Saturday, August 9
    An unpleasant surprise awaits Matus Skvarka on the results sheet in the morning, as he had to take of work issues in Bratislava all day yesterday, and so could not race. He was immediately replaced in the lead of the Hobby category by Peter Vrabec and Peter Borgula took third.





    "His fear center has been surgically removed", says someone in regards to Juraj Kleja's acrobatics, as he uses the thermal elevator along with nine other pilots on the last day. The thermals are working so well now that some pilots who will remain unnamed, attempt to land seven times. At the briefing, a "Race" discipline is announced, with a starting point at the Polana saddle, with turning points at Luková, Lúčky, Polana, Závažná Poruba, back to the Polana saddle and a goal at the Lúčky landing field. The start window will be opened from 12:15 do 14:00.



    The wave of take offs commences seven minutes after the opening of the start window, lead as usual by Juraj Kleja. As this is a race, with the starting point opening at 12:45, all the racers are up in the air very quickly. Straggly clouds begin to move in and the cumulous bases gradually rise to an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level.

    The most difficult part of the route proves to be, as usual, the flight over the peak of Poludnica to the broadcast towers at Závažné Poruby. Eighteen pilots finish their battle at this part of the route today, and a further 8 are forced to land on the trail leading to the high-positioned, last turning point at the Polana saddle in the Low Tatras. Among them is Peter Borgula, which means that he will not make the pinnacle of the Hobby category, because Pavel Orolin is heading for the goal without stopping.

    Only 15 racers continue on to the just under 6 kilometer distant goal on the Lúčky landing ground. Leading racer in the Hobby category,Peter Vrabec, is forced to land just under 100 meters before the goal line, but the point loss does not affect his position in first place. Juraj Kleja makes the fastest time at one hour and 57 minutes, and thereby becomes the winner of today's discipline. Close behind, at 97 seconds later is Mirek "Radar" Stěhula, meaning a loss of only 35 points and the winner of the race is decided. Roughly half a minute following Mirek Stehula is Jaroslav Jandúch and subsequently 11 other racers.

    In the overall placing of the race, Mirek "Radar" Stěhula came in first, followed by Juraj Kleja and Pavlem Dohnálek in third. All three are simultaneously the victors in the "Pro" category and so divide amongst each other prizes of 20,000 SKK, 10,000 SKK and 5,000 SKK.




    Peter Vrabec won in the "Hobby" category, with Matus Skvarka placing second and Pavel Orolin taking third.



    Renáta Kuhnova fared best, with Júlia Briatkova coming in second and Monika Tranžíkova third. Among the Polish racers, the leaders were Jerzy Kraus, Jacek Profus and Walter Wojciechovsky.



    In contrast to last year's rainy weather, the great weather this year allowed for the flying of seven disciplines on seven competition days, which is a result comparable only to last year's 2002 Championship of the Czech Republic, which was held in Tolmin in Slovenia. And judging by the words of the organizers, this will become the standard for all the subsequent years of the IPC Cup.



    My closing thanks traditionally go to the IPC Cup Chopok sponsor, IPC s.r.o., for providing accommodations and internet access, and for exceptionally good weather, for which they are surely responsible in part. The rubber boots, rain slicker and umbrella I brought remained unused. So that's it until next year at the IPC Cup 2004.