Thanks for setting the site up, Mark.

The crew from Calgary is off again, this time to Bucaramanga, Columbia. Bob, Peter, Dale and Chris are here with me, along with 2 pilots from Ottawa. Oscar and Bruce, you screwed up not being here. We've been debating whether we should tell anyone about this place, but damn it I'm going against the consensus.

An email from Randy to Mark...:

DR was great. Quite a bit different in some ways from the last trip - much more green area, people not quite so poor, easier logistics on landing etc. People in the DR and the pilot group in general were great just like last time though.

We were a crew 11 Canadians all together, 8 from Calgary. Greg and Eric from out east were there, as well as Carl from Montreal. Just about 100 pilots total, with larger groups than ours from Italy, UK and France. Not sure if it was CIVL sanctioned. Didn't matter, the flying was the thing.

Having Jockey there also was great. We had extended briefings on launch each day and most evenings, looking at weather, likely conditions, reviewing tracks to identify strategic choices that worked/didn't work, etc. I can honestly say I learned a lot about XC flying. There were the expected complaints about the hotel (it wasn't that bad - way better than last time), the food (it was just like last time), and the pickups (though it was much more likely you were waiting for a ride at a place that sold beer).

Couple of updates for the Willi that starts tomorrow...

- The weather looks awesome.

- There will be beer at the Muller party tomorrow. I'm getting two pony kegs from Revelstoke. Enough registrations and we'll do it again on Sunday. (Why do I always start with the beer - hmmmmm?)

- Breakfast will run from 8 to 10 each morning. Racers may need to be up the hill and we want to get out of there at a reasonable time so we'll cut things off at 10 - get up or go hungry will be our motto. Breakfast Saturday is ham and eggs.

- Pilot meeting each morning after breakfast at 10:00. We'll have a simple agenda for these meetings to keep them brisk and informative, and to keep us focused given all that will be going on: 1) Review of Yesterday (good flights, incidents, launch issues, scoring problems, etc.); 2) Flying Tips Discussion (what worked, what didn't, a little Q&A - get the experienced pilots talking so the newbies can hear what they are thinking and doing); 3) Weather Review; 4) Task Briefing; 5) Ride Arrangements.

The 10th annual Willi is just 3 weeks away. This is without a doubt going to be the biggest gathering of PG and HG XC competitors in Canada this year. You will have fun and learn, and if the weather cooperates, do some of the best flying you can imagine.

3 great meets will be happening over the week. For anyone who might be confused about what is going on, here are more
details...

1) The Willi, as you have come to know and love it, will go on as usual from Aug 5 to 11, including...

- Classes for all level of pilot, PG and HG.
- 3 best flights count (same basic rules as last year for O&R, landing bonuses, etc.).

Thanks Randy Rauck and the Lumby Air Force for a great time at the Air Races. The flying was fun, and the after hours activities worth the trip alone. I'll be going again next year, whatever the weather forecast.

But now the problem. Once again I've won money flying, and anybody who has seen me fly knows that just isn't fair. So I'm putting up $200 (my wife says she needs the rest) to be given to the first PG pilot to complete a designated challenge at the Willi. Last time we did this two years ago, Will Gadd completed the 150 km O&R task for my money on the first day he had a chance.

I need a tougher challenge - maybe a longer O&R, a triangle, or some place special to fly. If you have a suggestion, something realistic but challenging that anyone on a paraglider could take a shot at, let me know at randy@keyinc.com. I'll sort through the options suggested and let everyone know what the designated challenge is prior to the Willi.