The last day at the Montegrappa Trophy 2011. Video by natolius
European Paragliding Champion Luca Donini won the Montegrappa Trophy over the Easter weekend of 21-25 April. He beat fellow Italian Florian Haller into second place while Swiss star Stefan Wyss was third.
The comp, which is traditionally the first big meet of the European season for both hang gliding and paragliding, saw good weather, with five tasks flown: 60.9km, 120.6km, 63.3km, 75.3km and 35.5km.
The competition was also the first real chance to see the new gliders produced by manufacturers over the winter.
The much-anticipated Ozone R11, the next step up from last year’s R10.2, took first and seventh places. Florian in second place was on a MacPara Magus prototype, and third-placed Stefan Wyss was on the R10.2.
Ozone gliders of one sort or another took 11 of the top 20 spots, with five Niviuk Icepeaks also in the top 20. Notably, Urban Valic (SL) won the 120km second task flying his Icepeak.
Consistency was the name of the game for Luca, who didn’t win a task but instead came second, 13th, fourth, sixth, and 14th across the five tasks.
Top woman was Petra Slivova (CZ) onboard her Gin Boomerang 8. Some 146 pilots were signed up for the meet.
HANG GLIDING
In the hang gliding competition Christian Ciech (IT) took first place. Current World Champion Alex Ploner (IT) was second. Both pilots fly for Icaro and were onboard Icaro 2000 Laminars.
One hundred pilots were signed up to the comp, which saw five tasks, all races to goal: 139.2km, 126.1km, 63.4km. 91.4km and 87.9km.
Christian was consistent and a regular task winner, walking away with two task wins – tasks three and five – and coming second on days two and four. He was sixth in the first task.
Corinna Schwiegershausen (DE) won the Women’s category flying her Moyes Litespeed 3.5S.
Hang gliding at the Montegrappa Trophy 2011. Video: manometre
• Got news? Send it to us at news@xccontent.local
Subscribe to the world’s favourite hang gliding and paragliding magazine
