Today we had an 81.8km Task flying first out over the flats for the start then making a short detour back to the mountain to get height for the next TP over the Grappa Landing. We used the mountain a few times on the way to gain enough height as the day was predicted quite stable. Coming back to take off after two thirds of the Task we literally raced the whole ridge to the far west TP. Conditions seemed to have improved to wards the end as even pilots coming very low could take ESS and save them selves to goal by taking the brink of the mountain again. Text Steve Cox Fotos Martin Scheel

The high winds are caused by a cold front that is passing Switzerland to the east during the night. They are expected to calm down around noon tomorrow - at least according to the models that were right the last few days. Trackers and tickets will be available at the Nordic Center from 10 to 11. Go up and prepare for a task briefing at 12:00, and the launch window opening as early as 12:45, like we had it yesterday. Next meteo update tomorrow around 8:00, and then see you all up on the terrace!

The conditions for this 77-km task were absolutely perfect. The air was calm but provided good lift everywhere, even in the flatlands. Unfortunately, it got a bit shaded towards the end, making it more difficult. Many didn’t take this into account enough and just missed the goal. The rankings haven’t been published yet (!), but according to the leaderboard, Tim came in third and Roger seventh. Steve landed just a few meters short of the finish line :-( Congratulations! Photos from all 3 tasks.

We were probably a little too conservative in our task setting, and a leg to Adelboden and the Niesen chain would have been easier today than yesterday. Pilots reported still very good climbs that were "more predictable" than yesterday, and the top altitude was a few hundred meters higher. But the task was what we set, and it was a short and exciting sprint race that brought almost everyone to goal. The winner today is Stephan Morgenthaler, followed by yesterday's winner Charles De Beaufort, and Markus Wicki. Best woman is Sarah Zimmerman, best Sports Class pilot Marco Sommerfeld, best junior Jean Morisetti. Tomorrow will be very sunny, but also very windy. It will probably be flyable, but we consider it as not taskable. Day 3 is therefore cancelled.

After yesterday's tricky (at least for some) leg to the neighboring valley, and with a slightly less optimistic thermal forecast, we set a more conservative task that goes up and down the Simmental twice, to about St. Stephan, then crosses to the west side, for an End of Speed Section back near launch, and goal again at the cable car station. The race started at 13:45, the total distance is 52 km, and now that pilots are under way, we expect the fastest to finish the race around 15:30. Follow the race in our live tracking.

The situation has not changed much: There could be a few last sprinkles in our area in the next few hours, then the clouds will clear and give way to blue sky with some cumulus. Weak and variable winds up to 2800m, Thermals will develop, but later and a bit weaker than yesterday. Ticket and tracker will be handed out at the same place as yesterday, at 10:00. Go up once you have a ticket, and prepare for a briefing on the terrace at 12:00. One thing about the trackers: Today we will hand them out switched off. We will explain at the briefing why. Please bring them to the briefing.