Greetings from Papendal and NEWS about KIRIPOTIB; FLYING WITH THE CHAMPIONS!!!

 Papendal on Thursday February 28 2013
last day of this pope in function ,
last day of the month and
last day of the metereological winter.
Spring is there, finally.
First day of a live -blog till Sunday morning.
Updated as much as possible!

FIRST THINGS FIRST!!!!
It’s on line today  ….fresh from the press and what a great idea!!!!
Even more info with pictures on www.soaringcafe.com later today.
www.rent-a-glider.com
Here is the story as I received it this morning:

Wolfgang Janowitsch and Ludwig Starkl have founded a new company “Rent-a-Glider”. Within this renting company, they are organizing a big training event in Kiripotib next November and they have 8 former World or European Champions as their Coaches.

„Flying with the Champions“

Behind this headline hides a very special training event.

Organized by Ludwig Starkl and Wolfgang Janowitsch, within the scope of their recently established business Rent-a-Glider, eight former World- and European Champions spontaneously agreed to share their experience as coaches.

In particular there are:

 

Janusz Centka, Poland                     World Champion       1991, 1993, 2006   European Champion 1996, 2007, 2009

Andy Davis, Great Britain                World Champion       1993, 2003

Stefano Ghiorzo, Italy                      World Champion       2010                         European Champion 1994

Pete Harvey, Great Britain             European Champion 2005, 2007, 2009

Wolfgang Janowitsch, Austria        World Champion       2003                         European Champion 2004, 2005

Holger Karow, Germany                 World Champion       1999, 2003

Reinhard Schramme, Germany     European Champion 1994

Uli Schwenk, Germany European Champion                    1998

 

To have a team of world class pilots like this as trainers in one event, is unique in the world of soaring so far. In double-seaters they will pass on their experience and knowledge from many years of gliding. Besides specification of a clear target every day in a common briefing and analyses of flights after landing, the schedule of the course includes at least two speed- or assigned area tasks, like flown in competitions.

The location of the event should ensure maximum reliability weather-wise: Kiripotib, Namibia. Even in the early part of the season, beginning of November, flyable weather can be expected almost every day. And if someone wishes to implement the lessons learned right after the course, he/she can probably do it in daily improving conditions.

Target group are experienced cross country pilots or even competition pilots, aiming for exchange of knowledge and improvement of their skills on a very high level.

Logistics is in the hands of a well known and practiced team: Bernd Dolba and Christian Hynek are Namibia-experts. They are responsible for flight operations, accommodation, shipping of containers, weather-briefing, scoring and so on.  The gliders, several Arcus and ASH25, are organized by Rent-a-Glider. Ludwig Starkl is responsible for coordination.

The package includes virtually everything, except the trip to Windhoek. But even for booking the necessary airline-tickets the team will offer assistance.

Sounds interesting? Get more detailed information on the organizer’s homepage on line NOW:

 www.rent-a-glider.com

 

17.00:
Arrived at Papendal “Your Olympic experience” and settled in. What a fantastic complex this is. I have a lovely room, the ladies behind the desk are very friendly and internet as you see works straight away.
As written on their welcome-letter:” Only outstanding is good enough.”
Hotel Papendal is nicely situated in the woods around Arnhem. It is part of the Dutch sport academy “PAPENDAL”.

papendal 2 001

Pictures from Olympic Heroes everywhere so I choose one of my favourites.

While walking over the roads here from the hotel to other buildings you might see the Dutch athletic team preparing for the EGC , soccer players from top club Vitesse and people preparing for Soichi the Olympics in Russia.
Don’t know if “we ” try to do our utmost best to impress the IGC delegates, but ,…the sun is shining, FINALLY!

Papendal hotel 001  papendal 2 003
They are still expanding here .                                    My  beautiful modern room, with the SUN.

papendal 2 002

A modern open fire in a waiting launch

In a minute I am going to see where the conference room is , [at the moment the stewards are talking there] , the bar and the breakfast/diningroom.
Frouwke needs lots of feathers, as it is all organized in a super way. Coins  were ready for the welcome-drink tonight  , as well as  a welcome from our hosts, who want us to feel ” the energy ” from this Hotel and Conference Centre.

Don’t expect from me too much about the meetings as I most probably will be not there,  as I take care of the ladies program. But I am going to find Rick now and make a deal with him. He will be at the plenum from 9 till 5 , both days.

Cu later after drinks.

11.PM.
Lovely evening and,…finally I met Rene Vidal. Always wanted to meet him. Tor was so kind to introduce me to him.Caught up with the ladies who are going to see Vincent van Gogh in  the Kröller Museum Museum tomorrow with me. Congratulated Terry Cubley from Australia with his 60thiest birthday ; he arrived this morning and had never had such a long birthday and …yes Rick is going to give me all the details from this meeting on Saturday evening when it is all over again. The stewards meeting was one hour longer than planned and it was a great pleasure to see many young delegates , not only grey and very familiar faces. Good for the IGC to have input from the young ones as well. Most people left early as tomorrow is a big day;9 till 5. Saturday after 12 PM we know what FAI WGC will be where.

CU tomorrow, cheers Ritz

IGC borrel 002  IGC borrel 004

“Old and grey ” Peter Ryder, Tor Johannessen and Dick Bradley and young!!!!

IGC borrel 003  IGC borrel 005

Rick who is happy to write down for me what’s happening and the birthday boy Terry.

 

 

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