Various folks write:

Ollie, here. I’m sitting in my reclining chair on launch at Whitwell. We couldn’t have written a script for a better day. It’s 3 PM and friendly cummies are everywhere. The launch window is open till 5 PM. Winds are 8 to 12 straight in with nice thermal cycles blowing through. I’m hearing “bird right out front” from our launch crew.

The crew is launching the 5 or 6 pilots who missed it the first time. Everyone else is gone XC! There is a 10 point bonus for re-flying so our re-launchers can still make it to goal at Kimbal 13.6 miles away and actually score 10 more points than the guys who picked a bigger cycle earlier. The only penalty is setting up twice! I think any of the relights have a great shot of making it to goal.

Clark Harlow launched tandem with Peter Kane’s girlfriend Kathy about 2 hours ago and is still yo-yoing up to base at 3000’ above. It is an incredible day. The task committee thought the B’s and C’s should go to Kimbal Park and the A’s are going to come back to land at goal at the little airstrip in Dunlap for a total distance of 41.6 miles.

This morning we let the new weather geeks report the weather to the task committee with some help from the locals. I feared they had grossly overcalled the A+ and A task since winds were forecasted to be 16 knots and NE at cloud base starting at 2 to 3 PM. They were going to have to come right back into it. Now it looks like the day was under called. I’m glad it worked out that way since tonight we have the big party with hand made pizzas put together to order on site! Wow what a great last day!

Now, it's 4PM and A’s are coming back over our heads and moving on toward goal at Dunlap International! Turns out that the cloud base head wind the local pilots forecasted was only about 9 mph and more east than northeast. I saw my best old buddy Mark Stump come over on the VQ Jim Lamb encouraged him to fly today! Made me grin!

Now, it’s about 7PM and folks are rolling in to Henson’s with big grins on their faces and big appetites for the pizza that Lupi’s is cooking up for us right here tonight. We had an idea about how to report this thing. We are gonna ask pilots who flew or helped out to right a brief report on what they got out of this great week. Best learning experience I’ve ever been involved with for sure! I’m leaving the computer set up for people to have access and we’ll send it to you with some good pictures and stuff! Hopefully we’ll have a lot of good Oz Reporters!

I’m Ben de Garis. I launched my Moyes Litespeed from the Whitwell launch at approximately 12:45pm and quickly caught a thermal to the left of launch, which took me to 2700’ over the launch. Then I flew south 13.6 miles to the first turn point (Kimball, TN). I arrived at the Kimball turnpoint with 2600’ above. Then I worked UPWIND 25.1 miles to the designated goal of Galloway’s Airport to complete the task for the “A” (ranked) pilots. My airtime for this flight is 3.5 hours and 37.2 miles. My total air time for the event is 7.5 hours and a total of 96 miles!

This is my first competition and my first time to complete a task and make goal! I have enjoyed the TTT Team Challenge more than any other Hang Gliding Vacation I’ve taken in 32 years of flying. The seminars from the world class pilots have been very educational.

K. Dawkins here.This is my first year to fly the TTT Team Challenge and it was very informative as far as safety, weather to fly, thermal clinics and general instruction in the art of XC, everything it was supposed to be!!! Learned more this week than in the last five years, even though I read all the articles I can get my hands on. They are great, too, but this puts them into practice and perspective. Thanks to Ollie, Steve, Kathy, James Anderson and EVERYONE who helped out.

My name is Eric Donaldson. I just got back to camp after an amazing flight. 37 miles, most of it into the wind. As I flew back over launch on my way to goal I noticed people standing around so I yelled YEE-HAWWW I LOVE HANG GLIDING. I heard a few people yell back. I think that sums up the feeling I have. Team Challenge is a great event and every year I learn more and more. We were fortunate to have some of the world’s best pilots here to fly and share their knowledge. Life is good.

Dan T here. Ollie taught us how to read Dr. Jacks and Skew Ts. Kevin Carter taught us how to land. The sky taught us a little humility and the Tennessee Tree Toppers taught us the meaning of Southern Hospitality. A great time was had by all. Thanks everyone.

W. Jordan here. This has been a wonderful week. We flew Whitwell the whole time. Thanks to all the sponsors for the generous items that were handed out daily for individual accomplishments. If you are thinking about attending something like this, do it. You will learn more in a week than you can imagine is possible. I’m grateful for my trusty Flytec 3010 and Wills Wing U-2 for delivering me to goal at Kimball Park Tuesday. Barron helping from above on his ATOS helped out also. Thanks to all the Tree Toppers for putting something like this on.

J. Nibler here. I came, I flew XC, I learned so much. If these were held monthly, I’d find a way to get the time off at any cost. I can’t recommend this event enough to anyone interested in learning to increase their soaring abilities or learning to XC. Thanks to everyone who helped us new guys and a HUGE thanks to Ollie who really made this event shine. Can’t wait till next year!

S. Prater here. This is my third time at Team Challenge but the first year to take part. I’m a low time H3 and the last day of TC I was able to put all of the teaching from the fantastic people here into play. I got high and went far. Flew to goal…WOW, my first XC. When I arrived I couldn’t believe that I was the first there. I was greeted by a crowd of people with food and drink. And now I'm a rock star because one of the kids asked for my autograph!! Incredible week. Incredible people. Good and friendly people in the valley. Yall come now ya hear.

Mark Stump, Arkansas Air Hogs here. What a great week of learning and flying. I have been flying since 1975 and to spend a week trying to help new pilots go XC has been as hard, frustrating and rewarding as flying any task at any meet I have ever flown. I learned a lot from the nightly seminars with Kevin Carter and Mike Barber that will help me fly better and safer. Jim Lamb was living on the edge by letting me fly the best day of the meet on his new ATOS VQ. Light, fast, best sink rate and lands like a dream. Thanks Jim, now I got to go back to work.

The Tree Toppers have the formula for the best learning experience for all new pilots to learn how to fly XC safely. Ollie Gregory is the best supporter of hang gliding I know. Thanks for all your hard work.

Cathi Hayes aka IdreamOfFlying here.This was my first trip to the Team Challenge and it exceeded my expectations. I am a Hang 2 pilot that attended as a supporter and driver…hoping to get a little foot launch experience and learn as much as I could from others. The last day of the meet was unforgettable…I had the opportunity to foot launch at Whitwell tandem with Clark Harlow.

We launched at about 1:30 pm EST and flew for over and hour and a half! We did not have a vario and my camera’s SD card filled up with video and stopped, so we don’t have an exact time on the flight.

The conditions were awesome!!!! Every time we thought we would have to pick a landing site, another thermal would come greet us with sweet lift. How could we resist so much lift? We finally spiraled down to land since I was the designated driver…oops! for the Pig Sticker’s today.

Thank you to Clark for the great thermaling lesson!!!! Everyone that participated in the Team Challenge did an awesome job! Everyone was friendly and eager to help other pilots learn. A huge thanks goes to Ollie for all of his hard work! Team Challenge will be on my calendar next year.

Richard Milla, North Texas Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (Fort Worth TX, via London, England) here. TTT TC 2007 rocks! First time. What a fantastic event. So much experience to learn from here and the most wonderful willingness to share it all, it’s amazing. I even learnt how to get my tip wands in and out easily – thanks to Air Hogs Keith and Steve for that. Mega thanks to Kevin Carter for tuning my glider. 6.5 miles worth of tuning today – my first XC in a hang glider! You the man, Kevin; big thanks also to Wills Wing and Flytec for helping Kevin so he can help the rest of us. And huge, huge thank you to all the volunteers, especially Doc Ollie. If you wanna improve your flying, come to TTT TC 2008.

Barron McKinley. Arkansas Air Hogs. here. TTT Team Challenge 2007. What a great vacation! This has been my greatest Hang Gliding vacation of all time. 5 out of 7 flying days. Awesome weather. All down time was spent learning about XC, thermaling, weather, and safety. Great food and great camaraderie. Thanks to the Tennessee Tree Toppers for putting on such an excellent event, and a special thanks to Ollie Gregory.

What a great day to end a fantastic week of fun and learning at this year’s team challenge! Mark Stump is my friend and a friend to everyone who knows him. He escorted me on my first XC attempt and cut the apron strings to known LZ’s when I wasn’t looking. If he’d had a tow rope he’d have pulled me across the gap to goal. Kevin Carter tuned my U2 and transformed it from a Sherman tank to a Ferrari with power steering. Special thanks go to my friend Ollie Gregory for making this meet such a success. Keith Atkins, Memphis, Arkansas Air Hogs

Great air Great valley Great times Clark Harlow transplanted Floridian

What an awesome event! As a C pilot, and a new H3 I have learned so much in such a short time from some of the best! And I have increased my flight time by ¼ in just a week, and got my first XC flight, got to cloudbase for the first time, and soared the highest I ever have! A lot of personal bests!!! Met knew friends and became closer to those I already knew, I am looking forward to next year. Some highlights on the Pigsticker’s team was Eric Donaldson being the only kingposted glider making goal today, and the only other flex making it was a topless. Way to go Eric! Tuesday our team (Pigstickers) worked flawlessly together, staying in sight and radio contact, helping each other out, it was like no other kind of flying I’ve done – fun flying as a team. I hope every one pencils in next years Team Challenge, what a great event, loved flying with everyone. Big THANKS to Ollie! Pigsticker: Lucas Ridley Lucas is going to put a great video of his team together on Youtube soon.

TTT knows how to lead one great comp. I don’t know anyone that did not have fun. My team had pilots from all over – Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. There is no better way to get airtime, and learn from some of the best pilots in the world. What would be really great is to see similar events all over the country. This keeps interest and participation in the sport high, and is great for spectators. With the multiplication factor based on skill level and wing type, and a bonus for A pilots escorting beginners to goal, everyone has the chance to be a contributing member to their team. If you missed it this year, sign up early next year! It’s an event that should not be missed. Craig Stanley, Romantic Sheep BAAAA!e

ONE MORE ACCOUNT from just another monkey in the everyday: After six years of lump jumpin throughout Ohio, this northern fella came to this valley about 1980 to repair an old triangle wing (standard regallo) and was told “you can’t fly that thing here”. Little did I know what was in store for me. I was welcomed by most everyone in the area, given everything I needed to become an actual flying man! 10 or 12 years later I got the “LAZY” attitude for the string tow, thus leaving the mtn. Been doing it for the past 20+ years. Static, A-TOL, Trike, Tug, Scooter, and even light trike. You name it. I heard that there was going to be a XC talent based format at the Tree Topper site and could not, NOT! Make this scene. I have never in 33+ years of trying to pilot a hang glider had so much help to do just that. Though the team I was placed on did the point making, I was drug along with them to first place despite my poor performances. If you EVER wanted to do an XC flight….Think TTT!!!.......”TEAM CHALLENGE” They will get you there! Forget the BLUNDERING, start the MILES!! Primavera

In my 30+ years of flying and flying competitions, I have never witnessed a meet with more pilot involvement and cooperation. The interaction between team members as well as teams was nothing short of amazing. All of this in conjunction with fully attended informative seminars created a FUN learning experience. What a Concept! Way to go TTT. Mike Nash

It’s Ollie again at Team Challenge day after report. I’m little hang over after the great party! The most impressive thing I saw everyday, all week long was a willingness to help out, fix it, teach it and show you how to do it by all the pilots and volunteers. Right now the day after it ended, two of our super volunteers are helping me with all kinds of computer tricks. This would never have happened with out Alain and Candice Azurmendi! Thanks so much!

Here’s butt one more example of Stump helping some one out! He’s putting wire man hold downs on Jim Lamb’s VQ on the first day of the meet. Lamb paid him back a week later with a VQ flight on the best flying day of the meet. Now Stump’s gonna have to get a job! ARKANSAS AIR HOGS!!! What a great group of guys!

If you want to see some youtube of this great event here’s a great link

Team Challenge 2007 Whitwell, TN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leVLCY7fGik

Super C Lucas Ridley is planning to put a video of the Pig Stickers team flying XC on Youtube soon. I gotta stop writing and head home soon. Thanks Jackie for loving me and being so wonderful!

Oh Yeah! How did it all turn out? Who got what? Thanks WW and Rob Kells, Moyes USA and Kraig Coomber, LMFP and Matt Taber, North Wing, AIR USA and Jim Lamb, Ben DeGaris, and of course Flytec and the most generous man in hang gliding Steve Kroop for all the great stuff we got to pass out to the happy pilots. Jim Lamb donated a great GPS that went to our newcomer, and most talented C pilot Lucas Ridley of Lookout!

Our winners: In seventh place were the Leaky Radiators led by Jeff Laughery and Ben DeGaris as the A pilot mentors. On their team were Kelly Scroggins-C, Richard Milla-C and Tim Rhinesmith C.

The Arkansas Air Hogs took sixth place with A+ mentor Mark Stump and A pilot Barron McKinley at the helm. Walter Jordan-B was voted Most Helpful B Pilot. Steve Prater-C got his first XC. Keith Atkins-C was voted Most Helpful C Pilot. Their driver, Colin Hodsdon was given his Hang Driver 3 rating by Wayne Walker this week.

In fifth place were KC and the Sunshine Bandits lead by super-duper A++++ leader and mentor Kevin Carter. He led Keith Smith-B, Kevin Dawkins-C, and John Small-C.

Fourth place was taken by the Romantic Sheep, led by A pilot Marc Fink on the Attack Falcon. He was assisted by A pilot Bruce Engen who helped mentor the team of Dan Tomlinson-C, Craig Stanley-C and Edwin Ayala-C (from Puerto Rico!)

In third place were the Pig Stickers and Topless Dancer, led by Most Helpful A Pilot Eric Donaldson, who out flew every flexwing pilot except Kevin Carter. Eric is flying an old pink Airwave Concept with a right hand turn! He and Peter Kane-A lead their Pig Sticker buddies Alex Holstead-B, Lucas Ridley-C. They were chased by Hang 5 Driver Wayne Walker, the world’s most coveted hang gliding retrieval specialist.

Second place was taken by the E Team. A pilots Dave Hopkins and Stan Roberts battled it out all week for top dog and did an outstanding job of leading their C pilots Lindsey Chew, Bill Estes and Bryon Estes, the comp’s only father and son team.

And in first place by only a few points were the T-51’s lead by Jim Lamb of AIR USA and importer of the ATOS line. Jim was the team’s A+ pilot. Jim and Steve Larson-A, they lead and mentored their team of Tom Primavera-B and Jeff Nibler-C to victory by just 3 points! Shoulda done one more reflight Lindsey!

This was great fun. We’ll do it again next year! Ollie

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