even have a radio accessible in the air. tea,m, did not blaze up the sky f (flex wings), but Chris Arai j and Jim remained in striking dis: ur1.ti1 the last day when they went 1 <.lownitl a pfagm; of sink aµd.,mgst. Manfred's petfonnancc. Hewot1 fhur qf Admittedly,. the team was hurt by the days and mpk second on r:wo rtt9ne. f the>absem.;:es ofLarry 'Ii.tdor and Mark Betinho (wlw is on afastti:acktqJ;,efo1:i:ir \ Gib$on1 and the pilots who replaced 1 them did not h,we the latest equiplng a World Cham:pion himself) says Manfred wins because ofrbreithings: he f i~~t1t; Class ;2 (dgids) we fared bette.r has slightly better therm<1ling skiJhi,Jl. wi~h Dave Sharp takingfoL1rth and Bdslighdy bet tel' glider and ~bJt l)JOre cqn- ! an PtJrt;er taking fifth. There were four~ fidence. While I have seen.a fow ofthe , mafl teams.and the top two pilots . I top pilots dimhwith Mimfo:id (Andre . s,;ored<;lveryd~y, the U. S. . won.! Wolf and Oleg Bondarch\ik, for exam:.: l. In fact, Brian I?imer f the t1..des scores. finished nearl):1,200Jfoints i whichsrate that landings are 011!y above the second pface Btitish an~l ! aUowed fot safety reasons. Amy to 1,800 points over the thi.rcbpfac;(;;Ai1st;l'i., i me as Meet Steward rn back up. the ans. T'he individual.pilots finished $e:<;qnd j ded,;ion a1id asked ifBria11 could actu (Andre Wolf), tbii:.d (PedtoMru;os) h1ncl / allyf:l)'by andphowgraphtherask fomth (Betinho Sd1initz.). Jwo mote of j board; I said the latter,was Qkay but he thei.r six~rnan team were in rh;e top '.¢5. l coukirfdand. As Amy was frantically and the l.ast pilot would havebee~t.if he j trying to radio Brian he mtned on .final 'if and rol1¢d in crosswind uphill. hadn't sat out This te:rfo It harkens back to great BmziHan tea1n : appear.~. that miscom1.nmi.ication. W!.lS of the 1980's with Pepe I.ope?', Phil ! the.culprit fol' we probablycouldh,we lfarker and Jlaulino Cu,elho. But it'.s bet··, l. hdd the task board up and got him his ter. There are tluee M fo1.H' potemial , shot. world champions currentlyflyiti.g whh 'T'he 1999 World Meetis history and Brazilian heritage. i the memories .are already beginning to T'hc word from the Brazilian ,boysJs but some. of the experiences will that they flew as a team, each helpirig the la.st forever. The rewards ofmaklng other as much as possible with xadfo ! i.nrernational friends and flying with work and morale boosts. The Brits were 1 them over or cla,ssi.c landscapes also back working as a unit which rnay ! cm111ot be found in any pther venue. In have contributed to their individual and /,. the words offormer World Surfing team su.ccess. (We remember the , Champfon Mauricio M,irroguim, indomitable British teams frorn the j "Hang gliding competition is so frie11d-, 1970's through the l980's.) Contrast this ! lythat it's a joy to cmnpete no matwr with the Austrian team which is loaded how well you do." The next one's in 1 with talent but refuses totaH~ to one Spain, See you there. another on the radio. Manfred doesn'.t 1 .'.,l,, · . 1.·.' oti't lxHher consulting your map ofitaly foi: y\iU worft find SigiUo, the site of the: J999 h;wg. glicHng World Meet. too small. But it: is ideally situated, in one of the n1ydad valleys.of the Appenine Moun~ tai.ns that: lace up Italy's bi,)ot, It is about :~ fonr-h(mr. drive 110rrh of Rome ;ind two hours sou.thw<~st fro1n the coastal town Ancorm. 1'hc is known. for its artistry, me,JfovaJ walled towns and its rewarding flying. 'fhe mafo.site of the C<)n1petidon was Monte Cucco, alrhough three other sites within about an hour's drive were also used in the varying winds. Monte Cticco has a rounded grassy area that is perfect setting up and launchillg more than 200 g.liders except for the ubiqulwus AJbigherl cows rhat have n.u:ned the takeoff1nto a field. In faCt, our favorite nanic: for the hill is "Monte "The greatest danger on lmrnch inhigh winds was not hangglidii.1gbut be,ing spatted byaflycowpie! For most. of the days the flying was good but challeng.ing, lt seemed that while sorne thermals exhibited more than a punch (700 fpm), often along the $.tme cm1rse: pilots cncoun° tered weak lift and various headwinds. ]'be name of the to shift gears ofren and at times survive with the gaggles. The conditioJJs cen:ainly did not fav6r the racers. Bt.tt on.e racer excelled because he is a.lso good at staying. alive in the air: Manfred Rnhmer. Manfred was due to win