It was an ambitious 100+km long task today but with the upslope cycles of wind in the morning and blue sky visible, we hoped it would stay sunny enough all day to climb fast and glide fast. It sorta was.
As it turned out, the sky shaded at the start and slow climbs gave way to nice climbs with sun still peeking out in places.
Before the start
Pre start gaggling.
The start was spread out along a long radius arc, some in the mountains and some on the foothills with some more over the flats. I loved my start and showed up in good position for the first climb at the end of the mountains.
The first turn point forced us into the valley, but climbs to cloud base were there and most everyone styled high there and on the way to the next turn point.
As we crossed the flatlands in the valley and just started to meet the rising terrain, many stayed on the north side and slowly climbed up and over to the spine leading to the cylinder in what felt and looked like full shade. Some were established on the sun line of the clouds to the south of the high ground and it seemed to work there too. Maybe better?
I was behind a bit and forced myself to leave some weak lift and follow some bold pilots who dove in deep over the expansive forest below, to a point that had just pulsed earlier and was one of the few spots within glide that was in full sun. We connected with a swirling, lumpy and disorganized ripper of a thermal that drifted us to the north as we all struggled to hold on to it. Eventually we topped it out near the cloud and jammed on full bar to avoid whiting out and to make better progress.
It seemed like from this height, a high speed glide on a line directly to the cylinder was in order. What I noticed too late was that others had eased to my right for a more buoyant line, leaving me low with a few others who took the sun line from the south. Those pilots higher and behind me tagged the point and the somewhat reversed their path to a climbed that beamed them to base while I and a few others were trying too eek out a glide in total shade to a spot ahead that was feeding those in the climb I missed.
I noticed one pilot had already landed with his wing bunched up on the ground and another just 100 feet below me landed just minutes later. From my perspective I knew I had to make it to the fields that were just ahead in sun but now were starting to shade.
Thankfully another two pilots arrived as I started turning in light lift. Eventually it would take us from 200 feet off the deck, back to cloud base and back in the game. We tanked up, and aimed at the big dark cloud at the end of the range taking it to the top before crossing the flats toward the last turn point where half way there we could see the lead gaggle stuck and circling in light lift over a small town. I wasn't going to make it to them on my glide and noticed some others off course line to the left in light lift too, only it was drifting quick and I had to decide how best to get there. I opted to go towards the sun spot on the ground but it turned out that the thermal feeding their climb had come from somewhere else, and I was to low to change my mind, and committed to the sunny fields near the next small village. I landed there.
Behind me the lead gaggle stayed together and drifted towards the few that I missed in a climb and eventually the gaggles merged.
I packed up, pushed my spot and texted the retrieve that Rob was on the way in our team van.
What?!!
Soon after my phone rang and Rob said that Josh, Arnie and Nick were all on the ground near me and that he was on the way. To pick us up.
Take me with you, Badger! The gaggle took a patient LONG time but eventually drifted and climbed to base at the final turn point and I watched as the armada floated overhead in a silent formation.
That left only the Badger to get us into goal and so he did! Our adopted Canadian representative Brett Hazlett also made it into goal. Im guessing there were 50 pilots in goal. Bravo!
The Badger!
Bret sorting gear under the Shambala tent as Arnie blogs before even arriving back to download the GPS and check in. Nice!
Disappointing day for many of us, but we are stoked for Eric and Brett. Off to dinner now.
Cheers!
Marty
The cats were sleeping on the bench below and the day had a calm and peace about it. 
Last night, before dinner, we tried the local drink called "cloud" by mixing one part Mastika and Mentha together. Lets just say "cloud flying is dangerous". 
Brett and Eric walking to the van yesterday. 
This is the launch pad on the chair lift. It goes pretty quick so you want to stand in the right place and be ready. 
Water fountains are found in several places around town. The water is safe and tastes good too. There is a flowing little steam of water that is channelled through town too. I imagine how fun it would be for my kids to race paper boats in it. (At least I am tempted to) The local dogs know how to use it best:
The Main Street seems to have just paved over the cobble stones. 
This is my favorite flower that I pass each day I hike (400 vertical feet) up from the chair lift drop off point to our Team USA camp near the top. It would be a challenge to keep my youngest daughters at home from picking it, as they love to find and collect things like Tinker Bell. Ok, me too. 
With the recent rain, workers across the street and even in an adjacent yard next to ours, workers are busy roofing. 
Our humble kitchen has a washer but clothes are hung to dry outside in the yard. 
The local graffiti artists have a sense of humor too. 
And some of the competitors too. 
