Posted: July 17th, 2006

The harnesses manufacturer Avasport found an interesting way to sponsor the 9th Paragliding European Championship being held in France until July 14th: By installing a repair workshop at the Headquarters, free for the participating pilots. There, four persons take care of all kind of repairs in the pilots' gear –gliders’ tears, harnesses adjustments, change of damaged pieces, sewing of abused cockpits or backpacks, reserve repacking, and even shoe repairs, everything at no cost except for new parts!

Furthermore, the company is offering 2 new harnesses for the competition winners (male and female) and various prizes for the 2nd and 3rd places.

Two sewing machines, a big table, lots of parts and pieces and a map of Bulgaria, home country of Avasport, await the pilots in need of help at this special workshop. By the 4th task (Wed. 5th) they had already done 17 repairs, and number 18th arrives when we’re there: a rescue system to repack and a harness to repair - the gear of the pilot who crashed yesterday.
Ani Stamenova, manager and owner of the company (founded with her husband 15 years ago) thinks this is the best way to be near the competition pilots. “We are also sponsoring the Bulgarian team that comes to a European Championship for the first time” she tells us, and adds that this is very important for Bulgaria –a country with only 500 active pilots and not much support for Paragliding.
The company is at a good moment in the paragliding market, with a factory where 75 workers produce more than 5200 harnesses a year -1500 under the name Avasport and some 3700 for other brands. Their current range includes 17 different models of harness including their successful ‘best-seller’ Sprinter (1500 units sold), plus rescue systems, accessories and even free-fall gear, everything made with their slogan in mind: “Let comfort do the talking”.

*Avasport is also a sponsor of Ojovolador’s daily coverage of the Europeans: www.ojovolador.com/press.

More info: www.avasportcentral.com

Posted: July 5th, 2006

Posted: June 21th, 2006

Luan, only 3 years old, is probably the youngest paraglider pilot in the world as despite his short age he already flies on his own. The kid is son of PG instructor Marcia De Almeida, of the ‘Parapente Sul’ school in Brazil, and while in his mother womb he already flew until the 6th month of pregnancy. Their parents assure that the desire to fly arose spontaneously in Luan after seeing mom give instruction and the paragliders in the air. After several tandem flights the boy requested to fly his own paraglider and now, with an Advance Alpha 3 size XS (school glider), little Luan is doing his first solo flights on the dunes, attentively watched over by his mother and the other instructors of the school.

+Info: Parapentesul.com.br

The second event of the World Cup Tour 2006 took place in Seeboden, 150km south from Salzburg and 50 km north from Villach . The weather was not the best for flying and only 1 valid task gave the 1 st place to Greg Blondeau (FR). The first 4 days are spent fishing, playing games or trying to fly out of competition in strong valley winds and Föehn… Finally, on day 5, conditions improve and everybody goes to the air… French Team pilot Charles Cazaux reports:

“A green country with many trees and big mountains over 2500m! A real change after the Brazilian flatlands! Due to the bad weather, this competition was not an easy one for the mind of each pilot -looking every day at the weather forecast and trying to find something new to do.

Day 5 - 25/05/2006. Task 1 : The sun is back! It feels good for a task today! A 106 km race to goal is proposed by the organisation: start 33 km around the first turnpoint which is 35 km north-west from the take-off, then long straight line to the south close from the ridge and the Millstater See, finally goal. In fact; the race goes on quite fast during the first part with many groups of pilot flying high or low. Low level looks stable and windy... In altitude, lifts are better. Just before the first turnpoint, the valley becomes narrower and the valley wind increases... Not many thermals on the ridge. The first pilots fly low, and behind them the last group climbs higher to get the lift starting in altitude. Sun, shadows, the race is not so easy. Top pilots are now 20km in front. French pilot Greg Blondeau is leading, and finally wins the task.”

Tasks are cancelled on the last two days, although the pilots manage to fly on day 6 to compare their gliders and train for the next international competition. The prize giving ceremony is sooner than expected…

Results
1st Grégory BLONDEAU ( France ) – Mac Para ( http://parapente.ffvl.fr/node/130 )
2 nd Kaoru OGISAWA ( Japan ) – GIN Gliders
3 rd Martin ORLIK (CZ) – Mac Para

1 st girl: Eva WISNIERSKA ( Germany ) - Advance
1 st Team: ADVANCE

Next  World  up will take place in Fiesch (Swizterland) from 6th to 12th August. www.pwca.org .

The main event of the year in Europe will be in few weeks the European Championship in Morzine. Follow this event on www.ojovolador.com/press !

Live report by Charles Cazaux In spite of a bad result after only one task, Charles Cazaux keeps his 12th position in the overall ranking and wins his ticket for the Europeans in the French team.

Video of the competition is available on www.touslesdirects.com (the 1st free French webTV)

K2 - The Savage Mountain: Elevation: 8,611 m Loc: 35°53'N, 76°31'E 1st ascent: 31.07.54 by Lacedelli *F ollow the expedition news in: http://www.fly-k2.com

Posted: June 6th, 2006

Tecnical Data

Variometer
Ø Range: +/- 10 m/s analogue; +/- 96 m/s digital
Ø Resolution: 0,3 m/s analogue; +/- 0,1 m/s digital
Ø Audio: ASI, volume adjustable in 6 steps
Altimeter:
Ø Range: up to 11,500 m
Ø Display: 5 digits
Ø Resolution: 1 m
Ø QNH: adjustable in hPa
Time:
Ø Real time clock: 24 hour mode
Ø Flight time: hours / min
Memo function:
Ø flight recorder up to 130 hours, adjustable scan rate
Temperature:
Ø Display: digital, resolution 1°C
Speed
Ø Optional speed probe S2 (HG) or S3 PG, range up to 130 km/h with 1 km/h resolution
General information:
Ø Power supply: 2 x 1,5 V batteries size AA alkaline or rechargeable NiMh
Ø Dimensions: 138 x 74 x 23 mm
Ø Weight: 182 grams incl. batteries, without clamp
Special features:
Ø All instruments come with Velcro leg strap, batteries and protective bag
Warranty:
Ø 24 months

 

Posted: June 6th, 2006

The Tour 2006 of the high level competition circuit started in Castello , Brazil , from where French pilot Charles Cazaux reports: “New flying area, new people... The place is really beautiful with a mix of flatland and small hill. It looks quite green everywhere...

20/03/2006 - Task 1. Race to goal 47 km.  Beginning of the task is really hard with weak thermal and shades. Since the start, almost 60 pilot land under the take off and fly only a few kilometers. The highest pilots wait for the sun and fly in the direction of the goal: after a hard job in the flatlands 16 pilots finally reach goal but there is no line! The organizers were on another landing 8km further! Greg Blondeau (FRA) wins this first task of the year and gets on the top position of the ranking.

21/03/2006 - Task 2: 57 ,7 km. Pilots are waiting near the start which is a 15km cylinder around the first turnpoint. There are two groups: one close from the take off area and one over a big plateau. A few minutes before the start, the clouds cover the plateau and the gliders lose altitude...The group closer to launch is in good position, higher and near the start. The race is on! A long glide in direction of Castello, we pass over a small mountain then get the 1st turnpoint in quite strong thermals! We are in the middle of "Pao de açucar" (like in Rio de Janeiro ?), really impressive... We are so small!

Transition under the cloudbase to the 2nd turnpoint... The leading group is formed by 30 pilots, all watching the lower pilots, looking for the best line to follow. Only two thermals and we will be at goal! Glide ratio to goal is 6; Frank Brown (BRA) and Erwan Didriche (FRA) go for it! I am not so sure we will make the goal easily due to the front wind... Let's go... Glide, speed, negative vario, bad end... Half of the group land before the line!!! The next group arrives a bit higher; Frank Brown (BRA) wins the task and Greg Blondeau (FRA) keeps the first place in the overall ranking.

22/03/2006 - Task 3. Race to goal of 65 km. All pilots launch quite fast and everybody on the ground can watch a very nice spectacle. The start is open and the race becomes hard after only a few kilometers. Pilots are low in the middle of a shadow... Attention and concentration are at their maximum so we can stay in flight. Many groups are going in different ways to find lift; some are near the 1st turnpoint. I wait a little behind, and then go with a group that looks in good position. We go out from the valley quite fast under the cloud base. The leading group is just in front of us. One strong thermal and I catch them. Patrick Berod (FRA) is leading alone 2 kilometers in front. The next turnpoint is in the shade. We have to fly in headwind to go back to the goal. One group goes under a big cumulus; too late, the thermal is finished and most of the pilots land below. A new leading group built by ten survivors is now flying to goal... The head wind makes the end not so easy, only 4 pilots reach the line: Andy Aebi (CH), who is a new young pilot in the World Cup, wins the task. Greg Blondeau is 1st overall in the competition.

23/03/2006 - Task 4. Race to goal of 54,2 km. The weak conditions make the waiting time for the start not so easy especially with a covered sky! Most of the pilots land in the first kilometer of the race. 30 minutes of work waiting for the sun, and we take the good line: transition, thermal, transition, thermal... 1st turnpoint, it's time to go back to Castello for a final glide which will be decisive....Andy Aebi (CH) wins again followed by Christian Maurer (CH).

24/03/2006 - Task 5. Race to goal of 55 km. North wind is stronger today. No thunderstorms on the weather forecast. The beginning of the race is really fast along the ridge in front of the take-off, a nice show for 3000 spectators! Next part of the flight goes over the flat part of Cachoiero for the difficult part of the day! Stay high, choose the good line... Keep calm... Not so easy! 25 pilots finally reach goal. Paul Schmidt (BE) wins with his Aircross U3!

25/03/2006 - Task 6. Race to goal of 53 km. Good start for most of the pilot and fast flying in direction of the goal: world cup style flying style!
My vario looks good, and the high altitude clouds don't break the average speed of the race: Rudi Untermoser wins, at full speed to make the line first!

Charles Cazaux finished 20th in the overall of the competition and took the 12th in the overall world cup ranking 2006.

Video of the competition is available on www.touslesdirects.com (the 1st free French webTV)

On the first days of June, the airfield of Chozas near the city of Leon (north), will host the Spanish PPG Nationals which is also an Open competition. The event will be a good opportunity to train at the same location where the European Championships will be fought in August. This event has been designed as a friendly contest open both to experienced pilots and those who are starting in the comp scene, and the results there will define the Spanish Team to defend the colors of Spain at the Europeans. Categories include PPG trikes, solo (PL1) and tandem (PL2), in addition to solo and tandem foot-launched paramotors. To participate in the International Open a pilot must have a Spanish Pilot’s License or an International license and pilot’s rating.
The registration fee is 140 euros, which includes maps and documents for the comp, accommodation in a double room in a hotel (10 minutes from the airfield), breakfast 3 days, and lunch on the closing day. The fee for companions is 120 euros to get accommodation, breakfasts and the final meal. Registration must be paid by May 23rd to ensure a place in the hotel; otherwise the organizers might not provide accommodation. There will be a camping area at the airfield though.
To register, contact the organizers by email to email: parapenteleon@hotmail.com,

Tels.: Luque (+34) 625 37 38 39, Juanjo: (+34) 639 15 05 12.

A number of Pamir+ harnesses, and possibly other UP harnesses as well, have been delivered with reserve handles of inferior sewing quality. We have found a few handles that are not sewn to a satisfactory standard, and recommend that all owners of UP harnesses either check their handles or have their dealer check it before the next flight. In the following photos the possible problem can be clearly seen:

A: Handle with insufficient sewing of the connection to the reserve inner container. Must be rectified before the next flight!

B: Handle with good, adequate sewing.

In most cases the dealer will be able to help any customers with faulty handles, failing that the handles (not the complete harness!!) may be sent to UP for reconditioning.

We apologise for the inconvenience, UP International