Day 7, The Class of '09

With SW winds crossing the ramp at 20 kts another day of learning is declared. The picturebook morning provided an excellent backdrop, and Ricker Goldsborough organized class photos that featured both particpants and sponsors. Thanks to Ricker's efforts, Red Bull and Maui Jim joined Flytec, A•I•R USA and others as substantial sponsors of Team Challenge. Randy Leggett, in addition to flying with team 4Fs, brought the news that Foundation for Free Flight has authorized five scholarships for the Tennessee Tree Toppers to award to bring either mentors or pilots to future Team Challenges.

During the day a distinquished panel comprised of Dennis Pagen, Tom Lanning, Mike Barber, Jim Lamb and Ollie Gregory fielded questions from the particpants on the full gamut of subjects from basic to advanced. The day was capped off by free flying as the wind calmed a little, then a truly excellent, copious catered dinner organized by Mark Poling, and the Red Bull party at the pavillion. Erin Rapacki's karaoke encore set a most excellent tone. As I crossed the mountain homeward to Chattanooga, I couldn't get it out of my head.

Tomorrow, the work and anticipation begin for Team Challenge 2010.

Day 6, Friday

Friday begins with fog and rain, so clinics and a rest day slowly turn into a pretty afternoon to sit on the ramp and be teased by the "locals" flying by.

The Score

What a great day, great teams and a great meal.

Following Task 3 the team standings are:

1st: XXX (Xplorers XC Xceptional) 1364 overall points, 231 for the day
2nd: Knights in White Dacron 1221 overall, 183 today
3rd: Aerosnauts 1078 overall, 334 today (day winners)
4th: Aeria 51 1008 overall, 118 today
5th Os 956 overall, 178 today
6th: Tree Topplers 709 overall, 92 today
7th: Tow Heads 697 overall, 40 today
8th: 4Fs (Foundation For Free Flight) 584 overall, 126 today

Tomorrow's forecast as a weather day and a full day of seminars is planned. Saturday, Red Bull is coming out to the LZ.

Day 5 Task 3: Whitwell Launch

The day began with a skeptical forecast favoring Whitwell SE launch early with a chance of going SW crossing later in the day. The task committee called Galloway for Cs, Galloway-Henson LZ for Bs and then back to Galloway for the As.

Launch went exceptionally well and the winds held long enough to launch the entire field, with Aeria 51 leader Jim Lamb the last one off. Special scoring rules were adapted to suit the Cs and others launching Whitwell for the first time.

Driving back to Henson launch we encountered several happy pilots at Galloway. Tom Lanning said his flight back from Henson LZ to the A goal was all lift line.

Scores should be up earlier than yesterday, and it's Steak Night with Steak Knight Jeff Wilson's awesome cooker and master cheffin'. Deer and Beer to boot.

Rankings Shuffle

The standings at bedtime... (click the link and scroll to the bottom for the most recent task. It's likely not all pilots have reported in. Score subject to change in the morning.)

Dennis Pagen's team XXX takes the lead.

Kent Harman of the Knights in White Dacron is the only C Pilot (scored so far) that makes goal.

Rampanoia

XXX - the new leading team?
Keith Atkins covering launches. James Anderson and Buddy Cutts launch 'em all, as always.
Regional Red Bull executive with ambassador Clark Harlow

It's a beautiful day but lift is spotty, fickle and far between. Everyone who scores today will have worked hard for every point. One more hour until the launch window closes. But Jeff Wilson is finally here and his diagnostic butterbeans (known hereabouts as Launch Beans) are on the boil. So we expect at least one kind of wonderwind.

Launches were all videoed today, so we may get to watch and analyze them tonight. Dennis Pagen has volunteered to lead that discussion.

New scores and standings will post once all the teams have pinned in.

Day 4 Task 2

Cs: HENNW to GALWY 4.8
Bs: HENNW to GALWY to DALES 10.2
As: HENNW to GALWY to DALES to GALWY 15.6

GALWY:
35°20'16.57"N
85°25'0.16"W

launch window 12:30 - 6:00 E

Thermal direction: left turns

The WINDS >>> subside!

Day Cancelled - But Karaoke Night is Still On!

The Safety Committee observed discussed and agreed to cancel the day's task. Tomorrow's prognosis is good and it's likely there will be some free flying today. Should be ridge soarable. Clark's setting up for tandems and Mark Bolt appears about to launch. I'm sitting in the loft and the wind appears to be picking up again. Good call.

Day 3 Task 2 (proposed)

It's another windy day, direction somewhat favorable at Henson ramp, winds forecast slightly lower than yesterday. The task committee proposes sending the Cs to Dr Dales (8.3mi,) Bs to Dr Dales then Suck Creek water tower then back to Dr Dales (17.5mi total,) then the As for an additional leg to the water tower and back to Dr Dales (26.75mi total.)

The safety committee reconvenes at 1PM Eastern to consider the conditions at that time. The latest start will likely be 4PM, 'cause it's Karaoke night at Cancun in Chattanooga !!!! (7PM)

Dirt Thermalling

Ollie, Pagen and Stump get the gaggles giggling at the end of Monday's teaching day sessions, setting the mood for pizza night.

Corrected Scoring

The overall results have been amended. Leigh Sheridan had credited her team leader Ollie Gregory with an escort to goal assist. Ollie "protested" the assertion and asked the score be adjusted to show Leigh had actually made goal without his direct or substantial assistance.

The Os' team score was thus reduced by 25 points.

Huffing and Puffing: Straight In

So far, today the score's unchanged.

Some things can make it worth waiting out the winds on a beautiful day. Mike Barber and Dennis Pagen are just two of them. GPS school, Mark Stump's unforgettable safety speech and new and old friendships are priceless. No matter the weather, you can always score premium hang gliding, renewal of spirit and learning by quantum leaps at the Tennessee Tree Toppers' Team Challenge.

Show Overall Results...

Day One Team Ranking:

1: Aeria 51: 770
2: Knights in White Dacron: 765
3: Xplorers Xc Xceptional: 756
4: AerosNauts: 714
5: Os: 674
6: Tow Heads: 511
7: 4Fs: 503
8: Tree Topplers: 426

One Day to Go

There will be a mandatory pilots meeting tomorrow, Sunday morning the 27th at 9 AM CDT at the Henson Gap launch site.