ABOUT THE WINNERS

Godfrey, the only person to win 3 Tasks, did not win the comp.
Paul Tomassi, the man many of us expected would be his main competition, did not win the comp either.

DAMIEN TUVO blind-sided them both with a spectacular flight across two mountain ridges on Day 7 ... and Godfrey's decision not to go over the back of a mountain range on the same day and endure another long and frustrating retrieve was the cruncher - although in fact, all he needed was another 120 meters - only 2 points was the difference at the end of the competition between these two pilots.  Who could have known that this competition would be so close..............?

Damiens advice on the Winners Podium - 'Fly another 120m when you come into landing :-)'.

Day 8 was an Intermediate Pilots day with many of us scoring the high points. Whilst everyone was watching the race out front between the top four contenders on the final day, the intermediate pilots bumbled along on their intermediate wings gradually passing all those who had raced themselves into the ground and one of them even wandered on to win the Task.

The best surprise for me, of course, was that it was me -  South Africa's FLYGIRL having a very special Cross Country :-)

AND THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE XC OPEN WORLD SERIES

The Results of Task 8 and the many personal awesome flights during the comp like that of Johnny Fox UK, Peter Bretschneider CAN and Wesley Manzke AUS, prove that everyone has an opportunity to do well in this style of comp, not only the skygods.

Enter the XC Open World Series. It is perfectly tailored for the Intermediate pilot.  It is primarily about flying long distance, down wind, for as long as you can, every day .... with friends.  Sure the hot shots like Godfrey, X-Alps Martin Muller, Damien Tuvo and a host of Swiss go out and fly amazing, unheard of tasks that would not normally be set and achieved in a traditional comp, but there are multiple friendly contests within the main competition - those between our peers and our friends and that is what makes it FUN!

Although the XC Open is less stressful because you are invariable flying in safer conditions and you choose your own route, it is not easy.  The XC Open is about endurance.  Flying long distance every day for 8 days, for 5 or more hours a day is not easy no matter what the traditional competition pilots might say. That is how long you need to fly each day to be in the top 5. The sun, the concentration, the tension, the long retrieves and lack of sleep, all take their toll.  You must endure ... as well as enjoy.

Being the new kid on the block and far from talented, I have to build up my flying stamina and my experience to be competitive.  My usual flying time is 2-3 hours with the occasional 5-6 hours flight, but come day four, I hit a 'wall' - mentally and physically.  Marathon flying is draining and the only way to be comfortable with it, is to get more airtime.