PWC Switzerland: Task 2

The task committee set a short 44km course today in order to avoid the predicted afternoon over-development. The first four turn-points were located on the same side of the valley that we launched from, then there was a valley crossing to the base of the Eiger for a final turn-point high on the base of the mountain and goal back in the Grindelwald valley. It was amazing to watch how the top pilots flew the course today, no time to stop and thermal, tucked in close to the terrain, wingtips on the cliffs and pushing the gas; inspiring. Many times before the start we would be in a thermal and have clouds form 100-200 meters below us because of the moisture laden air from the previous days rains, the clouds would build and eventually force us to move on or be swallowed up. This is such beautiful terrain to race in, check out some pictures by Martin Scheel...

http://www.azoom.ch/fotos/suchergebnisse.php?shooting_no=490
(use the vorwarts button at the bottom of the page to view more pictures)

I felt like today was one of my best days of PWC racing so far and I did a good job of keeping the pace throughout the course. I blew it at the end missing the glide to the final (high) turn-point before goal by 250 meters and had to backtrack in order to find a climb and gain enough height to snag the last turn-point and make goal. I was a little angry for a bit when I missed the turn-point, I was low to the ground and probably taught the kids in the town below me a new word or two (sorry). When I settled down I looked around and realized that I was climbing up the base of the famous Eiger mountain, directly over a huge waterfall. I enjoyed this view immensely for the next fifteen minutes while I slowly gained height in the scrappy lift on the shady side of the mountain. When I arrived in goal I was very late and very happy.

It's the last day of PWC Switzerland tomorrow, I hope they give us a massive task so that we can really see this place!