The X-Alps style paragliding and walking adventure race across France’s Drome department got under way this morning. Conditions today were said to be windy so competitors were making their way by foot to high ground hoping that it would be possible to fly as conditions eased in the early evening. Tomorrow’s forecast brings a possibility of rain, so it looks like there will be a lot of walking on the way to the first goal in Luc en Diois. You can follow the competitors, who are all carrying SPOT devices, online on Google Maps or in Google Earth.

More information on the event can be found at www.transdromoise.fr (french)

The weekend of 4 – 7 June, the fields on the shores of the Lake District’s Buttermere lake will be thronging with pilots and their families, there to enjoy what organisers describe as ‘THE UK’s free flying event of the Summer – the Lakes Charity Classic 2009′. (more…)

Skywalk’s Cayenne3 has been certified LTF 2 in XS and XL sizes, completing the range.

The XS has an all-up weight range of 60-80kg, andthe XL takes 105- 130kg. The Cayenne3’s 3-line design minimises drag, and Skywalk say its excellent turbulence damping and high performance in cross country flight have attracted a number of top pilots. Oliver Teubert, whose images you see here, is currently in top place in the German XC cup on a Cayenne3. C3 pilots have described their wings as, “super”, “extreme performance”, “very stable”, “great feeling”….

www.skywalk.info
info@skywalk.org

Hubert Pawlowski is a photographer living in the Annecy region of France. He has taken some completely spherical photos, mostly of his home area. Visit his website to take ‘virtual tours’ of his images.

www.annecypanoramique.com

The Tegelberg, Schwangau in Germany has just hosted two important hang gliding competitions, back to back, but unfortunately were very unlucky with the weather.

The International German flexwing Championship, King Ludwig Open, ran from 5 – 10 May. Two good tasks were successfully held, sandwiched between bad weather days. Alex Ploner (IT, laminar Z9) won the event, ahead of first-placed German, Bob Baier (Litespeed RS4) and Klaus Wilming (DE, Combat). Fourth, and top female, was Corinna Schwiegershausen (DE), with Natalia Petrova (RU, Combat) second.

The following week every task in the Women’s and Rigids’ Pre-Worlds was cancelled, with strong Foehn winds bringing rain and thunder storms.

www.dhv.de/typo/Competition___News.5197.0.html

The year has started very well for Niviuk, with plenty of reasons to celebrate:

Italian Nicole Fedele flew an impressive 98 km triangle on her Peak 23, from Gemona, Italy, via Kobarid and Tolmin, Slovenia and back to Gemona, on 25 February. Her track log can be seen here.

Their Skate has proved a winner in the speed riding world, with Gael Sahli taking first, Dominik Wicki second, Lionel Dubois 5th and Florian Wicki 6th place in the Schweizer Meisterschaft speed riding competition that was held during the last week of February. www.speedflying-sm09.ch

Meanwhile, in the first PWC round of 2009, the American cup in Governador Valadares, Brazil (21 – 28 March), Raul Penso (VE) won the competition on his Icepeak 3, with Stefan Wyss in third, and Elisa Houdry (FR) first female (13th overall). www.fastretrieve.com/PWCA/id2.html

Niviuk would like to congratulate all these pilots!

www.niviuk.com

Johannes Nieuwoudt shares his love of Esperance with fellow pilots at the Waggas beach and dune flying festival, Western Australia.
The advent of the internet and more readily available information has meant great things for our sport. Apart from being able to Google ‘paragliding’ to find an instructor, Google Earth has helped with finding new sites. [...]

Advance have updated their clothing range, which is now extensive. They have everything from caps, sun hats, a balaclava and daily wear T-shirts, a polo shirt and hoodies, to their more technical items: The Thermore jacket is a technical pilot’s jacket, which takes the place of a flying suit for pod harness users. It has a mobile phone pocket on the forearm, as is also found in Advance’s flying suit. The Team Jacket is a waterproof, breathable, lightly insulated jacket with a detachable hood. They also have a softshell vest and speed sleeves to complete the range!

www.advance.ch

Advance’s new flying suit was developed in close collaboration with their team pilots and flying schools. The specifications for the new model required that it be robust, warm and practical. Advance say the result is a product that meets these needs completely, and incorporates a number of well-designed details.

Made in the main from wind- and water- resistant Supplex, it is fleece-lined in the body, and has extra thermal insulation in ‘cold patches’ – the knees, wrists and neck. The back panel is Softshell, to increase flexibility and breathability in this area. The suit features armpit zips for ventilation, and an easy-access mobile phone pocket on the forearm. There are also straight-through pockets where your trouser pockets are, so that you can access these easily. Built-in gaiters fasten with ‘magic velcro’, that doesn’t catch on your clothing.

The suit is availlable in sizes XXS to XXL.

www.advance.ch

Sol Ellus 3 intermediate paraglider

Sol’s new Ellus 3 has been certified LTF 1-2 and EN B in M and L sizes, with S and XL to follow very shortly. It is aimed at a wide range of pilots, from beginners to the more experienced.

Sol has increased the aspect ratio of the wing over the previous incarnation, and added more cells, improving its performance. The company has also used a new, lighter material in combination with Gelvenor, and carefully selected materials to make the wing longer-lasting (high resistance polyester, Technora lines, Renfort Diax laminates, stainless steel hardware).

www.solparagliders.com.br

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