This is the site of the Norwegian team F3J 2008
The link to this place for direct and fast access should be:
www.F3X.no/F3J/2008
Jojo also have a diary HERE
All pictures unless noted Jo Grini

Team Norway:
Jo Grini, Alf Erik Ross, Tor Midtlund

16.july:
Latest gossip column from Uncle Sydney
HERE

11.july 2008 08:00
Link to great pictures by Tuomo Kokkonen

8.july 2008 21:00
HERE is the video from the towmen competition (40mb .wmv)
Guess the winners must be the Russians for performance and Michelle for the lapdance (almost getting her pants down).

8.july 2008 20:00
HERE is the video from the Multiplex Cup (97mb .wmv)
All flown with Easygliders setup in one hour and launched on bungee's

7.july 2008 21:00
Slept 12 hours and safe back home...
HERE is a bunch of pricegiving photos
---------------------

The Senior finalist and winners during the pricegiving

5.july 2008 12:15
We will now have yet another competition before the price giving and banquet. It is the ISC contest.
Istanbul Soaring Club
The best 5 seniors and 5 juniors + the best flight man will have 2 flights of 20min with the new landing tapes (divided each 20cm)
Results were 1st T. Lammlein 2nd Craig Goodrum 3rd AJ Mc

5.july 2008 12:15
The finals for Seniors are over
Big congratulation to Sebastian Feigl (Xplorer) the new World Champion
Also big one to second Jiri Duchan (Perfect) (Duchan second because of worse prelim scores)
and third Tobias Lammlein (High End self made)
A big one offcourse to all the other pilots that made it a show
AND to all our friends that were here
Results backup and : Official site
Video prepared NOW.. ( 64mb .wmv)

Best teams seniors:
1st place Germany
2nd place Czech Republic
3rd place New Zealand

Now for the juniors that are some extremely good pilots and will be a force to be counted for in the future. I am sure most of them would have done very well in the Senior finals also.
Congrats to Giovanni Gallizia ITA for 1st place
2nd place Brendon Beardsley USA
3rd place Aj Mc USA
Results backup and : Official site

Best team juniors:
1st place Germany
2nd place USA
3rd place Czech Republic

Girls know how yo use the sun and heat. All others love the tents...

5.july 2008 11:00
Good morning too you all.  Very hot and humid and conditions really light but the thermals are there.
Round 3 with reflight - round 4
Craig got a bad one and a bad relaunch.
David did not get of but was later than most
Tobias struggles
Feigl and one other hit each other so reflight rd3
Jaroslav did not get of and had to relight

4.july 2008 21:00
In the towman competition the results were:
1. South Africa
2. Switzerland
3. Germany
Well done! We have a great video later I hope

4.july 2008 18:40
So not easy to see what is going on on all as the launches are heavy and short and the landings we see from the tent and out. We have gone thru first, second and a reflight. But what we have seen so far:
- Jaroslav Vostrel doing fine with 9:55 100's. seems calm
- David Hobby got bad landing
- Philip Kolb broke line in the first. There was 2 flightline directors out there and amazingly good timekeepers throughout the event.
- Craig Goodrum touched Primoz Rizners plane and went to the ground. - Primoz's is ok with a dent and flew out.
- Tobias Lammlein got some bad scores..
- Murat Esibatir had a mid-air at 2000ft flew out.
-Benedict Feigl 14:57,8 and missed the 100 by 3mm (with stretch)
- Benedict Feigl got a 1000 in the reflight
Round 1 results seniors - Round 2 results and reflight seniors
On with the juniors.

Leftovers from Jojo's last flight of this WC. No sliding this time.
Maybe get this one to Norway?

Team Norway without Jane

All the pilots for a photo shoot. Right click and download the origianl
Did you know: 101 Perfect's ?

4.july 2008 14:00
The preliminary rounds seniors are over and one round seniors has started now. The results are ready and on the official site
The Norwegian teams final placings:
21. Jo Grini
45. Alf Erik Ross
52. Tor Midtlund
And as team nr. 11 of 25 teams
Yesterday we sis some search for models and Jojo did 5 flights (each +5min) far downwind to look for models with video. HERE is the video (32mb)
Can you see a plane on the few circles we attached to the video?
There will be a price for that...

4.july 2008 12:00
Early morning slots and we did pretty good on the flying but Jojo's head still not there and slided a little and hit Tor's legs. Maybe put some servos on him and launch him? Well maybe better to adjust Jojo's head with a screwdriver ;) We are really tired after a long week but so nice week too..
Here is what we wrote for the organizers.
later today there will be a towman competition. Not sure we can get Tor and Alf Erik to enter that.. ;O See the towbulletin1 HERE. Good that the towmen gets a little appreciation.

3.july 2008 20:00
Multiplex Cup and Technical meeting is over.
Guess who won the Multiplex Cup with an Easyglider?
David Hobby won with Christian Reinecke in 2nd and Philip Kolb in 3rd.
David flew 9 something in first but outflew the slot in the second!
Wonderful event and all were watching as it was exciting.
Now out for some shopping...

From left: 3. Philip Kolb - 1. David Hobby - 2. Christian Reinecke

3.july 2008 11:00
Ok now to the fun stuff. We have stopped flying and will have the Multiplex Cup! The 7 best seniors and the 3 best juniors will fly Easygliders on bungee for 2 rounds. 15 minutes working time and the last flight counts. 1mm safety rule for the tents and if you hit the CD you get extra (as a fun comment). They have been handed out their models and have set them up and practiced for 1 hour. We are ready to go! The best 3 gets to bring the models home. After that there will be a technical meeting and we are done for the day. Still 2 rounds to go and lots of things can happen as pilots do errors!

3.july 2008 11:00
There went the Norwegian chances of a final place. Too much tens Jojo made and overflight of the time in round 10..... sad (20cm left to the ground after messing up the counting). Sorry guys I missed it.

If they finish of the repair the get the melon ;)

3.july 2008 11:00
Did some early morning flights with HD video camera to look for models. The American team provided towers and Jojo did 5 flights far out (at the most about 7-800m away). Large woods so very difficult to see anything on the videos but a few possible found.
9th round seniors has ended and we are on with juniors round 9 as this is written. Alf Erik took a small hit and Tor a big one while Jojo did nice but a 95 landing in calm weather.

2.july 2008 18:00
As always we prepare a collection of girls on the field that are smiling and making the time here even better than it is. Here is the collection

2.july 2008 17:00
Fabulous day again in terms of interesting flying. Lots of action. Best action was probably Daryl Perkins launching and braking of his elevator. Took a new plane before the other landed and broke that elevator too. But he managed to control the model and soared it the slot out and landed for 100 (think he needs to break an elevator to get 100... ;).
We are finished with 8 rounds senior and are on with the juniors 8th round. This will be the last for today. Winds is still high and launches are massive. We sometimes go for direct tow if we have the proper runners and get great launches but slightly worse times (one needs the altitude mostly). Lots of thermals booming around but they can be hard to get the grip on. If one is low you need to go past the treeline and get back for more of the same thermal as it stays there for a while. The Norwegian team are doing decent with Tor missing some landings and launches a few seconds later of security reasons. Alf Erik is flying great but did one bad turn in the 8th round to come down a bit early. That's how difficult it is. One needs to know when and how to manage the energy you get. Jojo are happy to have decent scores and are climbing slowly on the list. Lets hope it stays that way.
Roo has been seen in the New Zealand tent. Awaiting pictures!
2 protests have been formed and declined here is a photo of them:
Protest one and decision by jury- Protest two and decision by jury

Bugs do things we dont?

Think David Hobby had this IN his wing! Middair offcourse

South Africa multitasking (see behind Michelle)

Repairs in progress and even with safety protection...! Amazing

2.july 2008 10:45
Guestbook added - Feel free to write what you want ;)
Alf Erik's one model is now fixed and is ready to fly. We will finish 3 round juniors before we fly seniors. It is calm and sunny weather down here.

2.july 2008 07:40
Repair pictures from last evening

1.july 2008 13:50
No time to be chatting in here.. Every team on the field is repairing or have nothing left to repair... Well a bit overstatement there but there has been a lot of crashes in the high winds since it is turbulent in the launch and the treeline loves models. We took a walk and it was only 6 teams not repairing. Another thing is that most teams now tension up much more than previous worlds... Alf Erik was a victim of this as a model crossed out right and the line cut his model in half. In the reflight his Pike Giant spun to the ground! So not a good day. But we have fun repairing and the thought of buying some toys in the shopping place is not needed anymore. It is not boring!

1.july 2008 13:50
It changed! From fluffy thermals to high winds again. Tor and Alf Erik flew well and with full time. Tor missed the landing a bit but Alf Erik did well. Again Jojo had to end up at the treeline with only a Japanese pilot out waiting for us to show the thermal. He came on top of us and flew out but hit his leg so V. Sterba CZE got the slot with almost full time. Jojo was 6min on the local thermal trigger (the tent and treeline) working back and forth as the lift changed. Had to read the air all the time to know were to be. All others fell down but V.Sterba found a good spot the last minute. Jojo still got a 9:17 and a 60 landing (stalling time). 921p I think (round4 group7). Not bad in that group. It can be VERY hard here to fly but so much fun also that it is so difficult ;)

Team Netherland did not bother to repair this one... ;)
Check the video

Richard helped Ben with some parts. Uniform products.
A Supra and an Aspire joint venture

Lots of repairs going on

Thanks to the French team and the Norwegian team collecting data you can now see the complete list of models and transmitters.
See the list HERE

1.july 2008 07:54
Another super day it seems and the field is full of activity already. People are practice flying before the transmitter impound is closing and probably eager to start flying ;) The Norwegian team had a good night sleep. Today we start of with 2 junior rounds.
Amazing to see that Norway is actually in 5th place as a team! But it is a looong way to go off course..

30.june 2008 19:15
A few slots to go before we are finished for the day. Tor and Jojo had some great flights saving the full time in round 3. Tor flew like he has never done before and worked tiny bit of lift the last minutes and same did Jojo since he made a wrong call and had to work the tree line half the flight. Alf Erik had the second last flight of the day in pretty calm air but small stuff to "stay" in. Landed at 9min but only 3 pilots managed full time so ok. The wind has dropped a lot and almost calm before we quit for the day. A very exciting day indeed.

30.june 2008 16:30
Holy crap so much carnage there is today!
Models getting blown up in huge thermals, landing in trees, waiving on the line and who flies what model? Tor crashed into Richard Burnoski after a bad throw from Cody (pretty turbulent now in the launch area). Model got a small notch and we claimed reflight immediately after the line broke. Richard also took the reflight and 3 more pilots got drawn for a reflight. We hooked up right after the launch on a nice thermal and went far back together with a couple of others. One of them was J.Duchan CZE and he flew the wrong model. We could see it and screamed for "loose model" and "give up elevator everybody" but nobody responded and he went down far away. Sad. Tor got a bit late in and got a huge thermal so overshot the landing. Jojo got his first thousand in round 2 and Alf Erik missed the landing slightly. Tor has not had the best start...

Here is some great personalities on the field!

Jojo with the new famous South African helmet

Norway walking up

Ready

30.june 2008 13:00
Blowing quite a bit now and some carnage have been seen. Interesting to see the juniors. Not all coped with the conditions. Started 2nd senior round now.

30.june 2008 11:00
Wonderful and hot weather again. Failry calm in the first rounds but the thermals make some wind for us and the main direction is to the treeline. So all end up there hooking up on some thermals. Almost like Finland WC in 2002 but it is humid and the sink can be awful if you dont pay attention. Launches are mostly done short with medium altitudes.
Jojo and Alf Erik got full time (9:56,1 and 9:53,6) but got 95 landings as the ground was just rock were we landed. Tor was unlucky kissing with D.Hobby's model after a few minutes when all came into the same tiny thermal under 100m. His model got a crack in the leading edge and did not fly well for the last minutes. D.Hobby's model hook hit Tor's model (david's is ok). We are now finished with 1rd seniors and are now on with the junior rounds.
Yesterday the US team was doing 4 men tow with Richards Burnoski's spare Espada R and Jojo stepped up also for a flight with his Pike Perfect double carbon.
Video of Richard Burnoski (5,8mb) and Jojo (1mb)

29.june 2008 20:00
Late update but we did have a Sporyapi Cup ceremony and the opening ceremony (nice and short for the first time!!!) AND we got free drinks as long as we wanted from the Jack Daniels tour. Great. Roo has disappeared but will re-appear ;)

Alf Erik and Tor enjoys the girls on the Jack Daniels tour

ehhh

Sporyapi Cup podium. Senior and juniors

Who the f... is Thomas Cooke?

29.june 2008 12:00
Today we started with team manager meeting on with processing of models - ceremony for Sporyapi cup and opening ceremony. Might be some practice flights. Hot and humid also today.

Ever seen a bar with no alcohol? Our bar at the hotel..

The officials at the TM meeting

Tor's phone gets a sticker of Paolo's wife

Paolo has his stuff perpared

TM meeting

28.june 2008 11:00

Lovely girls on a lovely event in a lovely country ;)

Final results Sporyapi Cup after finals
Total - round1 - round2 - round3
Congratulation to the winners.
Video of the final rounds HERE (33mb right click and download)

These are the fastest starttimes of each final.
First was probably C.Reinecke. Second J.Wurts and last Primoz Rizner

Results Sporyapi Cup after preliminary rounds
Page one - two - three - four - five

28.june 2008 11:00
Not so far away from completing round 4 (the last of Sporyapi preliminary rounds). Would have been nice with 6 rounds since we have lots of time but ok it was announced as 4. Anyhow it shows that the organizers is up to it! Jojo has yet another 9:54,4 100 in the last round. Alf Erik has been up and checked his rudder, set the launch camber and off he went with no control on line... Total carnage sadly.

Sad but life. 2 years of flying and apx 190flights its dead

Bunch of photos

28.june 2008 08:00
Bought an extra new webcam (they have nice huge shopping places here also ;) So maybe a bit better picture than the 2000 Corfu cam.
Team is up and had a good night sleep in the air-conditioned rooms. Our personal driver was up in time and doing a good job for us. Everything runs smoothly on this event so far! Today we will run the last round of Sporyapi Cup and the finals (sadly only 4 rounds). Would be nice to have 6...since nothing will happen tomorrow..
Results Sporyapi Cup after 3 rounds
Page one - two - three - four - five

Houston we have a problem.. Alf Erik likes Efes..

27.june 2008 17:00
We finished 3 rounds but we left before we got to see the results. Jojo had a "misshap" with 8:11 100 in the 3rd round after a crappy launch. We found the new turnaround/pulley we bought to be lousy in the strong wind. It jammed for us so the towing was bad. Luckily we had the old spare with us and it is good to sort out these things before the worlds. Both Tor and Alf Erik flew more calmly and relaxed in round 3 so maybe they are getting cool again (it was a long trip yesterday and little sleep). Team is working well and the Czech with Jane in front are doing wonders for us as helpers. Always a treat to work with them. Now its dinner with the Brittish guys and Roo !-)

Roo was found in a box. Norwegian?

Guess Roo has some problems or is it Tor?
He looks strange and check the mobile!

27.june 2008 17:00
Results Sporyapi Cup after 2 rounds
Page one - two - three - four - five
The webcam now shows the Czech team closest for a while

27.june 2008 16:00
Contest is running fairly smoothly and all seems to enjoy themselves. Some last saves in tree lines and stuff to make things really interesting. When you see people look the other way its time to get out of the tent and look. Always spectacular at the worlds pre-event. Jojo got 2 good ones in and are in 12th after two rounds (9:54 100 both). Tor got a few issues with his models but are sorted out now we think. Alf Erik still a bit humpty dumpty and a bit high on other than drugs (the F3J worlds syndrom ;)
Nice playground at one end for football and volleyball. Guess we will see some team football matches during the week. Too hot right now but Jojo played Esra a bit in volleyball (both really bad at this ;)

Yes, a real mini F3J football field. Did I mention the Turkish people loves their football teams and did well lately in European Champs?

Digital scoreboards all over the place here watched by the Feigl's

these guys makes it happen on the field. Our timers not only sit there with their pda's but watch your model the WHOLE flight!!!

Tor enjoys the F3Food for lunch (free)

27.june 2008 13:00
12 slots in each round and some hickups from people not changing frequencies (so the organizers had to call in all the transmitters) but we are halfway thru 2nd round. Jojo did good with downwind launch to get a 9:54,45 100 (998,1p) and Tor broke a line on launch giving him a relaunch(probably hooked up on a water post halfway to the runners).
There are 14-15 pilots in each round and can get crowded on the landing. But the launches are just as usual. Some models have broke but only in mid-airs and equipment failure I think (cant see them all).
Now we had lunch (free fro pilots) and are relaxing in the 26-28C hot weather (very humid).

27.june 2008 10:00
The Norwegian team arrived yesterday at 23:00 and today we have already started the Sporyapi Cup at this AWSOME site. Webcam is up and seems to be working from the Norwegian boot. As long as the line is up and we are at the field the webcam feeds out a picture. Normally every 60sec but there is a lot of pilots with laptops here... The starting line is right in front (might change view now and then). BTW this camera was used as long back as the Corfu WC in 2000 and still working ;)
Hope you all enjoy our updates from here.
Alf Erik started in slot 3 of this pre-event for the worlds with 169 pilots on the starting list. Not super but good to be on with this worlds.

The Norwegian team will arrive Thursday 26th june 2008

Bulletin 1 Version 2 is out!
There is now busses to and from both Airport, Hotel and Flying field provided by the organizers. THANKS! We will enjoy the PERFECT World Championship I am sure!
Website: http://www.f3jturkey.com/
BTW are you going to the Soarist Cup 12-13.April? Jojo is ;)

Welcome to F3X.no
This site contains all information you need about
F3B, F3J and F3F in Norway.
The text is sometimes in Norwegian...
Beware that for the time being there might besome links
that does not work properly...

Ever wanted to start with something that is:
Fast, Cool, Silent and on the edge of what's possible ?
F3X is just that!

Do you also like to compete with the best ?
And maybe become World Champion ?
There are possibilities out there - Just grab them.
So get yourself a sailplane and start practice.....

As always - the National Teams of Norway likes just that....