Paragliding competitions should be fun, and that’s what the organisers of the GIN Wide Open set out to make when they organised their first competition in Meduno, Italy this year. Andrew Craig, a competition first-timer, went along to find out what it was all about – and made goal!
On launch at Meduno on Task 1 at the GIN Wide Open. Photo: Brian Steele
For an international competition virgin like me, the Gin Wide Open at Meduno means a lot to learn. I blag my way into Saturday’s pre-comp, run by Toby Colombe of Passion Paragliding, who’s organising the comp with Brett Janaway of XTC Paragliding. Programming the task into my GPS taxes my brain a bit, and perhaps the instrument’s too.
It’s cloudy, and soon gets lifty over wide areas. I don’t fancy joining the pilots high over the mountain, so set off for the second turnpoint before reaching base. Not far from me a pilot puts ears in. That probably means he’s getting rained on. But I can reach the turnpoint! Oh… so this is what comp fever feels like. Sense prevails, and I land with my wing dry.
One of organisers, Toby Colombe, briefing on launch. Photo: Brian Steele
Sunday brings rain and a leisurely introduction to the Gin Wide Open from Brett and Toby. The briefing ends with the first of a series of light-hearted prizes: Best Arrival goes to Matty Allen. Not only did he miss his flight, but when he finally reached his hotel, he found that his glider bag contained a folding chair, a badminton racket and a tube of wasabi paste.
Monday’s task is canned as soon as it’s declared, with rain threatening. Tuesday looks better, with free flyers soon staying up. I don’t like the look of the clouds, and remind myself to apply my own judgement. So I fly, but sink steadily – I’m down before the race has even started! The task is soon halted, and at next morning’s briefing, I get a prize for being the first to land. “Sensible decision,” says Toby. “Yes, let’s call it a decision,” I mutter.
On Wednesday a 28-kilometre cat’s cradle task is set. I delay my launch until I’m confident I can stay up. Still, I see better pilots than me bomb out – but, with a green Advance, I find something, and climb out. At one point I join a group of vultures, reminding me of their enormous cousins over India.
Crossing the flats during Task 1. Photo: Brian Steele
By now it’s getting easier, and I set off across the flatlands to the turnpoint over the factory. I just miss a big gaggle in a climb and circle in a zero with a U-Cross, but we wander apart. Rashly heading south for the last turnpoint, I glide to the ground, while the U-Cross makes goal. Still, I’ve landed in the same field as the British women’s champion – no disgrace.
The day’s winner is no surprise: Petra Slivova, a multiple world champion – but today she’s on Gin’s new low-end B, the Atlas, showing what accessible modern paragliders can do. At the debrief I win a stylish Gin gilet. Excellent: I can tell my friends I won it at a paragliding competition, not mentioning that it was for my performance of I’m A Barbie Girl at last night’s karaoke.
Petra Slivova picks up her day winner’s prize. Photo: Brian Steele
Thursday dawns sunny, with a strong downhill wind. But as the valley warms up it comes on. I get a better start, climbing to 1,500m behind launch. I’ve set my ancient spare GPS to show the one-kilometre start circle around the castle – but eventually I realise that it’s drawing it around me, not around the turnpoint! I fly to roughly the right place – I hope.
Good flying on Task 2. Photo: Brian Steele
It’s broken and a rough, but gradually gets easier. I share a couple of turns and a cheery greeting with my pal Brian, who’s heading the other way, a turnpoint ahead of me. After the third turnpoint I get the best climb of the day, to over 1,900m. I head off, still going up steadily, ready with the big-ear lines – but the climb eases into a buoyant glide.
As I near the penultimate turnpoint I need 6 to 1, and I begin to believe it’s on. I follow a blue Gradient to the last point, ready to change course if he sinks badly. He doesn’t, and the landing field is full of beer and handshakes. But, as I queue to download my tracklog, I start to worry.
Sure enough, I was 250 metres outside the start circle. Never mind, I still did the flights, and it wasn’t the world championship that was at stake. But one day… I can dream!
Andrew Craig in goal. Technology – bah! Photo: Brian Steele
Winners
Overall
1 Petra Slivova, GIN Atlas
2 Pat Dower, Niviuk Icepeak 6
3 David Smart, Advance Sigma 8
Sports Class
1 David Smart, Advance Sigma 8
2 Peter Spillett, Nova Factor
3 Joel Bonvin, Nervires Diamir
Leisure Class
1 Simon Taylor, Nova Mentor 3
2 Andreas Shultz, Sky Atis 4
3 Tomasz Chrapek, Gradient Golden 2
Women’s Class
1 Verena Puttrich, Advance Sigma 8
2 Catherine Bartholdi, Ozone Delta
3 Khobi-Jane Bowden, Niviuk Icepeak 6
Next year’s GIN Wide Open will be in Ager, Spain
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