oliver gregory () writes:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers www.treetoppers.org would like to invite all pilots interested in a fun cross country competition and educational flying experience to join us for the 2007 Team Challenge. Pilot registration and check in meeting for the Team Challenge is 6 PM Saturday, September 29TH. The meet will start September 30th and run through October 6th.

Photo by Jono Fisher.

The Team Challenge format is unique. Pilots are organized into teams of four or five with a mixture of experience levels. Advanced cross country pilots mentor their less experienced team mates as they learn cross country flying tactics and practice flying to goals in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley near Chattanooga TN. The Sequatchie is a very friendly place for cross country. Lots of fields and almost no way to get lost!

Minimum skill level for the Team Challenge is Hang 3 with reasonably solid thermal soaring skills and solid foot launch skills. Hang 2 level pilots are encouraged to come and learn along with the teams. Henson's Gap is a well known Hang 2 site with a giant landing field within easy reach of the famous Radial Ramp. We'll have Hang 2 fun tasks and the landing skills clinic will be open for Hang 2's as well.

We'll call overlapping tasks so everyone gets to fly together for at least part of the tasks, yet the tasks will be challenging enough to keep even the cross country racers interested. Advanced pilots coach their team mates by example and by radio as they fly along the tasks. Scores are weighted based on skill level and glider performance. Pilots are encouraged to participate in the weather forecast committee, task committee and safety committee. This is the place where many pilots put it all together for their first real XC flights. It's a blast!

This year we'll focus on landing skills and cross country flying. We'll make efforts to video landings at goals and if soaring conditions allow, we'll have an early morning landing clinic. In the evenings we'll have educational talks on weather forecasting, cross country flying and landing skills with video enhanced learning.

We expect to have a few nationally known experts around to help with the discussions and perhaps to serve as team leaders. Kevin Carter, US National Team Member and all round great guy, is gonna help us out with the landing clinic and as a team leader. Kevin is one of the best teachers in Hang Gliding and has organized very successful clinics at Quest Air in FL. I have several friends who've attended his excellent clinics. Kevin made one comment to me about my landings and I've not blown a landing since! Knock on hard wood!

Our Meet Head this year will be Mike Kelsey. Mike lives in Mena, Arkansas, where he fell in love with the Ouachita Mountains. Mike has served as the President of the Buffalo Mountain Flyers, started the Ouachita Mountains Hang Gliding Series, (See the story in the Hang Gliding Paragliding Magazine, July 2006), and received a commendation from the USHPA for his efforts with the Series and for promoting hang gliding and paragliding in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma with the Ouachita Hang Gliding web site at www.ouachitahanggliding.com. Surrounding states have used Mike's year-long hang gliding series as a model for their own club/state grassroots contest. Prior to his return to hang gliding, Mike busied himself with building one of the best Mountain Bike Racing Series in the Nation, the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series, (www.ambcs.com), and conceived and served as event director for a number of Mountain Bike Racing Events in Arkansas. We are glad to have Mike on board.

The Team Challenge is only $150 for registration and membership. If you are already a full member, the cost is only $90. We'll have great campfire discussions, cookouts and trips to Chattanooga if the weather permits. Inexpensive breakfast for pilots and volunteers will be available in the clubhouse every morning. We have a fun party planned for the last night with great food, a band, goodie give aways, and trophies for the winning teams. We'll also sponsor a couple of worthy pilots who are cash poor, and in need of a great flying vacation.

Check out our website for more information on the team challenge and some great pictures and video's of some flying in our area. Our site also has a link for online registration. www.treetoppers.org

Come have a great time with us at the number one hang gliding club in the nation!

Discuss Team Challenge at the Oz Report forum
   
 
 
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