Finally a chance to write about whats happening here in Flims. In fact, not much. It started with the first day being cancelled before we even left from home. The organisers even contemplated cancelling the whole event, but in the end we ended up going anyway despite somewhat unpromising weather forecasts. Yesterday we had the first task in somewhat limit conditions. It was strong North wind making the whole ridge in lee. We went up in the morning to find the takeoff (2.675 msl) with strong winds from the back. After lots of waiting we ended up walking down 20-30mins with our heavy backpacks to a place a bit more “protected” from the wind. Not easy takeoff conditions and not easy flying either. It was set a 40km Elapsed Time task. When I took off I realised I had a knot in my lines (too steep takeoff to abort) so I ended up landing again to sort it out. In fact I had to topland 2 times to sort the knot out, the first attempt a but hard so my back is a bit soar today. Anyway I wanted to start late to try and fly fast. Plan didn’t really work as the thermals got weaker and the North wind kept flushing us down. I thus missed the 2. last turnpoint wih 500m and went and landed because we were out of time for the task. Some of the guys in the second startgate, including Alex Hofer on his X-alps gear, flew really fast. In fact faster than the nominal time of 1.5h so the winner (Stefan Morgenthaler) got only 650 points.

Today was cancelled due to rain and thunderstorms coming. The forecast for tomorrow looks slim and for Sunday we don’t know yet so the chances for a valid championship is getting slim.

No photos from me yet, but Martin Scheel has taken lots. Photos Swiss Champs