On Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 10:59:41 AM UTC-3, Paul Agnew wrote:
From Facebook:

Sad news from the last race day;
Local Chile pilot Tomas Reich had an accident on the ridges south of Santiago. The Chile SAR recovered Tomas and took him by helicopter to the hospital in Santiago. Unfortunately Tomas died during the evening from the injuries he sustained during the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends during this tragic time.

Hi to all,
I am one of the pilots that flew the GP in Chile and friend of Tomas, who sadly died on last day of competition.

On training day, there was an accident during a final glide ridge soaring back home (about 20 km) and at least +500 m above Vitacura as arrival. The new and very complex OGN antenna system we made for the mountains, made it possible to find him on time. Mountain ridge slope was not as very high mountain side, where we have never had an accident in 70 years (since the origins of our gliding activity in Chile). Probably we need to analyse and filter pilot´s personal accident record to start with. No rule, no task, no weather, no risk involved on that manouver explained the accident...however it happened. Why?.

On last competition day, we had a terrible fatal accident that is under analysis of course, but the terrain where it happened is not the high and "terrible mountains" as some pilots are trying to define for this country. An 800 meters airfield at 4 Km distance and +1100 meters altitude as arrival. Why it happened???. That is the question we need to answer but probably will never know. We can guess only and cry in the process.

We know racing has a risk. We need to be responsible in managing the risk: rules, tasks, safety devices, etc., but we will never be in the pilots head, who finally manages all the factors.

On Varesse GP Final there were big complains from a very well known pilot because minimum arrival altitude rule was too accurate without margin. IGC created a 5 m buffer. In Chile same pilot arrived 2 meters bellow the new buffer altitude (7 meters) and wanted to make a protest for 2 meters. Why pushing hard?. Pilots know they have those 5 meters in the pocket and want more. It is the same in all IGC rules...there is always a downside from the pilots.

On Varesse GP Final a pilot complained about wing load limit of 52 kg/m2 imposed for two reasons: to equal glider performance and to improve glider maneuverability. He wanted IGC to erase this "stupid rule" and to free the wing loading in order to make ASG 29 more competitive against JS1. Flying competition in mountains with 56 or 57 kg/m2 is even more dangerous!!!, not 52.. Now in Chile he says this is the most dangerous competition?.

We have to be responsible with our declarations and the consequences, specially taking the opportunity to blame organizers just when a fatal accident happened. It is not fare for Tomas, and the gliding community he will always be part of.

One pilot here mentioned to check Kawa´s flights but those in Chile. It is not fare for us and it is an insult for all mountain pilots with thousands of hours and in any other mountain like Alps, Pyrenees, etc. He flies in Chile with the same risk than any other competition pilot during the GP. None of the other 18 pilots flew with more risk than him. He knows how to fly better the thermals, the final glide is better, he is just better mentally and that is why he won.
Kawa said in his book that flying in Chile was boring (back in 2010), but few days ago he told me that he wants to take that back after a flight we had together and found to be the most fun and exciting flight he had.

Now I am not only sad for our loss, but for the way our Country and the officials have been treated in a famous interview at opensoaring.

Chile is one of the best places for GP competitions.

Have a nice flights and hope you all can fly our beautiful Volcanoes, glaciers, lakes and multicolor mountains one day.