PWCA - 2019 World Cup CHINA ::: Linzhou

2019-06-20 14:30

2019 Event 2 Podium Photos - Linzhou - China
Open Class Podium - Michael Kuffer (2nd) - Baptiste Lambert (1st) - Evan Bouchier (3rd)

Womens Class Podium - Petra Slivova, Daria Krasnova, Meryl Delferriere, Constance Mettetal, Adel Honti

Winning Team - Gin Gliders - Michael Sigel, Idris Birch, Petra Slivova, Michael Kuffer

Click The Images To Enlarge -
The next World Cup of 2019 begins in Manteigas, Portugal on 29th June

2019-06-15 17:10

Its all over - the last day proved challening but, in the end, 48 of our pilots made it to the goal line.

The Paragliding World Cup team congratulates our winners - Baptiste Lambert (Open), Méryl Delferriere (Women) and the Gin Gliders Team (Michael Sigel, Michael Kuffer, Idris Birch and Petra Slivova)

The prizegiving ceremony begins at 18:00 in the Headquarters landing field.

All of the results are now available online.

2019-06-15 10:45

The task is set - todays race is a 55.67 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:00 Local Time and the Start is at 12:15

2019-06-15 08:29

It's a cloudy covered sky but everyone's spirits are high. (Photo by Ruth Jessop)

Task news will be along at about 10:00

2019-06-14 18:57

The last pilot landed in a very remote location but he's back now. We had 90 in goal today and tomorrow is looking good to finish the competition off.

The results are now available onlline - see you in the morning

2019-06-14 12:00

Whilst we seem to have temporarily lost the commentary team - the start is now open

2019-06-14 09:59

The task is set - todays race is a 100.46 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:30 Local Time and the Start is at 12:00

2019-06-14 08:19

Looks like another great day for flying, blue skies, lots of sunshine and stunning scenery. (Photo by Matt Henzi)

Task news will be along at about 10:30

2019-06-13 17:39

With 100 pilots making the goal today, Headquarters has been a happy place - everybody is now back.

The results are now available online

2019-06-13 11:13

The task is set - todays race is a 82.71 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:15 Local Time and the Start is at 12:45

2019-06-13 11:03

The task is set - todays race is a 82.71 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:15 Local Time and the Start is at 12:45

2019-06-13 11:02

The task is set - todays race is a 82.71 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:15 Local Time and the Start is at 12:45

2019-06-13 09:18

With a forecast of lighter winds, everybody is looking forward to another good day. (Photo by Ruth Jessop)

Task news will be along at about 10:30

2019-06-12 19:37

It was a shame we had to stop the task but it had been running for long enough for it to score - the results are now available online

More tomorrow

2019-06-12 14:16

TASK STOPPED AT 14:17 DUE TO STRONG WIND

2019-06-12 10:47

The task is set - todays race is a 63.2 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:30 Local Time and the Start is at 12:30

2019-06-12 09:06

We have reports of strong wind from a less than helpful direction again today so let's wait and see... (Photo by Ulric Jessop)

Task news will be along at about 10:30

2019-06-11 13:42

There will be a trip to the Great Canyon this afternoon. DepArture is from Headquarters at 15:15

Pilots - please bring your pilot ID card with you

2019-06-11 12:05

The task has been stopped at 12:05 due to wind

2019-06-11 11:14

The task is set - todays race is a 73.1 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:10 Local Time and the Start is at 12:40

2019-06-11 08:40

Looks like we'll have more of the same again today. Photo by task 1 winner Matt Henzi.

Task news will be along at about 10:30

2019-06-10 19:23

It was a fabulous task - got difficult for a while when the day threatened to shut down but we got 41 in goal.

The scores are now online - see you tomorrow

2019-06-10 10:42

The task is set - todays race is a 76.81 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:00 Local Time and the Start is at 12:30

2019-06-10 10:29

A provisional task has been set - todays race will be a 76.81 km Race to GoalThe window times and start time are not yet declared - an update will be published when they are set

2019-06-10 08:09

It looks like another epic blue sky with stunning scenery today. Picture below was taken by Andy McNichol.

Pilots are on the way to launch and we should have task news at about 11:00.

2019-06-09 19:27

It wasn't a particularly long task but it split the field and gave us a great first day. In just under 2 hours we started getting pilots in goal and that carried on until we had 87 crossing the goal line.

The results are now available online.

Tomorrow looks good so we will be trying again in the morning

2019-06-09 18:20

In the last leg of the race, as we flew along the ridge, I pushed further down the ridge while everyone stopped to turn in a good thermal. I knew they would climb and then push straight for the last turnpoint. It was obvious that the return leg to goal was going to be fast and downwind so it was basically down to who got that big last turnpoint first. So I was committed to either sticking around on the ridge to find a climb or just go for it. I went for it and had goal on 12.5:1 glide but for the first half of that last bit I was only getting 6:1. I realized I had made a huge mistake and I knew that in about 5 minutes I would be low and alone grovelling while the whole field flew over my head and passed me. Right when I was about to despair, I suddenly found lift. I only made a few turns before I had goal at 10:1. When I resumed down the course line I was in a very boaty line and I could easily maintain full bar and keep the lead. I'm so excited but also I promise to stick to my plan tomorrow and not make any rogue moves alone!

2019-06-09 18:15

So as the sun sets over the aptly named, stunningly beautiful, Taihang Canyon Scenic Area, all the pilots have landed and the final ones are handing in their Flymaster trackers it's time for the winning tactic, which today comes from Matt Henzi.

2019-06-09 18:05

So for Today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup scorer for those who are just starting out in competitions comes from Technical Delegate, Ulric Jessop: there's no rush to land, make sure your instrument shows you have crossed the line. Cross it high up, cross it low down, cross it as many times as you want, but make sure you cross it, if you don't, it could cost you 60 places or more.

2019-06-09 17:56

The last pilot in goal today was Prakash Chand Thakur who thought he had crossed the goal line in orbit at 800m. He then spent 10 minutes winding his way down, losing altitude, totally unaware that he had missed the goal line, which he could have crossed at any point whilst he was whiling away the minutes in his descent. Fortunately, 8 seconds before he landed, by chance, he crossed the line!

2019-06-09 17:11

Four pilots are still in the air and making the most of the task deadline of 18h by the looks of things.

2019-06-09 16:43

Etienne has just landed in goal, much to the relief and delight of wife Marie Jo who can now go and join everyone else under the goal field beer parasol at the end of a long, but very enjoyable flight, with stunning scenery.

2019-06-09 16:19

Etienne and his wife Marie-Jo Coupez really got into tandem ski/fly racing this winter and thermalled away with the 3rd place in the tandem category of the Challenge et Championnat de France Vol & Ski 2019 at St-Gervais.

2019-06-09 16:18

Etienne Coupez is just getting the last turn point and climbing to make sure he has enough height to make End of Speed and goal any minute now where his number one fan Marie Joe is cheering loudly.

2019-06-09 16:16

And still they fill the skies above the goal field.

2019-06-09 15:52

And still they keep on coming into goal, half the field have made it round so far and the others don't look far behind them.

2019-06-09 15:47

PWC cameraman Philippe Broers has also just arrived in goal in a vision of faded orange, bringing Paragliding World Cup mayhem to the goal field. Don't forget to tune into World Cup TV for some great footage taken on the practice days of this stunning Grand Canyon landscape.

2019-06-09 15:43

So it seems the first across end of speed today were Matt Henzi and Baptiste Lambert. However after that it is difficult to say as we have a lot of trackers off line. Méryl Delferriere is in goal but we'll have to wait until the trackers are all down loaded to see if she was first lady. There are a lot of Boomerang 11's being folded up in the goal field and a lot of Swiss German being spoken so I think it has been a good day for team Gin too.

2019-06-09 15:35

I think half the crowd were asleep in the hammocks in the trees around the goal field and missed most of the action!

2019-06-09 15:32

Matt Henzi has just landed in goal to rather a stunned silence from the bewildered crowd who were clearly expecting a Chinese pilot to win.

2019-06-09 15:29

First across ESS Matt Henzi followed by Baptiste Lambert.

2019-06-09 15:28

Matt has pulled away and got ESS.

2019-06-09 15:28

It's neck and neck between Baptiste Lambert, Idris Birch, Maxime Bellemin, Erwan Didriche.

2019-06-09 15:27

Baptiste Lambert is 3 km to ESS where his speed round the course will then be taken.

2019-06-09 15:26

According to our noodle-o-meter they should be crossing ESS in 3 minutes. The crowd in goal have already started cheering.

2019-06-09 15:25

Just behind Matt and Baptiste, Idris Birch, Simon Mettetal, Andrey Eliseev, Erwan Didriche, Vitalii Umanskyi, Andrey Eliseev, Cedric Fechoz.

2019-06-09 15:24

Now Matt has got a liftier line and Baptiste is in sink, I can't watch.

2019-06-09 15:23

Matt is in sink, Baptiste has got a liftier line.

2019-06-09 15:22

Matt could make it to goal on a glide, I think Baptiste needs to stop and get a climb.

2019-06-09 15:22

Matt and Baptiste are neck and neck. Matt is on 9:1 to goal, Baptiste on 14:1 to goal.

2019-06-09 15:21

When I asked Baptist recently whether he has managed to reign in his big problem which was attacking too much, (and somewhat recklessly, if I may say so!) He replied: 'Yes, you're right, I used to attack too much in the past. Now I try to alternate things a bit, to spot the right moments, but in general I am a lot more conservative now, especially in important competitions, where I intend to 'live in the gaggle' for the most part. However he's certainly going for it at the moment.

2019-06-09 15:19

Matt is the lowest at 652m, Baptiste Lambert is higher at over 1000m above the fields below him, being uncharacteristically conservative for once.

2019-06-09 15:17

Those behind Matt are also making a break for it and cutting across the flats.

2019-06-09 15:15

Victor Sibirtsev has broken out across the flats a lot earlier and is neck and neck with Matt.

2019-06-09 15:14

Matt is going for the crossing across the flats to the last turn point.

2019-06-09 15:13

Matt has been taking part in top level comps since 2011. He's a coach and guide in various mountain sports and owner of Cloudsurf Paragliding in Oregon.

2019-06-09 15:11

Matt Henzi, staying further out from the ridge has taken the lead.

2019-06-09 15:08

For most pilots leading out in a comp I would put that their Mum and Dad will be glued to our live tracking sat at home watching the race unfold. However, today I can't say that, as Dad, Cyril Lambert, is in the comp too and not doing a great job today of keeping up with 'le jeune.'

2019-06-09 15:04

Why is pushing on ahead on your own a risky idea? It is a race after all. Staying with a group of pilots or 'gaggle' generally works better as you all work together to find the invisible rising currents of air called thermals, which carry the pilots round the course. If ten of you fly forwards spread out, you will find thermals much more efficiently rather than trying to randomly zig zag about to find them on your own.

2019-06-09 15:02

Baptiste Lambert has taken the lead, all his XC training is obviously paying off.

2019-06-09 15:01

So the big question now is when will they break away from the ridge and cross the flats to get the last turn point?

2019-06-09 15:00

However the spurs in front get the sun at this time of day and seem to be working well at the moment.

2019-06-09 15:00

Because it faces east typical XC routes take you along the mountain early on, before switching to flying the flatlands out the front later in the day. The mountain simply switches off in the afternoon, making for a technical, challenging day. (Cross Country Magazine Travel Guide 2014).

2019-06-09 14:59

Just a bit about the topography here. Linzhou sits in the plains next to a long forest-covered limestone mountain range that rises steeply to 1,700m and runs for 150km north/south, which the pilots are flying along at the moment.

2019-06-09 14:57

They all seem to be heading for the long mountain ridge. It's worth bearing in mind that as Baptiste Lambert told me this morning, the cliff has lots of inlets which give turbulence. It isn't a straight cliff like St Hilaire in France, Baptiste's home turf where he is currently lying first in French XContest having done two big FAI triangles of 268 km and 264 km and a staight distance of 220 km earlier this year.

2019-06-09 14:51

The large cylinder around the last turn point gives the pilots lots of choices. They can take the longer route along the ridge and take the turn point where it cuts the ridge, or they can take the direct route, and cross the turn point nearer, in the flats.

2019-06-09 14:50

We're having quite a few problems with the trackers but it seems as if Wally and Michael Sigel have got the 4th turn point in the lead and now have a 16 km leg north ahead of them.

2019-06-09 14:44

Cedric Fechoz is out in front with Wally and Michael, all on Gin Boomerang 11's.

2019-06-09 14:41

Wally and Michael Sigel are pushing out in front. Wally broke his toe during the practice day yesterday but certainly seems to be putting his best foot forward today.

2019-06-09 14:40

It's quite a stable day but seems to be lifty everywhere as they come back across a landscape of patch work fields with all shapes and sizes of vegetables growing in immaculately manicured fields.

2019-06-09 14:32

They will now have the wind behind them as they head back to the ridge for the 4th turn point under this hazy, hot blue sky.

2019-06-09 14:31

Junming Song is low and not finding a climb, but the others look as if they have enough height to search for another thermal. .

2019-06-09 14:30

Jungman Choi, Stanislav Klikar, Felipe Rezende, Baptiste Lambert have got the third turn point.

2019-06-09 14:29

Junming Song has also got the turn point. He was 1st in the Pre PWC here in Linzhou, in 2018.

2019-06-09 14:28

Simon Mettetal has just got the third turn point, he's in the lead but low at 336m and not finding a climb.

2019-06-09 14:27

Vitalli was 1st in the 2018 Ukrainian Open in Pylypets, he's a very experienced World Cup pilot and is flying in team Nearbirds in this competition.

2019-06-09 14:25

Also up with the leaders on an Ozone Enzo 3 is Vitalii Umanskyi.

2019-06-09 14:24

The wind seems to have picked up now and they have got a bit of a head wind.

2019-06-09 14:24

The Spectra offers easy and precise handling. We noticed the Spectra is so well balanced and easy to fly that the connection between the glider and the pilot allows the pilot to concentrate on the current conditions and less on flying the glider. The Spectra allows machine and pilot to work in unison. The glide, climb and top speed are outstanding and it feels very solid in the entire flying envelop. The reinforced leading edge translates into increased solidity at top speeds with a better glide ratio as there's less glider distortion on the Spectra. We've observed the Spectra is one of the fastest gliders around and its climbing ability is unmatched.

2019-06-09 14:23

Here's what Felipe Rezende had to say about the Flow Gliders Spectra after the recent Super Final:

2019-06-09 14:22

Oh and we now have an imposter, Felipe Rezende on the Flow Gliders Spectra.

2019-06-09 14:22

Gin with the Boomerang 11 seem to be doing a bit of Paragliding World Cup World domination at the moment with the first three gliders all being Boom 11s, flown by Dominik Breitinger, Bishal Thapa, Junming Song.

2019-06-09 14:19

Bishal started flying in 2012 helped and encouraged by his brothers and parents. He started doing competitions taking part in the Nepal open in 2014, where he was awarded the prize for being the best new comer, and he hasn't looked back, or down since.

2019-06-09 14:17

Bishal Thapa is heading across the flats with half a km lead, and more importantly he's really high at 1860m

2019-06-09 14:16

It's a totally blue day today, a bit hazy and even the wind is beginning to drop.

2019-06-09 14:11

They have now got to go right out across the flats in a 10 km leg to the third turn point.

2019-06-09 14:10

The leaders are getting the second turn point.

2019-06-09 14:09

We have two lead gaggles pretty close to each other: Petr Kostrhun, Junming Song, Benedicte Saury, Maurice Knur, Idris Birch, Simon Mettetal, Sergey Lazarev-marchenko, Dominik Breitinger.

2019-06-09 14:05

Daria Krasnova, Petr Kostrhun, Dominik Breitinger, Adrian Seitz and Junming Song are all in a +2m/s climb so should be OK.

2019-06-09 14:04

The leaders are all getting low.

2019-06-09 14:03

Trying to keep up with Benedicte and Daria is Sergey Lazarev-marchenko.

2019-06-09 14:02

This is a real day of girl power, Benedicte Saury and Daria Krasnova are storming ahead across the flats.

2019-06-09 14:01

There is a real variety of gliders in the lead gaggle at the moment. Benedicte Saury on an Ozone Zeno, Junming Song on a Gin Boomerang 11, Daria Krasnova on a UP Guru, Felipe Rezende on a Flow Spectra and Erwan Didriche on a Niviuk Icepeak Evox.

2019-06-09 13:58

Once again, we have 5 different CCC gliders in the Competition: Enzo 3 (Ozone), Boomerang 11 (Gin), Guru (UP), the Spectra (Flow Paragliders) and the Icepeak Evox (Niviuk). Davinci gliders are also putting their new RFC glider, the Opera, through its paces here in Linhzou.

2019-06-09 13:56

The top twenty have got the first turn point.

2019-06-09 13:52

They then need to carry on in the same direction down the valley.

2019-06-09 13:50

The route across the flats seems to have worked best.

2019-06-09 13:50

The leaders are just getting the first turn point.

2019-06-09 13:46

When I asked Shahin how he was findig the food in China, 'it's very strange,' he told me, 'but I am still alive.'

2019-06-09 13:44

Shahin is pretty low at 339m above the ground and in sink.

2019-06-09 13:44

Those staying out in the flats led by Shahin Fallah.

2019-06-09 13:43

They have already divided into two schools of thinking, those sticking to the ridge led by Jungman Choi, Honam Chiu, Daniel Walter Arcidiacono.

2019-06-09 13:42

Today's main strategy is whether to follow the ridge or stay out in the flats.

2019-06-09 13:41

The wind is blowing directly onto the ridge.

2019-06-09 13:31

The main thing new for this competition is a change to the lead out point system. The lead out points will now start at roughly the second thermal down the course line. I'll explain more about this new system later.

2019-06-09 13:30

The start is open, the race is on. This is the point the pilots times are taken from and will be counted until they cross End of Speed (ESS).

2019-06-09 13:29

All eyes are skywards in the visitor's carpark at the entrance to the Gorge, including those of two hundred stuffed black and white panda bears, where they have a fantastic view of the gaggle of 100 colourful gliders waiting to take the start high above their heads.

2019-06-09 13:25

5 minutes to the Start opening.

2019-06-09 13:15

15 minutes for the pilots to sit back in their harnesses relax and take in the stunning scenery of Grand Canyon red rock gorges.

2019-06-09 13:13

15 minutes to the Start opening.

2019-06-09 13:04

Then you cross 'end of speed' (ESS) but need to have enough height to get across the goal line about 2km away.

2019-06-09 13:03

There are normally about 4 or 5 cylinders to go into along the course.

2019-06-09 12:49

You have to go just into the circle around the 'turn points'. The further you go into the circle/cylinder/turnpoint, the more time you waste and the slower you get round the course.

2019-06-09 12:48

Then you need to use thermals to go round the course, but not stop in ones which are too weak and not climb too high, because that wastes time.

2019-06-09 12:47

Everyone waits at the virtual start line in the air, then they try to get away as quickly as possible.

2019-06-09 12:47

So what happens next? How does a paragliding competition work?

2019-06-09 12:45

Thanks to Chinese paper sticker technology, the launch is now happening in a relatively orderly fashion.

2019-06-09 12:41

The launch is bursting with pilots, gliders and and umbrella clutching spectators. The blue sky overhead is adorned with colourful wings turning, waiting for others to come and join them.

2019-06-09 12:40

Yury Mishanin, Etienne Coupez and Fulvio Polcini are just taking off.

2019-06-09 12:34

A high tech number system has been invented by the Chinese especially for this competition but the number stickers seem to be being put anywhere other than on the correct position on the pilot's helmets.

2019-06-09 12:32

Michael KÜffer, Dominik Breitinger, Rémi Bourdelle and Daniel Walter Arcidiacono are about to take off.

2019-06-09 12:21

The pilots are now able to take off. However there seems to be a sight clash between Chinese beaurocray and the western, 'we want to take off now,' school of thinking.

2019-06-09 12:13

The task is set - todays race is a 64.53 km Race to Goal The window will open at 12:15 Local Time and the Start is at 13:30

2019-06-09 12:07

Maxime Bellemin, the honorary lady in team Ozone, is discussing with Remy whether to stay in the flats or go back to the ridge and the glide angles necessary, which I think seems to boil down to how many kilos of noodles one ate at the excellent pilot meal last night.

2019-06-09 12:05

However, no matter where we are in the world some things never change, the French have taken over the Commentary team table for their top secret briefing, which I am delighted to transmit live to the rest of the world.

2019-06-09 12:03

The pilots will start taking off in the next ten minutes at 12.15. The Start will open at 13.30 in 90 minutes.

2019-06-09 11:55

I've just asked Rémi Bourdelle about today's task. He thinks it will be mainly in the plain, there is little wind, no smog, it should be a good task.

2019-06-09 11:54

For those who had taken part in 2010, the Linzhou they then discovered at the Pre World Cup in 2018 was unrecognisable. The smog was gone, the carved canyons covered in vivid green vegetation were breath taking. Even the noodles were delicious.

2019-06-09 11:53

The first Paragliding World Cup to take place in China was in Linzhou in 1997. The next event was in 2010 with pollution levels making it impossible to see the valley floor from launch, many pilots described the experience as like flying inside a ping-pong ball.

2019-06-09 11:53

The views into the canyon behind are absolutely stunning, this is going to be a great days flying for everyone if the Grand Canyon scenery is anything to go by.

2019-06-09 11:49

A 64km task has been set up and down the valley with a choice of ridge or flats.

2019-06-09 11:41

The pilots are sheltering from the heat of the sun in the club house which is beginning to feel like a sauna.

2019-06-09 11:40

All around launch the spectators shelter from the heat of the sun under colourful umbrellas.

2019-06-09 11:38

The plains stretch out in front of launch dotted with buildings and haze.

2019-06-09 11:35

The trackers are being given out, the pilots are laying out their gliders in the blazing heat of the astro turfed launch area.

2019-06-09 11:34

As for the conditions today, as Baptiste Lambert told me, it's a great sky, there are no clouds, the sky is no longer veiled, there is less wind than yesterday. The conditons are getting better and better.

2019-06-09 11:21

We've swapped 'les baguettes françaises' in Coeur de Savoie France for 'les baguettes chinoises' (chop sticks) in Linzhou China.

2019-06-09 11:20

Here we are in China ready for the first task of the second leg of the 2019 Paragliding World Cup.

2019-06-09 09:01

Welcome to the first day of the Linzhou Paragliding World Cup. And the weather looks cracking!

2019-06-08 09:34

Registration is from 16:00 to 19:00 The definitive version of the waypoints are now available: Right-click or long-press on the link and choose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..."

We also have an Open Airspace file for the no-fly zone around downtown Linzhou and industrial areas here.

2019-05-07 13:42

The PWCA Asian Tour kicks off for the first time this year The inaugural event is in Hexigten, China from 10/7/2019 to 14/7/2019. The next event is in Gochang, Korea from 4/10/2019 to 11/10/2019.

2019 World Cup CHINA ::: Linzhou

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