With the 8th JWGC this year in Poland, a lot of our young ones will represent their countries and do their utmost best to win the titles in the two classes.

The site is online at www.jwgc2013.eu and we are used to by now the typical Katja- style, so very young, cool and recognizable. It is fantastic to see how many pilots under 25 will participate. I counted 85 young pilots from 22 countries, amongst them pilots from Australia, Argentina, the USA and Canada, South Africa, and the rest from Europe. Quite a few countries are able to send a team of six, as do Holland, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland.

Interesting as well is the experience of some of these pilots. Some have flown the JWGC already before, or some even  participated in other  [senior] WGC’s as Chaves and Uvalde.

 
Neil Deijgers from Belgium and Peter Millenaar from Holland, ready for Leszno!

And now bit of  history…

The very first JWGC was in Holland at Terlet in 1999 ( I was there)  and one of the engines behind it was Francis van Haaff. Francis is an airline captain now at KLM and chief editor of the magazine for the VNV (the Union for Dutch Airline pilots)—Op de Bok. I read on the Internet a very interesting article from him and somebody else about toxic fumes in the cockpit.

As you may remember, I wrote about the death of 43 year old Karin Lysakowski, a glider pilot and airline pilot. She stated before her death that she and her colleague (43) thought they suffered from Aerotoxic Syndrome. On one of them , both B.A. pilots, they are going to do an autopsy to get to know more about what might have happened and if this toxic fume syndrome was the cause of death.

Back to 1991…they had in each class a German winner, one flying a Discus 2 and the other an ASW 19.
In 2001 France was the host and Issoudun the place to be; a UK winner, Jay Rebbeck  in an LS 8 and a Danish winner, Peter Toftin flying a standard Libelle.
In 2003 the pilots had to go to Slovakia were Nitra was their host. The UK and German pilots , Jeremy Hood and Michael Streit, won the event in LS 8 and ASW 19. I remember they had extremely good weather!
In 2005 I was in Husbos as TC and saw how another,  again different pilot from the UK , this time Mark Parker won in LS 8 and a German , Christoph Nacke in LS 1. I remember Christophes happiness, drinking too much and throwing up in the middle of the party area in the middle of the night. But ,….he continued as if nothing had happen, that’s being young!
In 2007 I had the honor to be at the 5th JWGC again,  this time as editor in Rieti in Italy. Patrick Gai from Germany won in the LS 8 and French pilot Killian Wallbrou won in the St . Cirrus.
Patrick just topped the OLC list last Friday flying from Puimoisson. Killian has been part of many comps after,  even with his busy job as chopper pilot.
In 2009 , in Räyskälä , I was part of it as well, again as editor, and 2 German pilots won, Felipe Levin in a Discus 2 and Volker Sailer in a Glasflügel H-201.
In 2011 Germany was the host and I was not in Musbach but Katja was and she saw Felipe Levin win AGAIN and our Dutch pilot Tim Kuijpers won in his class in a standard Cirrus.
In 2013 ,….let’s wait and see, we know on the 10th or 11 ‘s of August , depending on the weather. When it is a valid competition with at least 3 days in both classes they finish on August 10, otherwise they use for one or 2 classes the extra day .
The younger brother from Filipe,   Enrique, is flying this year , will he be as good?
G Dales nephew Luke will be participating for the UK? What about him?
Uvalde pilot representing Holland Steven Huiskes, will he go strong after that experience?
Quite a lot of young toppers together there, so it will be a great event, looking forward to it.

And from Holland Steven Huiskes, with in his back pack the Uvalde experience.

The next 9th JWGC will be in 2015 in Narromine Australia. Still far away, I know but planning ahead is a “MUST” as it is far away in kilometers as well . For a lot of young ones an expensive job, but I hope they will get some financial support from their NAC. Deals , as swapping gliders and cars with pilots flying this year in Leszno, could be made , it’s absolutely important to start asap to see if you can find a glider in Australia or if you have to ship a few to Sydney, maybe sharing containers .
It will be at least a HUGE discovery for most of them as it is different soaring over there.
For those who need a lot of practise to fly in blue conditions or over areas they are not used to / familiar with, JOEY GLIDE is in the end of this year will be already a Pre JWGC and flying there will be eye-opening.
A new experience in a young life!
http://www.joeyglide.com.au/index.php/contest-info/comp-entry

The Australian team members in Leszno; Nick and Andrew Maddocks and Matthew Scutter.

As you have read, the young ones are going strong. Now a lot of older pilots , the baby boomers from my generation are slowly stepping out of their gliders,so they have the future. And, though there is SO much to do for these under 25 generation, we should be proud that these 85 choose competition soaring as their sport and hopefully even more in the future! Where possible we should support/help  them as much as we can.
Soaring should remain their perfect sport, with the social character and the battle to win in the most sportive way.

Helping YES it happened already this weekend. The UK juniors  needed for their  team training week at Lasham starting this Saturday, a glider, as unfortunately they were having last minute difficulties with some of the 2-seaters they had lined up.
And today there was the message; “happy to announce we have been lent a  beautiful DuoDiscus T. We are very thankful. ” That’s the spirit!!!!!!

Cheers Ritz and,….for all other news you can read at www.soaring.eu