Our Contest Crew Europe introductions continue with Kris Kass ES7GM, also known by ES7A. Kris is a third-generation Estonian ham radio operator whose story arcs from Soviet-era restrictions to modern contesting excellence. Raised in a family where CW was practically a second language—his grandfather operated behind the Iron Curtain as UR2GT (during Soviet times, all of Estonia used the UR2 prefix)—Kris made his first CW contact at age seven using a straight key and what he remembers as a “messy” transmission. Now in his thirties, he’s one of Estonia’s most respected contesters, equally at home running pileups from his self-built rural station or contributing big scores from the megastation ES5TV.

What sets Kris apart isn’t just his lineage or results, but his philosophy. At a time when many are chasing ever-bigger setups, he made a deliberate shift—constructing ES7A with simplicity and sustainability in mind. Using salvaged Soviet towers and homemade antennas, he built a flexible station atop his region’s highest local terrain—not to rival ES5TV, but to offer something community-driven and distinctly his. “It’s not about competition,” he says. “It’s about having something locals can use.”

A moment that lingers: Kris casually mentions his ability to transmit and receive at the same time—a rare skill that helped him rack up 357 QSOs in the first hour of a recent IARU contest using SSB 2BSIQ. As former president (2018–2024) of the Estonian Amateur Radio Union, he championed online exams and helped build a pipeline for young operators. The results are already visible.

This episode builds on a growing thread at Q5—highlighting a new generation of builders and operators like Kris Kass and Kristers Misa YL3JA, his WRTC 2026 teammate. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio to follow more stories like this.

A big thanks to DX Engineering, whose support helps fuel the creativity of DXers, contesters, Parks on the Air activators, and ops everywhere—especially those who build stations from rusted towers and quiet determination.

Braco E77DX is the driving force behind the first-ever Contest Crew: Europe Edition—a project built on the momentum and format created by the original Contest Crew: Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, Bill W9KKN, and Dr. Scott Wright K0MD. Together, they set the tone for what this series became: smart, unscripted, and genuinely fun. Their candid, strategy-rich conversations quickly became essential viewing for contesters and helped build a loyal global following for Q5. But one thing kept coming up: we needed more voices from outside North America. Enter Braco, who pushed to expand the conversation—and tonight, that idea becomes reality. In this premiere episode, we welcome six of Europe’s most accomplished operators: Braco E77DX, Dave 9A1UN, Mike SJ2W, Filipe CT1ILT, Kris ES7A, and Sven DJ4MX. From propagation quirks and contest scoring challenges to stories of station rebuilds and IARU prep, this is contesting from a European vantage point—uncensored and overdue. Five of the six will be competing in WRTC 2026. This isn’t a parallel project—it’s an expansion. Our intention is for the EU and NA Crews to cross over in future episodes, exchanging ideas, perspectives, and maybe even some friendly trash talk. Contesting is a global game. This crew underscores it. Join the conversation in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more episodes like this. Thanks to DX Engineering for backing this series—and for their steadfast support of the Parks on the Air community, as well as everything they do to equip DXers, contesters, and portable operators around the globe. Their passion powers the hobby. Visit dxengineering.com to learn more.

In this episode, the Contest Crew—Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, and Bill W9KKN—turns their attention to the IARU HF World Championship, a 24-hour sprint that’s more than just a summertime curiosity. It’s a deceptively technical contest: the rules are simple, but the path to a top score is anything but. As Randy lays out the structure and quirks—zones, headquarters stations, multiplier strategy, and the peculiar propagation patterns that emerge in July—it becomes clear this is a thinking person’s DX contest. And for many, it’s the perfect tune-up for something even bigger. Dan, who’s stood atop the WRTC podium, sees IARU as essential prep for 2026, when the Olympics of radiosport take place in England. But he also points to a rare opening for West Coast operators: a shot at going toe-to-toe with their East Coast rivals, thanks to nighttime paths on 20 and 15 meters that tilt the playing field—if only briefly. Bill echoes the sentiment—this isn’t just a casual one-day sprint. It’s one of the few contests where propagation, geography, and raw skill align in unpredictable ways. Then there’s the moment Randy explains why the real magic of 10 meters might not come at sunrise but at 22Z, when Europe stays up late and the band suddenly opens like a trapdoor. Or Dan recalling how a pre-WRTC trip exposed the razor-thin beamwidth of their spiderbeam antenna—details that don’t just color a contest, but decide it. The conversation drifts into WRTC strategy, the shifting meta of CW vs. SSB, and the quiet thrill of nailing the perfect multiplier at the perfect moment. This episode builds on the candid, unscripted energy that made the Contest Crew series a cult favorite. If you’re serious about IARU—or just curious why the best contesters never stop learning—this one’s for you. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more smart, spirited talks like this. Thanks to DX Engineering for backing DXers, contesters, Parks on the Air activators and hams everywhere who keep stretching the edges of the map.

Les Chalfant KI5GTR is the kind of operator who reminds us what Parks on the Air is all about. From zero to full-throttle in just a few years, Les has activated all 286 parks in Arkansas, is closing in on 700 unique park activations overall, and still found time to earn a serious contest plaque from his home QTH—Rookie Overlay #1 in the U.S. for the 2024 CQ Worldwide SSB Contest. Whether he’s logging 200 contacts from a forest clearing or tracking propagation through a 48-hour contest, Les blends outdoor adventure with competitive drive in a way that feels entirely fresh—and completely at home in the POTA movement. He’s not just participating. He is the story. Les embodies the best of what Parks on the Air has come to represent: accessibility, energy, community, and a love for radio that’s contagious. Join the conversation in the comments and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more stories like this. Special thanks to DX Engineering for their continued support—not just of this show, but of the entire Parks on the Air community. Whether you're operating off-grid, chasing DX from a contest station, or running 100 watts from the tailgate, DX Engineering makes it all work better.