You have to do something to stay fit for long flights, for the contrast bath of sweaty heat on the ground and frosty temperatures under clouds in an altitude of about 5000 Meter. Bicycling and running are popular in Bitterwasser.
Guy Bechtold, always at the top of the OLC ranking for Bitterwasser, takes the Kalahari under the knobby tires with his gravel bike. Even Johan Luyckx from Belgium, always looking for new records with his Ventus, which he self-tormentedly trimmed to a span of 15 meters, sets off on his bike on the gravel roads around the lodge.
The infantry meets for the morning greeting during the round around the airfield. The 10 kilometer run impressively conveys the dimensions of the pan. And if you are looking for a change from overly monotonous movement, you will find it in yoga, Elke Reich guides you during your Bitterwasser stay at an early hour.
Although the season in Bitterwasser seems to be coming to an end in mid-January, the weather is at its best. Pilots from all over the world enjoy impressive thermals, breathtaking cross-country flights over 1000 km and a unique community.
The last season 2023/24 ended with a spectacular highlight for Dmitry Borovyk and Anton Minskii: on the very last day, they managed to fly around three declared turning points that cover an impressive distance of 1250 kilometers. This extraordinary achievement earned them the privilege of planting a palm tree in Bitterwasser - an honor only bestowed on the best pilots. One year later, the two are now returning to Bitterwasser to plant their palm tree in a festive ceremony in keeping with the old Bitterwasser tradition.