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Following what seemed to be a little “crisis” in one of the most popular paragliding forums in Internet (In English), BigAir, and its growing level of “noise” due to the lack of log-in and anonymous posts, two new forums appeared on the web at the beginning of 2005. Both were PhpBb based, required registration (real name) and login, and some of the most serious ‘voices’ of the paragliding discussions in Internet were invited to join them. Soon it was evident that the efforts displayed in running both the PgForum and the Paraglidingforum had the same goals so, to everybody’s satisfaction, on February 2nd the forums merged into the one Paraglidingforum.com.
“Duplication, competition, stress, less time to fly, who needs it? We met, we liked each other, and we joined (our forums)” said the new forum’s Team, in which there are 7 moderators and a shared administration.
Moderation is kept to a minimum and the administrators encourage ‘self-moderation’ by asking members “to refrain from bad language, if possible, try to avoid intentionally antagonizing posters and keep non-paragliding related issued to the 'Off Topic' forum, which exists for this very purpose”.

After following the forums (separately and now merged) for some weeks we see that the level of the discussions is kept high and very interesting, with technical contributions from respected designers such as Hannes Papesh (Nova) or Olivier Caldara (Bio-Air Technologies), competition pilots and recordmen (Adrian Thomas, Mads Syndergaard, Josh Cohn, Will Gadd), specialized writers (Steve Uzochukwu, Jerome Daoust, Gerard Florit) -to name only some- and pilots of all levels that treat each other with respect and contribute with experiences, tips, knowledge and good atmosphere. Let’s hope these qualities will stay so we can all learn from other pilots!

Posted: February 7th, 2005

“There was a real need to try and create an alternative online web forum, PHP based just for pilots to talk, ask questions and so on. Maybe get some credit for how much they contribute and build up some forum of reputation with regard to help, knowledge and willingness to contribute” says Paraglidingforum founder Simon Foley.
Features of the PhpBb format allow for avatars, emoticons, attachments and links, all very easy to use and understand. The forum has 9 sections including general discussion, gear for sale, xc and competitions, off topic, flight photos, etc.
Visit it (and register if you want to participate in the discussions) at www.paraglidingforum.com

The challenge started last December 1st and will last until October 28th, divided in 2 phases. During the first round, until October 2nd (19h), you can do as many flights as you want in the island. Points will be calculated using the average of each participant’s three longest valid flights (straight distance). The best 30 pilots will qualify for the second round, to be held from 22 to 28 October 2005 inclusive. The aim of the second round is to complete a daily course set by the Organisation, which may be out and return flights, triangles, etc. The final results of the general category of the First Island of La Palma Challenge will be calculated by adding the points scored in Round 1 to those scored in Round 2. The winner will receive 12,000 euros; the second, 5,000; and the third, 3,000 euros. There will be special prizes for the longest flight of the months of May and June (500 euros each), as well as one thousand euros for the pilot who has the highest number of flights longer than 15 km, until October 28th.
La Palma is distant 85 kilometers from Tenerife and 1,440 from Cadiz, in the south of Spain. It is the highest island of the world in relation to its surface and its geography has been designed by the activity of its ancient volcanoes, with peaks, craters and a chain of mountains that divides the island in two. According to the organizers of the Challenge, "the meet of this steep topography with the Alisios winds that blow from the northeast creates ideal meteorological conditions for free flight, both thermal and dynamic. In addition, La Palma enjoys a climate of ‘everlasting spring’, that makes any time of the year a good time to fly over the beutiful Island and enjoy the stunning views of the volcanoes and the exuberant forests".
If you want to accept this challenge and fight for the attractive prizes of this competition, visit the event’s website and complete a pre-registration form. There, you’ll find all the rules and conditions, as well as descriptions of the flying site and general info. Then, just, fly to La Palma!
There are more than 50 pilots already registered but this number will probably grow significantly in the following months.

+Info: www.isladelapalmachallenge.com

Photos: Miguel Pacheo & Belén González

Posted: January 21st, 2005

Three paraglider pilots and travelers from different countries will take part in this unique mission: to bring paragliding to remote corners of the world and share the wonder of flight with some of the natives in a tandem wing –an experience they surely will never forget. The team will produce a film about the experience that will take them through Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala in South and Central America, then to French Polynesia, Australia and finally Asia.

On January 1st 2005 the two European team members Aude Piercy (France) and Kris Coppieters (Belgium) began their 12 month long filming journey, the ‘Airborne: a quest for ancient tribes’ expedition.
Starting in Colombia for the three months South America expedition leg, they have already had some great flights, making friends for life by taking some poor children for tandem flights in Valle de Cauca and participating in the Pre-PWC at Roldanillo.
LAST MINUTE: Kris and Aude have become the first pilots ever to fly from the snow covered volcano of Ruiz in Los Nevados – Colombia’s second highest mountain (5321m)- after launching 100m below the summit in their tandem glider. Due to volcanic gases they couldn't take off from the top.

“The year-long filming trip has been made possible with the generous support of numerous sponsors, including paraglider provision by Ozone with their three new DHV 1-2 wings, the Geo, Buzz and Rush, plus a McDaddy tandem wing. Lightweight harnesses and reserve parachutes have been kindly provided by Sup’Air”, says at the Airborne PR office.

Kris and Aude will be joined in April 2005 by the third team member Kym Fielke, who is excitedly waiting for them in his homeland Australia. The three will then travel together for the remainder of the year continuing to explore and share the skies with indigenous people living in far-flung desert, mountain and jungle regions of central Australia, Papua New Guinea, Borneo, China, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.

You can follow their expedition progress through stories and photos on their web site at www.airborneplanet.net.

Updated: January 21st, 2005

Since the Spanish Championship of 2001(which we remember as a boring week waiting for flyable weather) we hadn’t gone to this flying site of the province of Cadiz (Andalusia), about an hour driving from Sevilla. We gave it a second chance on the first days of 2005 and were pleased to rediscover all its advantages as a winter flying destination. Among them: Sun and mild day temperatures that allowed us to dress in T-shirts, surprisingly good thermals for January, a good road to the take-off (any car can do it), cheap prices in food, drinks and accommodation –and good quality in all of them. And to top it all, a good number of PG pilots to share the flight with, mostly Germans escaping from the ice and snow in their country. At the west slope we did an unreal evening flight, soaring with dozens of vultures that watched us with no fear and climbed with us –some even were teaching to fly to small vultures, a wonderful view! Then we flew from the east launch (“levante”), which has more than 500m over the LZ, visible from the takeoff (easier and ampler than the west LZ). At noon we spent more than one hour thermalling, climbing above launch, top-landing and starting again to catch lift (up to +5 in January!).

In summary, if you’re looking for winter thermals, Algodonales is waiting for the pilots of all Europe to spend some good days of flight there.
Best season: Autumn, winter and spring.

+Info: www.ganterfly.de and www.lijarsur.com

The ‘Ozone Chabre Open' that will take place in June 2005 in the French Alps is a special competition with the “emphasis on fun” and therefore is designed to be a friendly event where “ pilots are encouraged to fly safely and well within their personal leve ls of experience ”. Any pilot with a certified glider can participate (comp and protos not allowed) and compete against their pars of the same DHV class.

The big prize is a new paraglider offered by the main sponsor of the event, Ozone, and there will be a handicap point system to determine the overall winner –giving bonus points to lower performing wings. The Chabre Open will a ls o offer extra activities like talks and lectures from paragliding ‘gods', barbecues and parties. Individual pilots, tandems and teams are all welcome.

+Info: www.flylaragne.com

Posted: January 12th, 2005

The Danish company Paraparts is in the final steps to release their invention of a harness with built-in winch that allows a solitary pilot to take off on his own from the flatlands, thanks to a small 2-stroke motor on the back and a 2.000m rope! (They swear that it is simple and safe to use).
After a contest to choose its name and more than a thousand suggestions, the device has been named 'SKYNCH' and its "god-father" is Irish pilot Shay O’Sullivan (aka "Take-it-easy"), who lives in Spain.

“Skynch is, we assume, a Sky-Winch, or a winch that takes to the sky. It is short, easy to remember and easy to make a nice logo out of. And it opens up a world of semantic possibilities: ‘I'll be off Skynching today’, ‘I Skynched to 1200m, then hooked a thermal that took me to 2000AGL’, and so on” say at the company.

For that reason, the Paraparts crew will come to Spain soon to present Shay with his new Skynch. They hope to make something of an event out of it, inviting the free-flying press and other interested parties “to come and see what it is all about”. We’ll let you know the place and date as soon as we know them, and we’ll surely be there to see the Skynch in action over the Spanish flatlands...

SKYNCH - DATA:
Weight: About 10kg's
Linelength: Max. 2000 meters
Engine: 2-stroke / 10Kw
Climb rate: > 3 m/s