JWGC2013

8th FAI Junior World Gliding Championships 27.0.-11.8.2013 Leszno, Poland

21.7.2013 JWGC preparations

After spending few days in Ostrow I travelled to Leszno with Enrique (competition sign EL). Enrique Levin is from Germany and follows the footsteps of his brother Felipe (you might have heard of him if you have followed the previous JWGCs). Enrique spent four weeks in Finland this June. He participated in preWGC in Räyskälä and also in Club class nationals in Teisko. I think he managed quite well, as he was third in Teisko.

When I stepped outside from Enrique’s car in Leszno, it looked like Ostrow had moved to Leszno, quite many familiar faces which I met in Ostrow had already arrived. From gliding competition to other, could you do that?

During this summer I have been busy with local gliding competitions in Finland, so I didn’t have time for JWGC13 as much as I wanted. Michal, Wojtek and everybody else have been working long days to have things as ready as they are now. After my arrival it was my turn to concentrate more on the competition and give my helping hand to them.

Setting the website in “competition mode” will take couple of days. Pilot introductions are on the site already, but I would like to introduce the organization as well, people who are making this all possible. But it is difficult as everybody is running around, and if they have a peaceful moment, it’s time to go to bed and nobody wants to look like in the picture that they would need a) shower b) 12 h sleep c) 4 weeks vacation.

Bob Bickers arrived in the evening, and I was brave enough to take my wine glass and go talk to him in the restaurant. After few minutes talk we realized we have seen (not really met, but seen) in Räyskälä 1996, when Bob was the UK team captain in EGC.

I remember from EGC ‘96 this impressive man with white mustache, bowler hat (the black round one), who was dressed like proper English gentleman. He was introducing the secrets of cricket to everybody with UK team, as it wasn’t flying day.

Anyway, now we sat there together enjoying the dark and warm Polish night, talking about gliding in Finland and UK, JWGC, common friends, etc. German team was there as well, and their mosquito repellent was really needed. The weather in the evening was warm enough to sit outside dressed like you were during the day, but the mosquitoes are too thirsty for blood, and I think mosquitoes are relatives to vampires as those start eating you after the sunset, not before.

23.7.2013 Monday & Tuesday – Preparations continue

Monday and Tuesday went really fast, some were flying and more teams arrived. I do promise to go outside and see what is happening, but certain preparations have to be done so I don’t have to wonder daily routines when it’s too late.

We had first briefing on Tuesday morning, technical inspections and briefing is taking place in the same hangar. So the tables and chairs have to be moved back and forth to make space for the technical inspections and to set up the briefing area. Also some video and audio settings have to be done (Kimmo S., I wish you were here to do your magic).

This is why we have days for practicing and everything doesn’t have to be ready instantly. We have time until next weekend, after opening ceremony we all – pilots and organization – have to be ready for the real action. Hopefully then we won’t have time for wondering how things should have been done. I mean if we won’t have time to wonder those things, it means that we have nice weather and will get lots of flying days.

The evening went as usual, we sat in the hotel restaurant enjoying refreshing drinks.

24.7.2013 Wednesday – First official training day

Maps arrived and were taken fast from my hands just before the briefing, of course we have more of them in the office. Today is the first official training day, and tasks were given in the briefing. But even this is official training day, flying isn’t mandatory. Our steward Richard (Dick) Bradley reminded that if someone flies the task, they have to give the igc files for scoring. Also he reminded that if person will fly the task and will be penalized for hazardous flying for example, the penalty points will stay and that person will start the championships with minus points.

This was a good point, as I heard that there was some “stunt flying” (as someone said) on Monday, meaning low passing etc. Of course it is understandable if you are happy to be here. And what else pilots would do to celebrate that than doing low passing. That is what we do when we have fun, isn’t it. Perhaps it would be good idea to have a look where and how you do that…?

From time to time there was a queue behind the registration office door, and technical inspection group is still busy in the hangar. During afternoon it felt like the whole airfield was on slow motion, most of the gliders were flying and nobody was sitting in the pools. When I was standing at the parking area and had a look around, I couldn’t see anybody but Swiss team sitting in their team tent. And one certain Dutch guy relaxing in the sun – perhaps yesterday evening was too exhausting