Last week I was at the Czech Open 2009 in Levico Terme, Italy. I went there with my friend Mark and his camper. We had 4 tasks, although 5 could have been possible if they didn't cancel Tuesday so fast: 1 hour after the cancellation the high cirrus broke open and we made nice flights.
 
In the first task I had a good start position 3km around turnpoint B11 but off course I can not really keep up with all those fast competition gun gliders on glide. Coming back from turnpoint B20 against the wind was not easy. I got to B04 above Levico around 6pm (last goal at 6:30pm) and choose to climb in some restitution lift. Daniel Stourac flying a Yon Jojowings glider (first time I saw them) choose to fly straight to the last turnpoint B25, high up on a mountain on the other side of the valley. He got in goal but I arriving 10minutes later missed it at 150m as I didn't find any more lift... Wrong choice but anyway very happy because I never thought to get that far in the task.
 
On Monday another task was set towards the Feltre valley. We got warned for a difficult area between the Levico and Feltre valley, and difficult it got! After the start, exactly that area got some serious cloud development and cloudbase in Levico valley was around 2900m while only 1600m in Feltre! Big clouds starting a different altitudes made it very difficult and besides that we had a strong headwind. I didn't get over the last pass towards the Feltre valley and had to return as we were flying in the lee of a big mountain... It was not my most pleasant flight but I learned a lot and landed ok with 4 other pilots close to Lamon. The task also got stopped around 16:29 because it started raining hard in the Feltre valley.
Tuesday we had high cirrus clouds in the morning and in the afternoon the committee cancelled the day and free flying open. Only 1 hour later the sky got blue and we were able to have a good flight.
 
Wednesday the cirrus was even thicker but a task was set anyway. I didn't really believe the cirrus would open up again so I decided to take off a few minutes before the start cylinder opened and fly in a straight line. So I did and I could get 8.5km far without 1 single beep on my vario... First pilots got 24km and the task was valid.
 
Thursday another 62km task but this time I didn't get into a good starting position, first climb was slow and I got some frontals, collapses and didn't like the air at all. Anyway I continued and somehow got better and better! Until we had to get that B25 turnpoint again! From B13 +-7km againt the wind toward the other side of the valley. Lots of pilots bommed out around 45km, like I did.
 
After all, I really liked the Czech Open! Great competition, lots of damned good pilots with guns, good atmosphere, good beer, good massage,... Hope I can get free for next years edition.
 
Congrats too all pilots!