Training
Lisa & Lisa have been training for many months now at their home club, Kingaroy Soaring Club. Kingaroy Soaring Club is located 2.5 hours drive north-west of Brisbane. It is an ideal location for training for European flying as the weather in the autumn and winter months is similar to that found in Europe in summer. The terrain is generally flat with some gentle rolling hills and valleys to the north and the Bunya Mountain range (highest point 3500 feet) to the south before opening up to the vast and flat Darling Downs farming area.We have been training nearly every weekend since Easter and the weather has co-operated much of the time providing us with a variety of conditions in which to train. We have also been training with the Australian Team for the World Junior Championships consisting of David McManus and Adam Woolley. It has been great for both teams to train together and support each other in their preparations for this years world championship events. It is also a huge boost to the Kingaroy Soaring Club to have both of Australia's international teams for 2005 training at the club.
On 4 & 5 June, we held a fundraising weekend with sausage sizzle and raffles with prizes donated by the gliding club. In all, we raised over $500 towards their expenses for the world championships. We would like to thank the Kingaroy Soaring Club for their generous support and encouragement in our training and fundraising efforts.
Aircraft
Lisa Turner is flying an ASW28 at the competition and has been lent their ASW28 in Australia, owned by Tom & Kerrie Claffey, to train in. This is a very generous gesture by Tom & Kerrie and will make a big difference to Lisa's performance at the competition --- thank you!The majority of Lisa's flying experience has been in her Father's LS4a and ASW24e. The ASW28 feels like a slightly newer and better ASW24 and Lisa is very excited about flying it at the world championships.
Lisa Trotter is flying an LS8 at the competition and has been training in the LS8 owned by Lisa and her husband, Peter. Lisa has a lot of experience in the LS8 as well as her other glider, an ASW20.
Team Preparations
There have been a lot of preparations so far --- traveling from Australia to Germany is a long way and there are many restrictions to luggage and equipment which can be transported to Germany. To minimize what is needed requires a lot of forward planning and co-operation from friends in Europe.Team uniforms have been decided upon and we are now finalizing the design and orders for the team members. We hope to look impressive at the opening, closing and medal ceremonies! If anyone is interested in purchasing all or part of the team uniform please contact Lisa Turner (LisaHDK@hotmail.com).