14 October 2006

Flight Club



What an awesome game!

It truly captures the dynamics of cross country racing, with an elegantly simple graphical interface.

So good is the game, that I feel similar mind processes going on while playing the game and while racing in the real sky. The basics, at least.

I'd go so far as to say that if you can reach the 100km goal in less than 100min, you have a working understanding of XC racing.

My best time is 89min. If you beat that, I'd love to hear how you did it!

Making equivalent 'real sky' decisions, with the sensory overload and fear that comes with real flying, is another story.

26 August 2006

Pre World Hang Gliding Championship 2006

Results are here!



Gerolf reaches for base



Gerolf and Jonny talk tech in goal

On the road again... this time to the Pre Worlds in Big Spring, Texas.

Man, it's good to be here with so many elite pilots who are also my friends, to hang out and go racing. Comparing our latest gear and tactics is cool but what's special is that we understand each other and 'get' why we do this stuff.

Task 1

A 120km task with a 20km/h tailwind, base of 3000m and 3-4m/s climbs.

What an awesome day of flying! After 2 days of prep-ing gear, a good day of racing was just what I needed.

There were 3 startgates, 15min apart. Most took the middle start, and looking back it seems to have been the best choice.

Gerolf Heinrichs won the day with 1h 41min, followed closely by myself and Attila Bertok. When I saw Attila to my side, diving to goal, I was like 'it's on baby'... we kept trying to fly just a little faster than each other until it looked like we'd both land short. In the last 800m, I was able to pull ahead to cross a couple of seconds ahead. Flying into the goal field with a groundspeed of 120km/h at 100m was pretty intense.

All the Canadians made goal! Congrats Scott, Bernie, Mark, Jim!

Task 2



Texan Sky

We had the same task again... we could have flown 400km both these days but instead we had a 120km downwind race.

After an -off- start I was focused hard on pulling myself back into position in time for the finish. There was a point where I just kept gliding, flying through thermals, gliding more, passing up more... 2m/s was just not strong enough to stop for... as I fell deeper into the atmosphere, the radiating heat from the ground became sensible and I began to regret turning my nose up at the last mediocre thermal that I was gifted.

That creepy feeling that I might have pushed it too far and might actually land started to spread through me... then... the air developed this familiar feel that I've felt so many times before, and it was a good feeling. Even before I started to rise, I could tell it was going to be good and strong.

With a mad smile on my face, I banked into a climbing spiral, as my vario screamed at me. My 30s averager peaked at 5.6m/s (20km/h up!), my ears popped, the air became cool and cloudbase approached so fast it felt like I was going to collide with it. Not long after going on glide I began to realize that I had caught the lead gaggle!

The gaggle moved quickly towards goal and it came down to a final glide battle between myself and the crazy Hungarian, Attila. Our final was under a cloudstreet so the speeds were blistering. We exchanged best position countless times in the high speed, side by side glide, through the active air.

In the last 1km I managed to pull ahead to cross the line 5s ahead and take the day!

Task 3



Gliders packed into the hangar

This time it was a 160km FAI triangle, with a 20-30km/h wind. We had clouds but it still wasn't easy.

The first leg was downwind over farmland, the next crosswind leg was over a wild area with fewer roads and landing options. Swiss Nick tumbled trying to enter a dustdevil at 300m; he threw his reserve and landed fine, minus a sore ankle. When he hit the ground in a cotton field and looked up, realizing he was okay, he saw a cotton flower... and thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen!

The final upwind leg was against a demoralizing headwind. Attila and I had split up on the middle leg but joined up again near the last turnpoint. I spotted him high near base, I wasn't very high so I could barely make out his colours. Then getting a bit lucky searching under a huge cloud yielded a 6.6m/s to base. Attila and I rounded the turn point together, Attila still a little higher.

The first glide into the wind almost put us on the ground. We approached a canyon that we couldn't cross with the height we had... one last field held some hope. At 140m above the ground, gliding against a 30km/h wind, my glider yawed 30 degrees and I knew I wouldn't be landing this time! Climbing out from so low, you can really sense the thermal pulling you away from the ground, it's an awesome feeling! It was only a 3m/s, but it was steady and did a good job at unsticking us from our little situation.

The rest of the last leg was done in relative calmness and ease, closer to cloudbase. Other then following an arc to intercept some clouds en route to goal, it was quite conventional.

I saw Andre take a more direct line to goal, in the blue, at an impossible glide angle. I thought... no way. But he did make it in a minute ahead of both Attila and I and won the day! Having said that, a few top pilots made a similar move and landed tragically short of the goal line. Nenê was 10m short and Reisinger was 100m short, from what I remember.

No other Canadians in goal today, but Bernie and Scott were close. Scott landed behind our Motel and went for a swim before packing up... that's the way to do it!

Task 4



Wearing the Yellow Jersey

Big, big day! We flew 250km downwind, in the blue, in a predicted 25km/h tailwind that ended up being 5-10km/h!

With a 1 point lead overall and wearing the yellow jersey, I remember thinking to myself how cool it was to be here and now, flying in the Pre Worlds, winning, having fun with friends, and getting some of the best flying Texas and the World can give you! Waiting at the startgate, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, and took it all in... remember this, Brett, don't ever forget.

This was a cool flight... more like an epic adventure with buddies than a Worlds task. Along the way we overflew two canyons, which was surprising to see, thinking that Texas was all flat. A bunch of us flew into one of them at a height that meant we'd be landing there without some lift. That was tense, but knowing that 5 friends would be with you with the same problem, made it an intensely cool experience. It would have been a real Survivor Texas show! Of course we made it outta there, since we're some of the best, supposedly.

Every 30min I did some quick head calculations to work out our current total average speed and the average of the last hour. Keeping track of how things were going, it looked like we might just get to final glide height in time for a late no lift final glide to goal at sunset. It was going to be close...

We flew in the blue all day but then a thunderstorm from the dryline convergence spread thick shade across the last 30km to goal. The lift dropped to almost zero, but thankfully the wind picked up again from 8km/h to 20km/h. Still it was really, really tricky. Only four pilots made it in; Seppi won the day, followed by Nils, Gerolf, and Glen. I landed 14km short, Attila 7km short to win the comp!

Attila is a kickass pilot and super guy, I'm happy to see him win. When I first met him in '98 he was 10ft tall. Now it feels good to be able to make him stretch a little in the air.

16 July 2006

UP Fast 2









Went into the valley to check out the Bridal Falls Air Races. Pretty cool... kinda like a flying festival atmosphere, lots of pilots, spectators and activities.

It was also a chance to get some more time on my new UP Fast 2 harness. I've had a crush on this harness from when I was still only flying hanggliders. Then they came out with the 2. I did some mods to it, to make it really skinny and more like a comp hanggliding harness. I'm pretty much there now and lov'n it! It's lite, tite and clean!

At lower launch it was blowing down and cloud was spreading-out over the back and putting us in shade. Lots of waiting and then Byron and I launched into a cycle that could be felt around the corner. Hit base before my first iPod track was over and did a bit of a tour of the valley before landing at the Golf course. It was really pleasant packing up on the clean grass, in the warm summer breeze, with so much colour on the ground and in the air. A brief flight 'cause I had to get back before dark. Still nice...

22 June 2006

2006 Canadian National Hang Gliding Championship



Launching from Mount 7



Guess why it's called Mount 7 (hint: snow)

Scores and animated tracks

Golden, British Columbia, known for big mountains and big air, was the site for this year's Nationals.

We had unstable air and thunderstorms during the first few days, but were able to fly tasks between 5 and 8pm- usually out-and-returns of 50-70km.

The final 2 days were booming with 13,000ft bases and 4m/s climbs. A 104km task done in less than 2h and finally a 108km out-and-return on the last day.

Final Standings:

1st Brett Hazlett (Litespeed S4.5 carbon)
2nd Jon Orders AKA Spike (Litespeed S4- Jonny's 05 Texas glider)
3rd Jeff Rempel (Airborne Climax)

It was kinda cool to win for the 6th year in a row... a couple of guys are motivated and have been listening to want I've been telling them. They're starting to figure out what racing really is, so I might have to try harder next year!

07 June 2006

6/6/06



West Vancouver



Downtown Vancouver



East into the Fraser Valley



Pull'n Strings



UP Targa 2- one kickass wing



Back before dark

Tons of hangtime on my flexy recently so I've been enjoying some quality time with my paraglider. A fun 35km XC flight in the Fraser Valley and some airtime over Grouse Mountain (over 4000ft)- 3 blocks from my place.

I'll never get over this flying thing!

25 May 2006

Ground Effect





After my journey through the unfamiliar, it was cool to be back at my home site, Woodside, where every thermal is an old friend.

My buddy Tyler came out for the first time since his shoulder surgery. He was sore afterwards but had a big smile!

It was a really light day so I'd climb as high as possible, then spin down to a height that I could just climb back up from. I was trying out a new profile so it took a while to get dialed in again. A couple of times it was a little tense finding lift to climb back up.

When we had outlasted the last wave of paragliders, we landed at FlyBC's beautiful field. No wind and glassy smooth air makes for fun landings!

You'd think 4 hours of thermalling would've been enough but I rushed back up to fly my paraglider. Too late for lift and it was already blowing down so I had to double-speed run off the mountain. I held on to my risers and pulled myself upright to look down to the farmers' fields passing by... suddenly I felt like I was sitting on a swing, a flying swing. I had one of those -how did I end up here- moments and then smiled, thinking of how life will always surprise you if you just allow it.

The air was so quiet, I could only hear the air past my lines and birds chirping as I floated over the trees in the LZ.

To me intense is fun, but I enjoy the calms between.

19 May 2006

Canückenland



Cascades

Spent a day in São Paulo, waiting for my flight, which gave me time to bullet-proof pack my carbon S4.5 and help Marcelo tune his paramotors.

Going for lunch was fun... speeding through downtown São Paulo on the back of his motorcycle, weaving through rush-hour traffic, had me closing my eyes for most of it.

It was sad to say good-bye to my friends, after spending the last 2 weeks together and sharing so many cool adventures, but I'm sure we'll meet again soon, somewhere.

The fairly long flight back to Canada was the perfect time to unwind, sip on a drink, and reflect over how awesome (used correctly) the last 5 weeks had been.

As we flew over the snowy peaked mountains of the Cascades, I was reminded that home was near... and just in time for Spring flying!

13 May 2006

São Paulo State Championship



Feeling good in goal

The São Paulo State Championship or Campeonato Paulista, a 2-day competition, started on 6 May. Most of the best Brazilian pilots are from São Paulo so this felt more like a mini Worlds or something. Plus Brazil has some solid pilots that the rest of the World hasn't heard about because they never leave Brazil. And why would they... they developed within a country with the most varied flying conditions that I know of, and are influenced/inspired by some of the best pilots in the World: Betinho Schmitz, Nenê Rotor, Andre Wolf, and the Niemeyer brothers, to name a few.

Task 1

A light blue day encouraged the task committee to call a 55km straight-line task to an airport, with an expected initial tailwind and final headwind near goal.

With the light conditions nobody wanted to launch first. I had been ready on the North (low) side for more than 10min, waiting and watching. Some of the top guys came up to me and said that we should all launch together, but nobody wanted to be first. I've watched this movie before, I thought to myself. A few minutes went by, and I was still watching, waiting, smelling... suddenly the streamers started to move in a certain way, and the air developed a familiar taste that I just couldn't resist. Before I realized what was happening, I was running along the shallow grassy slopes of Pico do Gavião. The North launch reminds me a lot of Cochrane Hill, timing is really important, so are birds. A bird appeared out front and soon I was climbing steadily, if a little slowly, above launch.

When I saw the chaos that followed on launch, as 40 pilots divided between the South and North launch, suddenly all wanted to launch on the North side and -now-, I couldn't help but laugh.

Carlinhos Niemeyer did launch behind me as he said he would and soon we were climbing together and working our way towards the startgate.

Here in Brazil, pilots fly like men... they play loud music at launch, there is only one startgate, no turn direction, and nobody bitches!

Conditions were light, but with the light tailwind, it wasn't so bad. Closer to goal things became difficult as the 10km/h tail became the same, but head.

In what should have been the last thermal, we were climbing very slowly, I was opposite Carlinhos, with Nenê and Máscara just below us. I left first with very marginal numbers and hoped for neutral air. Everyone left with me, which was perfect, because if I didn't make it, they wouldn't either. Things looked good at first but then 4km from goal I hit some sink as I glided over a large sugarcane plantation that sloped down towards a river. Carlos and I found something to stay in the air with, but Nenê and Máscara couldn't seem to stay in the super light thermal. They lost height on us very slowly... we were turning for so long, and then suddenly they both flared! Carlos and I drew more circle art in the air and limped the last 4km over the river and into the airport. We made it in, but during our near landing, a few pilots that were spectating all day passed over our heads. Our leading bonuses helped somewhat to neutralize our penalty, though.

Task 2

This time we had clouds, a good base, and decent climbs. A 75km zig-zag thing with 2 turnpoints, ending with goal at the same airport as the previous day.

I launched first again, on the North side, and nearly landed; a couple of other pilots that launched after me did, including Brazil's new hot pilot Michel Louzada. But nearly landing, is as good as not landing.

The short convergence lines were scream'n but the soft spots that we had to get through were patience challenging. Again we had a tailwind, ending with a headwind.

About 25km from goal, the clouds stopped and the there was high overcast. I had been watching the horrible plot unfold so I slowed down for a full climb at the last cloud and left gliding at max glide. The lead gaggle was about 3min ahead of me after I detoured to a dud cloud earlier, but it was not the time to try something smartass to catch up. There was one last cumulus 15km from goal, but as I glided conservatively towards it, it fell apart. Later I found out that Nenê and Máscara were also watching that same cloud.

For some time after my last climb, the air was favourable, probably due to the converging winds, and for minutes my glide angle to goal was improving. From a 19:1 it improved to a 14:1, and I knew that if this trend continued, I would have goal at around 11:1. But there is always one last challenge, right?

10km from goal the ground was deep in shade and now that I was lower, I could feel the full strength of the headwind. A gaggle of urubus formed, which I joined, and was surprised to find myself climbing. But the wind was repelling me away from goal and away from satisfaction. During these long waiting periods, trying everything and trying so hard for so long, you really start to -want- goal in a more intense way. Everytime I looked forward to that airstrip, only 10km away, I wanted it even more. It was frustrating to be so close, and yet all my experience and all my glider wasn't enough to overcome the cool wind, dressed in shade.

There were so many vultures, too many to count, possibly this was the only thermal in miles. I was drifting away from goal, but with one eye fixated on my glide ratio to goal readout, I could see that things were improving. Then... the high cloud began to break apart slightly, and hope returned. Within minutes I felt a weak surge reach through the column of air supporting me and my bird friends aloft. It didn't last long but it was enough to strengthen my position to a 13.5:1.

I pulled every last inch of VG cord, tucked my arms, held my head low, and pointed for goal. Quickly I realized that I still couldn't make it, but maybe I'd at least make it across the river. After the river, the ground rose again to goal. The downward moving headwind would rob my glide and suppress any thermal, all I could hope for was to make it across the murky river and flare on the opposite banks.

As I was gliding directly over the middle of the river... I hit a thermal. I couldn't believe it. It was light but cohesive, and despite the headwind I could feel immediately that it would get me to goal. All the tension of the last hour was released, and as I smiled and teared, I watched the horizon drop away, and bid farewell to that slow-moving muddy river, from so so low!

I can't remember if I've ever turned in lift 2km from goal before, but I have now. Left with an 8:1, which looks pretty flat from so close, and made it in semi-comfortably. As I flew over the hangar I first saw that nobody else was behind it. I had won the day, and won the meet!

I came into land on the red dirt airstrip, and only the goal marshal and a few spectators were there. It was late in the day, the strip pointed to the West, the wind was from the West, and the Sun was setting in the West. I pulled my VG on and dove down to the ground, skimming and floating along the strip. I could see the dust in the air, lit by the low sun melting into the horizon, and the tall grass along the sides, waving in the breeze. I reached down to touch the warm ground and... the moment was perfect. I was experiencing it intensely in the present, but at the same time it was already a memory... a postcard picture from Brett's life. This was one of those perfect moments... absolutely perfect. A full proud flare and I was still on the ground, surrounded by golden light and the warm breeze. I looked at my right fingertips, now stained with red dirt, and thought... this is it.

11 May 2006

Echoes and Reflections



This is Flytec country



Tickling spectators' bellies with my VG cord

It was awesome to be back in Andradas again; that place has come into my mind every so often since I first went there, last September. I was in the mood for some play flying, so I took the opportunity to practise my spins and do some relative work (me relative to spectators, bushes, paragliders, etc.) Made a paraglider friend on launch and soon we were doing syncro wing-overs just above launch, in the light lift. Touched his sail a few times too on fly-bys... when you get really close to a paraglider wing in-flight you realize how there is quite a steep angle to the aerofoil (high angle of attack). I noticed that as I flew past to touch the wing with my fingers, I had to dive below him slightly and then climb upwards as I flew pass, to contour the wing surface. A little tense, but fun.

Later I did some low passes along launch... soon there was a line of 5 people lying in the grass, side by side on their backs, waiting for me to fly past inches above them. One of the guys had quite a big gut, so I had to be sure to take that into account. It was the strangest thing to listen to so many people laughing so hard, hearing their laughter arrive and then vanish so quickly. I was worried that my VG cord might burn them, but apparently it only tickled them.

For spinning I needed more ground clearance so I spun down to the LZ, thermalled back up, and repeated. I've been working on getting the rotation speed higher, which is super fun, but you need more time to recover from the vertigo after the exit. After 10 revolutions, everything becomes circles and 'up' is only up because it's blue...



Pioneering Serrania launch

En route to Andradas, we spent a day in Serrania to fly a new hill that Konrad had seen from the air and expected it to have a natural launch. After some jungle trekking and machete swinging, we found it. A natural rock cliff launch... pretty intimidating, but beautiful. I had the biggest smile on my face as I pulled up from the dive off the rock.



Calm view

This is where I landed on my last flight in Carmo do Rio Claro. It was fun landing in a tiny little bare patch of ground, surrounded by tall grass. The São Paulo State Championship was coming up, so we had to make ground towards Andradas, for some early practice.

28 April 2006

Let Live

The comps have ended. My friend is still gone. Every so often I think of him and my heart goes into momentary freefall. Gotta keep moving…

For a little change of feel, I decided on an adventure-rally-style flying trip in the South of Brazil with some long time pilot friends. No pilot meetings, controversy, or GPS timed finishes. Out here in this –World-, does a second mean 10 points lost? It means absolutely nothing, not even the word itself.

Packed my glider with foam sufficient for a parachute drop, to protect my all-carbon frame, and rode with the Colombians down to Miami to catch my flight to São Paulo. First a night in Miami, which is always nice.

Strange… suddenly I was in São Paulo at 11pm and dragging my 100lb glider through the airport. My friends were waiting, we loaded, and were doing 120km/h into the interior in 10min flat. Along the way we drove over a part of a truck transmission and it tore up our ride. Looked like Godzilla had gone to town on the chassis. Nothing that a little 2am welding job couldn’t fix though. Hit Carmo do Rio Claro at 4am, got some sleep, and were ready to fly the next day. Unpacked at launch, still feeling weird about how quickly my surroundings had morphed, as I watched.

Grass covered hills, lakes everywhere with clear blue water. With 100km out-and-returns or triangles everyday, smooth 3m/s thermals to 2500m -and this is offseason- I wouldn’t want anything more. After my first flight here, I found myself packing up and thinking to myself that the air is so smooth here that it’s like sleeping in silk, except with a better view.

For almost a week now we’ve been packing all our stuff in the truck each morning because we never know where we are going to end up. We just setup, decide what direction to go, and do it. If it’s too windy to come back to the same city we just stay where we end up. There is always a launch nearby. Wherever the sky and our intentions take us…

I’ve noticed recently many people asking me where my favourite place to fly is; I haven’t had a real answer for them, but I do now. Here.



Carmo do Rio Claro



Bush Mechanics



Flytec Country



Basescape



Inviting Lakes



Silk Thermal



Marcelo Reaches for Base



Calm Lake



The Perfect LZ



Cooling Off After an Outlanding

23 April 2006

Flytec Task 5



The Winners



Rock On

A 100km out-and-return task that turns ugly as a massive apocalyptic thunderstorm blackens the sky and puts the whole field on the deck. A lone pilot, Jack Slocum (AKA Slow Come) started the course late and cruises in light lift kicked up by the gust front to be the only pilot in goal.

The following day, the chance of tornados in the forecast convinces the task committee to cancel the day.

Final Standings:

1st Oleg Bondarchuk
2nd Brett Hazlett
3rd Jonny Durand Jr.
4th Robin Hamilton

20 April 2006

Flytec Task 4



Chris Smith goes for a evening flight after making goal

A 120km course surrounding the Green Swamp in classic Quest weather. The convergence setup over the swamp, creating an isolated area of buoyant air, light winds, and towering cumulus. We raced the course in just under 3h, with Oleg taking the day once again.

19 April 2006

Flytec Task 3



Crossing goal last year

Some real Florida flying today with conditions that accelerated from 1m/s and 1000m to 4m/s and 1400m towards the end of the 100km task. It was like an explosion of atmospheric energy. The converging sea breezes created this warm compression zone with super buoyant air and towering cumulus. With each glide, the bar moved slightly more rearward as interthermal speeds begun at 60km/h and increased to 80km/h.

The usual match race during the last 20km was fun to watch and be a part of. Oleg and I raced side by side to the goal line, seconds apart, at 120km/h. Oleg got me by a couple of seconds as we skimmed the tree line into Quest, but it was a fair fight.

18 April 2006

Flytec Task 2



Quest Air



Yo from the Master Jim Lee



On Course



At Base



Boys At Goal

After losing a day to wind, all of us were ready for a big day of flying. A cross tail 108km task to Avon Park would be our task.

Lots of puffy liar clouds to confuse us, all the more difficult with the initial 900m cloudbase. Conditions continued to get weaker for the first half of the course, ending with Jonny, Oleg, and I drifting for 5km while slowly losing 100m of height. Oleg said he was down to 260m AGL at one point. A bit tense at times but most of it was just a test of patience. As I drifted across a large lake, and watched Oleg's glider juxtaposed against the ripples of the water's surface, I was reminded how cool it was to be here and now exploring Florida's waterscape from the air.

The last part of the task contained a little convergence, as a small gift for our hard work thus far. Still we climbed fully and glided only a little faster than best glide to finally over-fly the developed urban terrain preceding Avon Airport.

Oleg, myself, and Jonny crossed in that order, followed by a bit of a gap before the next gaggle made it in.

Overall a pleasant day in Florida with other friends that know why we do this.

16 April 2006

Flytec Championship Task 1

A 30km/h Westerly made the task call difficult, with Orlando airspace close downwind of Quest. The 102km crosswind out-and-return task was never completed. Myself, Oleg, Curt, and Bruno landed together to tie for first for the day.

It was one of those challenging days, where 5h of rough windy conditions drain your physical and mental energy. But once you're through it, you're glad you put in the effort.

The last little bit of the flight was really cool... a low save at 500ft near a forest but we had to follow it way downwind before getting any height. Then we were fighting straight upwind for the rest of the flight. Drifted over a couple of turqoise lakes; having something pretty to look at made the exhausting flight a little more pleasant.

09 April 2006

Blow



Aerotowing at the US Nats

The wind finally weakened for the last day, so we flew an 82km task, starting with a difficult 15km upwind leg to the edge of the startgate. It took about 1.5h just to get in position for the start and required lots of patience and planning to fight the 30km/h headwind.

A blimp crossed our course line, which was interesting to see. Goal was a large airport on the west coast. The view of the ocean was spectacular.

Oleg, myself, and Jonny crossed goal, with a bit of a time gap before the next wave of pilots came in. The overall positions for the comp were:

1st Oleg
2nd Brett
3rd Curt
4th Jonny

Day 2,3,4,5,6 of the US Nats... wind and more wind. Too much for a picnic, too much for the beach.

Some went canoeing in the swamp, looking for gators, others went on fan boat tours of the glades. Bruce, Rob (crazy Dutch bastard), and I found a gym in La Belle to kill some time. Then we played with a blow cart (windsurfer and a 3-wheeled cart) at the airport, each of us nearly killing ourselves, laughing with our tongues hanging out for every second!

We pulled out Dustin's paraglider and man-towed a few guys. Unstable windy conditions... we shouldn't have been doing it (no reserve, no helmet, no back protection) but hey I'm just tell'n you what happened. The wind gradient surged me up to 20ft before the boys let go of my rope, then I was flying backwards in the breeze and sinking through the wind gradient to a PLF 'landing'. Next second I had lines wrapped around one ankle and I was being dragged at 10km/h on my ass for 100m. The harness was well made so my butt didn't get too hot. It was hard untangling my ankle with myself and everyone else laughing so hard.

Then we started wheely-ing the golf cart with Rob driving and two of us hanging on the back. When we finally ran out of ways to hurt ourselves or damage equipment we went for a few drinks at the Gator Bait Pub to hang with the locals.

Day 1 of the US Nats: Curt won, then Oleg; Jonny and I split up but crossed together in 5 and 6th. Dustin and Konrad short.

Bloody windy in goal, over 40km/h with thermals and tall trees... then the cops showed up to kick us off the property.

Today was rainy, tomorrow maybe the same.