WORLD FINAL GRAND PRIX

To all Sailplane Grand Prix fans, please visit the following page:

www.grandprixchile.org

Six races and...the end!

As you all should know by following the races on line, we had at the end, six races.

Our QGP has finished and everybody are happy. The big problem was the death of our friend Mauricio.

We believe had helped to the gliding community by providing a first class event, entertaining not only the pilots but the audience and sponsors.

We have recieved nothing but good comments.

At the end, we had upto 5.000 visitis to our official page and up to 400 people watching the race on line every day. We are very proud.

Thanks for being in touch and hope we can have a nother GP in the future and why not....a final Grand Prix.

Thanks again,

Grand Prix Team

Fourth race

The weather was very strange, as the feeling among the Chilean pilots, who still feel the loss of Mauricio.

Big Cb covered Los Andes, who made everybody to return home without making the task...well, not all. Tilo Holighaus managed to complete the task by surrounding the storm and lighting, making it beatifully. Congratulations Tilo.

At the end, he made his final glide with a great loop. When he arrived we took him to complete his final glide at the swimming pool.

Grand Prix Team

Bad day for our sport

Yesterday was a terrible day.

During the period previous to start, at 22 km from the airfield, our friend Mauricio Perez (Chile) crashed against the mountains. We do not know exactly what happend, but it was certainly very strange.

Weather was not bad. Thermals were weak and not too strong wind...

We are all sad. GP makes all pilots like a big family.


Grand Prix Team

Official opening after 3 races

Due to agreement with sponsors, our official opening started after three days of racing.

Races: see results at official page. In summary, first day was as Murphys law…just terrible. Only one pilot could end it, Uli Schwenk, who did a great class of patient and continuity (great job Uli).

Last two days have been great. Second day counted final glide with four gliders coming together at the same time. Just pure racing…absolutely spectacular!!!.

The Opening:

It has been just very emotive. Very nice. Cocktails, cameras, TV interviews (including CNN Chile), more interviews and camera shutting.

At the end we almost cried. The organization prepared a video where the pilots where presented on the big led screen, in front of a 300 people audience (including sponsors and guests from different authorities). Every pilot where introduced by showing images inside the glider flying and making a short comment about the feeling of gliding (about 20 seconds each pilot). At the end, the emotion was complete…we were all winners!!!.

Simultaneous translation into English was available.

Grand Prix Team

QGP started in Chile

Hello, finally we have started. Two days we had practicing, with very interesting days. But as Murphy is allway in every event, our first official day had a terrible weather.

It was indeed a very hard day for everybody but Uli Schwenk (GER) who was the only one to make it home. Unfortunatelly according to GP rules, he only got 2 points...but what a points.

The tracking system is working perfect (but only for 10 units). We have 19 pilots, so the tracking has to change pilots every day.

The big Led TV is working perfect.

Our TV media coverage everyday is having us excited as never before.

See results at http://www.grandprixchile2009.org/

Grand Prix Team

Outlanding in Chacabuco (six gliders)

Almost ready for QGP!

We are setting everything for our QGP.

Jorge Arias has flown, but has a cold. We hope he gets better.

Tomorrow arrives Vladimir Foltin.

Yesterday was Uli Schwenk and his wife. We had a great flight with Uli, taking a 400 Km ride, taking off at 15:00 hours.

Weather is still joining us (fingers crossed for next week).

In two days we will have official practices (15 to 16/1/2009).

Nick Farrell from the tracking system is arriving on the 15th/1.

So...we are almost ready.

Grand Prix Team

Finals (Nationals, 8th day)

Today was very tricky. Clear inversion at 1800 meters (above Vitacura). The key...to stay above where the thermals were 2-5 m/s in stead of 1-2 m/s bellow it.

Not an easy goal, specially when passing from Copín to el Resguardo.

At the end, the Chilean Nationals finish after 8 races as follows:

1.- Thomas Gostner (Italy)

2.- Carlos Rocca (Chile)

3.- Alex Nielles (Spain)

Thomas beat Carlos for only 20 points (out of 8.000), who ended in the swimming pool.

Congratulations Thomas, you did a great Job. You won not only the Nationals but the friendship of everybody in our club!!!.

Grand Prix Team

Thomas Gostner

Another great day (Nationals, 7th day)

Again the weather is giving us an outstanding day.


We are very happy and proud that today´s first place was for Javier Gaude (Argentina). He has developed a great knowledge in the turbulent thermals. Believe me that the thermals lately have been very difficult to climb. Congratulations Javier!!!.



Grand Prix Team

Santiago view

Before the start

What a weather (Nationals, 6th day)

Very interesting day. Today we had a typical task to the north...but with one ingredient...Cumulu Nimbus.

As you can see the picture below after the tows, a huge Cb was showing us the power that it has. In less than 30 minutes, the top was covering the sky, bringing shadow and of course killing the thermals. That is true until you find yourself thermaling a 5 m/s average thermal in a dark scenary close to the rain and ice.

This was a real class to what a Cb can do and how you can take advantage of it.

Alex Nielles (Spain) showed us how to fly this conditions, obtaining a great 1st place. Congratulations!!!

Yesterday, Cb started to show up!

Some Videos

Today we had a 517 Km racing task. Great day with very turbulent thermals.

The day was interesting, specially to our guest who had great time visiting the southern part of our contest area. See www.grandprixchile2009.org

First five places were for international.

1.- Thomas Gostner (Italy)

2.- Karl Bauder (Germany)

3.- David Bauder (Germany)

4.- Alex Nielles (Spain)

5.- Javier Gaude (Argentina)

It looks that we (the locals) have to try harder for tomorrow. Here some videos:

Following Andrés

Final glide!!!

New Webpage!!!

We have a new webpage for the QGP.

www.grandprixchile2009.org

Grand Prix Team

Warming Up (The Nationals)

Well...this week our Nationals started (3rd to 11th) and we are very happy that some of the pilots that will attend the Grand Prix are practicing by flying our local championship.

It looks that last week made our guest to set up their gliders very well. In two days, Karl Bauder (Germany) won first test and today Thomas Gostner (Italy) is nº 1 after two races.

Damian Goldenzweig and Javier Gaude (Argentina) are getting used to the mountains by flying what we call the low levels.

Alex Nielles (Spain) feels very familiar with the mountains, yesterday had a great flight.

Gustavo Saurin (Argentina) is allways happy. Yesterday he had to outland and was invited to have some tea near by.

As locals, we are very happy with their level. We want them to have fun and specially safety journeys.

Grand Prix Team

Karl Bauder won Firt Task (Nationals)

Official Logo

Here is the official logo for our Grand Prix.

Grand Prix Team

Tracking with Rock it Group

We are happy to have a Rock It Group from U.K. in charge of our GP Tracking system. It will help to have people in the ground entertained and informed.

http://www.adventuretracking.com/airsports.htm

Real on line tracking will be used on our G.P. powered by Viewer of Silent Wings.
New 3D scenery was made for Chile in order to have full real coverage.

http://www.silentwings.no/article/articleview/146/1/11/

Grand Prix Team

430 Kms today...no problem

Karl and David from Germany did a great team flight today.
Not only a ride, but a great 430 kms each to know the northern part of our championship area.

Alejandro Nielles from Spain also had a great flight in a Janus with Carlos Pérez.

Definitely the guys are feeling conmfortable day by day.

Tomorrow, we expect Thomas Gostner form Italy.


Grand Prix Team



Karl and David

...pilots have arrived and made their first flights!

The container with the six gliders arrived last Saturday at 6PM...

Charlie and David Bauder have started their "Chilean Experience", first flying dual in Janus' and later flying on their their own in the Andes.

Flying solo has been a good experience. Yesterday, alow inversion were very difficult, but as soon as they reached 2.000 m QFE Vitacura, they started to enjoy the day.
Charlie has flown near the Inca Lake, close to Argentinian border having a great 5.000 m flight.

We are happy they feel comfortable in the Andes.

Yesterday we received Alejandro and Pedro Nielles. Alejandro could not wait and made a dual flight to the Andes the same day. Today, he is assemblying his glider Discus 2T FUN in order to either fly dual again fly by his own.

Every Monday we have dinner at the Club where many members join. Last night Bauder´s and Nielle´s familly joined us and had a great meal with us.

Grand Prix Team

Hot Spots for Soaring in Chile

Dear Friends,

If you are participating at either our Grand Prix or National, you should have a high resolution Hot Spots map for soaring in Chile. If not, let us know and will send you a copy.

The map is created for the pre mountains area only, where both championships will take place.

Hereattached some low resolution pictures.

Grand Prix Team

And we are ready for the full swing!!!

On 2006, we had the visit of the 100th FAI conference in Santiago.


Bob Henderson and all FAI (IGC) members where excited not only with our geography but the way we have managed the relationship with the community.


Form that time, we knew something good was about to happen. Our commitment with the IGC has been 100%. After been invited to the IGC annual conference at Lausanne, Switzerland to show our club, we committed ourselves to be part of the international gliding community, not only participating on International Championships like South American (Argentina 2008) and World (Lüsse, Germany 2008) but organizing international events like a Qualifying Grand Prix on 2009.


We are very honoured to be part of this event and want to make it at the highest level as possible.


To start with , we made at Cobra Trailers factory a Frame to transport up to six 15M gliders back and forth, not only for our Grand Prix, but for future visit from Europe to our country on yearly basis. From South America, we had made excellent relationships with Argentina and Brazil who are committed to com and visit us as well on yearly basis.


At Lüsse, we made very good friends who committed themselves to come to visit us.


Today we are very proud to confirm the visit of international pilots to our Grand Prix as listed:

- Uli Schwenk (GER)

- Tilo Holighaus (GER)

- Javier Gaude (ARG)

- Thomas Gostner (ITA)

- Edoardo Tarchini (ITA)

- Vladimir Foltin (SWK)

- Jorge Arias (SPA)


We are very happy also that before the Grand Prix, some pilots will join us for our Nationals. They are:

- Karl and Davis Bauder (GER)

- Alejandro Nielles (SPA)

- Eduardo Saurin (ARG)

- Damian Goldenzweig (ARG)

- Javier Gaude (ARG)


Today, European gliders arrived at our Club. Our friends from Argentina are arriving in the next few days.


Dates of our championships:

- Grand Prix: January 17th to 25th, 2009


- Chilean Nationals: January 3rd to 11th, 2009


Our web page: http://www.planeadores.cl/


We hope this blogg will keep you informed. Please send your comments, your feed back will be very appreciated.


Grand Prix Team

Club de Planeadores de Vitacura, Chile

100th FAI Conference in Chile, 2006.

Our Club

Our Club at IGC Conference, 2007

Gliders at Cobra, ready to be loaded, November 2008Gliders from Europe at our Club, December 2008