneath Stranik is finally announced. The start window is open from 13:25 to 15:25 and time is logged for each pilot individually.




    Just after 13:00 Honza Habermann, not racing, takes off from the western starting ground and in not quite ten minutes finishes turning the base high over Stranik. The racing field lies waiting a full half hour after the opening of the start window, and the only sounds heard from the represented racers is the sound coming from two little speakers, affixed to a counter by second place holder David Ohlidal. The left one is still dripping water after the rain ...




    The start wave breaks at 13:50 and the steady thermals allow taking off on both starting grounds simultaneously. And while a parachute case lifted high above the circling chutes born by a whirlwind, while on the other hand, Marcel Konečný with a broken cord is steadily dropping to the eastern slope of Stranik, following futile attempts to shake out the tangled twigs.

    Beneath the bases at an altitude of 1900 to 2000 meters, a total of 68 pilots reach the first turning point without difficulty, at the 13th kilometer of the route. The second turning point, however, lies toward the West and therefore requires flying directly towards the quickly moving clouds. A total of 29 pilots stall out just past the second turning point Vyšné Vane at the 27th kilometer or within 6 kilometers past. Only Tomáš Brauner along with Martin Orlík, who fly into this area several minutes before, manage to lift up and become the only ones who land today after almost exactly two hours of flying, at the goal. And even though Marting Orlik is just under two minutes faster, Tomáš Brauner gets an earlier start in the point system and 5 points more, becoming the winner of today's discipline.



    The point gain for today means victory for Tomáš Brauner in the overall placing for the race and simultaneously the title of Champion of the Czech Republic. David Ohlídal holds on to his position in second place with his landing at the 31st kilometer and Martin Orlik manages to take third, with a six-point lead over Radek Vecera in fourth. A Moravian Symphony ...



    Roma Skokan wins in the Hobby category, ahead of second place,Radek Krampl Jazzman and the Polish racer, Martin Goraysky.

    First place in the Women's category was held by a thread (1 point) by Renáta Kuhnová, second place going to Petra Krausova and third to Hanka Matyáskova.



    Victory in the team category went to a group of nine pilots, (though only the point values for the best two in each discipline are counted), under the name of MAC Foto Morava which consisted of Tomáš Brauner, Martin Orlík, Petr Kuhn, Petra Krausová, Martin Slíva, Karel Vrbenský, Ondra Holub, Marcel Konečný and Bohdan Wojkowský.



    In conclusion all that remains is to thank Karel Vejchodsky and Petri Reček for photographs from the air, the "Haliganda Pub" collective for excellent food and drink in the hangar on Stranik throughout the entire week of competition and of course to the Gradient company for sponsoring this report.