The 2004 Tucson Shootout was a competition that I will never forget.
A special Thank You to all that helped and participated in this amazing event. Especially Michael Marcellin, Anna Wood, Dave Johnson, Doug Bry, Mike Hurley, and all of the Judges for taking the time to make it happen.
The details of the competition have been summed up very well by Jason Shulman in the previous posts. I would like to thank him for showing his hospitality in making the event happen for me.
A sincere thanks to Brian Huffmeier and Dave Jones for helping to fix my model after some trouble in the first round.

There is one event that I would like to tell you all about that touched us all at the Shootout. After my Freestyle troubles on Sunday, Jason informed me that QuiQue had just received word that his father had passed. There were so many things going through my head at the moment, but nothing seemed to matter after I heard the news. I immediately went to find QuiQue and we spent the next hour and a half together. There were many stories told and many tears shed with only one conclusion, that he must fly for his father. I have been through many things in my life, but nothing prepared me for this.
I have learned much of what I know from QuiQue and his father. From Practice Discipline to Construction of a Freestyle. QuiQue's caller made sure that the aircraft was ready for the flight and QuiQue and I walked straight to the airplane trying not to get to emotional before the flight. The previous contestant landed and QuiQue started the motor. We walked out to the Runway Centerline and QuiQue started the program. I cannot even imagine what was going through his mind at the time. I can say that it was without a doubt the best Free that I have ever seen! After it concluded, QuiQue climbed his Yak as high as we both could see in rememberance of his father.
After he landed we both shed a few more tears and everyone came to offer their condolences to QuiQue.
It is a reminder that we are all a big family in aviation and at the end of the day your family and loved ones are most important. This was also very apparent when Bob Sadler announced the Szuber Family situation and how all of our thoughts and prayers go out to them as well.
I can honestly say that I learned more at this competition than I have learned at any other. QuiQue is without a doubt the best pilot in the world and he showed me why that day. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Mark Leseberg Jr.