Ronny Helgesen wins Nordic Open 2010 and Lars Jonsson becomes Swedish paragliding champ

Nordic Paragliding Open 2010. Photo: nordic-open.eu

Following four fast racing tasks in often rough and turbulent conditions at this year’s Nordic Open in Norway, Ronny Helgesen (NO) flew his R10.2 to victory in both the Open and the Norwegian Championship, ahead of Swede Lars Anders Jonsson, who became his country’s national champion.

Competitiors came to Vågå in Norway’s alpine region from the five Nordic countries and one or two further-afield places. Tasks tended to get underway late in the day thanks to a northerly wind, but with 24-hour daylight this wasn’t a problem as conditions remained flyable until after 9pm.

Task 4, which turned out to be the last one, saw windy conditions on launch and a sky full of lenticulars. The decision was taken to set a task, but with increasing winds later on several pilots experienced severe turbulence in a place that is usually safe, and chose to land. That evening, following protests, the task was retrospectively cancelled only to be reinstated by a pilot-elected committee in response to a petition the following day – Norwegian democracy in action!

RESULTS

1. Ronny Helgesen          NO     Ozone Mantra R10.2
2. Lars Anders Jonsson  SE     Ozone Mantra R10.2
3. Anders Barheim          NO     Ozone Mantra R10.2

Women
1. (30) Trude Øverlie      NO     Ozone Mantra M3
2. (53) Suzanne Wyss     CH     Ozone mantra M3
3. (61) Anna Rydh           SE     Nova factor

Serial Class
1. Tom Salamonsen        NO     Niviuk Peak
2. Tor-Erik Stranna        NO     Ozone Mantra M3
3. Gunnar Sæbu             NO      Ozone Mantra M3

nordic-open.eu/2010/