Action from Task 1 at the Paragliding World Cup Superfinal. Photo: Martin Scheel
Winds have been blowing hard in Turkey for the past three days – too strong to fly. Pilots have been visiting a towel factory for want of something to do. Yes, you read it right, a towel factory: Turkey makes an awful lot of the world’s bathrobes, apparently.
The forecast for the last two days of the competition is better, so there is hope for another two days of flying.
After five tasks Aljaz Valic is in the lead – onboard a Niviuk Ice Peak 4. Ozone, who pioneered two-line technology and have seen their R10.2 sweep the leaderboards of competitions around the world all summer, must be on the edge of their seats.
One of their star pilots, Luc Armant, bombed on Task 1 and came 123rd out of 133 pilots. It must have been motivating because he stormed back the next day to win Task 2.
In what must be infuriating for Team Ozone, their gliders have topped the tables in every task – it’s only Aljaz’s consistency that has put him in top spot. He’s come 19th, seventh, second, sixth and 18th in the tasks. That sounds like a slow-and-steady strategy to us… oooooh, it’s exciting!
In the women, Seiko Fukuoka Naville is miles ahead, with 3,384 points – over 400 ahead of her nearest rival, Petra Slivova. That again is an Ozone V Niviuk battle: Seiko is on an R10.2 (the only woman on one) and Petra is on an Icepeak.
It’s Rizla-thin margins at the top however, with a mere 34 points separating the top four pilots – spots two and three are tied at 3,850. A collapse, a blowout, one extra turn in a thermal and Aljaz’s lead is blown too.
So it’s all to play for, in both who – and what wing – wins and carries the Superfinal trophy home. Let’s hope the weather plays ball over the next couple of days.
Enjoy the towels, all you guys and gals in Turkey!
Overall Results After Five Tasks
1 Ajaz Valic (SL), Niviuk Icepeak 4, 3,879
2 Andre Rainsford (ZAF), Ozone R10.2, 3,850
2 Yoshiki Kuremoto (JP),Ozone R10.2, 3850
Women
1 Seiko Fukuoka Naville (FR), Ozone R10.2, 3,384
2 Petra Slivova (CZ), Niviuk Icepeak, 2,950
3 Renata Kuhnova (CZ), Axispara Mercury, 2,774
Tasks so Far
71.1 km, 63.3 km, 62.6 km, 107.6 km, 72.5 km
PWC TV
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