Brian Patrick writes:

Last year at this time I had not had a single cross country flight in a hang
glider. Flying with much better pilots and competing has helped me learn more
and fly more than I could imagine! Tennessee Treetoppers Team Challenge is
coming up and if you are a new hang 3 or close to it, then attending is a must!
Here is why.

My 2013/2014 progress

Sept: Team Challenge: cross country distance 7 miles, 9 hours of flying, and 17
flights

October: Quest Air Intro to Sport Comp: cross country distance 34 miles, 6 hours
of flying, 8 flights

May: Americus competition camp: cross country distance 68 miles, 8 hours of
flying, 5 flights

August: 2014 Big Spring Nationals: cross country distance, 255 miles, 20 hours
of flying, 11 flights

I had an amazing week this week setting 2 personal bests, 54 and 71 mile
flights, looked down at the world from 12,000 feet, 4 and a half hour lengths.
Finished at the bottom of the pack in sport class, but you have to start
somewhere!

10,000 ft cloudbase, 5 hours and over 50 miles of flying over the last 2 days.

Matt Christensen writes:

What a week of flying! Despite a couple days of poor decisions, I finished the
week out with just over 17 hours of airtime and 332 miles flown. I made goal 4
days, including a 104.4 mile task, the longest ever achieved in the Sport Class.
Although I decked it early on two tasks, I managed to claw back into 3rd...Sorry
Alfredo, the results weren't updated. It was a super close competition, with
only 15 points separating 2nd - 4th place. If you weren't here, you missed out
on a great week of flying!

Patrick Pannese writes:

Big Spring 2014 was a great time with many epic flying days with some very
talented pilots! It was an opportunity to increase my skills and at the same
time have fun!

Cory Barnwell writes:

The last day is done and I made goal! Over 50 miles! What an awesome
competition! I had so much fun! Can't wait until next year. Thanks so much to
Kip Stone for letting me use his U2. I had a great time flying it. Maybe someday
I will have one of my own.

Matt Barker writes:

What an amazing week of flying in Big Spring, TX this past week. I was on task
committee with Zac and Larry. We had awesome weather which allowed us to call
1116 Km's (693.5 mi) worth of tasks!! Love Texas flying!!!

Stoked to fly 208 KM (129.5mi) to goal with my boys today. Zac crushed it and
came in first on his WW T2C 144 with the UV
Technoraramafragilisticexpealidocious sail of Awesomeness.

Alfredo Grey writes:

Best flight in my life (so far) 169km!!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=855184024494686&set=o.222192914465270&type=2&theater

Zac Majors writes:

Texas skies, 207km task and I'm 1st! But that's nothing compared to the 6 sport
class pilots who flew their 1st 100 mile flights!

I had a rough day, made goal, but had to dig out of a deep hole. Congrats to
Davis for the day win on his T2C

Majo Gularte writes:

Yesterday was an AWESOME day in the Big Spring competition, I had a lot of fun
chasing the race with Frances Mikus Barker, my favorite pilot Zac Majors won the
day , the boys on my team made it to goal on a great position Kevin, Mitch
Shipley, Robin Hamilton, my favorite girl pilot (only girl on the comp) made it
to goal in an amazing 6 hours flight Linda Salamone and my favorite pilot from
the spot class won the day Cory Barnwell I'm so proud of u guys!!!

Eduardo Panuco sends a picture of part of the Mexican team:

Rodrigo Alva had to miss the last couple of days:

Derreck Turner writes:

Well it's finished, after a week in Texas flying our wings off, the results are
official I got 2nd place and only 11 points from 1st. Zac won by winning 3 of
the 7 task and flying incredibly, it came down to less than a minute after 7
days If any of my fellow pilots ever thought about seeing what competition is
like, they really should come to Texas, Big friendly sky's are sure to put a
smile on your face.

David Proctor writes:

Now that we are on the road from the US Nationals at Big Spring I have to send
out a special THANK YOU to Belinda and Davis for putting this event on again. I
know this is a lot of work, so thanks guys. Another big THANK YOU to Russell and
Lori for bringing all the dragonflies. And Gregg Ludwig for bringing his trike.
The tug pilots extraordinaire and volunteers. And the people of Big Spring for
allowing us to come fly. Thank you all. I hope you are all crazy enough to do it
again next year.

Wills Wing writes:

Congrats to Zac for winning big Spring 2014 in a closely contested last day with
Derreck Turner. Zac, Chris Zimmerman and Davis combined for 5 of 7 daily wins.
Big Spring continues to deliver extraordinary racing including a 105 mile task
for Sport Class pilots. Congrats to David Williams (U2 145) for winning the
sport class.

Mike Bylik and Kendrick Ja'Mal Stallard send:

Smashed out 208k flight. Only the finest food to celebrate!

Cindy Hughes writes:

My boyfriend is awesome! 1st place yesterday!

Linda Salamone writes:

I have the most amazing team here in Texas. They waited hours for me to get into
goal and were so incredibly happy to see me there after everyone already packed
up and left. They packed up my glider and bought dinner- what can I say? I
totally lucked out. Thank you Mitch Shipley Kevin Dutt, Robin Hamilton, Majo
Gularte. That was so great after a tough slog into goal. I'm still in a state of
disbelief that I actually made it in. I'm icing my shoulder now and praying for
a rest day!

Davis sends a picture of the finger that was used to pull the VG line, many many
times: