Last time we were in Slovakia was back in 2002 but I never did finish that race report because the diving issue left me a bit lost for words. There are however a few photos of the 2002 event here. It was very interesting and a lot of fun to go the 1,300 miles back to Slovakia, especially in a minibus restricted to 62 mph! I've split this report into a few sections to give it a bit of structure.
Slovakia
What's not to like about Slovakia! The scenery is wonderful, the people are friendly, the weather is gorgeous and everything is still very cheap, especially the beer. The Hotel Zornika has been refitted and updated since last time around and made a perfect base for the event. The hotel even had a free wifi channel that wasn't password protected, although it was only within range of a few specific parts of reception. Indeed, I'm not entirely convinced the hotel new about it as for two weeks they continued to look perplexed as the queue of people with laptops fighting to sit on a particular sofa!Even the ski lift had received a facelift meaning that the chairs actually slow down at each end making getting on and off a luxuriously relaxing experience - well compared with last time anyway. For the ladies there was even a cabin that would come along after every seven chairs. The morning ride up the lift was quite magical - on your own, still air, warm, gliding serenely upwards reflecting on the events so far and what was going to come your way that day.
The race
We all expected it to be thermic but what we didn't expect was that, by and large, there were some who regularly gained and some who regularly lost even over the very welcome 22 rounds. To see the likes of Torp and Dakin outside of the top 20 when neither of them made any mistakes is just bizarre.Forty or so pilots was the perfect number, it gave you enough time to relax and help team mates but your next flight would come around quickly enough so that you could apply what you had learned. The overall standard of flying was very good indeed, there wasn't anyone who looked out of place. The juniors were particularly impressive.
Conditions ranged from full ballast on day one to many rounds having reflys because of wind dipping below the legal minimum. Brano and his team made all the right weather based decisions and made sure we were ready to fly when the conditions gave us the opportunity. That sounds easy but when you have pilots moaning because they don't want to go up because it looks crappy and other moaning that they want to go up because the forecast is for improvement, it ain't as easy as you might think - well done Brano!
It was great to see such a great local representation in the results. Marion Maslo is a deservedly popular winner.
Individual results total 16 rounds(includes final points) and round 17-22(does not include final points). Final team results.
The planes
The thermic conditions were such that it wouldn't be fair to judge any plane on the merits of this event. The winner used a Race M wing on an Acacia fuz, second was an Ascot and third was a Martinet (I think).The only plane that really caught the eye was the Martinet from France. What made it different was the amount of grip it had around the corners in the relatively thin air. If tight turning is your thing then this will definitely be worth a look if it eventually makes it into production (CCM may be?). The only reservation I might have is that when things got a little choppy and crossed they seemed to lack a bit of punch - but didn't I start off by saying you couldn't judge any model in these conditions! Better shut up then!
For my part it is the only F3F event I have ever flown in where I have changed models mid event. But I wouldn't read anything into me moving back and forth several times between the Ascot and the Ceres, I simply had very little to lose and needed to try and force a change of luck. You will be able to read a head to head review of the two very soon though.
The people
As ever a good time was had by all. It's hard to single any group of people or memories out. As a team the Brits really gelled - it's amazing what a of adversity will do - I don't think I've laughed so much in years. Bizarrely even the combined 60 or so hours in the minibus seemed to shoot by.We had some good fun with the Spanish guys who each year seem to learn better and better English just so they can understand what we are saying about them! The French were, as always, good fun although I suspect they were partly responsibly for me getting rather blotto in the pub after the banquet. The Americans were great to be around - there was a bit of a language barrier at first but we found some commonalities and went with those, Duuude!
I just wish English had been on the curriculum in Czech and Slovak schools a few years ago because these guys always seem to be having a great time but with such a language barrier you kind of know you'd get on great but there's only so far you can get with smiles, back slapping and the exchanges of beer. Although one of my best memories needed no translation... After a particularly long day on the hill the Slovaks had set up a free beer table at the hotel at the bottom of the ski lift. So you'd be knackered, trudging through with all your gear, and all of a sudden a large, cold and very tasty beer was thrust into your hand - just like a marathon runner's water station. Bloody marvellous!
Highlights
- Lucas doing proper - all the way around the circuit - rolling circle DS. Awesome.
- Closely followed by Lucas blowing up his prototype Needle by going way too fast at the inverted part of the DS rolling circle!
- The guy who ran the centre of the course - F Ruisl. Count downs in loads of languages and good common sense - dude!
- Sacrificing Joel's cursed good luck charm.
- Whacking Graham on the back of the head with a ruddy great big pepper from 50 yards away when he was trying to take a leak.
- Laughing myself to sleep pretty much every night.
- Watching Graham fall off the bobsleigh... twice!
- Smork's legs....
- Learning to speak American with Doug.. 'Whip some skull....'
- The sound of the Dremel at midnight, most nights!
- John and myself helping the French with some sincere counselling on matters of the heart...
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Bear snuff video 1
After the unbelievable string of bad air team GBR learned that one of our pilots had been given a 'good luck' charm... Clearly it is cursed so we exacted our revenge in a ceremony under the results board.
Bear snuff video 2
As my grandmother used to say, if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well. She'd have been so proud....
Listening for the carbon crackle...
The professional way to assess damage to carbon components
Listening for the carbon crackle...
The professional way to assess damage to carbon components. And if you're not sure, phone the wife...