Thursday 18/9 - a struggle for life
Today after just a few windy days is a surprisingly stable day with a faint wind and ceilings just about 200 to 300 metres above the peaks of the local hills (about 4000 to 4300 metres high). The task is only 51km long, but due to today's weak day pretty difficult.
After a take off in a height of 3900m the first turning point is on the same range (little hills about 4000 to 4300m), than back across the start, and cross above the valley with a village Telluride on to the opposite range with turning point deep down in the mountain massif (4170m). This cross shows up as a hard nut to crack for the most of the field, because nobody is able to gather altitude above the launch and almost half of the competitive field after more than an hour's furious fight with a strong valley wind and sharp but not working bubbles is landing in a narrow valley in the village. Some of the less fortunate even have to hang themselves on the tree, because of the low down turning point, strong wind and almost none disposable thermals that created a real hell for the return to the beautiful cuttings down in the valley.
The rest of the gaggle is at the return from the turning point number two trying to get in a rotor behind the starting edge - one with just a little narrow gill-and use it as a landing place for the less fortunate. After few repeated attempts to cross again to the launch edge and turning of another field's turning point there is only five pilots left in the game. The rest of them either finished about 30 or 40m below the peak of the mountain - but unfortunately from the other, bad side or is doing slaloms between the trees and the rocks in a desperate attempt to get to the valley.
This showed up to be the last scored distance as the organizers are announcing an interruption on the radio because of an ambulance coming to help pilot Bruce Tracy who got into an unpleasant accident just off the take off. I and four other lucky pilots are deciding how to continue - that is difficult because of the landing place's shortage- and how to get out of the way of the helicopter as soon as possible and head for another valley.
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We finally land there after another ten kilometres of fight. Our great admiration goes to the Czech pilot Honza Rejmanek, who risked his life and landed in a very bumpy conditions to help the unlucky pilot.
Friday 19/9 roundabouts in the sky in town
Today looks much better from the very first moments of the morning-we have got a lovely warm autumn day with a sun shining and there is not a single cloud in the sky. During our journey to the start I feel the atmosphere of sparkling hope in the air-it could be the BIG day. Today's 42km long task was scheduled for us to stay in the valley of the village Telluride. Right after the start we cross the valley to the opposite side of the edge. The conditions allow us to climb up to 5100m.But after the first turning point we all get to know how tricky the high ceilings can be. Though we have all finally got the opportunity to see these beautiful mountains from the bird's - eye view to reach the point no.2 by this way is almost impossible-the speed of the headwind amounts to some 45 kilometres per hour in the height of 5000m and that means to struggle for each metre with the peaks high as much as 4300 on the way to the gorgeous debris slope and the second turning point.
The biggest favourite of the event Len Szafaryn did not let me go even when I was furiously fighting with the rotor on the way to the turning point and as a second one with a jump in front of the rest of the gaggle goes for his second well deserved turning point. But a good fortune has got marvellous tours - after a crazy rotor comes smooth, inflated and sunny debris slope, what more could pilot long for! And than suddenly bang! Vibrant breakdown follows rotation to the hill, in seasoned reaction of the pilot and a bash to his back. All American's hopes are gone and he has to make a four hour's march from the height of 3960m down to the valley. Before I go on to the course, I exchange with Lem an acknowledgment about his well being (very angry about the unexpected meeting with the mother earth).
I am on my way again all alone heading for the rest of the way through the valley with a strong side wind trying to turn the last triangle. Little while after my landing the rest of the gaggle reached the land a Czech pilot Honza Rejmanek confirms his condition with a great third place in today's flying.
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