Lauren Tjaden writes:

There are some great people in this sport. When my harness zipper
blew out (this week at launch at the Florida Ridge Nationals), Belinda Boulter
was there, offering to sew me into it. I declined, but James Tindle burnt holes
into my harness with a hot nail and finally got it zip tied together. Belinda
gave me a knife to cut myself out of it when I landed.



Rhett -- the amazing tug pilot -- was another friend who took my problems on as
his own. He straightened a batten for me and searched the hardware store for
something to patch my harness with.



But the prize for sportsmanship goes to Linda Salamone. Yesterday my husband
Paul became very ill with the stomach flu. I broke my glider down in the morning
due to a thunderstorm; by the time I had purchased medicine, crackers and soup
for Paul (he had no need of the latter two items) I was very late. I had missed
the pilot's meeting and was not even set up. Or so I thought.



Linda called, to say she had set up my glider and carried it out to a good spot
in the launch line. Just hook in, she said, and we can start thermaling
together. I became ill shortly after, so I didn't fly -- but have you ever heard
of such kindness? (My glider was carried back to the tie down area and covered
again, also by Linda). This was pretty special. Nobody could ask for a better
team mate or friend.