http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/tc_re.asp

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/

Oliver Gregory <<email>> writes:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Hang Gliding Club (TTT) is pleased to inform you that registration is now officially open for Team Challenge 2009 (TC09). Everyone interested should check out our site at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and get registered as soon as possible. We expect registration to fill up quickly. TC09 starts with onsite registration on Saturday, September 26TH. TC09 will start the day after the Lookout Mountain Flight Park's Women's Flyin which is scheduled for September 24th through September 26th. TC09 begins Sunday, September 27TH and ends with a great party Saturday October 3RD. Hopefully many of the Women's Flyin participants will join us for TC09. TC09 will be held at the TTT's Henson's Gap site and campground that is only 32.5 air miles to the north of LMFP.

For our TC09, TTT will keep the emphasis on safety and quality hang gliding education with a multi media teaching format, nightly seminars by the experts and video launch and landing clinics. We'll have great food and great camping at our Henson's Gap site. Of course we'll have a fun party and awards ceremony to wrap it up. The exceptionally effective video launch and landing clinics are going to continue again this year so bring your video cameras to help out. We have several former world team members including Mike Barber, Kevin Carter, Dennis Pagen, Jim Lamb and Terry Presley presenting and coaching at our seminars and clinics.

We have two classes this year. Of course we'll continue with our super successful Team Challenge format that is designed to help up and coming XC pilots advance their skills.

The TTT require membership in USHPA or foreign equivalent, full membership in the TTT, and a minimum hang 3 rating with solid foot launch, cliff launch, thermal soaring and landing skills to participate in the TC09. Each team of five will be lead by one or two "A" pilot mentors who will encourage and hopefully escort their less experienced team mates to goal. We handicap scores based on pilot experience and wing performance. "A" pilots are very experienced XC pilots capable of lending wisdom and guidance to their peers. "B" pilots have a little XC flying experience, but will gain additional confidence and expertise with help from their expert leaders. "C" pilots are capable pilots with solid launching, landing and thermal soaring expertise, but have never put it all together to go XC.

Our handicapped scoring format is evolving too. TTT board member Jeff Nibler has written a neat program for us that automatically normalizes each A, B and C task to a score of 100, and multiplies by the wing performance factor to equalize the playing field for everyone.

We'll call tasks that handicap for pilot experience. "A" pilots will fly a long and challenging task that overlaps (sometimes several times) the "C" and "B" pilots courses so they may assist their mates. "B" pilot courses are of moderate length and challenging enough to keep 'em interested. "C" pilots will fly easy tasks that serve to build confidence and get them familiar with navigating to and landing in new fields. Once the "A's" have dropped off their charges, they'll go on to complete their more challenging task. "A" pilots receive big bonus points for directly assisting their mates to goal so it "pays" to stick with the less experienced pilots and help as much as possible.

The latest evolution of our teaching meet is the Gettin' Ready to Race Class. TTT created this class to help pilots who are interested in moving up to the XC racing competitions. The Gettin' Ready to Race Class will be a high level learning experience with Mike Barber and Kevin Carter providing the leadership. Kevin and Mike will have 4 pilots each to instruct on the ground and in flight. They will focus on efficient XC flying with added emphasis on start circle staging, on the course strategies, and final glide tactics to get their charges ready to race XC. This class will be scored as Kevin and Mike choose, but will not be scored against the standard Team Challenge pilots. However, the Team Challenge pilots filling the sky will serve as convenient thermal markers for our budding racers! The "Gettin' It Class" will be the most fun, intense and rewarding learning experience for up and coming XC racers in the US this year! This class will cost a bit more, but the "Racers" will be getting a week of coaching from Mike Barber and Kevin Carter along with some perks in the staging line for launch. It is one of the best values in hang gliding instruction ever!

TTT encourages everyone to join us for this great event. We will have free flying before and after the launch windows for the Team Challenge. All TTT members are welcome to participate in any or all of our wonderful seminars and join us for the award ceremonies and party. Check out old Oz Reports of recent Team Challenges for more information. This is the best learning experience for the up and coming hang glider pilot in the US. So don't miss it!

In addition to our revolutionary scoring processes, strong focus on safety, world class pilot mentors and famous radial launch ramp, this year we are looking forward to having some special sponsorships allowing for door prizes, raffle items and registered pilots gift bags. Specifics about our generous sponsors will soon be provided.