(see below for English translation)
V soboto se je s šesto preizkušnjo v sedmih dneh zaključilo kvalifikacijsko tekmovanje v jadralnem letenju za veliko nagrado, Sailplane Grand Prix Slovenia. Priča smo bili zares spektakularnemu zaključku!
Kombinacija JZ vetra in odličnih termičnih pogojev je pilotom omogočila, da so s skoraj 400km dolgo nalogo opravili s povprečnimi hitrostmi prek 170km/h, kar je izjemno in redko videno na tekmovanjih, pa tudi sicer. Piloti so preleteli štartno linijo nad idiličnim blejskim otokom, nato pa prek točke na vzhodnem robu Košute, in točke, ki je bila postavljena nad Kokro, vzhodno od Preddvora, proti zahodu do točke nad avstrijsko vasico Dellach v Ziljski dolini. Piloti so do tretje točke leteli dokaj izenačeno, v večji skupini in pri tem izkoriščali grebene in JZ vetru izpostavljena pobočja. Izjemno je bilo spremljati kako hitro so napredovali. Le redko so leteli pod 200kmh.
Nato so se od tretje usmerili proti četrti točki, ki je bila severno, v bližini vasice Berg v dravski dolini. To je bil najbrž najbolj zahteven del naloge, saj so se piloti morali prebiti na zavetrno stran skupine gora okrog Reisskofla (2371m), zahodno od Belega jezera, kjer je bilo pričakovati močnejše področje spuščajočega se zraka in rotorje, torej tudi močnejšo turbulenco. Nekaj pilotov se je nad to točko prvič odločilo za zavoj ali dva, nato pa so nadaljevali proti JZ vetru izpostavljenim grebenom južno od Belega jezera. Nekaj pilotov se je tam odločilo za manj direktno pot, s čimer so se izognili področju močnejšega spuščanja, zato so na prej omenjeni greben prišli višje od ostalih (200-300m), kar jim je omogočalo hitrejše nadaljevanje in za nas, ki smo dirko spremljali na daljavo, še bolj zanimivo dogajanje, saj se je vodilna skupina ponovno bolj zgostila, piloti pa so se izmenjevali v vodstvu vse do Dobrača, kjer so nato preskočili dolino in nadaljevali z letom v Karavankah, proti peti točki, ki je bila severno od Jezerskega. Večina jih je do tja letela po grebenu Begunjščice in Košute, s hitrostmi, ki so mestoma presegale 250kmh. Piloti so nato po južni strani Kamniško- Savinjskih alp leteli proti točki nad Črnivcem, kjer so obrnili nazaj proti zahodu, do naslednje točke nad Mojstrano.
Zanimivo je bilo opazovati Bernda Sauterja (AK), ki je bil ves čas precej nižji od ostalih (bil je npr. več kot 500m pod zgornjo postajo žičnice na Krvavcu), vseeno pa ni popuščal in je še naprej letel hitro, tik ob pobočjih in brez kroženja. Piloti so se nato ponovno priklopili na “Karavanke”, saj jim je to omogočalo najhitrejše napredovanje proti Mojstrani. V tem delu dirke so bili še vedno samo nekaj sekund narazen, vodil je Mario (I), pred Tilom (3V), Patrickom (K1), Borisom (BL), Davidom (DC) in Stanislavom (S). Boris (BL) se je tu odločil leteti po višjih grebenih, ostali pa so ubrali bolj direktno linijo proti obratni točki. Tu so se razlike med najboljšimi nekoliko povečale, še vedno pa je bila vsa vodilna skupina znotraj ene minute. Hitro so napredovali prek kontrolne točke nad Mostami, nazaj proti cilju nad našim letališčem.
Photos by Tilo Holighaus (many thanks once again, Tilo!)
Prvi je ciljno linijo po dobrih dveh urah letenja preletel Mario (I), tokrat na zadostni višini, se pravi brez kazenskih točk, drugi je v cilj samo 11 sekund za Mariem prišel David (DC), 3 sekunde za njim pa Tilo (3V). Boris (BL) je po res odličnem letu v cilj prišel samo 57 sekund za Mariem, kar je zadostovalo za šesto mesto. Eno točko je za deveto mesto prejel tudi Jernej (NL), ostali slovenski piloti pa so kljub dobremu letenju žal ostali brez točk. Napet razplet smo pričakovali tudi v skupnem seštevku, kjer je Mario Kiessling (I) sicer že imel zagotovljeno prvo mesto, ki ga je z dnevno zmago samo še potrdil, na skupno drugo mesto se je prebil David Bauder (DC), s čimer si je zagotovil tudi nastop na finalu v St. Aubanu naslednje leto. Mario (I) si je svoj nastop tam zagotovil že dan prej. Skupno tretji pa je bil Patrick Puskeiler (K1). Boris Žorž (BL) je tekmovanje zaključil na odličnem petem mestu, Jernej Lokovšek (NL) na sedmem, Luka Žnidaršič (LZ) na devetem, Jože Verdev (DZ) na enajstem, Peter Pirc (PX), za katerega je bil to prvi nastop v tem formatu tekmovanja, pa na osemnajstem. Vse rezultate si lahko ogledate na: https://sgp.aero/slovenia2024
Pilotom se je po pristanku smejalo od navdušenja nad izjemnim letalnim dnevom in niso mogli prehvaliti razmer. Nasploh pa so bili očarani nad pokrajino, nad katero so leteli vse dni tekmovanja. V imenu vseh tekmovalcev je Tilo Holighaus (3V) na zaključni slovesnosti pohvalil organizacijo tekmovanja in se zahvalil vsem članom, ki so pomagali, da je tekmovanje uspelo in da so se piloti na našem letališču tako dobro počutili. Predsedniku kluba Zdravku Špendalu je izročil tudi prispevke, ki so jih tekmovalci zbrali za našo klubsko dejavnost, kot izkaz zahvale in spoštovanja do dela, ki smo ga opravili.
Na zaključni slovesnosti so najboljši trije ob zvokih nemške himne in ob dvigu nemške zastave, prejeli lično izdelane pokale in nekaj naših nagrad in nagrad naših sponzorjev. Vsi tekmovalci so prejeli tudi fotografije, ki smo jih naredili med prvenstvom in jim bodo lep spomin na slovensko izvedbo SGP.
Zbrane je nagovoril tudi župan Radovljice, Ciril Globočnik, ki je čestital tekmovalcem, jim podelil pokale in se med drugim zahvalil AK ALC za izvedbo tako pomembnega mednarodnega tekmovanja.
Večer se je nato v sproščenem vzdušju nadaljeval ob večerji v letališki restavraciji “Na Kležnk”. Vsi piloti pa so bili enotnega mnenja, da se k nam zagotovo še vrnejo.
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On Saturday, the Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier Slovenia, concluded with its sixth task in seven days. We witnessed a truly spectacular last race!
A combination of southwest winds and excellent thermal conditions allowed pilots to complete the nearly 400km task with average speeds exceeding 170km/h, which is extraordinary and rarely seen in competitions. The pilots crossed the start line over the idyllic Bled island, then flew past a turnpoint on the eastern edge of Košuta ridge and another turnpoint set above the Kokra river, east of the village of Preddvor, heading west to a turnpoint above the Austrian village of Dellach in the Gail valley. The pilots flew to the third point in a relatively tight group, using the ridges and slopes exposed to the southwest wind, advancing rapidly, rarely flying below 200km/h.
From the third point, they headed towards the fourth point near the village of Berg in the Drau river valley. This was probably the most challenging part of the task, as the pilots had to break through to the leeward side of the mountain group around Reisskofel (2371m), west of Weissensee, where stronger areas of descending air and rotors, thus stronger turbulence, were expected. Some pilots made a turn or two above this point before continuing to the ridges exposed to the southwest wind south of Weissensee. A few pilots chose a less direct route, avoiding the stronger descending area, allowing them to reach the aforementioned ridge 200-300m higher than the others, which enabled faster progression and more exciting viewing for those following the race remotely, as the leading group compressed again, with pilots exchanging leads up to Dobratsch mountain.
They then crossed the valley and continued flying in the Karawanks towards the fifth point north of Jezersko. Most flew along the ridge of Begunjščica and Košuta, with speeds occasionally exceeding 250km/h. The pilots then flew along the southern side of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps to a point above Črnivec, where they turned back west to the next point above Mojstrana.
It was interesting to watch Bernd Sauter (AK), who was significantly lower than the others throughout (e.g., more than 500m below the top station of the Krvavec cable car), yet kept flying fast, right along the slopes and without circling. The pilots reconnected to the “Karawanks,” allowing the fastest progression towards Mojstrana. At this stage of the race, they were still only seconds apart, with Mario (I) leading, followed by Tilo (3V), Patrick (K1), Boris (BL), Gintas (AR), David (DC), and Stanislav (S). Boris (BL) chose to fly over higher ridges, while the others took a more direct line to the turning point. Here, the differences between the top competitors increased slightly, but the leading group was still within one minute. They advanced quickly over the checkpoint above Moste, back towards the finish line above our airfield.
Mario (I) was the first to cross the finish line after just over two hours of flying, this time at sufficient altitude, avoiding penalty points. David (DC) arrived second, only 11 seconds behind Mario, and Tilo (3V) was three seconds behind David. Boris (BL) finished after an excellent flight just 57 seconds behind Mario, securing sixth place. Jernej (NL) earned one point for ninth place, while the other Slovenian pilots, despite good flying, unfortunately did not score points.
We anticipated a tense conclusion in the overall standings, where Mario Kiessling (I) had already secured first place, which he confirmed with his daily win. David Bauder (DC) moved up to second place overall, ensuring his spot in the SGP final in St. Auban next year. Mario (I) had already qualified for St. Auban a day earlier. Patrick Puskeiler (K1) was third overall. Boris Žorž (BL) finished the competition in an excellent fifth place, Jernej Lokovšek (NL) in seventh, Luka Žnidaršič (LZ) in ninth, Jože Verdev (DZ) in eleventh, and Peter Pirc (PX), for whom this was the first competition in this format, in eighteenth. You may find the results here: https://sgp.aero/slovenia2024
The pilots were delighted with the exceptional flying day and couldn’t praise the conditions enough. Overall, they were enchanted by the landscape they flew over during all the competition days. On behalf of all the competitors, Tilo Holighaus (3V) praised the organization of the competition at the closing ceremony and thanked all the members who helped make the event successful and made the pilots feel so welcome at our airfield. He also presented contributions collected by the competitors for our club’s activities as a sign of gratitude and respect for the work we had done.
At the closing ceremony, the top three received beautifully crafted trophies and some of our prizes and those from our sponsors to the sounds of the German national anthem and the raising of the German flag. All competitors also received photos taken during the championship, which will be a nice memento of the Slovenian edition of the SGP.
Radovljica’s mayor, Ciril Globočnik, also addressed the gathering, congratulated the competitors, awarded the trophies, and thanked AK ALC for organizing such an important international competition at Lesce airfield.
The evening continued in a relaxed atmosphere over dinner at the airport restaurant “Na Kležnk.” All the pilots agreed that they would definitely return.