Uvalde thanks.

To Allison Tyler: As President of the SSA, my sincere thanks to you for leading the USA soaring movement through a wildly successful 2012 WGC. Your combined talents of politics, leadership, organization, and the ability to know who to recruit and how to “sign” them has proven sterling worth. My hat is off to you and all your many team members. Job well done!

To the entire WGC Uvalde team…Mark Huffstutler, Kerry Huffstutler (Queen of Uvalde), Southwest Texas Junior College, Linda Murray (contest manager), Ken Sorenson (contest director), John Good (contest deputy director), Dan Gudgel & Walt Rogers (meteorologists), Leo Buckley (scoring), David Coggins (flight operations director), Dick Bradley (chief steward), tow pilots (God bless you all), line crew, and most importantly the residents of Uvalde, TX: International soaring will never forget your charm and efforts; thank you for showing them Uvalde and the USA have no equals.

Thank you all who kept us informed and allowed the world to follow. The list is endless…apologies if you are not mentioned: Mark Hawkins & Frank Paynter (Hawke Tracking), Pedja Bogdanovich (GP:Live), Rick Scheppe (LiveATC), Bill Elliot & Rand Baldwin (Soaring Café), Dennis Linnekin, RitZ, Gena Tabery, Leigh Zimmerman, Hanna Weissenbuehler, Andreea Alexandrescu, Team Canada: Dave Springford F1, Nick Bonniere ST, Jerzy Szemplinski XG, and Dan Daly, Team Australia: Mandy Temple, Terry Cubley, and Bill & Kerrie Claffery 8H, and the outstanding photos by Maria Szemplinski (XG) and Paul Remde.

NOTE to the SSA and USA 2014 WGC team captain: outstanding internet coverage…in all forms as above…is the best avenue to gain interest in and support for competitive soaring. Please consider having a full time, dedicated media director as a team member for all future USA WGC teams.

And to Team USA: Dennis Linnekin (team captain), Dave Leonard ZL, John Seaborn A8, Bill Elliott WE, Gary Ittner P7, Dick Butler DB, and Ron Tabery SS…we could not be prouder of you, your skills, and your dedication. Great job guys!

MVP? Impossible to pick as there were so many. My one vote goes to Sarah and Dick Butler and Team Concordia. It has been thrilling to watch Concordia's genius and genesis. Look out Lenzo 2014!