Saturday 2000-8-12
    In light of the predicted very weak wind in varying directions, the second part of the Czech Republic Championship was planned at the last moment for the Low Tatra Mountains in Podbrezova. As these things happen, instead of a weak variable wind, a relatively swift, westerly wind showed up, and nothing came of the predicted ride up the starting ground of Kralova Hola. In contrast, the starting ground Baranovo Zadky by Banska Bystrica is as if custom created for a west wind, and by noon 35 hang gliders stood ready for take off in the huge meadow.




    At the briefing an event in the direction of Karlova Hola, that is with the wind, was announced. The transmitter at the peak became the first turning point, distanced 74 km and the goal line was prepared by the village of Predajna, just about within sight of the housing complex for the Podbrezova Ironworks in Lopej, at a total distance from the start of 125 km. The second part of the route headed, for a change, against the wind.




    And because 11 "beginner" pilots who wanted to compete against each other for the "Sponsor's Cup", came out to the 2nd part of the Czech Republic Championship, the currently leading racer in this year's overall placing, Dan Vyhnalik decided to share some of his experiences in flying in this environment, and that the primarily better ones. "Absolutely free, boys, I'll tell you how to go about it,", he generously announced after the briefing and took the beginners aside. As later turned out his certainly well meant seeds of advice fell upon fertile ground this time.

    The Start window was opened at 13:15, but even an hour after that still no one wanted to go up into the air. After 14:00, veteran Milan Uhrov's supply of cigarettes unfortunately ran out. And as he'd signed up in the race as a kick-off flyer, nothing was left for him but to hurl himself into the air. Right by the landing strip below the hill someone had luckily built a motorest. "What the devil didn't want...", ten minutes of planing the hillside and the kick-off flyer gained altitude, and following a moment of hesitation, the first racer, Mirek Cap, started off, after all. After that events had a relatively rapid development, and by 16:00 the starting grounds were deserted again.



    Even if catching the wind wasn't absolutely free today, and it was relatively busy on the meadows on the northern edge of Banska Bystrice, most of the pilots, including two beginners were able to fly out onto the route successfully. Bases at an elevation of 2800 m above sea level and a relatively swift west wind at this level made long jump-overs easier. Unfortunately only five pilots were able to photograph the turning point, which was located at an elevation of about 2000-m above sea level. In a large shaded area, they then glided down, against the wind, at least to the village of Helpa. Dan Vyhnalik glided the best and his point lead from the top of the first C.R. Championship in the Austrian Greifenburg, he thus got to 581 points above the second, Petr Tucka, in the overall placing.

     The curiosity of the day that Saturday was Jard Tkac's landing in a field in the midst of a village celebration. The thrilled organizers rewarded him with some goulash and he had to promise to fly in again sometime.