After filming for a week, the world’s best extreme sports athletes and exceptional production teams turned in their five minute films for judging on 21 January. According to Tristan Carné (director and jury president), the jury deliberation was an enriching experience with a true debate. There were questions posed about the scenarios, the importance of [...]

A note from Mads Syndergaard: www.nordic-open.eu is now accepting registration fee payments using major international credit cards. Mads says, “I’m hoping pilots will appreciate the increased comfort of this compared to bank transfers, and it turns out much cheaper for all parties too!”

Best photographer of the 2009 Nissan Outdoor Games was awarded to Christoffer Sjöström of team Ride the Planets. The winning photo of snowboarder Geraldine Fasnacht (CH) won almost unanimously. The jury loved the way the snow and clouds blended together to accentuate the force of the action. http://winter.outdoorgames.org

UP’s long-awaited Kantega XC is almost ready for distribution: expected to attain LTF 1-2 / EN B in all sizes, delivery from stock will begin in April. The Kantega XC was designed for intermediate pilots with a yearning for thermals and XC adventures. UP says that “Its forgiving nature coupled with very efficient thermalling characteristics, [...]

Mac Para has two new gliders for the 2009 season. The Progress is their new school glider. Designed in consultation with paragliding schools, its emphasis is on safety, user-friendliness and durability. Its large cell openings mean it has little tendency to pitch forwards and long brake travel means that even the least sensitive beginner will [...]

Extremechalets.com are running what they believe to be the first ever parahiking course, in the Chamonix area of the French Alps this summer (May / June). Lightweight kit (around 6kg) is provided, and the 7 days paragliding (5 days tuition) comes in a package with chalet B&B accommodation.

The 2008 Madeira Open International online paragliding competition finished on 31 December, and was won by Hartmut Peters (DE, U-Turn Obsession), with Pal Takats (HU, U-Turn Apex XP) in second.  It is already underway for 2009, and there are some great monthly prizes as well as for the end of year overall winners. Pilots should [...]

Austrian Michi Friesenbichler and Australia’s Curt Warren are teaming up for a “Flug Rally”, in which they will guide hang glider pilots in the Austrian Alps from 5 – 9 August 2009. The area offers epic flying conditions and this is peak season. Walter Geppert’s current world record for longest triangle flight of 407km was set [...]

Advance test pilot Kari Eisenhut’s company, Chill Out paragliding, is relaunching the new chill out base and Advance test centre in Interlaken’s main landing field, Switzerland. It will provide a bistro, shop, weather and site information and accommodation. A grand opening on 11 – 12 April will give pilots a chance to meet Advance’s test [...]

The World Cup Association has confirmed its approval for Porterville as the venue for the first leg of the 2010 PWC. This event will take place from 13 – 19 December 2009. Selection and registration will be directly through PWCA. Organisers plan to precede this with a five day All-Africa Open (6 – 10 December) [...]

Stefan Schmoker died in an accident during the World Paragliding Championships 2009 in Mexico. A week later Andy Aebi became World Champion. Advance released this public letter following the competition

Carlos Olivera of Carolsparaglide, Cuba, would like potential visitors to know that they have secured a new coastal site, Playa Amaril a Canasi, La Habana (near Havana). It has more than 30 km of NNE oriented slope and offers the possibility of ridge runs to Palmarejo (8 km) heading E or to El Fraile (7 [...]

Skywalk is proud to present its first airbag harness, the Flip. A lightweight yet comfortable harness, on the ground as well as in the air, with a sporty cut and low pack volume, Skywalk intend it to be used with a lightweight glider and for “heading up the mountain without the cable car”. An integrated [...]

An XC Open World series event is to be held in Araxa, Brazil, from 10 – 17 October 2009. The first 30 international pilots to enter will get four star accommodation paid for. This is the fourth event confirmed for 2009, alongside Manilla, Sopot and Piedrahita. www.xc-open.org

The XC Open World series event in Manilla is underway between 14 and 21 February. Some pilots are using SPOT tracking during the event, so to see it in action and to keep up to date with the comp, visit www.xc-open.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=79

2007 X-Alps competitor, Raul Penso (Niviuk), won the Andes Open which was held in Loma de Los Angeles, Venezuela on 2 – 7 January.  Carlos Daniel Gomez (Gin) finished second with Micky von Wachter (Niviuk) in third. www.openandes2009.net

The Santiago Open, Chile, was held from 8 – 11 January 2009. The 4 day event saw 4 tasks completed, ranging is distance from 36 to 75 km. Eitel Von muhlenbrock (CL, Niviuk Icepeak 3) won, with Michel Guillemot (AR, Gin Boomerang 5) and Mathias Fernandez (CL, Niviuk Peak) in second and third. Top woman, [...]

Hiro Air and Hiro Pro comfort harnesses are the successors of Pro Design’s well liked Mito harness series, but have improved details and design and additional features. They are aimed at pilots ranging from entry level and fun pilots up to professionals. Both harnesses have been built to be lightweight, easy to run in and [...]

Spot are just in the process of launching a new site to extend the sharing of SPOT Satellite Messengers’ locations and tracks. Please go to WatchMySPOT.com and register for an account, set up your units to send their tracking messages to the site and help collect some test data. Their goal is to create a [...]

Pro Design’s Accura 2 replaces the Accura as their intermediate paraglider. It is certified EN B and LTF 1-2.