The German Nationals in Open, 18m, and Double Seater class recently concluded, providing pilots with exceptional weather conditions over the past two weeks. Out of 13 possible days in Bayreuth, there were 11 competition days, thanks to the continuous influence of a high-pressure system over the north of Germany. This system brought in a strong and fresh airmass from the northeast, creating excellent thermal conditions for the pilots.
In the 18m class, 15 out of 39 pilots opted for JS gliders. The reigning standard class world champion, Simon Schröder, showcased his dominance once again by securing a victory in this class. Schröder won with a commanding lead of 400 points, flying a Ventus 3TS. Stefan Langer (ASG 29) finished in second place, followed by Matthias Sturm and Katrin Senne (both flying JS3 JET gliders) in third and fourth place, respectively.
In the open class, Michael Sommer emerged as the winner once more, with Felipe Levin and Oliver Binder (both his teammates) securing second and third place, respectively. Impressively, the top six positions in the open class were all taken by EB29R gliders, indicating that this particular model is considered state-of-the-art. Among the 22 participants, there were 10 EB29Rs and 4 JS gliders.
The Double Seater class was dominated by the Theisinger family, with Laurenz flying alongside his father Georg in an ASG 32. They clinched victory with a tight margin of 24 points. Martin Theisinger, Laurenz’s uncle, finished in second place, while Andreas Hillebrand (flying an Arcus M) secured third place.
The organizing team of the event in Bayreuth received high praise for their remarkable job, and the facilities in Bayreuth were commended for their quality. As a result, it is believed that Bayreuth has the potential to host even larger competitions in the future.
Overall, the German Nationals showcased impressive performances across the different classes, with notable victories, and promising prospects for future competitions in Bayreuth.
