Rob Whittall talks exclusively to Cross Country magazine about the latest developments in Serial Class

PMA statement reiterates their pro-Serial class position for FAI Cat1 events

The Serial Cup takes place in Slovenia at the end of August.

Swiss paragliding firm Advance have announced that they will be forming an international team of serial class competition pilots whom they will mentor and coach, hopefully to the top of the serial class rankings.

Sky Country claim the Evolution-X is the first ever paraglider with an aspect ratio over 7 to achieve EN certification.

German firm Aircross have created a lightweight version of their serial class racer: The U-Sport Evo is 3 kilos lighter than the original U-Sport, and Aircross’ test pilots are reporting better launch characteristics and climbing performance as a result.

All sizes of Gradient’s high performance paraglider, the Avax XC3, have now been certified EN D.

The long wait for Advance’s new high-performance paraglider, the Omega 8, is almost over. There will be four sizes, which will be certified EN/LTF D, dealers should be receiving the first test wings around now.

Gradient’s new high performance paraglider, the Avax XC3, has passed EN D certification in size 28, and is now for sale. Sizes 24, 26 and 30 are on their way.

UP have made a paraglider for cross country hounds and serial class competition pilots: The Trango XC is an EN D / LTF 2-3, three line glider which UP say “launches better than most school wings, handles like a hot knife in butter, has a top speed of 57km/h and remains very stable all the [...]

The smallest (18 m2) Triton has now been certified EN D / LTF 2-3, taking all-up weights of 70 – 90 kg. In Nova’s words, “Now also lightweight pilots have access to a well-tempered, high-performance wing”. www.xcmag.com/news/2009/01/2167/ www.nova-wings.com/english/products/triton.html

In 1999 the Serial Class debate was raging around the world of competition paragliding. ‘Come on CIVL, make your mind up,’ said this impassioned plea from the editorial pages of Cross Country magazine at the time