Sunday May 6, 2001
    Following several night time storms and heavy rain, the morning temperature dropped even lower than yesterday and the wind changed to a brisk northern one. Rapidly growing cloudiness rolled in the damp, chilled air, just above the peak of Stranik and while the villagers, dressed up in their Sunday best, headed for church as they do every Sunday, the paragliders went to pray for an improvement in the weather at the Stranik hangar.

    Because the frontal boundary halted its advance above Moravia, and its eastern edge affected the weather in Slovakia, it was announced at the briefing that a decision about today's flying day is postponed until 1 p.m., due to the complicated meteorological situation. Vitamin, though, who had just arrived at Stranik from Valmez and had watched the whole briefing at a distance, immediately announced that the situation is clear, there's nothing to wait for and we should definitely fly. With this he got into his car with a group of cohorts and they all quickly tore off to tour the castle Strecno. The break and the increasing wind obviously opened up the way for the aerial exhibitionism of Juraj Kleji, and as usual it was something to see.



    Even though the cloud bases gradually lifted somewhat, the wind increased dramatically and began to turn to the northeast, almost eastern direction - the only unusable direction for take off from Stranik. Several tourist pilots were pushed backward into the suddenly increasing wind, behind Stranik and frowns began to appear on some of the racers' faces, who were expected home by their families.

    At 1 p.m., after all there was a discipline announced, a goal flight to Fackov at a distance of 30 km. Opening of the start window was set for 1:30 p.m. and its length shortened to a mere hour. Following the intervention of some racers and deliberation among the jury, the 1:30 p.m. window was extended by 30 minutes. In light of the strengthening wind however, it was postponed to 2:30 p.m. and because the wind definitely didn't intend to die down, in fact, the opposite seemed true, at 2:30 p.m. today's discipline was cancelled. By now there wasn't a single parachute in the air, the racers had gathered their things and gradually returned to the surroundings. The last to pack up, with evident relief, was Frantisek Pavlousek. Evidently he'd remembered breaking his foot in just such weather conditions and that here on Stranik as well.



    The weather front was evidently approaching, the wind picked up even more and the cloud bases began to drop rapidly. But in sheltered areas in the sun it was still very pleasant.




    Around 5 p.m. the humidity climbed so much that the entire peak of Stranik was engulfed in a cloud and a strong wind rattled the tin roof of the hangar. The cooks quickly packed up the chairs and tables and were the last to save themselves by running away.

    It is predictable that the moving of the weather front most likely will not allow a discipline to be announced. All that's left then is the reserve Tuesday to fly the third round of this year's Paragliding Cup Stranik. And if Tuesday doesn't work out, the current overall placing will be the final placing. But let's not jump the gun.