Last blog before I “see” you again from/in Uvalde. Hope if you are not there, you will virtually follow me/us again during this trip.
Do you know what has touched me? The way EVERYBODY, who has been in Uvalde in 1991 , speaks with affection and nostalgic memories on the 22d WGC. In retrospect they  have done someting damn good then. Specially Bernald Smith, as director of the championship, the Huffstutlers, Kerry and Mark who were  contest manager and co-manager and Hannes Linke the comps director. All were very dedicated to their jobs in the contest.
Hope to meet them all  again this year .
Reason for me to hope that this 32d WGC will be the same or even better, if at all possible!!

We then had 3 classes standard, 15 m and open. Now we are there with 3 classes again, 15m. 18 m. and open , while the other classes will go  to Chaves in Argentina, but by know we are used to this. For that reason my job in Eskilstuna was an unforgettable one; [see the top picture] all classes at ONE field for the last time. To be honest I do miss it a bit. But on the other hand we have too many classes now to perform on ONE field. Can’t stop progression, would n’t like that either!
The last couple of years I have mainly written on an ECG and WGC’s for the unflapped gliders, “the little ones” as I fondly call them. For that reason I look very much forward to meet the pilots and crew from the “big ships “again.

I think I remember this one with the bullit holes!!! Even made a picture from it in 1991.
Now I plucked it from the FB site, posted by the active South Africans.

Sorry that I arrive a bit late at location. But I am not the only one “working” for Soaringcafe, so you surely will be updated about the first Team captains meeting , the mandatory safety meeting and the welcome party, all one day before I arrive. No worries !

It was raining for a couple of days in Uvalde, ” 3 days of monsonal weather conditions straight to thunderstorms” as David Jansen, who was for quite a while the ONLY pilot practising from Uvalde Airport,  mentioned on the Aussie blog and with VERY strong  winds!!! Only remember ONE BIG thunderstorm in 1991.
But what happens now is over and done with!!!!

Thunderstorms this year as well as one of the crew members from Holland , Frans, had a 4.5 hour delay due to them, when he arrived in the USA. But …after the waiting experience Frans was happy again as he could fly with pilot Garret Willat over USA soils in a great looking “toy” ;2-32.
On the FB news from Frans I read he visited the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.He was more then impressed! After he travelled to Mesa Verde National Park and Amarillo and Houston to pick up our open class pilots Peter and Francois this weekend. I guess he would have never seen all this beauty if he was n’t involved in soaring. What great sport we have!!!

Frans Guise and Garret Willat in the 2-32with the camera mounted on the wing. Frans is by the way a fantastic photographer! Picture courtesy Frans Guise.

  
Pictures courtesy Frans Guise.
On his way to Uvalde…..Monument valley and Mesa Verde National Park.

Not only Frans , but  lot’s of pilots with their crew  travel through the USA to pick up their glider in the harbours or their rented USA glider. I read they are enjoying to see the Mississippi, New Orleans, others have visted New York and some have arrived in Uvalde/Texas.
The UK containers will arrive this weekend as well, travelling from Southampton to the Galveston Docks. The Finnish pilots have settled down in their motel in Uvalde. The Dutch pilots as well. The gliders should be now on their spot at the field on the tie-down-area.

the Finnish container.

Let’s wait and see what happens this year?!You can read it ALL in SOARINGCAFE !!!
Did you know that in 1991
–a total of 682,246.8 km. was flown by first 114 , then 112 and the last 2 days by 111 pilots?
–there were 123 out landings in total.
–the best speed 156.6 km./h. was flown by Jan Andersen [Denmark] in 15 m. class?
–with that speed Jan won  the Musters Award and Lilienthal plaque
–Eric “Herbie” Moser won the first day in standard class?
— that “my”  Baer Selen won after 12 days in st.class; 11.216 points ?
–that Baer flew in the Discus from Rick Walters from the USA.[great glider!!!!]
–the Uvalde restaurants were happy with their “tons and tons”of business from the WGC.
–Stefano Ghiorzo won the first day in 15m. class in Ventus C ?
–Brad Edwards from Australia won in that class the title with 11041 points?
–only 40 points more then French pilot Gilbert Gerbaud.
–Doug Jacobs survived leukemia only 2 years earlier and became third?
–we were all impressed with the bridge over the Pecos.
–the Mayor from Uvalde said:”Thanks for becoming a part of our community and history.”
–we would NEVER forget Anssi Passila . We did NOT!
–my pilot Gerrit Kurstjens won day 1 in open class
–my good friend Ingo Renner did the same both had 1000 points.
–Janusz Centka won the open class after 12 days;11.111 points.
–Stig Öye landed out , in a pond and “swam” with his glider to safety
— Torbjörn Haglander from Sweden was the last finisher at the 22d WGC in UVALDE.

For all other news you can read www.soaring.eu including WHAT gliders are flying in WHAT class in Uvalde!
Health insurance; checked!
Travel insurance ; checked!
Esta form to enter the USA;OK!
Ticket ready to go! Via London , maybe not so smart with the Olympics on, then Dallas and San Antonio.
British Airways is the carrier I fly with and American Airlines back, via the same places.

Next time we will be writing daily for you from GARNER FIELD  in Uvalde Texas. Be part of the fun , the way my Soaringcafe friends and I look at the contest, the people and actions; follow us in real or virtual.
CU then. Cheers Ritz