There is a big departure right after breakfast. It's like christmas eve when Michael Stolze brings the good news of good thermals in the morning.
The cumulus clouds are already forming directly over Bitterwasser, and the temperatures have risen sharply in recent days. A weather situation that is strenuous for pedestrians, but the glider pilots are more than happy.
There were already 20 gliders waiting in the Bitterwasser pan in the morning. The bases, some at 5100 meters, further enhanced the flying action of the last few days.
On 17.12.23, 11 gliders exceeded the 1000 km mark. Simon Briel, together with Wilfired Grosskinski, covered the longest distance with 1272 kilometers. They followed the cloud route from Gobabis all the way to Botswana. With an average speed of 158 km/h, they were on the road for 8 hours and 24 minutes.
And the next few days also look like they will have good thermals!
All gliders must be careful to give way to Santa's sleigh.
The Bitterwasser Flying Lodge was the main sponsor of the Junior World Gliding Championships, where from August 2 to 17, 2026, around 80 pilots from 22 nations competed for the titles in the Standard and Club classes. The grand prize for the JWGC winners was a one-week stay at the lodge, including travel and an airplane.
Largely unnoticed by the public, the 5th Red Bull Global Aerial Performance Camp 2026 took place in Bitterwasser, Namibia, from April 21, 2026, to April 30, 2026.
A few videos and pictures on this page offer a glimpse of the athletes and their performances.