6 years ago (2017-06-19 16:04:05) :
     All the pilots have now landed safely. St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:43:17) :
     It looks as if St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:40:42) :
     The 2017 Super Final will be held in January 2018 in Roldanillo, Columbia. %D%A%D%AThere is an excellent review of each of the Paragliding World Cup destinations in our partner XC Magazine's travel guide.%D%A

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:39:09) :
     ALAS DEL HOMBRE have backing from the local government for their venture and there is plenty of accommodation and Guadalajara international airport nearby. Definitely one comp to put in your diaries. %D%A%D%A

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:38:30) :
     The exciting news this year is that they have just opened a new site with massive potential at Zapotiltic, on the other side of the Tapalpa massif so it gets the pacific winds and is very consistent. This new competition venue will be the base for the Mexican Pre World Cup.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:38:00) :
     ALAS DEL HOMBRE are the most successful and best recognised paragliding school in Mexico. They are based in Valle de Bravo where they have an excellent shop and tandem operation. They have also organised several Paragliding World Cups and the Monarca Open since butterflies began.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:36:36) :
     There will be a Pre Paragliding World Cup organised and run by Paragliding World Cup partner Alas del Hombre and promises to be an excellent event in Zapotiltic %D

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:35:57) :
     Brazil - Pico do Gaviao 02/09/2017 to 09/09/2017%D%A%D%A%D

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:34:49) :
     Just a reminder that this is the second of 5 legs of the Paragliding World Cup, the rest will take place: %D%A%D%ASwitzerland - Disentis %D

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:33:58) :
     St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:31:36) :
     Jose Rebelo 's tracker looked as if he landed very early whereas in fact he didn't and has just landed%D%Anext to the fifth turn point, making him the only pilot so far to have got the turn point.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:26:13) :
     Wide grassy launches, broad valleys. The air mass stays comparatively dry compared with the coast, however all around is still green. There is a lot of forest. Pilots need to keep a careful eye out for the ramshackle power cables from the post war building frenzy.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:25:19) :
     Just a bit about Nish from our partner XC Magazine's excellent travel guide:%D%ANis hosted its first Paragliding World Cup back in 2005. Other big comps have also been hosted here, including European Paragliding World Championships. A combination of mountain and flatland XC flying on offer.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:21:18) :
     Pavel Titov is just 1 km behind him and 150 higher. He is a very good pilot, he has done a lot of Paragliding World Cups. We will definitely be keeping an eye on him this week.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:15:38) :
     Stephane has had some good top 10 results. %D

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:13:56) :
     St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:09:27) :
     However today will not use up much discard because it will be a very low scoring day.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:07:51) :
     Also from a safety point of view if you throw your reserve you do not lose your whole comp. We do not want pilots to battle with a collapsing wing worried they will lose the whole comp, and leave it too late to deploy their reserve.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:07:04) :
     The discard system of losing 1 in 4 tasks rewards task winners who sometimes push and bomb out rather than those who win by simply following. Pilots who lose a day do not lose the whole comp.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:05:49) :
     It is good to be consistent but discards also let those who have pushed out and lost still do well overall, therefore being consistent is not necessarily everything in a Paragliding World Cup.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 15:04:10) :
     For whom will the Great Sky God of Discards smile down on in this competition? Unlike the ten day long Super Final, a seven day Paragliding World Cup only totally forgives one poor result which I think for most people is going to be today!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:56:17) :
     If there are no pilots in goal, this tends to spread the points right out making the task a decisive one for the whole competition. It makes that task have a disproportionate weight, which is not ideal.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:54:50) :
     As far as task setting is concerned, there is not really an optimum number of pilots in goal however at least one would be nice today!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:40:59) :
     The three amigos are on their way. A lot is going to depend on the sun and shade cycles. The sky is 50:50 cloud cover and blue sky.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:39:04) :
     Now that they have got more height than those who were in front of them and have already landed, they are going to try and make the valley crossing.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:37:03) :
     Only three pilots are still in the air. Pavel Titov at 1226m, St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:35:22) :
     St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:33:19) :
     Srdjan Ristanovic has just reported back to HQ and summed the day up as - it was a tricky day - I think 121 other pilots here would agree with that.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:33:12) :
     Victor Sibirtsev is at 574m (valley floor 200m). He loves it so much here for flying that he is already house hunting.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:23:32) :
     The three in the air are about 200-300m above the valley floor.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:23:32) :
     The three in the air are about 200-300m above the valley floor.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:21:24) :
     There are a few pilots on the hill above Leskovac, Alexandre Malcher, Victor Sibirtsev and St

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:15:03) :
     Leading lady M

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:14:30) :
     The leaders Peter Slade and T

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:13:14) :
     Leading lady M

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:10:46) :
     Pete is at 1000 m and virtually everyone else has landed - only 20 other pilots are in the air.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:09:40) :
     It is as if the others have all stopped.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:08:13) :
     Peter Slade is halfway to the 5th turn point, he has literally left the rest behind.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:07:07) :
     Peter Slade has really pulled away from the others now with a 4.5 km lead he is storming ahead.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:04:10) :
     The leaders Peter Slade, Victor Sibirtsev and Alexandre Malcher have got the 4th turn point.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 14:03:37) :
     Jo

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:58:30) :
     

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:58:23) :
     Peter Slade has nearly got to turn point four - what a fast race!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:57:41) :
     T

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:56:41) :
     

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:54:54) :
     Peter Slade and Matt Senior have been caught by Brazilian Alexandre Malcher all en route%D

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:51:37) :
     Matt Senior is really on form too at the moment - On Saturday 31st May 2017, he launched early from Chelan Butte and broke the Washington State XC record. The wind direction was ideal for avoiding Spokane airspace and going far into Idaho. The clouds were perfect

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:49:50) :
     Australian Peter Slade is leading at the moment. He won the last task of the Corryong Open in Australia on lead out points in January 2017, so has a proven track record of flying out in front. Peter Slade

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:48:39) :
     The guys from Down Under are right on top today, Peter Slade and Matt Senior

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:46:17) :
     The lead gaggle have just got the third turn point. Andreas Malecki, Matt Senior, Peter Slade, Stephane Drouin, Bartosz Moszczynski, Youngjong Park and Yassen Savov

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:43:37) :
     Pepe is flying for team PARAPENTE MAG who have excellent articles about people, places (articles about flying sites all around the world), in depth glider reviews, photos, lots of helpful advice and of course, a report about each leg of the Paragliding World Cup.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:42:21) :
     Andreas Malecki has got a 1km lead, (Pepe) needs no introduction. Very experienced Alpine pilot. Super consistent. Not afraid to be inventive.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:39:26) :
     They have really shaved the cylinder as closely as possible. There is a very interesting article Dealing with Big Cylinders by Paragliding World Cup pilot Joerg Ewald about shaving cylinders in the July 2017 edition of our partner XC magazine, well worth a read.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:31:06) :
     They will now have a fast down wind leg to get to turn point three.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:28:41) :
     Cody Mittanck, Stephane Drouin, Bartosz Moszczynski and Andreas Malecki have all got the second turn point

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:25:56) :
     French team manager Stephane Drouin has taken the lead.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:24:51) :
     Most pilots have gone out into the flats to get to the first turn point.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:05:27) :
     Stefan Bernhard winner of the Ozone Le Chabre open in 2014 is lying 5th.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:03:00) :
     Andreas Malecki task setter and one of the most experienced pilots in the comp is in 4th position.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:02:09) :
     Bartosz Moszczynski is lying thrid

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:01:25) :
     Peter Slade is next, no doubt enjoying his first task in Europe, what a way to start.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 13:00:38) :
     Yassen Savov who loves strong conditions is in the lead

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:57:17) :
     A lead gaggle of about 5 look as if they have got some height and are on their way along to the next turn point.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:54:41) :
     Philippe our cameraman has just phoned down from the sky to say it's windy but ok.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:46:17) :
     For the moment we're getting level 1 calls from the pilots via their trackers which means 'conditions are good and safe'.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:44:31) :
     There is large cloud building around the start.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:43:43) :
     There is a big gaggle of gliders just to the west of launch but they are really struggling to get high.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:39:28) :
     Yael Margelisch is one of our top ladies, she even top landed on Mont Blanc in 2012. An up and coming Swiss pilot to watch.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:36:02) :
     Yael Margelisch has just flown back over launch very low looking for a climb.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:32:31) :
     So far only a couple of pilots have landed.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:31:50) :
     The Meet Director and Technical Delegate are on launch monitoring the skies.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:30:15) :
     Nobody has made the start yet, the skies behind launch are looking quite dark.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:28:08) :
     Yuki Sato Colomb

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:23:14) :
     Yuki Sato Colomb

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:21:40) :
     From launch we can clearly see virtually all the pilots.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:20:31) :
     The lack of continuous sun and thermals is making getting to the start really difficult.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:18:11) :
     The start is open

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:14:39) :
     The sun has just come out back lighting the gliders making this task a dream come true for the Paragliding World Cup photographers.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:12:10) :
     The start is going to be very difficult to get as the pilots really don't have enough height.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:09:34) :
     Nearly everyone is off - just one arboritum prize so far.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:08:41) :
     What an amazing sight, there are about 100 pilots 100m above launch.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:02:55) :
     There area a few drops of rain

6 years ago (2017-06-19 12:01:49) :
     The wind is finally coming launch the launch frenzy is on!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:56:05) :
     Lionel Lang from Reunion Island is about to take off. There was a great article about our Reunion Paragliding World Cup in our partner Parapente Mag in the January issue.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:53:04) :
     Take off is prooving slow and difficult. Those who have managed to get off are thermalling up behind launch ready to get the start at 14.15

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:51:37) :
     Yael Margelisch 's tracker wasn't in her pod afterall, it had somehow managed to get into the trailing edge of her glider - anything for a bit of extra height!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:47:43) :
     Amercan pilot Mike Steed is about to launch for the first leg of his first European Paragliding World Cup

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:45:54) :
     Once again the Flymaster trackers proved their amazing accuracy as we were able to locate it having dropped down into the depths of her pod.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:44:19) :
     Top Super Final lady Yael Margelisch after a few tracker problems is about to take off.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:43:07) :
     Russian Veteran Yury Mishanin has just launched

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:42:25) :
     The pilots are going off in groups, waiting for the next thermal on a small launch is prooving frustrating.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:34:00) :
     The first pilots are off, there are two launches so a lot of pilots are going backwards and forewards between the launches.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:28:44) :
     Second test comment

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:28:40) :
     Test

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:28:36) :
     Test Comment

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:22:58) :
     The start is at 14.15

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:22:36) :
     The Serbian press are all here, very interested in this 'pioneering' competition. The whole nation is apparently 'very proud'.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:20:16) :
     The sun is now out, briefing is over, the pilots are collecting their trackers. Base is at 2000m. The wind is north high up with a bit of west low down.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:11:03) :
     It's been flyable for about half an hour, 'now' said a grinning Julien Brung 'it looks taskable.' Let's see.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:05:58) :
     We have action. Well another briefing and lots of beeping instruments.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:05:01) :
     Some of the best XC pilots in the world are here. World Record holder Rafael Saladini. Jose Rebelo currently 6th in XContest and Isidor Fink with 6 x 200km flights in 6 months!

6 years ago (2017-06-19 11:00:22) :
     Baptiste Lambert and Dad Cyril Lambert are here for a duel of age versus agility, both on Boomerang 11s.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:57:31) :
     Some leading ladies have brought along their paragliding boyfriends, hopefully they won't have to wait too long for the guys to get to goal after them.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:52:27) :
     Philippe has already put some amazing films on World Cup TV from the practice day to give you an idea of the beautiful scenery here.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:51:03) :
     And Philippe is off showing the best in the world how to make it look easy.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:49:43) :
     Camera man Philippe is about to launch, and he's off, oh well maybe not.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:48:36) :
     Despite all the active clouds in the sky there is not much thermal activity on launch.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:46:23) :
     Without their Parastick cartographical picnic table cloth, the French are having to use an A4 paper map thus reducing the spread of crumbs across Serbia.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:43:11) :
     Stephane Drouin is doing the French team briefing.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:29:51) :
     The task then zigzags south of Nish down the valley with two valley crossings and an end of speed and goal in Vlasotince.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:27:15) :
     The 69km task which has been set goes from the launch at Niska Banja to the start just behind launch.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:25:01) :
     Antonio Golfari 'It looks as if it will be quite difficult to get everyone off and up and getting high will be very difficult with this amount of grey cloud.'

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:21:28) :
     The conditions don't seem to be improving, there is a lot of cloud and shade and it feels as if it is about to rain.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:15:33) :
     The pilots are all entering the task into their GPS and the briefing will take place very soon.

6 years ago (2017-06-19 10:08:21) :
     We saw parity between the Gin and Ozone gliders in Coeur de Savoie - one of the test pilots told me 'Now its down to the pilots - no more excuses.'