Toby Freeland Gliding

31/07/2022

Here we go, first flying day of the Junior World Gliding Championships!

23/07/2022

Today I'm flying to the biggest gliding event of my career.

This Junior Worlds, once delayed due to COVID, marks the culmination of the last 2 years of preparation and 5 years of training since I first flew a gliding competition.

I am super excited for the competition and as a team we have an excellent setup including a specific focus on media which will hopefully capture all the ups & downs of an international gliding competition.

While gliding is a very economical form of aviation to get involved with, to race at the highest level requires us to have the best kit, do the most training and leave nothing to chance.

The teams we fly against are often significantly better funded through their national supporting bodies, and that's where you can help. Here is our GoFundMe link with loads of great information about the competition, anything you donate to the team will help us win as many medals as possible!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jwgc2022

If there is anything we, as a team, can do in return for you, helping XC at your club or doing an event for your company - let us know!

16/07/2022

SunAir Cup Day 8: likely the last day and George White Gliding is only 130 points off the lead. Should be a high scoring day so stay tuned to see how we do!

10/07/2022

About to launch on a 231km racing task.

10/07/2022

This week I am competing at the SunAir Cup, Denmark. This is the equivilant of the Danish Nationals. We've come here as Arnborg will be the host of the Junior European Championships 2023.

We hope, by coming a year early, we get to know the lay of the land and the conditions we can expect. Knowledge like this affects the gliders we might choose to fly next year.

Today the weather looks very promising, results will be found here: https://www.soaringspot.com/en_gb/sun-air-cup-jdm-ijgc-2022-svaeveflyvecenter-arnborg-2022/results

Video below from the opening ceremony!

28/06/2022

This weekend I properly fell back in love with gliding and non-comp flying. Many people chose not to fly due to the strong 25knot winds and tricky local conditions and this is where having good weather forecasting makes all the difference, cheers SkySight .

Saturday: 439km in my new ASH25 with Nik Smirnov https://www.weglide.org/flight/174936

Sunday: 534km with Finn Sleigh in our ASW20s.
https://www.weglide.org/flight/175380

19/06/2022

After Romorantin the Junior British Gliding Team and Junior Development Squad congregated at Aeroclub Issoudun for a week of training.

It was mostly low hot blue conditions however this was a perfect sandbox for playing with startline tactics, glider configurations & communications. Next time the team will be together will be the JWGC 2022.

In 8 days I managed:

27 hours flown.
1566km distance.
40°C Mac temp.

Cheers to all the coaches and specifically G Dale for bringing the ASH25 down and not getting frustrated when we kept landing him out.

09/06/2022

Day 9: Full write up to follow but for now, We did it! 🥇🥈

A phenomenal 62kph around one of the slowest and hardest tasks I've ever done, with a few low saves including having to 'death glide' over Chateroux zone (either climb or 'landout' as I would descend through airspace).

However it was enough and Finn takes the win and I take 2nd place.

09/06/2022

Romorantin Day 9 - Final Day.

Finn and I are sat in 1st and 2nd overall and it looks to be a big day with a 315km racing task. Anything could happen but of course our aim is to play it safe and hold the lead.

09/06/2022

Day 8: Scrubbed by song.

07/06/2022

Day 7: AAT 2:30hr. Finn and I are sat on the grid waiting for it to get good.

06/06/2022