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World Air Games Turin 2009 - The disciplines: gliding
Glider Racing
Here the world's top pilots compete in a head-to-head glider race. Their gliders are towed to a height of about 1000 to 1300 metres in the direction of  the mountains, some 10km away, where they unhook from the tow aircraft and circle, waiting for the Start signal. Following a regatta start across an imaginary line between Mount Musiné and Mount Curt, they choose their own routes round a series of identifiable compulsory turning points (bridges, churches etc) defined in consideration of the prevailing met conditions and only revealed to the competitors on the morning of the competition. A GPS tracker aboard each aircraft transmits real-time speed, height and direction etc to the airfield for display. This also ensures that competitors fly the course correctly! The winner is the first pilot to cut the finish line in front of the spectators at the Aeroclub.