2008 US Nationals, Bishop. Updated

[Robb]

The comp starts tomorrow, but the big boys already are on fire: seven pilots flew over 100 miles today! Hopefully Dean will give us the full update. Looks like more of the same weather for tomorrow and about 80 pilots expected on launch. Some rumors of pilots getting over 18k...

Today was my first flight in the Owens, and what I don't understand is why it took so long!
About 10,500 just west of launch looking south:


And looking North:

[Chip Bartley]

Good luck to the TOPA Crew. I am really anxious to see how things turn out and wish I was there. Good VIBES are headed your way. Go kick some as?

[Robb]

A big day with over half the field making goal. Launch was blown out about halfway through the launch window yet most launched anyway. Bob P got blown back and managed to put it down behind launch, SA went sideways across launch until three people grabbed his wing and lines, and as I understand it, Kari was whacked while on the ground by another pilot who had just pulled up. For those who launched early and/or managed to get up, there was plenty of great flying.

[Chip Bartley]

here is a great blog to follow results and stories.

Blog home page http://blog.2008usnationals.com/
Results http://flyxc.org/pgnats08.html

looks like the first day was very eventfull. Deano took 2nd.

[Robb]

Day 2: Task cancelled when in the first half hour of the launch window winds on launch were 20-25. Comp wing's were parked, and a gust front was expected to come up the valley.

[Robb]

Today I was in line to launch 30 minutes before the launch window opened, just to make sure I got off before things got blown out. I got off fine, but there was no lift! I finally sunk out and while packing up the task was cancelled.

Probably a good thing as the conditions got stormy and nasty with rain and high winds. Let's hope for better conditions tomorrow.

[andy]

Blown out again today! Yesterday was a great task from Gunther LZ to the town of Mina in Nev, close to where I picked up Deano from his record. The only problem I had was I missed the control trnpoint by just a little and didn't get a score, but was in goal with the leaders. Rob S, Deano, Brad and I were all right there in the same gaggle of people landing.

We flew along the whites getting o about 15.5 in some really strong lift with clouds forming all the way along the course. Most everybody was saying it was some of the strongest conditions they had ever flown in, we had one reserve toss above tree line by boundary peak, and one pilot that launched without buckling in and fell out spraining his ankle.

Some people landed early because it was so strong. My vario showed peak lift of 1900fpm, and 1350 on the averager. We also had about 15-20 kt tailwind, so I had ground speeds of 70+KM's/hr.

hope to fly tomorrow, later from the OV, Andy

[Chip Bartley]

great post Andy. where are the pix. cant wait to see you and hope the flying is good tomorrow.