Junior Team Album 1999

This year, the European Junior Gliding Championships were upgraded to an official "World" FAI event. The organizers hoped that equal status for pilots on- and off- continent would draw many entries from far away. We in the USA did our part by sending our largest team ever. Of our four pilots, one (Joe) was a veteran of 2 EJGCs, two had been once before (Liz, Tim), and one (Dan) was new to the circuit. The contest was held at the Dutch National Soaring Center in Terlet. This represented a return to the locale where the very first European Junior contest was held in 1985. Since that unofficial student gathering in two classes ("Glass" and "Wood"), the concept of Junior (under 26) competition has really picked up worldwide.

Most of the team, waiting for the ceilings to lift, sitting in between Tim's Libelle (M1) and Dan's Std. Cirrus (IHE). The contest had a number of rain days in succession, as had been expected. L-R, facing Mr. Rebbeck (UK Team Captain) at far L: Ken Sorenson (Coach), Tim Hanke, Joe Walter, George Wiederkehr (Captain), Dan Sorenson, George Hanke (Crew).

Joe Walter got to fly Reinhard Schramme's excellent Discus a again (as at EGJC97). It was taped over to become renamed "YL" because Reinhard's new "Y1", a Discus 2, was also entered in the contest by a German pilot. What a guy to loan two gliders to young pilots! L-R: George Wiederkehr (Captain), Paul Walter (Crew), Joe lying under wing.

Liz once again got a glider sourced by Hans-Joerg Streifeneder, an associate of her employers M&H Soaring. In this case, it was the prototype "Falcon" Standard Class glider, drawn partly from Glasfluegel molds he owns. Streifeneder (http://www.streifly.de/ehome.html) still supplies Glasfluegel parts and components and develops prototypes such as this one and the "Eta" supership. It is an honor that Liz was entrusted this one-of-a-kind sailplane. L: Liz. R: Pete Burdulis (Crew). Center: Becky (guest of Pete)

Liz and the Falcon on take-off from Terlet. Note the USA and German flags on the fin. All of our gliders came from germany, a short drive from the contest site in Holland (by American standards). Very nice personal or even club ships can be rented in Europe for much less than the cost of shipping over an american glider.

Tim's glider was a Libelle belonging to Axel Reich, the Contest Director at the last EJGC. Axel was very freindly and helpful to the team then and it was a pleasure to see the relationship continue. Coincidentally, Axel's contest number "M1" is close to the "1M" used in the USA by the one of our Sponsors, Tim Mara of Wings & Wheels (http://www.wingsandwheels.com). This "M1" is expected to be flown by Axel's brother Dirk at Barossaglide, the Club Class pre-Worlds in Australia.

For his first foray into international competition, Dan Sorenson got to fly a beautiful Std. Cirrus. Standing next to him is Coach and Dad Ken "Rocketman" Sorenson, who became familiar with contesting in drizzly conditions (much unlike Texas) at the 1993 WGC in Boerlange, Sweden.