World Champion Joe Wurts commented:
“I am still a bit gobsmacked that I have once again become a World Champion. Especially at the age of 64! The first time I attended a world championship event was back in 1991 for category F3B. I became the World Champion. In 1998, I attended the first F3J world championship event, and became the first F3J World Champion. In 2011, I attended the first F3K world championship, and became the first F3K world champion. The trend was broken with the first F5J world championship in 2019, as I finished fourth there. I have now remedied this failure of mine! 🙂
“This year’s F5J world championship in Argentina was well organized and very well run. The contest officials adapted nicely with the sometimes uncertain weather. It was an ideal world championship event, with a wide variety of conditions to test the pilots. Even the flyoffs had a wide variety of conditions in the space of just a few hours, which really challenged the pilots. The hospitality of the Argentinians has been superb for our time here in Cordoba.
“I have to give huge thanks to my teammate and friend Kevin Botherway, who called me throughout the preliminary and flyoff rounds. Without his expert help, I would not have done nearly as well. Our team manager, David Pratley was also instrumental in our results.
“Two days after the flyoffs have been completed, I still feel like I am in a dream world. Despite my more youthful successes, I was not expecting this result at all. I am proud of my air reading for the full week of flying. A hint of things to come was winning the Tango Cup prior to the world championship event. At that point I could have returned home a very happy person.
“For the world championship itself, the New Zealand team worked together very well and put forward a great effort in trying to defend the team trophy (which we won for the first two F5J world championships). It was very nice to see Pete McEvoy step up during the world championship event. He improved markedly during the weeks flying.”
