GIN Wide Open 2014 podium. L-R: Andy Smart (2nd), Rick Van der Sloot (1st), Pedro Citoler (3rd)
Rick Van der Sloot was crowned winner of the second Gin Wide Open, which took place at Ager in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees, finishing on 13 September 2014. In second place was the UK’s Andy Smart, and Pedro Citoler (DE) was third. Catherine Bartholdi (CH) won the women’s competition in 13th place overall.
The women’s podium: L-R: Stefanie Wendinger (2nd), Catherine Bartholdi (1st), Ella Pyrah (3rd)
Despite slightly more unreliable conditions than the area usually enjoys, three tasks were completed, with one stopped due to rain on the course, and another cancelled due to strong winds. The weather also threw in some low clouds, big clouds and dust devils to spice up the generally sunny conditions.
GIN Carrera checking out the conditions
Maybe it’s all getting a little big up there?
The GIN Wide Open is primarily a fun competition, promoting learning and aimed at pilots in the beginnings of their competition careers. Every task was briefed by meet director Brett Janaway, and then Toby Colombe gave pilots his ideas of the best way to tackle the day’s task given the current and expected conditions.
Meet director Brett Janaway giving the task briefing on launch
Following the main briefing each day, Toby Colombe gave his thoughts on how to approach each task
In addition, after the day’s flying was over there were talks on using flight instruments, glider control, how to fly fast (delivered by GIN team pilot Michael Sigel) and much, much more, not forgetting our own Cross Country presentation of some of the best images, stories and adventures from recent editions of the magazine.
Flying Ager, just in front of launch
GIN pilot Petra Slivova
There were plenty of midweek prizes, ranging from T-shirts and mini-windsocks to books and Naviter Oudie3s. Scottish Danny’s little jaunt to 3,700m in a big cloud earned him a copy of ‘Fifty Ways to Fly Better’.
GIN test pilot Idris Birch
GIN star pilots Michael Sigel, Idris Birch and Petra Slivova as well as Yuki Sato lead the way around the tasks and shared their expert knowledge. Their scores were taken out of the final competition results (Michael, Yuki and Idris were first, second and third in the overall results). The event results then looked like this:
OVERALL
1. Rick Van der Sloot (NL, Ozone Delta 2)
2. Andy Smart (GB, Nova Mentor 3)
3. Pedro Citoler (DE, Niviuk Icepeak 6)
WOMEN
1. Catherine Bartholdi (CH, Ozone Alpina 2)
2. Stefanie Wendinger (DE, Nova Mentor 2)
3. Ella Pyrah (GB, Ozone Rush 3)
The biggest prizes, including a GIN harness and wing, were drawn out of a hat at the end of the competition.
More on the GIN Wide Open website
The campsite landing field in Ager
Our thoughts exactly!
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