RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

I'm also "glad" someone talks about it.

I really just can't stand those facebook and SGP posts about the celebrations, the beers and the contest about who's having the happiest closing party after watching the race online. Doesn't anyone of them know a human life was lost to his family?

GP gliding has proved more dangerous than WGC over the years. The loss of Herbert Weiss in NZ (please correct me if I'm wrong) was also followed by denial. Interviews were all about the excellent soaring and the sporting outcome of the final.

I have my own ideas or opinions as to why it is so dangerous. I've been flying 2 or 3 GPs in my life. My experience was of strong emotions I had never lived again (up to the GP) since childhood. The kind of "my friends are leaving me out" or "please wait for me I want to be a member of the group" sort of thing. I was surprised I felt strongly as an adult during a gliding competition.

This put a lot of pressure on me, and it's easy to predict that my decision making processes may be negatively affected. On the other hand, one might counter-argue that the placement point system easily leaves you at Zero points for the day, so the decision to just quit the race should in facts be easier.

In my opinion, while each pilot certainly is responsible for safety, a coaching system or a brief session with a "shrink" specialised in high-risk sports would be recommendable. Especially as the GP formula has failed to bring in sponsor money, and the remaining objective is that of a wider awareness of gliding as a competitive sport in the attention of the general public.

just my disappointed and sad 2cents.

Aldo Cernezzi
www.voloavela.it