PWCA - 10th Paragliding World Cup Superfinal ::: Brazil, Baixo Guandu

2019-04-02 19:37

2018 SuperFinal Podium Photos - Baixo Guandu - Brazil
Open Class Podium - Julien Wirtz (2nd) - Pierre Remy (1st) - Russell Ogden (3rd)

Womens Class Podium - Yael Margelisch (2nd) - Méryl Delferriere (1st) - Kari Ellis (3rd)

Team Class Podium - AirG Products (Joint 2nd) - Ozone (1st) - Parastick (Joint 2nd)

Click The Images To Enlarge -
The first World Cup of 2019 begins in Coeur de Savoie, France on 25th May

2019-03-30 18:11

So its all over - we had 113 pilots in goal today - which is great for our final task.

The Paragliding World Cup Association would like to congratulate our overall winners - Pierre REMY (Open), MÃ©ryl DELFERRIERE (Women) and team Ozone.

The final results are now available online - next event will be event 1 of the 2019 season and begins on 25th May - see you there...

2019-03-30 15:57

At 18:00 there will be a local (chilled out) band playing at the HQ

Prizegiving begins at 19:00

At 20:00 the evening will continue witha Rock and Roll band into the late hours....

2019-03-30 15:51

However, I think the final words for this competition before we find out who the new Super Final champions are, have to go to Andrew Williams. When I asked him how he was getting on in his first Super Final, he told me: You have to keep pushing forward to be with the gaggle, the gaggle will always find something, if you don't stay with them you will get left behind. However having said that, he then added this is my favourite competition ever, despite throwing my reserve just before end of speed yesterday. Everyone knows what they are doing. They are all very concise. It's well organised. There is a great mood. There are no egos. Everyone is here for the same reason – to have fun. It's great to see what is possible. It's just been a totally awesome 11 days.

2019-03-30 15:30

Harry won the 'Competition category and People's Choice Award' in the recent Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year Competition for a picture taken during the PWC in Turkey last year, which took 3rd place overall. He was also awarded 10th place overall for another pic taken during the same competition. See issue 196 (December 2018) of Cross Country Magazine.

2019-03-30 15:29

Just a reminder that there are some great articles about 10 years of the Super Final on XCmag.com and that some of Harry Bloxham's excellent photographs will be appearing in a future edition.

2019-03-30 15:20

So for today's winning tactic, which comes from the smiling Scicilian Marco Busetta. The secret of today was to slow down a bit at the end and really pick your line carefully, Marco followed the optimum line at the end. He explored a bit and found which was the liftiest line. He saw little cumulous growing by watching the shadows on the ground so chose that line. Marco is always smiling so I think that flying around under a happy cloud has definitely helped him to get across ESS first twice in this competition.

2019-03-30 14:58

The last two pilots are just coming into goal Midori Nakanome and Paolo Veratti.

2019-03-30 14:52

Kaoru Ogisawa is doing a lap of honour of the goal field. I don't think he wants to land. He is one of the real characters of our sport in many disciplines and we'll all be following him as he competes in this years X-Alps, as, at 59 years old he will be the oldest competitor ever to take part in the race.

2019-03-30 14:43

Silvia Buzzi Ferraris is just coming into goal with Davide. In fact she took part in her first World Cup in Italy at Monte Cornizzolo in 1997, along with two other newbies at the time, Davide Licini and Stephane Drouin!

2019-03-30 14:41

Davide Licini is just coming into goal. Davide hasn't had much time for flying this winter, it's just been work, work, work on the new Jack&Jones Collections but the result looks worth it. Any brand of clothing which can make the scruffiest bunch of paraglider pilots look well dressed, deserves respect. T-shirts off to Jack&Jones.

2019-03-30 14:41

Another useful tip I find is to have a look at the other 'good' pilots – so during the race, watch them and kind of follow their route.

2019-03-30 14:40

The most helpful thing for me was to talk to the older and more experienced pilots – whenever you have a question about the task there will be someone who can help out. Either by explaining their opinion about the different options you could take during the race or by just telling you if it would make sense to take-off a bit earlier or to wait a bit. For me personally it's quite helpful to be in the air soon. So I have enough time to relax and get a feeling for the conditions.

2019-03-30 14:40

Elisabeth Egger has just come into goal, one of our new Super Finalists and in fact Today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions comes from Eli.

2019-03-30 14:29

It's mayhem at the goal field, every kid with a bicycle in the state of Espirito Santo is here and the traffic jam and BBQs on launch this morning have moved as one to the goal field.

2019-03-30 14:22

As one of the 4 possibles to win the Super Final when they took off this morning, Russell Ogden was 8th across End of Speed this morning which will have helped his score and might even put him on the podium, not bad for somebody who isn't any good anymore.

2019-03-30 14:18

Frank then came 2nd in his second ever World Cup which was in in Montalegre in Portugal also in 2000. Unfortunately the top spot on the World Cup podium has always eluded him. But we are sure one day it will be his.

2019-03-30 14:17

Frank came 3rd in his first ever World Cup which was in Governador Valadares in Brazil in 2000. The other very young looking newby in the competition was future Super Final Champion, Stefan Wyss.

2019-03-30 14:17

Frank competed in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy.

2019-03-30 14:17

Big Brazilian Frank Brown has just landed to big cheers.

2019-03-30 14:14

One thing is for sure, Méryl Delferriere will have taken the ladies title, she came in 15th overall today, another amazing performance.

2019-03-30 14:13

Julien Wirtz and Pierre Remy are congratulating each other with big hugs and french salutations and trying to work out with a 34 second difference between them and pretty much the same lead out points who will be the winner of this celebratory 10th Super Final.

2019-03-30 14:02

As they bunch up their gliders and walk to the shade, the tension on their faces is obvious, how will today have changed the scores?

2019-03-30 14:01

What a chaotic sight as they drop in amongst the clumps of grass, in what looks like all shapes and sizes of colourful arcs.

2019-03-30 13:58

Wow this is amazing what a sight as they all race in above our heads so colourful as we squint skywards.

2019-03-30 13:57

Here they come, all eyes skywards, this must be the most photographed moment in the history of Baixo Guandu

2019-03-30 13:56

This is going to be a close dusty finish which is probably going to change the overall scores.

2019-03-30 13:55

They have got end of speed and are just crossing the goal line.

2019-03-30 13:55

Behind them Clement Latour, Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson.

2019-03-30 13:54

In the lead: Marco Busetta, Francisco Javie Reina Lagos, Julien Wirtz, Michael Sigel, Stefan Wyss,

2019-03-30 13:53

They have a good bouyant glide, so the leadesrs should make it.

2019-03-30 13:52

The leaders have just come into view of the goal field. They are clearly visible with a big puffy cumulous cloud behind them.

2019-03-30 13:51

Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson is with them, Hans flew to fame in the 9th Super Final, it was his first SF and he won task 5 hands down, coming in 4 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the leaders! This was the first time that an Icelandic pilot had won a World Cup task.

2019-03-30 13:50

Pierre Remy is 1 km behind Julien this could change today's overall scores.

2019-03-30 13:48

Leading lady Méryl Delferriere is flying her way to Super Final first lady stardom.

2019-03-30 13:47

Marco Busetta is with them

2019-03-30 13:47

Francisco Javie Reina Lagos is in the lead

2019-03-30 13:47

Ronny Geijsen and Michael Sigel are just behind them.

2019-03-30 13:46

Julien Wirtz and Clement Latour are 10 km from Ess.

2019-03-30 13:44

Vitoria is the nearest airport on the coast. Incidentally, Vitoria is a great place to relax pre or post paragliding comp, as long as you don't find the ratio of flesh to fabric on the beaches too scary!

2019-03-30 13:43

The couple next to me in the goal field have made a three hour train journey from Vitoria to come and watch the comp.

2019-03-30 13:41

In the goal field kids play with home made paragliders, cacti stand pointing skywards, draggon flies float about as the real kings of the sky.

2019-03-30 13:39

The leaders are about to get the last turn point. Idris Birch, Youngjong Park, Ernesto Hinestroza, Rafael Moraes Barros, Tanguy Renaud-goud.

2019-03-30 13:37

Having safely made it to the goal field I am now sitting comfortably on a paraglider bag looking like a real Super Final pilot so I can now bring you up to date.

2019-03-30 13:31

We've just nearly taken out a motor cyclist who was clearly watching the sky more than the road.

2019-03-30 13:29

The leaders are just coming over Baixo Guando with Sebastien Loeb and I risking life and limb to keep up with them.

2019-03-30 13:20

The conditions are great as they charge to the last turn point, very little wind.

2019-03-30 13:19

Jeison Zeferino is right out in front with Stephan but on the other side of the optimum line.

2019-03-30 13:18

There is obviously a very lifty line, as is often the case along the muddy waters of the Rio Doce as Stephan Morgenthaler has stopped to get lift there.

2019-03-30 13:16

Right up with the lead gaggle to the west of the course line is Stefan Bernhard, he's used to flying fast as he flies jets for a living.

2019-03-30 13:14

So in summary we have got 2 leading lines, equidistant from the optimum line. Charging south, just crossing the river.

2019-03-30 13:12

Felix Rodriguez Fernandez's tracker is off line, he's just got the second turn point. For Felix : It's a beautiful landscape. You can't get too high so you really have to think about the next climb, there is no time to relax. You really have to read the clouds and see where the thermal trigger is on the ground. There is not much wind, so you have to look for where the sun is heating the ground to spot the thermal triggers, very different to where he lives in Chamonix in France.

2019-03-30 13:08

As Andreas Malecki told me: The big tactic will be not to go too fast but really stay calm and get to goal. The thermals are best in the flats. The sun is directly overhead so it doesn't hit the vertical back rock faces. The thermals can be blown from the flats up the mountains. This is what I think Stephan Morgenthaler is tooking for today by going to the crater.

2019-03-30 13:06

The others are following the course line.

2019-03-30 13:06

Stephan Morgenthaler is heading to the crater, followed by Yoshiaki Hirokawa.

2019-03-30 13:04

Stephan Morgenthaler, winner of task 7 is in the lead, closely followed by Yoshiaki Hirokawa.

2019-03-30 13:02

Having got the second turn point they are now flying south to the last turn point, back across the milk chocolate Rio Doce.

2019-03-30 13:01

I talked a bit yesterday about the jobs that some of the pilots in this competition do, but there is one person in this competition who really does have a job which is the envy of the others. Stephane works for Kronenburg as a beer taster for the brand Twist Tourtel - the dream job for more than half the pilots in this competition. Everyone at Tourtel beer will be raising a glass to Stephane at the moment.

2019-03-30 12:59

Stephane Benoit is up with the leaders today getting the second turn point.

2019-03-30 12:57

Yoshiaki Hirokawa is also getting the turn point. He was the star performer in Japan's paragliding XC team in the 2018 Asian Games in Puncak, Bogor Regency, Indonesia. The Japanese team won gold. Yoshiaki is definitely going for gold today.

2019-03-30 12:55

First lady overall in the race at the moment, Méryl Delferriere, is with the leaders getting the second turn point.

2019-03-30 12:54

The leaders have got the second turn point: Michael Sigel, Alexandre Jofresa, Torsten Siegel, Idris Birch, Felix Rodriguez Fernandez, Jonathan Marin.

2019-03-30 12:51

I hope Yassen Savov 's Mum isn't watching this as he has got low and left behind again.

2019-03-30 12:50

For a day when they were all meant to follow each other this is incredible, as they approach turn point 2 this could be anyones task and Super Final win.

2019-03-30 12:49

For those at fly Sussex who can't find Martin in the lead gaggle, go onto the PWCA app, onto the leader board page, scroll down to Martin's name, press the 'follow' button then go to the tracking page.

2019-03-30 12:46

Martin Long is with the leaders today, all his students at Fly Sussex paragliding school in England are apparently glued to our live tracking at the moment, no ground handling for them today.

2019-03-30 12:44

Pepe has made a real break for it showing that the older you get the faster you go.

2019-03-30 12:44

The leaders are going all different ways, Jacques Fournier under the cool shade of his famous hat, which rumour has it he wears under his helmet is going for a long low ridge on the way to turn point 2.

2019-03-30 12:41

The conditions remain good, there is no cirrus today, it's clear blue with fluffy cumulous making it a picture post card perfect paragliding day.

2019-03-30 12:39

Pepe competed in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy. Like many of the pilots from the northern hemisphere, Pepe had a 4 month break from flying during the winter months but he managed to get in some good training at the Monarca Open in Valle de Brava, Mexico, organised by World Cup partner Alas Del Hombre, in mid January. Valle de Brava is another of the destinations reviewed in this years CrossCountry magazine Travel Guide.

2019-03-30 12:38

Andreas Malecki is at the front.

2019-03-30 12:37

The leaders are spreading out in all directions at the front of the race.

2019-03-30 12:37

Aaron is currently the highest placed pilot in XContest in the Super Final, lying 3rd. His 6 best flights so far took place last November (2018) in Caico, Brazil on his Gin Boomerang 11: 509.65 km: 452.92 km: 423.61 km : 411.47 km : 183.50 km : 145.81 km. Aaron has had a mixed time recently with a knee injury. However, he has had a massive wealth of variety of flying experience from Patagonia to the X-Alps, to Super Final winner in Roldanillo, Colombia (2012) and Governador Valadares, Brazil (2016), experience which is all bound to count.

2019-03-30 12:35

Aaron Durogati one of those who could win this Super Final is right up at the front. Aaron is a real endurance pilot and well adapted to the physical and mental stress of a 10 day long Super Final.

2019-03-30 12:30

This winter Ernesto went to Colombia once again with his family for flying, competing, working (xc guiding) and escaping the German winter. He came 2nd in the Roldanillo Open (VALLE DEL CAUCA), in January 2019.

2019-03-30 12:30

Ernesto is originally from Venezuela but has lived in Germany since 2008 and now flies for Germany. He started paragliding in 1998 at the age of 16 and to do this he some how convinced his parents that he "needed" to fly. He then worked as an instructor and tandem pilot for many years. He started competing seriously in 2012 and has been on the up in the thermals ever since. His best PWC Super Final result was last year at his third Super Final, where he came 8th.

2019-03-30 12:29

Ernesto Hinestroza is also with the leaders, he's currenly lying 8th = overall.

2019-03-30 12:27

Ronny Geijsen is right with the leaders today, this is his first Super Final, although he is a very experienced pilot who has flown all over the World and taken part in the X-Alps.

2019-03-30 12:20

When I reminded Torsten of this he looked at me in disbelief and replied, 'What happened since then? This was yesterday?'

2019-03-30 12:19

A very young Torsten Siegel started competing in the World Cup in 1996, taking part in the Spanish round in the Sierra Nevada, near Granada in 1996, along with an equally young-looking Kaoru Ogisawa. We are delighted to see both Torsten and Ogi taking part once again in this Super Final. They haven't changed much but their wings certainly have.

2019-03-30 12:19

Charles Cazaux (1st), Russell Ogden (2nd), Aaron Durogati (4th), Torsten Siegel (5th), Alberto Vitale (6th), Stephan Morgenthaler (8th), Marco Littame (23rd), Kaoru Ogisawa (28th), Stephane Drouin (30th), Jacques Fournier (32nd), Joachim Oberhauser (33rd), Andreas Malecki (34th), Julien Wirtz (47th), Stefan Wyss (50th), Michael Sigel (51st), Michal Gierlach (56th), Frank Brown (58th), Goran Dimiskovski (60th), Keiko Hiraki (80th), Moonseob Lim (82nd), Yassen Savov (85th), Franck Perring (88th), Petra Slivova (92nd) and Bill Hughes (119th).

2019-03-30 12:18

Just a reminder that 24 pilots who were in the first ever Super Final are here at this celebratory 10th Super Final

2019-03-30 12:16

Pete Slade out in front will need to stop to get a climb.

2019-03-30 12:16

Russell Achterberg and Samuel Nascimento crossed the river at the turn point and are to the north of the lead gaggle.

2019-03-30 12:15

However, having said that Peter Slade has made a break for it and is flying along the course line, the optimum route for scooping up lead out points, flying north west.

2019-03-30 12:13

As Guy Anderson told me this morning, this is a great race for the locals and the spectators to watch (if they aren't stuck in a traffic jam or engulfed in BBQ smoke) as it criss crosses the terrain around Baixo Guandu. However it will be a difficult route for pilots to break away today and change their scores much.

2019-03-30 12:09

This first turn point is really splitting up the leaders.

2019-03-30 12:07

Well done to the task winners in this Super Final so far: Mitch Riley, Petra SLIVOVA, Michael SIGEL, Kiyoshi NARIYAMA, Honorin HAMARD, Stephan MORGENTHALER, Marco BUSETTA and Russell OGDEN

2019-03-30 12:06

Don't forget that the task winners from a World Cup (and obviously this Super Final) get automatic selection to the following year's Super Final.

2019-03-30 12:05

Not to be put off by a disappointing comp in a place where he had previously flown to victory, Marko put on an absolutely amazing performance by storming ahead and coming 1st in task 6 and thus winning the last task by nearly 4 minutes, earning him his place in this Super Final.

2019-03-30 12:05

In Baixo Guandu at the World Cup in 2018, Marco Littame came across Ess first = with Michael Sigel in task 1 (but lost out on leading points). Initially it looked as if we were going to have a repeat of the 2015 World Cup in Baixo Guando which Marco won with a convincing 47 point lead. Unfortunately, the next few tasks didn't go his way.

2019-03-30 12:05

Today the leaders in the competition overall will be flying conservatively, staying with the gaggle, not taking risks. Those who haven't done as well as they would have liked in the competition so far and have effectively blown it, will be more likely to take risks and push out to do well in today's task. We saw exactly this happening at the World Cup here in Baixo Guandu in 2018.

2019-03-30 12:04

Francisco Javie Reina Lagos is one of the leaders today along with the big Brazilians Jeison Zeferino and Rafael Saladini.

2019-03-30 12:02

The Hell's Bells in Baixo Guandu village square crank out the midday hour, the pilots push on to turn point one.

2019-03-30 11:59

The leaders are now well on their way north east towards the river and turn point 1. The leadout points have started and are more heavily weighted at this point in the race and less the further round the course they go.

2019-03-30 11:55

The sky is filling in with more cloud but there is still lots of sun

2019-03-30 11:44

For those of you wondering what has happened to French rally driver Sébastien Loeb these days, can I just reassure you that he is alive and well and retrieve driving for the World Cup in Baixo Guandu. A big thank you to Dioclécio (Dió) Rosendo and the rest of his retrieve team for doing such an amazing job, in properly remote areas here in Brazil.

2019-03-30 11:43

The pilots are now flying over dense jungle, grass which is taller than any of them, banana trees, creepers, giant yuca plants, big boulders, leafy trees and lots and lots of dust. However that maybe because risking life and limb for the World Cup I have swapped my trusty donkey for Sebastian Loeb today.

2019-03-30 11:31

Our commentator is, unfortunately, stuck in a major traffic jam on the way down from takeoff and may not have a mobile signal - but, for now, the start is open and the pilots are headed off on this 100km final task.

2019-03-30 11:30

Apart from a few pilots bombing out (those who don't get any thermals at all to help them stay up) most people make the Start. At this point all the pilots are together so if you are slightly late with the start there will be lots of thermal markers to help you catch up, so with the new lead out points system, it should be possible to catch up and not necessarily lose the race due to a poor Start. We saw Petra Slivova do exactly this in task 2, she was 1 minute late at the start then went on to win the day.

2019-03-30 11:29

Gareth Carter would have preferred a bell curve (low lead out points at the start and finish but much more in the middle) to avoid those who have a bad start and then catch up, being unable to catch up overall, due to poor lead out points. The new system, with a linear curve which starts about two thermals after the Start, will hopefully be a similar principle and work better than the previous system.

2019-03-30 11:27

Just a reminder that 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.

2019-03-30 11:26

It's a very tight gaggle of pilots at the moment - all headed straight for the first turnpoint. Marco Littame is out at the front - but these things can change in an instant.

2019-03-30 11:17

Further proof if any were needed of the pilot quality in this Super Final: Four out of the six World Cup winners from 2018 are taking part in this Super Final competition: Michael Sigel (Super Final Roldanillo, Colombia), Honorin Hamard (Bright, Australia), Gleb Sukhotskiy (Sopot, Bulgaria) and Russell Achterberg (Aksaray, Turkey)

2019-03-30 11:14

Charles, Aaron and Julien are all competing in this Super Final. Currently placed 13th, 4th and 2nd.

2019-03-30 11:12

Those who have been in the top 10 the most times at a Super Final over the past 10 years are Jean-Marc Caron (6 times), Charles Cazaux (5), and with 4 top ten places each: Luca Donini, Aaron Durogati and Julien Wirtz

2019-03-30 11:11

Only 56 pilots have ever been in the top ten in the Super Final since Super Final time began, in 2009. 27 (almost half) of them are competing once again in this Super Final, all hoping for another top ten place!

2019-03-30 11:09

Whilst we are waiting for the Start to open, it's interesting to have a quick look at those in the top 15 from the World Cup here a year ago who are competing in this Super Final. You can have a look at the scores to see how they are doing so far this year: Last year they were Stéphane Poulain, 2nd, Torsten Siegel 3rd, Biagio Alberto Vitale 5th, Rafael Saladini 6th, Franz Schilter 7th, Tim Rochas 8th, Meryl Delferriere 9th, Cody Mittanck 10th, Xavier Laporte 12th, Bastien De Luca 13th, Xevi Bonet Dalmau 14th, Denis Soverini 15th.

2019-03-30 10:59

The pilots are all lining up along the start cylinder/ circle ready for the start to open in 30 minutes.

2019-03-30 10:58

And that's everyone off. The Mayor is just walking back across launch, which reminds me to say a big thank you to the people and crowds from Baixo Guandu who have come out in thousands to welcome us for the past 11 days in this absolutely stunning 10th celebratory Super Final. Mind you, it would have been good if they could have turned the smoke down a bit on their BBQs on launch.

2019-03-30 10:54

And on that note, Honorin and Michael have just taken off, along with Ernesto Hinestroza, Yigit Yildirim, Simon Pellissier, Tanguy Renaud-goud, and Felix Rodriguez Fernandez.

2019-03-30 10:52

Russell Achterberg, certainly didn't lift his foot off the accelerator at all in the World Cup in Aksaray, Turkey, being one of the top leadout point baggers in every task.

2019-03-30 10:51

Yassen Savov hasn't reigned in his reputation for always pushing out in front. He was a leadout point bagger in both Sopot, Bulgaria and in Aksaray, Turkey.

2019-03-30 10:50

Michael Sigel was invariably at the front in the battle for Super Final supremacy at Roldanillo, Columbia in 2018. He was also frequently a leadout point bagger at Baixo Guandu last year.

2019-03-30 10:50

Nicola Donini was one of the most consistent leadout point baggers in the 2017 Super Final.

2019-03-30 10:49

Honorin Hamard, was a clear leadout point bagger in the 2017 Super Final and at the World Cups in Bright, Australia and in Gemona, Italy.

2019-03-30 10:49

They are having a mixed bag of success in this competition.

2019-03-30 10:48

Five pilots competing in this Super Final stand out as the 2018 leadout point baggers.

2019-03-30 10:47

We've just had a reserve throw in front of launch but the pilot is safe and not far away from our retrieve team who are in contact.

2019-03-30 10:42

The three smaller circles are the turn points.

2019-03-30 10:40

The biggest circle on the tracking today is the Start which the pilots are all going to at the moment and will open in 50 minutes time, a bit like a gun going off in a boat race or a donkey race as my companion for this week tells me.

2019-03-30 10:39

You can tell when a pilot has taken off as their name appears on the live leaderboard and tracking. Their trackers only show on the live tracking once they have taken off. This also shows you where the pilots are taking off from.

2019-03-30 10:37

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

2019-03-30 10:37

There are 3 cylinders to go to along the course.

2019-03-30 10:35

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.

2019-03-30 10:35

Everyone waits at the virtual start line in the air, which today will open in an hours time at 11.30, then they try to get away as quickly as possible. 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.

2019-03-30 10:33

For those of you who have just joined us today here's a brief explanation of how a paragliding competition works.

2019-03-30 10:32

Just a reminder that 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.

2019-03-30 10:30

'Paragliding of course,' he replied, food and wine always taste better after a great day out flying.

2019-03-30 10:30

I asked him which was more important to him, paragliding or fine food and wine.

2019-03-30 10:29

Franck Perring has just taken off, in search of good food and great thermals.

2019-03-30 10:28

Aaron is one of four pilots today who could win this Super Final, if he does, it will be his 3rd win, nobody else has ever won it more than once.

2019-03-30 10:27

Aaron Durogati, dressed in matching helmet, racing top and go faster underwear, advertising a soft drink which claims to have wings is just taking off.

2019-03-30 10:23

Stefan Bernhard is just making the final preparations and should be taking off any minute. I'm sorry I can't give more details but everyone is standing on tiptoes in front of me and they are all at least a Brazilian head taller than me.

2019-03-30 10:21

Silvia Buzzi Ferraris and Deonir Spancerski are just launching to the sound of clicking cameras.

2019-03-30 10:19

Jan-philip Rebhan has just made taking off look easy.

2019-03-30 10:18

Moonseob Lim who works with Mr Gin in South Korea is just taking to the air along with Davide Licini from Jack&Jones.

2019-03-30 10:16

Byeongkuk Moon is off

2019-03-30 10:15

Sun tan lotion applied, pee tubes, pampers and nose cones attached and they're going to start taking off any minute.

2019-03-30 10:13

The route up to launch through the bamboo tunnels across rivers has got to be one of the most beautiful (and intrepid) routes to a paragliding launch anywhere in the world, not to mention the back drop of these stunning black dome mountains.

2019-03-30 10:11

The vivid green leaves on the coffee bushes in the plantations on the way up to launch are shining in the sun which is pretty much directly over head here in the tropics.

2019-03-30 10:10

Even the leaves on the banana tress look as if they have fin flop it's so hot today, we have a blue blue sky with just a few clouds.

2019-03-30 10:08

The crowds are about 20 deep on take off. The smoke from the BBQs is making our eyes run, what an ambience, what a welcome from one of the paragliding World's favourite destinations, Baixo Guandu in beautiful Brazil.

2019-03-30 10:06

The task is set - todays race is a 98.82 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:15 Local Time and the Start is at 11:30

2019-03-30 10:02

426 points separate the first three places in the ladies' rankings which are as follows: Méryl Delferriere (5413), Yael MARGELISCH (5115), Petra SLIVOVA (4987)

2019-03-30 10:01

Any of the top 4 could win this Super Final. Pierre REMY, Julien WIRTZ, Russell OGDEN, Aaron DUROGATI. If Pierre wins it he will become only the second pilot ever to have been both World and Super Final Champion, and the first to have been both at the same time. At the moment Charles CAZAUX is the only pilot in the World to have been both (but not at the same time). If Russell wins it, it will dispel the myth that he is always second. If Julien wins it, it will be his first World Cup win and very well deserved. If Aaron wins it, it will be the first time that anyone has won the Super Final three times, he's already won it twice (2012 and 2016).

2019-03-30 10:00

A mere seven points separate the first two pilots after 8 tasks, and 172 points between the top ten. The final day of this 10th celebratory Super Final is going to be very exciting. Pierre Remy (5606), Julien WIRTZ (5599), Russell OGDEN (5542), Aaron DUROGATI (5534), Alexandre JOFRESA (5530), Stéphane POULAIN (5503), Juan Carlos MORAN (5455), Charles CAZAUX and Ernesto HINESTROZA (5441), Franck PERRING (5434).

2019-03-30 09:59

Lead out point baggers in task 9: Rafael SALADINI, Russell OGDEN, Jeison ZEFERINO.

2019-03-30 09:59

Well done to the top 3 teams in task 9: 1st Ozone, 2nd Flymaster, 3rd Woody Valley.

2019-03-30 09:59

Well done to the top 3 ladies in task 9: 1st Méryl DELFERRIERE, 2nd Kari ELLIS, 3rd Laurie GENOVESE

2019-03-30 09:58

Well done to the top 3 overall in task 9: 1st Russell OGDEN, 2nd Pierre REMY, 3rd Rafael Saladini

2019-03-30 09:52

A 98 km task which is a big triangle around Baixo Guandu has been set.

2019-03-30 09:50

Here on launch this morning for the last day of this celebratory 10th Super Final the crowds are out in force as is the sunshine.

2019-03-30 08:59

The final day is here and, with only 100 points separating the top six places, there is lots to fight for today.

The pilots are on the way to takeoff and we expect task news at about 11:00 - keep watching...

2019-03-29 19:09

It was a great day and a great task - in the end we got 113 pilots in the goal.

The results are now online...

2019-03-29 17:09

With everyone now safely accounted for it is time to look at today's winning tactic which comes from World Champion Pierre Remy who was racing neck and neck with Super Final winner Maxime Pinot (2014 in Turkey). It was turbulent but Pierre was able to cut through the rough air without porpoising and was therefore more efficient in today's conditions.

2019-03-29 15:33

The last section of the course from the last turn point to End of Speed has proved very difficult this afternoon, there were too many clouds, and less thermals. However we should be able to bring you today's scores and more detailed information on where they all landed really soon.

2019-03-29 15:31

We've had a lot of tracker problems at the goal field and it now seems that Pierre Remy, who was leading the competition this morning came across End of Speed first.

2019-03-29 15:25

Unfortunately Khobi is now getting a bit low and really needs another climb to get ESS and for her tracker to keep working.

2019-03-29 15:23

Khobi is famous for her true grit when it comes to landing out. In task 1 here in Baixo Guandu in 2018 she landed in the middle of nowhere just short of end of speed. She had an epic walk out with snakes and river crossings. Fortunately her training in the South African bush meant that she was home from home 'bundu bashing'. Undeterred she came out smiling as always, what a great sport. Today Khobi is very sensibly following a little line of hills with a track next to it to get her to End of Speed.

2019-03-29 15:18

Possibly time to rename the compay 'Smile while you make cruising to goal look so easy.'

2019-03-29 15:17

For 24 years Khobi has been leading 'Smile while you scream' Alpine tours of Europe with clients from all around the world with her company Cloudbase which is a school, shop and B&B based in Wilderness South Africa. The tours include the Stubai Valley in Austria, Basano in Italy, and Le Grand-Bornand in France.

2019-03-29 15:16

Khobi has the wind behind her and is in a nice climb.

2019-03-29 15:15

Actually, to be honest, she's probably having a quick flick through Cross Country magazine catching up on the latest news from around the world of paragliding as she is their South African Distrubutor.

2019-03-29 15:13

10km to goal and 670m above the ground. No pressure on Khobi, but if you are reading this, we are all watching you.

2019-03-29 15:11

Khobi also attained her Tandem Flight Instructor rating in December 2011, and became the first commercial female tandem pilot in South Africa.

2019-03-29 15:09

She's flying with Paolo Veratti. Paolo mostly flies in Monfestino (in the province of Modena, Italy), he's a very versatile pilot who likes both XC and comp flying, so hopefully they will help each other get to goal.

2019-03-29 15:07

Khobi's determination is legendary in the World Cup, somebody who never gives up.

2019-03-29 15:07

Still in the air and just getting the last turn point is Khobi-jane Bowden .

2019-03-29 14:53

Just a reminder that the harnesses are also all now in the scores. Being flown in this competition: GR4 (Gin Genie Race 4), Exoceat (Ozone), XR7 (WoodyValley), Kanibal Race 2 (Kortel) and the Genesis (Nearbirds).

2019-03-29 14:52

Partners have a team in each World Cup event, keep up with the winning teams every day on the World Cup website.

2019-03-29 14:52

Anyone, whether an individual or a business, can become a Paragliding World Cup Partner. To become part of our big paragliding family and help support the continued success of paragliding competitions around the World, contact the Paragliding World Cup Association via the Contact page on the pwca.org website.

2019-03-29 14:52

A big thank you to all our partners for sponsoring the continued success of the Paragliding World Cup.

2019-03-29 14:51

Rémi Bourdelle, Marco Littame, Samuel Nascimento, Martin Petz, Felipe Rezende, Peter Slade, Andrew Williams, Jeison Zeferino, Philipp Haag and Davide Licini are all flying the all new Flow Spectra glider!

2019-03-29 14:51

Having hit the World Cup circuit by storm in 2018, Flow Gliders are now enjoying showing the World what their new glider, the Spectra, is made of, in this celebratory 10th Super Final.

2019-03-29 14:50

The other big news for this Super Final is that we are delighted to welcome into the harness our new partner Flow Gliders. In fact the man behind Flow Gliders is in the competition Felipe Rezende .

2019-03-29 14:49

Loma Bola, Argentina: 09 - 16 November 2019

2019-03-29 14:48

Pico de Gaviao, Brazil: 07 – 14 September 2019

2019-03-29 14:48

Manteigas, Portugal: 29 June to 06 July 2019

2019-03-29 14:48

Linzhou China: 8th to 15th of June

2019-03-29 14:47

Coeur de Savoie, France: 25 May - 01 June

2019-03-29 14:47

We are delighted to announce that the following dates have been finalised on the 2019 World Cup calendar, with the very recent addition of Loma Bola in Argentina in November.

2019-03-29 14:46

In the most recent version of XC magazine, you can read all about the embedded cameras that will bring the action live to an audience of 300,000 at our next event, the Coeur de Savoie World Cup. However, I did read this in the April the 1st 2019, (198) issue so…

2019-03-29 14:46

I get the feeling that poor Honorin needs a holiday. Which reminds me, our partner Cross Country magazine's excellent Travel Guide comes free with a subscription to the magazine. This year they reviewed some of the Turkish destinations we visited last year, namely Aksaray, which hosted one of the 2018 World Cups and Cameli, where we had an extremely successful PrePWC the previous week.

2019-03-29 14:42

We are really not sure at all what Honorin is doing, he seemed to get near the End of Speed and then go free flying.

2019-03-29 14:36

We have a lot of trackers off line on the approach to End of Speed, this is because the pilots have got low and dropped out of coverage. If their tracker is working it generally indicates that they are high.

2019-03-29 14:34

That stategy seems to be working well as she has well and truly taken this competition by storm.

2019-03-29 14:33

And as for Wooyoung's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions: Do your first competition for fun. If you concentrate too much on your position you will get too stressed and not do well.

2019-03-29 14:31

Wooyoung Jang has also just arrived in goal. She started paragliding back in 2000, at University there was a course. She found it a great challenge as she isn't a very brave person, she told me. However, she loved the feeling and sensation of flying. Her first comp was in New Zealand. The winters in S. Korea are cold so she goes to New Zealand or Australia on holiday and entered a competition there for fun. She finds comps safer than free flying because you are surrounded by a proper structure. For that reason Wooyoung doesn't do much solo flying, just competitions. Wooyoung would like to say a big thank you to all the New Zealand and Australian pilots who helped and encouraged her in her first comps, and whom she is now beating, oopsy!

2019-03-29 14:27

Fastest ladies today: Meryl Delferriere, Kari Ellis and Yael Margelisch.

2019-03-29 14:25

Next across ESS were: Julien Wirtz, Emil Cervenan, Rafael Saladini, Joachim Oberhauser, Frank Brown, Durali Karaca.

2019-03-29 14:24

Looking at the lead out points for the fastest 4 (we think): Russell 99%, Theo 95%, Maxime 95%, Isidor 96%.

2019-03-29 14:20

The big black domes either side of the goal field stand like sentries ready to welcome them and to block out our internet reception.

2019-03-29 14:19

The first 4 have got ESS with absolutely nothing in it: Russell Ogden, Theo Warden, Maxime Pinot, Isidor Fink

2019-03-29 14:18

Also at the front : Julien Wirtz, Rafael Saladini, Durali Karaca, Joachim Oberhauser, Isidor Fink.

2019-03-29 14:17

The leaders are neck and neck Russell Ogden, Isidor Fink, Maxime Pinot, Theo Warden.

2019-03-29 14:16

2km to go this is an amazing race to goal, what a sight.

2019-03-29 14:16

Just behind, Theo Warden, Durali Karaca, Rafael Saladini, Frank Brown, Kari Ellis, Loïs Goutagny, Francisco Javie Reina Lagos..

2019-03-29 14:15

They all have the same height. Maxime is flying at 55 km/h Isidor 61, Russell 55, Julien 64 km/h

2019-03-29 14:14

In the lead: Maxime Pinot, Russell Ogden, Isidor Fink, Julien Wirtz.

2019-03-29 14:13

The first 4 are all on final glide to goal. on 6:1 to goal so they don't need to stop and find a climb, just go for it.

2019-03-29 14:13

I remember years ago Maxime telling me that when Yassen gets in the lead there is not much you can do, I think Yassen is probably feeling the same at the moment, but he certainly isn't giving up. What a race.

2019-03-29 14:10

Maxime has taken the lead.

2019-03-29 14:10

Just behind them Julien Wirtz and Aaron Durogati. Could this put Juilen in the lead? He's the highest of the leaders. His whole family back in France are glued to their computers, willing Dad on.

2019-03-29 14:08

11 km to End of Speed. Yassen Savov and Maxime Pinot are neck and neck but Yassen is 300m lower. They have got pretty much the same leadout points.

2019-03-29 14:06

Yassen has got the last turn point, closely followed by Maxime Pinot, Aaron Durogati, Jeison Zeferino, Julien Wirtz, Isidor Fink, Ernesto Hinestroza, Michael Sigel,

2019-03-29 14:01

And just when we thought everyone was going to fly nice and sensibly together to get round the rest of the course, Yassen has pushed on ahead of the lead gaggle. I really hope his poor mother isn't watching this, she must have nerves of steel.

2019-03-29 14:00

Deonir tries things which maybe don't always work, like pushing out too much and landing short, but he always comes back having learnt from it and, as a result, a better pilot every year. He first caught our attention when he threw his reserve at the 8th Super Final in nearby Governador Valadares. We then saw Deonir pushing out a lot in the Pico do Gaviao World Cup in 2017, definitely one of the new leaders. He is currently ranked 5th in Brazil.

2019-03-29 13:55

Honorin Hamard has gone for the crossing, along with: Jonathan Marin, Flavio Funiati, Deonir Spancerski, Stefan Bernhard, Brett Hazlett, Daniel Walter Arcidiacono, better know Down Under as Wally.

2019-03-29 13:53

The river is always a good source of lift, as is any contrast in colour or terrain, so they have all stopped to climb.

2019-03-29 13:50

Honorin Hamard has got a climb.

2019-03-29 13:50

The leaders are all arriving at the banks of the muddy, milk chocolate, Rio Doce.

2019-03-29 13:49

Well the search for ice cream is well and truly on. Honorin Hamard has gone up river, on his own, low. I have that sense of deja vu...

2019-03-29 13:48

However, I don't blame them the Açaí ice cream here is definitely to land for, it's a typical Brazilian dish made of frozen and mashed açaí palm fruit and often served as a smoothie.

2019-03-29 13:44

Alessio Voltan is breaking away from the gaggle, these Italians really will make any detour necessary to get an ice-cream

2019-03-29 13:41

Aaron is made of true grit and determination. At the beginning of last year (2018) a famous Italian doctor told him he would not be able to compete in hike&fly competitions again. Instead of putting his slippers on, sitting down on the sofa to cry about it, drying his tears with a large Red Bull handkerchief, he went off out and won the Dolomitenmann, the Red Bull Elements, the Rise&Fall race in Austria. Now he is taking part in the Super Final and preparing to do the X-Alps again this summer.

2019-03-29 13:40

Aaron is one of the very few pilots who has flown a PWC task with a pair of crutches in his harness and still managed to come 3rd (Gemona, Italy in 2018).

2019-03-29 13:39

Aaron Durogati, the only pilot to have ever won the Super Final twice is right with the leaders as they head towards the river.

2019-03-29 13:37

The leaders are flying over some more of these spectacular black granite domes, water streaked with foliage, cacti and other spiky vegetation growing out of their sombre rock faces.

2019-03-29 13:34

Joachim is a very experienced Alpine pilot. Unfortunately, Baixo Guandu is not the Alps. Joachim has, however, also notched up some good scores in Brazil in the past. He was 2nd overall in the 2013 Super Final in Governador Valadares finishing in the top ten in 5 out of the 8 tasks. He also won a task in both the 2009 World Cup and the 2016 Super Final in the same location. 'I've been on the podium twice in a Super Final, this time I want to win!' He told me.

2019-03-29 13:33

Joachim Oberhauser is right with the leaders, he's had 3 top ten places so far in the competition so if he gets another two good tasks could do well.

2019-03-29 13:30

They are now flying north east to the third and final turn point which is 22 km away, but they should have the wind behind them.

2019-03-29 13:27

A gaggle of about 50 have just taken that turn point within one km of each other.

2019-03-29 13:26

Slow down a bit everyone, the police have speed cameras on the ground and there are big blue holes ahead in the cloud cover.

2019-03-29 13:24

The clouds are getting a bit more spread out now, I think the next part of the course will be a bit slower.

2019-03-29 13:23

Flavio Funiati and Honorin Hamard have got the turn point.

2019-03-29 13:22

Who is going to be the first to get this 2nd turn point?

2019-03-29 13:20

Taking of youngsters Theo Warden is right up at the front too, presumably hoping that Flavio knows where he is going.

2019-03-29 13:19

Flavio's life seems to revolve around anything which flies. Last year Flavio learnt to hang-glide for fun, he's only done a few flights but he's looking forward to doing more - let's hope he doesn't go too much over to the hangie side.

2019-03-29 13:18

Youngest pilot in the comp, and invariably at the front, Flavio Funiati, is right at the front again today.

2019-03-29 13:16

Also in the lead gaggle is the current overall Super Final Champion Michael Sigel. Having won XContest last year, in 2018 Michael is currently lying 8th with four big flights from his trip to Caico in Brazil last October: 551.21 km; 516.60 km: 465.33 km; 440.57 km. In October 2018 at the annual Swiss XC camp at Caico in Brazil, Michael flew 551 km on his Gin Boomerang 11 with four other pilots in close company including Chrigel Maurer at 520 km, thus breaking the record set by Charles Cazaux in 2015 in Australia of 476 km, the world paragliding free distance via up to three turn points record.

2019-03-29 13:12

Current ladies' Super Final champion Laurie Genovese is in the lead. She has won the ladies' Super Final twice 2014 and 2017.

2019-03-29 13:10

Julien Wirtz and Pierre Remy, who are leading the competition with only 1 point separating them after 7 scoring tasks are right at the front too.

2019-03-29 13:06

It is very difficult to see who is in the lead, they are so close together at the front.

2019-03-29 13:05

The pilots are now going through a little mountain pass. What an amazing sight. On the main state high way at the mandatory police road block everyone is looking skywards, even the military police. So if you want to get some dodgy coffe beans across the border and into the next state, now is the time to do it.

2019-03-29 13:02

Nicola Donini has broken away towards Aimores, I am not sure whether that is for an ice cream or to get a climb.

2019-03-29 13:00

Talking of which, Samuel is right beside him both flying the new Flow Gliders Spectra, so there will be a lot of crinkling going on in the front row of the gaggle today.

2019-03-29 12:58

Jeison has been flying in competitions for 4 years. His first PWC was in 2017 at Pico do Gaviao in Brazil. He then came 33rd in his first ever Super Final (in Roldanillo, Colombia) a few months later, second Brazilian after big distance flying hero, Samuel Nascimento.

2019-03-29 12:57

Jeison Zeferino has made a break for it and has struck out alone and low. I really hope that none of these pilot's mothers are watching this, it is nerve wracking.

2019-03-29 12:55

Daria Krasnova has now got a good climb above the town, flying this task all on her own, go Daria. 1st to 53rd in 5 minutes, never mind.

2019-03-29 12:53

The clouds are still looking good to both the north and the south of the town of Baixo Guandu, which should help them with the slightly flatter terrain on ahead.

2019-03-29 12:52

Why is it easier and more efficient to fly in a gaggle? Paraglider pilots rely on rising currents of air called 'thermals' to climb high before gliding to the next one. The thermals have mobile cores. When you are on your own it is really difficult to find thermals and the core of the thermal. Therefore it is much more efficient to stay with the gaggle and all search together, spreading out en route to the next thermal to increase the chances of finding one.

2019-03-29 12:51

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, like the Super Final where I intend to 'live in the gaggle' for the most part. In the PrePWC in Reunion Island (which he won), I won by being consistent, but I was also flying on my home turf, Reunion Island being my old 'home spot.''

2019-03-29 12:50

As Baptiste Lambert told me, the mountains don't work that well here, instead you have to go for the plains which just is so not natural for an Alpine pilot. There are lots of traps. The most important thing is to take your time, stay high and be patient. Baptiste's Mum Sandy will be very relieved to hear her son say that.

2019-03-29 12:49

The others all seem to be looking for climbs on the hills to the south of the town, it is so difficult to know what will work here and when.

2019-03-29 12:47

Can Daria get some lift above Baixo Guandu? She seemed pretty low over our heads on her big lime coloured paraglider, searching and searching, hoping for something but she has now gone out of sight.

2019-03-29 12:45

Nicola Donini is taking the same line as Daria but is higher.

2019-03-29 12:44

Daria is crossing Baixo Guandu pretty low, just going in a straight line getting nothing, this could be quite a short pampers day out today.

2019-03-29 12:39

Rafael is currently the Brazilian champion and the paragliding World distance record holder.

2019-03-29 12:39

Task 7's first across end of speed Rafael Saladini is just overtaking Daria.

2019-03-29 12:37

However, whilst Daria stays by the river the chasing gaggle behind her are moving back to the course line

2019-03-29 12:36

Daria Krasnova! runs paragliding guided tours in countries as far flung as Ecuador, visiting famous flying sites like: Quito, Ibarra, Baños, Guayaquil finishing at the beach at Montañita for a bit of ridge soaring. I can think of worse ways to earn a living - well done Daria!

2019-03-29 12:35

Meanwhile Daria, on a mission to do today's task in as few pampers as possible is flying along by the river which is working well. Her motto is 'have glider, will travel'. Today I think it is 'have glider, will fly fast.'

2019-03-29 12:31

Honorin and Meryl Delferriere lead the table for having qualified the most times for the 2018 Super Final, having both qualified 8 times! Honorin has been World Champion (2015); 2 task wins at the 2018 PWC in Gemona, Italy; 2 task wins in Bright, Australia, plus 1st overall; 1 task win at the 2017 Super Final and 4th overall.

2019-03-29 12:31

Honorin Hamard is high and at the front of those flying along the course line.

2019-03-29 12:30

However, as unual nobody is thinking about trying to make the poor commentators life easy today so another group have decided to follow the course line.

2019-03-29 12:25

Daria Krasnova is with the leaders, she had a long 3 Pampers day out yesterday so is keen to get round quickly today.

2019-03-29 12:24

They are all heading towards the river now which usually works well.

2019-03-29 12:22

Russell Ogden who is lying in 6th position overall is with the leaders.

2019-03-29 12:21

The leaders have got the turn point.

2019-03-29 12:21

Just a note on that one, that the World Cup is an individual competition and not one with national teams.

2019-03-29 12:20

Well done to the Turkish pilots in this competition Durali Karaca, Huseyin Tanriverdi and Yigit Yildirim who despite being small in number, have been perfectly capable of representing their country with only 3 pilots. They have done extremely well to attract some pretty top class sponsors, the Turkish Air-sports Federation (THSF) and Turkish Airlines Technic. Durali, Huseyin and Yigit hope that this will attract more Turkish pilots into the World Cup.

2019-03-29 12:18

Yigit Yildirim is right with the leaders.

2019-03-29 12:18

The lead gaggle are just abouts at the first turn point.

2019-03-29 12:17

We have a 10- 15 km S.E. wind.

2019-03-29 12:15

Yassen has got himself on a nice ridge which seems to be working well.

2019-03-29 12:14

Yassen has now turned and is racing towards the turn point.

2019-03-29 12:13

When I asked European champion Theo Warden what works in this landscape, 'following other people he told me. However this doesn't always work, the cycles are short, you can watch others climbing, get to them and the cycle has already finished.

2019-03-29 12:13

For World Champion, Pierre REMY, who is currently leading the competition overall, at this stage in the race you need to not push out too much, stay high. The mountains don't work that well here, it's best to look for holes in the ground which pool the hot air and trigger thermals.

2019-03-29 12:09

With the wind behind him Yassen is pushing out north going fast vaguely towards the turn point but getting all the lead out points, barking madly as he goes.

2019-03-29 12:08

The lead out points are just starting. Yassen Savov is getting the most at the moment.

2019-03-29 12:08

A big gaggle is now surging north west towards the first turn point which is the small cylinder inside the start cylinder.

2019-03-29 12:04

Dominik Breitinger has gone the furthest round the cylinder.

2019-03-29 12:03

This task has really spread the pilots out round the start cyclinder, which I predicted it would not do.

2019-03-29 12:02

As one they turn and go for it.

2019-03-29 12:02

There are nicely formed cumulous clouds, a good mix of sun and blue. The pilots are all milling about under a big puffy white cloud with the black domes at take off looking up at them. The air today is very clear.

2019-03-29 12:01

The Hells Bells are craschendoing in a very out of tune manner in Baixo Guandu village square, so the race is on.

2019-03-29 11:19

Felix Rodriguez Fernandez, one of the world's best acro pilots is taking off, bringing up the rear, but don't forget this part is not timed so it doesn't matter when you launch, as long as you leave yourself enough time to get to the start to be in a good strategic position for the race starting there at 12h.

2019-03-29 11:13

The last few pilots are taking off. 45 minutes until the start open.

2019-03-29 11:13

Torsten told me, 'based on Gin's winning glider, the Boomerang 11, the Leopard is a state of the art 2-liner with maximum performance and the saftey of an EN-D wing. It has been tested all over the World, from smooth conditions in Taiwan, to the very rough places like Salt Lake City (US) and Valle de Bravo (Mexico), to give one of the best performing EN-D gliders in the World. The Leopard has less aspect ratio and a reduced amount of lines due to fewer cells than the Boomerang 11. Thanks to the experience we gained with the RFC (Ready for certification) gliders we used in the Paragliding World Cup, the profile has now even more performance, but at the same time, it is more forgiving. A big effort has been made to tension the sail correctly. The glider is not only very pitch stable, but the entire canopy is quite stiff and the wingtips are stable. This results in stress-free flying, especially in rough air. The brakes are very responsive and the glider reacts immediately on input. The Leopard is the perfect glider for flying cross country and competitions, it has the best glide that we have seen for an EN D.' So, it's very good to see that Torsten, Maxime and the Gin R&D team haven't been sitting twiddling their thumbs all winter!

2019-03-29 11:11

Over the winter Torsten has been working on the GIN Leopard and the new GIN Puma for 2019 - this is the light-weight version which Maxime Pinot will fly during the X-Alps.

2019-03-29 11:10

Torsten has got such an impressive list of paragliding victories, spanning nearly quarter of a century, that when we put his profile on the World Cup website a few weeks ago it went into meltdown for three days!

2019-03-29 11:08

Torsten Siegel and Maxime Pinot are just back from testing Gin's new wings in Valle de Bravo and Yelapa in Mexico.

2019-03-29 11:07

Another group who know their wings inside out are those who work for Gin Gliders flying in this comp.

2019-03-29 11:05

'It's a great environment to try out new concepts,' Tim told me. Let's see how he gets on with the finished version, now certified CCC.

2019-03-29 11:05

Tim then learnt a lot about the new Niviuk Icepeak RFC glider by putting it through its paces at the World Cup in 2018 in Baixo Guandu, where he came 8th overall.

2019-03-29 11:04

Over the last few years Tim has worked really hard on the new Icepeak, both in front of his computer and testing it in the air, comparing it in the air. Tim and Olivier Nef spent about 500/600 hours in the air flying different proto types before they finally got the perfect result they were hoping for. They tried to excel in every aspect of the wing, from the diameter of the lines and their strength, to the choice of materials, to how it was assembled, the quality of the stitching, the finished surface, the internal forces and the distribution of the forces, nothing was left to chance.

2019-03-29 11:04

Tim also finds it interesting and rewarding to spend time at the factory in Asia, to get the production of new products underway, to work with those on site to improve the quality and the finish of the surface of the wings.

2019-03-29 11:03

Then it's time for certification. This involves manoeuvres such as front collapses, asymetrics, stalls, spirals to check that the wing which they have been working on really does correspond to the certification characteristics they had been hoping for.

2019-03-29 11:03

Making a new wings is a job of patience, flying, landing, adjusting the lines, testing it again, seeing how it feels, doing comparisons in the air.

2019-03-29 11:03

Tim is both a designer of harnesses and wings with Niviuk and a test pilot. Tim designs everything on a computer first. Once he has finished this stage on the computer the design is sent to the factory in Asia to be made. Tim follows this stage very closely and sometimes goes to the factory to check on progress. Then the prototype arrives and it is time for testing, adjustments and making improvements.

2019-03-29 11:03

Alongside his studies Tim worked with Niviuk to develop the Icepeak. So for a long time he had helped Niviuk develop their racing wings so it was very natural to formalise this with a full time job when he finished his studies.

2019-03-29 11:03

After finishing his studies in Annecy, where, amongst other things, he studied textile design, he did a work experience placement at Niviuk in their R&D department. This went well and he worked on Niviuk's range of harnesses.

2019-03-29 11:02

When Tim was only 13 years old he was lucky enough to have the chance to help Alain Zoller do some certification tests at the Para-test testing house in Switzerland. Due to his light weight Tim then became in great demand to test and do SIV on some of the smaller wings. This was how Tim got to know everyone, and in particular, built up a relationship with those at Niviuk.

2019-03-29 11:02

Tim started off as a ski instructor at Barcelonnette in the South of France. Amongst the things he studied was also specialist fabric designed for outdoor use.

2019-03-29 11:02

For a lot of young paraglider pilots Tim Rochas has the dream job, but how did he get there? Let me explain.

2019-03-29 11:00

So for those wondering how you get to this level, it is worth remembering that some of the pilots taking part in this competition spend all day every day designing and testing top level gliders.

2019-03-29 10:59

One hour to the start open.

2019-03-29 10:59

In fact it would be a lovely day for a picnic if we didn't have to get a trot on to follow this paragliding competition.

2019-03-29 10:58

Little oassis in the bright green valley out in front shimmer in the sunshine surrounded by tall grass and waving palm trees.

2019-03-29 10:57

Lots of the pilots are already thermalling out above our heads, the sun is out, there are lots of pretty clouds in the sky. The big black granite domes lie waiting patiently for the gaggles of pilots to come and gather above them and their tree covered skylines.

2019-03-29 10:53

The pilots are now going to fly north east to get the start. There is a light south easterly wind so there won't be much tactics at the start. There is no advantage to going up wind as you will just have further to then fly.

2019-03-29 10:48

As Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson told me, 'I think this zig zag task up past Baixo Guandu will be relatively straight forward in terrain that the pilots all know and have already flown over. It's going to be a fast task.' Well it is good to see that at least one person is still taking the race seriously!

2019-03-29 10:46

Expecting lots of serious strategy and tactics as we go into the end part of this Super Final I asked European Champion Theo Warden how he was going to fly today's task. He looked uncharacteristically thoughtful for a minute then replied 'Um, actually I don't even know where we are going.'

2019-03-29 10:44

Charles Cazaux, Clement Latour and Marco Busetta are just taking off.

2019-03-29 10:42

The start has been slightly delayed to 12h as we had a cross wind on launch but the wind has now cooperated with us and is now on launch. What a beautiful day.

2019-03-29 10:40

The task is set - todays race is a 98.61 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:30 Local Time and the Start is at 12:00

2019-03-29 10:31

The task is set - todays race is a 98.61 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:30 Local Time and the Start is at 11:45

2019-03-29 10:23

Leading the ladies ranking with 2 top ten overall places so far is Méryl Delferriere, (4620), 2nd Petra SLIVOVA (4428) 3rd Yael MARGELISCH (4275).

2019-03-29 10:22

So as we go into task 9 the overall positions are as follows: Pierre REMY (4852), Julien WIRTZ (4851), Alexandre JOFRESA (4795), Aaron DUROGATI (4788), Stéphane POULAIN (4773), Russell OGDEN (4768), Juan Carlos MORAN (4710), Franck PERRING (4694), Yigit YILDIRIM (4691), Ernesto HINESTROZA (4681). With just one point separating World Champion Pierre Remy and veteran Super Finalist Julien, Super Final supremacy is still all to play for. If anyone (apart from Pierre) deserves to win this it is Julien, he as come so close to winning a World Cup so many times. He must be one of the most consistent top level pilots who has yet to win a World Cup.

2019-03-29 10:22

Lead out point baggers in task 8: Yassen SAVOV, Mitch RILEY, Marco BUSETTA.

2019-03-29 10:22

Well done to the top 3 teams: 1st Ozone, 2nd Woody Valley and 3rd Flymaster.

2019-03-29 10:21

Well done to the top 3 ladies in task 8: 1st Méryl Delferriere, 2nd Yael MARGELISCH and 3rd Laurie Genovese

2019-03-29 10:21

Well done to the top 3 in task 8: 1st Marco Busetta, 2nd = Joachim OBERHAUSER and Russell OGDEN.

2019-03-29 10:15

Here we are on launch ready for task 9. A 98 km task has been set. There is a good mix of paraglider friendly clouds and blue patches breaking through. The pilots should be taking off in about 15 minutes from launch and the virtual Start line 3 km from launch will open at 11.45h in 90 minutes time.

2019-03-29 09:38

2 days left and the weather is still stunning. Pilots are on the way to takeoff and task details should be here in about an hour - enjoy !!

2019-03-28 20:00

The day got weaker and weaker but we still got 72 into the goal.

The results are now online...

2019-03-28 17:28

So as for today's winning tactic from Marco Busetta: I slowed down at the right moment. Today was not a day to go alone. The lines were very important. You often had to go off the optimum route. At the end I went for it because I knew it wouldn't be sinky because the air was smooth and consistent, there was shade everywhere, there was no sun, so I knew there would not be patches of lift or sink so it was easier to judge.

2019-03-28 17:27

So for the top ten across ESS today: Marco Busetta, Joachim Oberhauser, Russell Ogden, Julien Wirtz, Charles Cazaux, Méryl Delferriere, Christian Biasi, Frank Brown, Aaron Durogati and Stefan Bernhard.

2019-03-28 17:23

I don't know who shows more true grit, Yassen, or his Mum watching his every dash for the dust.

2019-03-28 17:18

This was the decisive part of the course. Honorin Hamard continued in the high ground to the east of the course line which proved to be slower. Andreas Malecki and a large gaggle continued on almost to the optimum line from the last turn point to ESS before heading north east to the last turn point. Yassen Savov who was in the lead for all the last part of the course waited until he was south of the turn point and took the direct route north. Marco Busetta followed him. Yassen got stuck, Marco sailed over his head and got to goal.

2019-03-28 17:00

At 13:58:42 I wrote, 'At some point they are going to have to leave the comfort of the cloud street they are surfing along underneath and the range of mountains below and head north to turn point two.'

2019-03-28 16:47

So now that I am back in the world of modern technology, let's see what happen at the end part of today's race.

2019-03-28 15:24

Even the Brazilians are mopping their brows, dust sticking to every sweaty surface.

2019-03-28 15:19

The sound of ballast bags being emptied watering the field, drowning the ants, chance would be a fine thing.

2019-03-28 15:17

And still they drop into the goal field, a big pair of feet have just skimmed my head. The big clumps of grass making a bouncy landing, the draggon flies flying for cover.

2019-03-28 15:14

Christian Biasi flew around very comfortably in his Woody Valley harness

2019-03-28 15:13

Aaron Durogati told me it was interesting, difficult, beautiful.

2019-03-28 15:11

Russell Ogden probably 3rd across Ess told me, very beautiful scenery, weak conditions in the middle, nice.

2019-03-28 15:09

Martin Long: awesome task, lively at the Start, lots of cloud suck around the course.

2019-03-28 15:07

Stefan Wyss has had a great day and is just putting his sun hat back on after a good job done.

2019-03-28 15:05

Frank Brown is doing high fives around the goal field. The locals standing on the dusty road seem to know all the Brazilian big names.

2019-03-28 15:01

There are quite a few pilots landing short in the 2m tall long grass, I think search parties will have to be sent in to find them.

2019-03-28 15:00

As far as the eye can see there is a procession of paragliders coming gracefully across the field of higher than pilot high grass before the goal field into goal.

2019-03-28 14:58

Next in Brazilian hero Rafael Saladini, which turned the crowd of lots of biting insects wild!

2019-03-28 14:57

The first to toucn down and almost kiss meet director Marcelo's toes Marco Busetta.

2019-03-28 14:54

The leaders are coming across a green lush landscape into goal.

2019-03-28 14:50

The goal field, for those who are wearing shiny new white trainers dappled in cow pat, does seem to be live stock free today. However, for anyone less than a metre tall we risk never finding them in the long grass.

2019-03-28 14:44

Well we've found the goal field but lost the internet.

2019-03-28 14:34

However, in that the Commentary team donkey is currently lost in the undergrowth somewhere near end of speed, I doubt we are going to get a great score today.

2019-03-28 14:33

Trotting along on the Commentary team donkey we have just received a message from the Commentary team homing pigeon along the lines of why does the Scorer cross things out/put a line through the scores rather than either rub them out or use tipex? Let me explain. The score which has been barred out is the score before discards were applied. The not barred score is what remains. The principal of discards, loosely speaking is that you discard the worst 25% of your tasks. This system enables (those who dare) to push out and not necessarily lose their entire competition if they land early.

2019-03-28 14:28

The lush green landscape is dotted with murky muddy oassis and little farmsteads.

2019-03-28 14:27

They are absolutely charging over these tree covered little hills, I bet they aren't even looking down to take in the beautiful red hibiscous bushes or the coffee plantations, or the palm trees waving to them.

2019-03-28 14:24

Yassen Savov has still got a 2 km lead.

2019-03-28 14:19

Honorin and Méryl Delferriere lead the table for having qualified the most times for the 2018 Super Final, having both qualified 8 times! Meryl was 1st lady in Sopot, Bulgaria, 10th overall. 3rd lady in Gemona Italy. 1st lady in Baixo Guandu, 9th overall. 1st lady in Australia. 2nd lady in the 2017 Super Final and 10th overall.

2019-03-28 14:17

Also round the last turn point Huseyin Tanriverdi, Durali Karaca, Russell Ogden, Julien Wirtz, Stéphane Poulain, Méryl Delferriere, Felix Rodriguez Fernandez.

2019-03-28 14:15

Ess is the end of the timed speed section. Their time is taken from 12h when the Start opened until they cross the end of speed (ESS) line. They can then land whenever they want in goal to get their speed/time points which can be as much as 477 points.

2019-03-28 14:13

Yassen has got the last turn point 18 km to ESS.

2019-03-28 14:09

Stéphane started paragliding in 2000. He came from the world of aeromodelling which was on the same site as the paragliders were using. 'When I saw that I could fly myself instead of my model aircraft I took up paragliding.' Stephane has always been interested in everything that involves the wind, e.g. windsurfing so paragliding was a natural progression. He learnt everything he knows about paragliding flying in the plains at the Ardennes and I am sure that everyone at the Club Pointe Ardenne Parapente will be cheering him on today.

2019-03-28 14:07

In fact today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions, comes from Stéphane POULAIN, currently lying 4th overall in this competition so far. 'Always remember to enjoy yourself. If you aren't 100% enthusiastic about doing it you won't do well. It has to always remain a game. Don't take competitions too seriously. Remember that above all competitions are a great way to learn. Ask the more experienced pilots questions. That is the great thing about paragliding those at the top are always ready to help.'

2019-03-28 14:06

Stéphane Poulain is up with the leaders again today, just about to get the last turn point, having a great time by the looks of things.

2019-03-28 13:58

At some point they are going to have to leave the comfort of the cloud street they are surfing along underneath and the range of mountains below and head north to turn point two.

2019-03-28 13:55

Titos was the General organiser of the Ecuador Guayaquil PWC in 2017. He has been flying since 1994. He learnt to fly because his entire family: uncles, cousins and siblings used to fly as well. In Ecuador he has his own paragliding school. He told me 'I love paragliding competitions and my dream is that more Ecuadorian pilots join the competition and improve their flying skills.' Well, I am sure all the paraglider pilots in Ecuador will be cheering him on today.

2019-03-28 13:52

About 1 km behind Yassen, Felipe Rezende, Marco Busetta, Durali Karaca, Vladimir Bacanin, Yongtae Ahn, Ernesto Hinestroza, Juan Carlos (Titios) Moran

2019-03-28 13:45

Yassen Savov is following the route closer to the crater. Whilst Dominik Breitinger and Honorin Hamard are staying closer to the terrain.

2019-03-28 13:43

Also, worth noting, that it is speculated, that the crater they are approaching was formed by a meteorite, but as yet, there has been no evidence to prove this.

2019-03-28 13:42

Just a note on the geology here of these massive rock domes. Geologist Julian ROBINSON explained that they are 500 million years old. They were formed by an ancient collision of two continents, deep down under mountains. They were shaped by glaciers 400 million years ago when Brazil was near the South Pole. Continental drift has brought it to its current position.

2019-03-28 13:40

The pilots are flying along very fast under a cloud street, a line of clouds which gives lift and helps them on their way.

2019-03-28 13:34

Wild horses roam amongst the dense vegetation below them.

2019-03-28 13:33

Honorin Hamard, Yassen Savov, Dominik Breitinger are all up at the front together.

2019-03-28 13:31

They are flying over low tree covered hills with very dense vegetation, creepers, tall grass, palm trees, little clusters of houses.

2019-03-28 13:28

Jouni Makkonen is still up with the group just behind Yassen. On the 19th of May 2018, taking advantage of a northerly airflow, Jouni tow launched from 36m ASL and climbed straight to 1,800m at the start of a 337 km flight, almost literally right across Finland. He flew northwest then southeast, over nine hours, crossing hundreds of lakes and miles of forest. (Cross Country Magazine July 2018). Slightly differnt terrain to what they are flying over today.

2019-03-28 13:24

Yassen Savov has got a 2 km lead, barking is proving to be the winning tactic today.

2019-03-28 13:21

When we were at the World Cup in Aksaray, Turkey I was told in very hushed voices that 'in his normal life, Durali is a very important person.' However, unfortunately Durali was unable to compete in the World Cup in Aksaray, Turkey as he was on very new Daddy duty. I think for baby Vera he is a very important person.

2019-03-28 13:19

Durali Karaca is up with the leaders too today. He has a 7 month old daughter called Vera – so he is really enjoying being able to have a full nights sleep here in Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-28 13:17

It looks as if Yassen Savov is going to cross the river to put himself in a great position to skim round the crater using the hot air which gathers there.

2019-03-28 13:15

And for those of us who are over 25 and don't speak French, it means it comes highly recommended by top young French pilot Baptiste Lambert.

2019-03-28 13:14

Kortel have developed an adjustable ABS system which is really intuitive to use and accessible without letting go of the controls or braking the wing. This lets you stabilise the harness during transitions so that you can find the best lines. You can also use it to apply some weight shift in thermals without making an effort. In summary: C'est le top!

2019-03-28 13:14

Baptiste flies a Kanibal Race 2 harness by Kortel. Here's what he had to say about his new 'second home' : It's really comfortable. They have worked a lot on the back support which is exceptionally good. There is also an adjustable strap at the knee which allows you to reduce the force necessary to hold the cocoon rigid, which is a real plus point for long flights.

2019-03-28 13:13

Baptiste Lambert is right with the leaders.

2019-03-28 13:10

The others seem to be following the mountains, Yassen is just pushing on and straight lining it.

2019-03-28 13:07

Are those following the course line going to over take those to the east?

2019-03-28 13:05

The cloud cover is good, the lines are great but there is also a bit of high cloud now too which I hope will slow them down a bit as at top trotting speed they are still getting away from me on the commentary team donkey.

2019-03-28 12:59

Maxime Pinot has now got a substantial lead and is high.

2019-03-28 12:58

Samuel has lost his lead and his height and has stopped to get a climb, whilst the following gaggle are doing what they do so often, leapfrogging

2019-03-28 12:57

Stephane took part in his first World Cup in Italy at Monte Cornizzolo 1997, along with two other newbies, Davide Licini and Silvia Buzzi Ferraris who are also both competing in this Super Final.

2019-03-28 12:56

Leading the group taking the route to the east of the course line is Stephane Drouin..

2019-03-28 12:55

So we've got a group out in front to the west of the course line, led by Samuel Nascimento, who certainly seems to be pedaling the fastest today. Then further back there is another group going to the east of the course line.

2019-03-28 12:53

Four days after Michael Sigel set his 551 km record in Caico in Brazil, Jouni flew 479.4 km from Caico on his Ozone Enzo 3 to beat Vagner Campos' 2017 straight-distance-to-goal record of 451 km. So a 100km task today shouldn't be too much for him.

2019-03-28 12:52

Jouni told me at the beginning of the Super Final here in Baixo Guandu that he would much rather have stronger conditions, but he's enjoying practicing in the weak conditions that he's not used to. So it looks like with the stronger conditions, today is much more to his liking.

2019-03-28 12:51

Jouni Makkonen is leading a group back onto the higher terrain whilst the rest are following the course line.

2019-03-28 12:50

So who else have we got amongst the Super Stars at the front?

2019-03-28 12:49

Russell Ogden is also with the lead gaggle much to the relief of his sports psychologist wife. Russell was talent spotted to take part in the British team training camp in the mid 1990s by current PWC Technical Delegate Ulric Jessop, back in the days when both of them were neither bald nor grey.

2019-03-28 12:46

Flavio Funiati is taking a route out on his own again today, to the east of the leaders.

2019-03-28 12:43

Honorin Hamard is in the lead with full lead out points.

2019-03-28 12:41

The leaders have just got the first turn point and now have a fast down wind leg

2019-03-28 12:36

Honorin made his debut as a Super Hero in 2018 in the film Flying Fish, by Antoine Boisselier. The film was in the Coupe Icare film festival and can be seen on Vimeo. He's certainly not flying like a fish today.

2019-03-28 12:34

Mitch Riley, Russell Ogden, Honorin Hamard, Andre Rainsford and Byeongkuk Moon are climbing in the lead.

2019-03-28 12:32

Jerome Hulin out at the front definitely needs a climb. Jerome is a paragliding percussionist! Ethnic and African music being his speciality. He plays all over the World. Jerome always tries to put feeling into his music rather than words and finds it similar to paragliding, which is all about feeling too. However I think the raspberries coming out of his vario at the moment will be anything other than sweet to his muscician's ear.

2019-03-28 12:28

Julian Robinson has taken the lead. Julian set a new declared triangle record round the Cairngorms in Scotland in July 2018 of 120 km. The record didn't end as smoothly as he would have liked. He threw his reserve right at the end when he hit strong convergence and nearly landed in the River Dee. At the same time he set a new record for speed around a triangle but he can't remember how fast it was. And as if that wasn't impressive enough, four hours after telling me that story over coffee yesterday morning, he threw his reserve here in the Super Final when, after a big collapse, he found he was left holding a brake handle with nothing attached to it! .

2019-03-28 12:25

The big following gaggle have just arrived like pouncing arubu vultures and taken the lead.

2019-03-28 12:23

So in brief it is a day for racing on ahead it seems, Idris Birch, Paolo Veratti, Yassen Savov, Maxime Pinot are racing ahead to get to the first turn point and scoop up the leading points which are more heavily weighted at this point in the course.

2019-03-28 12:22

He told me the best moment in his life: Being the last pilot in the air in the last task of the Superfinal in 2014 and winning the competition. Could he race ahead and at least win today's task?

2019-03-28 12:19

Maxime Pinot has taken the lead.

2019-03-28 12:19

Samuel is currently lying 4th in the Brazian XContest with 3 big flights all done last October (2018): 414.60 km and 499.65 km (both at Assu, Brazil) and 458.26 km (at Patu in Brazil).

2019-03-28 12:18

Samuel Nascimento has taken the lead.

2019-03-28 12:17

There are two bigger gaggles one by the course line and a bigger group further to the east.

2019-03-28 12:16

Yassen told me on launch 'I feel like an over excited dog which just wants to jump about and bark. It looks like the best day yet. It was working well before 10 o'clock this morning. There is a high cloud base everywhere.'

2019-03-28 12:14

Paolo Veratti and Yassen Savov are also to the south of the course line. The lead out points have now started.

2019-03-28 12:10

However Idris Birch has gone much further round the start as I predicted everyone would do. Thank you Idris for being the only one to read my Commentary today.

2019-03-28 12:08

They have divided into two groups to take the start, one right next to the course line following the mountains and one further north going out into the flats.

2019-03-28 12:06

With the new lead out point scoring system the lead out points now start from about the 2nd thermal onwards after the start so that those who have a poor start do not end up losing the whole race, especially on a day when everyone gets to goal and the lead out points play such a significant part.

2019-03-28 12:00

My World is no longer orange and the race has now started.

2019-03-28 11:53

5 minutes to the start, just enough time to scrape all the orange dust off my contact lenses.

2019-03-28 11:52

Just above and in front of one of the giant black granite domes beside launch there is a 'swarm' of little black dots under a big puffy white cunimb. On the ground there is much excitement and much dust. There is a lot of sun and patches of shde.

2019-03-28 11:39

So they now need to wait in the air around the edge of the big (red on the PWCA app) circle for the Start to open at 12h. Tactically they want to be in the position which allows them to fly the fastest to the next turn points. Giving themselves a fast down wind leg or a mountain ridge (If you are in the Alps) is good.

2019-03-28 11:27

The Start opens in just over 30 minutes.

2019-03-28 11:26

Well with the pilots nearly all off and dust eveywhere it is time to saddle up the Commentary team donkey and go in hot pursuit of pilots and thermals.

2019-03-28 11:25

Just a recap on today's conditions from top Aussie pilot Peter Slade. It looks a great day today, cunimbs developing everywhere. Today will be a day for staying high and cloud hopping. Look for where there is sun on the terrain and cloud above.

2019-03-28 11:21

As Russell Achterberg, winner of the World Cup in Turkey last summer told me, the Start is going to be very interesting, with a wind from the south east the pilots will want to get as far round the Start cylinder as they can before the start opens at 12h in 40 minutes time so that they will get literally blown along the first part of the course. Down wind of course you go much faster than if you are trying to fly into wind. However, they don't want to fly too far and arrive at the start in need of a siesta.

2019-03-28 11:17

The thermals at launch are pretty strong so the pilots are rocketing skywards, along with quite a lot of straw, bits of wind sock and the odd chicken.

2019-03-28 11:16

The start cylinder is to the south east of launch, which is easy to spot because that is where all the parglider pilots who have taken off are showing up on the tracking. The big circle is the Start and and the small circle/cylinder inside it is the first turn point.

2019-03-28 11:11

Clement Hoelter from Reunion Island has just taken off.

2019-03-28 11:10

Marco Busetta, who has had mixed success pushing out has just pushed off and is now in the air too.

2019-03-28 11:08

Silvia Buzzi Ferraris who has gone from blue to blond in this competiton has just taken off, let's see how blond works today.

2019-03-28 11:06

Honorin Hamard, always one to keep an eye on is now in the air too.

2019-03-28 11:06

Elisabeth Egger, who is Aaron Durogati's supporter in the XAlps has just taken off. Let's hope today isn't as arduous as the X-Alps!

2019-03-28 11:04

Davide Licini, easily identified by the enormous Jack &Jones logo on his glider has just taken off.

2019-03-28 11:02

The pilots are taking off despite the windy conditions on launch.

2019-03-28 10:42

The top three ladies are: Méryl DELFERRIERE (3793), Petra SLIVOVA (3757), Yuki SATO COLOMBÉ (3702).

2019-03-28 10:42

So with three tasks left the overall scores are: Pierre REMY (4108), Julien WIRTZ (4102), Aaron DUROGATI (4040), Stéphane POULAIN (4033), Alexandre JOFRESA (4022), Russell OGDEN (3987), Juan Carlos MORAN (3979), Franck PERRING (3973), Yigit YILDIRIM (3957), Ernesto HINESTROZA (3934). A mere 174 points separate the top 10!

2019-03-28 10:42

The task is set - todays race is a 99.98 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:45 Local Time and the Start is at 12:00

2019-03-28 10:42

Task 7 lead out point baggers: Stephan MORGENTHALER, Joachim OBERHAUSER, Theo WARDEN.

2019-03-28 10:41

Well done to our top 3 teams: 1st Woody Valley, 2nd Parastick, 3rd Tree Flying Environment Agency.

2019-03-28 10:41

.Well done to task 7 leading ladies: 1st Kari ELLIS, 2nd Petra SLIVOVA, 3rd Yuki SATO COLOMBÉ.

2019-03-28 10:41

Well done to task 7 winners: 1st Stephan MORGENTHALER, 2nd Rafael Saladini, 3rd = Joachim OBERHAUSER and Pierre REMY.

2019-03-28 10:40

The pilots should be taking off in the next ten minutes.

2019-03-28 10:38

Here we are on launch in beautiful Baixo Guandu with blue skies, cumulous, a gentle breeze and a 100 km task around this stunning landscape ahead of us.

2019-03-27 19:29

The days just keep getting better - 96 pilots in goal today and everybody is back well in time for tonight's pilot dinner.

The results are now online

2019-03-27 17:48

So with everyone now landed safely, here is today's winning tactic from Brazil's very own Indianna Jones, Rafael Saladini. Trusting the clouds worked. When everyone else was a bit uncertain I believed it would work and went for it. I think having very long legs so that your toes cross ESS first also helped.

2019-03-27 17:03

This is amazing Alessio Voltan is still flying, he's just crossed Aimores and is trying to get lift by the river. The task deadline is 17h which is the current time so I would imagine that he is planning to go and land fairly soon.

2019-03-27 16:00

Xevi took part in the first paragliding World Cup that we have online records for in Venezuela in1996: He was 22nd back then. Four other current world cup veterans also took part in that event: Ronny Helgesen (35th), Richard Gallon (71st), Raul Penso Hernandez (137th) and Marko Novak (146th). Oh, and not to forget our World Cup scorer, Ulric Jessop (113th), who competed back then before the job of scoring by GPS had been invented.

2019-03-27 15:57

Xavier Laporte and Xevi Bonet Dalmau are struggling to get enough height at the last turn point before going for the final push to ESS.

2019-03-27 15:49

Gianbasilio Profiti has gone round the mountains to get round the crater. Gianni was born in a little town at the foot of one of the highest mountains in southern Italy, Mt Pollino that always inspired the thoughts of a child who fell in love with nature and mountains landscapes. I bet he will be totally awe inspired by this crater that he is flying round today.

2019-03-27 15:43

Daria Krasnova will be glad to have the goal field in sight at the end of what can only be described in Russian as a very big Pampers day out!

2019-03-27 15:39

Theunis De Bruin is just coming in to goal. This is only his second World Cup having qualified through the World Cup in Aksaray Turkey. He has no expectations, he just wants to learn as much as possible as the level is so high.

2019-03-27 15:34

Jeison Zeferino told me he feels that he has trained well. A ten day competition like the Super Final requires the pilot to do physical, technical and mental training. Jeison told me he is 'very super focused' on this Super Final. Let's see how he gets on, as one of Brazil's top pilots, he has a big following here in Brazil.

2019-03-27 15:34

Marco Littame and Jeison Zeferino are just approaching Cow Pat Central.

2019-03-27 15:17

If anyone has an office job for a Paragliding World Cup commentator please get in touch!

2019-03-27 15:16

Well, five barred gates scaled, biting insects swatted, prickly plants removed from between my teeth, sweat mopped from my forehead for the twentieth time, we should be able to give you some results soon.

2019-03-27 15:06

Oh dear we've just had a four legged pitch invasion adding even more cow pats and flies to the ambience.

2019-03-27 14:56

What a sight, and still they come towards the goal field in a steady line in the searing heat. Even the rock in the shade I am sitting on is too hot to sit on much longer.

2019-03-27 14:55

So just a confirmation in amongst that manic finish of who crossed ESS when, the order was: Rafael Saladini, Isidor Fink, Stephan Morgenthaler, Pierre Remy, Aaron Durogati, Joachim Oberhauser, Juan Carlos Moran, Jouni Makkonen, Emil Cervenan, Clement Latour.

2019-03-27 14:53

Spectators line the dirt track bordering the goal field staring skywards incredulously.

2019-03-27 14:52

Unfortunately it looks as if some of the leaders have raced a bit fast and not made goal.

2019-03-27 14:51

Gliders are being bunched up, the race for shade is on.

2019-03-27 14:50

The sky is full of fantastic cloud streets which have carried the pilots round today's course and excited pilots happy to get to goal - again!

2019-03-27 14:49

Beeps everywhere as the silence is broken by the first sweaty beings touching down.

2019-03-27 14:48

Great big spiky bushes make the goal field a fantastic natural obstacle course.

2019-03-27 14:47

The silence as we wait for confirmation of who is first is incredible, along with the quantity of cow pats.

2019-03-27 14:46

What a sight as they come over the stalky trees with leafy canopies into the stubbly spikey goal field.

2019-03-27 14:46

We don't know who is in the lead but we think it is World distance record holder Rafael Saladini, Mr Indian Jones himself.

2019-03-27 14:45

A massive gaggle are descnding on the cow pats as one.

2019-03-27 14:45

It is silent expectation in the goal field. The leaders are in sight of goal

2019-03-27 14:44

The leaders have taken end of speed and are racing into the goal field.

2019-03-27 14:43

In the goal field it is hot and full of cow pats.

2019-03-27 14:40

Maxime Pinot has a half km lead followed by Rafael Saladini, Isidor Fink, Juan Carlos Moran, Aaron Durogati, Emil Cervenan, Stephan Morgenthaler

2019-03-27 14:38

Maxime Pinot has got the last turn point, the race to Ess is on.

2019-03-27 14:35

Pilots like Australian Wally predicted that this turn point would be the crux today. The turnpoint is in the flats compared to the hills they have been flying so far.

2019-03-27 14:33

It's worth noting, the crater north of Aimores, around and across which the pilots are flying, it is speculated, was formed by a meteorite, but as yet, there has been no evidence to prove this. So, if anyone lands in the middle of it could they please bring back a few rocks so that the geologists in the comp can examine them.

2019-03-27 14:32

Gareth Carter has crossed the river and is in a better position to get round the crater following the mountains than the others.

2019-03-27 14:28

Honorin Hamard is in the lead neck and neck with Pierre Remy.

2019-03-27 14:26

They are going for the river crossing.

2019-03-27 14:25

They are just arriving in Aimores

2019-03-27 14:24

Gareth Carter is out to the west leading out.

2019-03-27 14:23

Those who followed the last Super Final will never forget the dual played out by Michael Sigel and Nicola Donini, neither ready to give up a thermal or a point until the sun set and the scores were finalised on the last day.

2019-03-27 14:16

Nicola Donini is right with the leaders as they make the choice where to cross the milk chocolate Rio Doce.

2019-03-27 14:09

Swiss champion in 2005, 14, 17 and 18 Stephan Morgenthaler, is out in front. Stephan's goal in this competion, apart from getting to goal: To have fun!

2019-03-27 14:06

Wow, could you all slow down a bit please, some of us are trying to write all this with no notes because Yassen is still reading them back in a thermal at turn point 1. What a day!

2019-03-27 14:05

And as if by even more magic, Gareth Carter is right behind Pete. Nobody in Australia is to go to bed again tonight, this could indeed be Australia day. Now where's Wally I hear every Australian asking?

2019-03-27 14:04

Peter Slade has taken the lead, the only Australian for a decade to take the Australian title from the legendary Gareth Carter.

2019-03-27 14:02

And as if by magic, I spy Honorin up with the leaders too.

2019-03-27 14:01

Honorin did also go as far as to say that if he didn't win the Super Final himself, he would bet his brake lines on Charles winning it.

2019-03-27 13:59

Charles is one of the pilots that Honorin Hamard admires the most, this is how he described Charles: He's consistently good. He has a strong mental attitude, in little thermals on the flats he's lethal, he can spend hours in the air and still find a way to fight for the last little thermal of the day.

2019-03-27 13:55

Charles has been competing in World cups for 20 years. In fact two of our future Super Final champions competed in their first ever World Cup together, in Morzine, France in 1999, Peter Neuenschwander and Charles Cazaux.

2019-03-27 13:53

Stephan Morgenthaler and Charles Cazaux are 1 thermal ahead of the others.

2019-03-27 13:52

Back in the race they are now flying directly north to the last turn point.

2019-03-27 13:50

'This sort of evolution is exactly what we were trying to achieve when we came up with the idea of RFC,' Ulric Jessop World Cup Technical Delegate.

2019-03-27 13:50

We are also looking forward to seeing how the other RFC gliders tested in the 2018 World Cup by manufacturers Triple Seven and MacPara progress through their stages of R&D next year

2019-03-27 13:50

We also enjoyed welcoming back Niviuk in Baixo Guandu in 2018 where Tim Rochas very successfully flew an RFC version of the Icepeak (8th overall) which has also now been certified and is being flown by 6 pilots in the Super Final.

2019-03-27 13:48

It was very interesting to see UP's RFC wing being tested by Michal Sneiberg at the World Cups last summer in Sopot, Bulgaria and Aksaray, Turkey where Michal came 7th overall. The Guru has now been certified CCC and is being flown by 6 pilots in the Super Final.

2019-03-27 13:48

RFC (Ready For Certification gliders) was one of the big success stories for the 2018 season. Just a reminder that to keep everyone on an absolutely even flying field, RFC gliders are not allowed in the Super Final.

2019-03-27 13:47

Michal Sneiberg on the UP Guru is the only one following the course line.

2019-03-27 13:47

It is difficult to say why the main gaggle have gone so far off the course line, but I would hazard a guess that the clouds are more enticing over there.

2019-03-27 13:45

Meanwhile back on the more direct route Maxime Pinot has taken the lead.

2019-03-27 13:44

We mentioned quite a while ago that a group of pilots had gone deep into turn point one to get a climb. It would appear that Yassen is still there. All we can imagine is that he has indeed caught hold of our Commentary notes and, as a keep writer himself, is thermalling away happily to himself going through my notes with a red pen.

2019-03-27 13:40

Ciclos 2, staring Rafael and many of the other Brazilian big distance stars, is an absolutely excellent film, well worth watching. The film really shows what it is like to chase big distances, the team work, the patience, the highs and the lows... It makes use of very clear maps to show where the records were flown. The framing of the gliders is perfect, making it visually nice to watch. Rafael's human story about not feeling in sync with the rest of the team is very moving and really added an extra dimension to the film. It was very motivating to know that even a super flying hero like Rafael SALADINI can go through moments of self doubt. Ciclos 2 tells a very interesting story, it's well documented and recorded and above all, it really shows what a great country Brazil is; friendly people, amazing scenery and the best flying in the World.

2019-03-27 13:40

The film Ciclos 2 featuring Rafael was entered for the Coupe Icare Film Festiveal in France in September 2018. It is currently doing the rounds of the festivals and has been entered for as many as possible. From September 2019 onwards, it is going to be promoted amongst the TV adventure and sports channels, and by Jan 2020, it should be available for free on the internet for the public. Rumour has it that the Hollywood head hunters have contacted Rafael Saladini to become the next Indiana Jones.

2019-03-27 13:39

Rafael Saladini has got a nice climb by the second turn point.

2019-03-27 13:38

They will still be picking up reasonably good lead out points so it is still worth pushing out ahead if you can.

2019-03-27 13:37

Those at the front are all now pretty low, but there are a few climbs about.

2019-03-27 13:36

The Urubu vultures have a wingspan of about 1.5m and can soar for a very long time without flapping their wings. They have very good eye sight and sense of smell, handy for sniffing out thermals and rank smelling rotten carcases. They are fun to fly with provided that they are circling in a thermal going upwards and NOT circling their supper and going downwards, resulting in you ending up packing up next to their less than savoury smelling meal!

2019-03-27 13:35

The Urubu (black vultures) make great thermal markers until you lock in low to a group who are circling their carnivorous main course. How do you know? There is rather a fine aroma of a rotting cow rather than the sweet smell of a thermal.

2019-03-27 13:35

One thing the pilots are all finding useful are the Urubu (black vultures) who are the Sanitary Engineers of Brazil! They can be seen soaring over the farms and mountain tops looking for a tasty meal.

2019-03-27 13:33

Former Super final champion Maxime Pinot, Mitch Riley and European Champion Theo Warden have taken the lead and are heading west.

2019-03-27 13:32

Flavio has been overtaken by those behind who have clearly seen something and headed west.

2019-03-27 13:29

The conditions are really nice now along the course line. The task setters did a great job of stearing the race clear of all the cirrus around Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-27 13:25

The 9th Super Final held in Roldanillo, Colombia in 2018 was the first time ever that there were ladies in the top ten in a Super Final. Laurie came 6th and Meryl Delferriere came 10th. Well done to both, let's hope we can see the same again this year.

2019-03-27 13:24

1 km behind Flavio, is reigning 1st Super Final lady Laurie Genovese.

2019-03-27 13:23

Flavio Funiati has got the second turn point 1 km ahead of the others, time to stop and climb Flavio.

2019-03-27 13:22

However Flavio also has half the height of every one else behind him!

2019-03-27 13:21

Flavio is half the age of most of the pilots in the comp, and a third of the age of some and he's going twice as fast as most.

2019-03-27 13:20

This is absolutley amazing Flavio is leaving the old folk way behind.

2019-03-27 13:19

Flavio started flying very young. He did his first tandem at the age of 4 years old,15 years ago and started flying on his own when he was 12 years old.

2019-03-27 13:18

Flavio Funiati the youngest pilot in the comp is right out on his own to the north of the course line.

2019-03-27 13:16

The cirrus cover is making everything very weak and slowing everyone down today.

2019-03-27 13:14

Then the terrain drops and they will go over more rolling hills and gentler terrain.

2019-03-27 13:14

They are flying over big granite points at the moment, incredible scenery once again.

2019-03-27 13:12

Stephan Morgenthaler is in the lead, having overtaken the Commentary team notes.

2019-03-27 13:10

They are now heading out to the red tiled roofs and neat coffee plantations of the hamlet of Santa Rosa.

2019-03-27 13:09

Now they must head west to the second turn point. Today it is a case of ever decreasing circles as they go from smaller to smaller circle round the race course.

2019-03-27 13:08

The following gaggle have done, as we see so many times, leap frogged, or in French 'saute-mouton', those in front. So whether having jumped over a sheep or a frog, Simon Pellissier is now in the lead.

2019-03-27 13:04

Also trying to climb inside the turn point. Xevi Bonet Dalmau, Rémi Bourdelle, Tanguy Renaud-goud, Bastien De Luca, Xavier Laporte, Yassen Savov, Biagio Alberto Vitale, Xevi Bonet Dalmau.

2019-03-27 13:03

Climbing inside the turn point, Jeison Zeferino, and powered by ham and cheese sandwiches Loïs Goutagny.

2019-03-27 13:02

Quite a few have had to go right into the turn point to get a climb, which they don't normally do, they normally just clip the turn point and go. This shows that the conditions are pretty difficult today.

2019-03-27 13:00

Alessio Voltan is with Russell Ogden but much lower.

2019-03-27 12:59

Russell's first ever World Cup was in Cordoba in Argentina in 1999. The start of his career in the World Cup didn't go entirely according to plan as he made his debut landing in an extremely prickly thorn bush.

2019-03-27 12:59

Russell is trying to get a climb over some rocks just before the turn point, let's hope he makes it and doesn't end his day in some of the very dense vegetation around turn point 1.

2019-03-27 12:57

When I asked Russell about the changes he has seen in competition paragliders since he joined the comp circuit he told me: Over the last 20 years competition paragliders have undergone a steady evolution with new models offering more and more performance especially whilst accelerated. The big change though was when we moved to 2 liners and cleaned up the leading edge with plastics. The reduction is line/surface drag alone significantly increased performance but for me the major advantage was the improved control it gave in accelerated flight - modern wings are now more inherently stable due to the profiles we use, moreover they are easier to control at full speed since the wing is always in your hands with the B risers.

2019-03-27 12:57

Russell Ogden, overall leader in the comp is about to take the turn point. He's a very experience pilot who was second in the first ever Super Final. In his paragliding career he's seen a lot of changes in our sport.

2019-03-27 12:55

Today's task is a good demonstration that those who are first to the turn point are not necessarily in the lead, those much further back are going to get the turn point first but have much further than Russell Achterberg to go round the course.

2019-03-27 12:53

When it is good go fast to get the good lead out points, put the handbrake on when it is dodgy and you don't want to risk bombing out.

2019-03-27 12:52

If there is a big blue hole like at the natural crater to the north of the river a few days ago, slow down, and wait for somebody else to take the risk.

2019-03-27 12:52

As Russell told me, if it's working and the chance of finding the next climb is high, as for example the sun is out, there is a cloud over a hill which is likely to indicate a thermal, it is fine to blindly push on fast to that.

2019-03-27 12:51

Russell Achterberg is taking a great route round the south side of the mountains which is going to put him in a very optimum position for getting this first turn point, giving him as short as possible distance to the next turn point.

2019-03-27 12:50

If you are slightly behind the leaders you can see which ones ahead of you are getting the liftiest lines and follow them to stay up. It's all about following the best lift so that you don't have to keep stopping and searching for a thermal and wasting time rather than being onwards and upwards to goal.

2019-03-27 12:49

There is another big gaggle just behind Yassen led by Mitch Riley.

2019-03-27 12:48

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.

2019-03-27 12:47

The bigger group, led by Yassen Savov are having to take more of a diagonal route.

2019-03-27 12:46

Those who took the start directly south of the take off, Daria Krasnova, Victor Sibirtsev, and Russell Achterberg have a very nice mountain chain to follow all the way to the turn point.

2019-03-27 12:44

This is the point where the lead out points, under the new system start. Who's getting the most? A cluster of the Commentary team's notes closely followed by Yassen Savov. Well at least it will give the pilots something other than their GPSs to read in the air.

2019-03-27 12:42

Yesterday's hero to zero Yassen Savov has taken the lead but parallet to him to the west is Paolo Veratti.

2019-03-27 12:41

The Paragliding World Cup uses extremely complex algorythims to work out the day quality, however Daria has come up with a much better system. Daria is famous for her innovative categorisation of the length and difficulty of a task by the number of Pampers nappies she has to wear, giving each day a ranking of 1 to 5 'Pampers days out!' I think today is going to be a many Pampers day out. The conditions are very different to yesterday. The terrain is stunning but not easy to fly through. There is no obvious route under the clouds.

2019-03-27 12:38

Flying alongside Victor is one of our top ladies Daria Krasnova.

2019-03-27 12:37

I love today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions. Today it comes from Victor SIBIRTSEV: Be safe, don't exceed your ability, just make goal, don't rush, speed will come later. Fly in different places, different conditions, do as many comps as you can, that's really important.

2019-03-27 12:35

Victor Sibirtsev, Russell Achterberg, Paolo Veratti and Daria Krasnova are taking the Start nearest to take off.

2019-03-27 12:34

This task has spread the pilots out right from the begining along the Start cylinder.

2019-03-27 12:33

The system of lead out points has been around since the 1990s. They have been more heavily weighted at the beginning of the race since 2010. The idea is to reward pilots who push ahead and find thermals rather than those who 'gaggle drag', get round the course with the gaggle which is much easier, then just push ahead for the last few km and cross End of Speed first.

2019-03-27 12:32

Lead out points reflect how much of the task a pilot was with the leaders. .

2019-03-27 12:32

Very soon the lead out points will begin, from about the second thermal onwards.

2019-03-27 12:31

The out of tune bells in the Baixo Guandu village square are assaulting our ear drums and confirming the time - two minutes late as usual.

2019-03-27 12:30

The start is open and they are off. The timed part of the race has begun.

2019-03-27 12:28

2 minutes to the Start.

2019-03-27 12:28

They can cross the Start line wherever they want along the cylinder/circle.

2019-03-27 12:27

3 minutes to the Start opening.

2019-03-27 12:23

There is a very big obvious mountain chain which will act a bit like a high way which the pilots and the Commentary team's notes will probably follow to the first turn point to the south of the start.

2019-03-27 12:21

10 minutes until the start opens

2019-03-27 12:07

The sky is very milky which is going to make life difficult. The gliders are tiny little black dots under the only puffy white cloud this side of Rio.

2019-03-27 11:54

The Start is the big circle where they have to wait until 12h30, then they will go south to the first turn point following what they judge and hope will be the fastest route possible.

2019-03-27 11:42

45 minutes until the Start opens.

2019-03-27 11:42

Last but by no means least, current XContest and Super Final winner Michael Sigel is just taking off, bringing up the rear, but not for long today me thinks. But having said that, my comp notes do have a 600m and 2 km lead on him.

2019-03-27 11:39

The pilots are all thermalling nicely above launch, the green leaves on the Ype rosa trees at launch are fluttering, the fronds on the palm trees are fanning the warm breeze.

2019-03-27 11:35

Looking skywards I think my pages of notes are going to be first round the task today!

2019-03-27 11:33

One hour until the start opens when the timed part of the race will commence.

2019-03-27 11:32

Well today's commentary is going to be a bit sparce as my notes have just gone skywards in a dust devil and are currently climbing out even better than some of the pilots!

2019-03-27 11:31

Picnicing over Téo Bouvard is just taking off, let's see what marks out of 10 we can give him!

2019-03-27 11:30

Huseyin Tanriverdi, Laurie Genovese, Klaudia Bulgakow have just taken off.

2019-03-27 11:24

Loïs Goutagny and Téo Bouvard are finishing off their picnic and giving their former class mates from Font Romeu in the Pyrenes in France, notably leading lady Méryl Delferriere, marks out of ten for their launch!

2019-03-27 11:21

Baptiste Lambert, Ronny Geijsen, and Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson are just taking off. Only 79 km to go!

2019-03-27 11:20

Stephane Drouin one of our more senior pilots, who is officially 41 years old (and has been for the last 15 years) is just taking off.

2019-03-27 11:17

To some very mellow brazilian back ground music knots are being finalised, harnesses adjusted, GPSs fiddled with.

2019-03-27 11:05

The Start will open in the air at 12.30 in 90 minutes time. So it's a bit like everyone getting to their starting blocks ready for the gun to go off in 90 minutes time, 3 km from the take off.

2019-03-27 11:04

They then get established in the sky and move towards the start circle cyinder where they will get the best possible position for making their way round the rest of the race course, which today is 79 km.

2019-03-27 11:02

The first pilots are taking off.

2019-03-27 10:34

It's a bit hazy today but the views of the granite vegetation covered domes in this stunning amphitheatre which is the Baixo Guandu launch are looking, as ever, spectactular with their tree topped skylines.

2019-03-27 10:32

The task is set - todays race is a 79.4 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:00 Local Time and the Start is at 12:30

2019-03-27 10:32

The silver streamers on the windsocks at the foot of launch are shining in the sunshine, indicating that the breeze is blowing nicely onto the launch.

2019-03-27 10:29

Today there is quite a lot of cirrus about which may slow things down but the sun is still breaking through pretty much everywhere.

2019-03-27 10:28

Laurie and Meryl at the 9th Super Final, came 6th and 10th respectively, which was no mean feat in itself. Meryl was also 9th overall in Baixo Guandu and 10th in Sopot, Bulgaria in 2018.

2019-03-27 10:27

2 ladies have qualified for this Super Final by being in the top 15 overall, irrespective of their position in the ladies classification:.

2019-03-27 10:27

Will Laurie Genovese, Keiko Hiraki or Petra Slivova become the first lady to win the ladies title three times or will rising star, Méryl Delferryere, or European Champion (2013), Klaudia Bulgakow, out climb them? Méryl Delferriere is currently first lady lying 14th overall.

2019-03-27 10:25

Could Charles Cazaux, Francisco Javier Reina Lagos, Maxime Pinot, Stefan Wyss or Michael Sigel, (reigning Super Final champion) do what Aaron DUROGATI is the only pilot ever to have done, win the Super Final for a second time? Michael Sigel is currently lying 4th.

2019-03-27 10:22

If Honorin Hamard wins it he will be the only pilot ever to have been World, European and Super Final champion. He's currently lying 6th =.

2019-03-27 10:22

Will this celebratory 10th Super Final see more new legends soaring to fame, or will Aaron Durogati be the first to win a Super Final three times? He's currently lying in 5th place overall.

2019-03-27 10:21

9 Ladies who have won the ladies World Cup Ranking are taking part: Silvia Buzzi Ferraris, Méryl Delferriere, Keiko Hiraki, Daria Krasnova, Yael Argelisch, Klaudia Bulgakow, Yuki Sato Colombé, Petra Slivova and Laurie Genovese.

2019-03-27 10:20

20 Pilots competing have already won a PWC! Russell Achterberg, Stephane Drouin, Aaron Durogati, Honorin Hamard, Marco Littame, Andreas Malecki, Russell Ogden, Francisco Javie Reina Lagos, Pierre Remy, Rafael Saladini, Yassen Savov, Torsten Siegel, Gleb Sukhotskiy, Stefan Wyss, Charles Cazaux, Stephan Morgenthaler, Maxime Pinot, Andre Rainsford, Michael Sigel and Felix Rodriguez.

2019-03-27 10:20

Just a reminder about the pilot quality in this amazing 10th Super Final.

2019-03-27 10:18

Briefing is taking place.

2019-03-27 10:18

I asked Russell Ogden this morning how he was coping with the stress of leading the Super Final and how the rest of his family were coping. Grinning from ear to ear, Russell shared a secret with me, apparently his sports psychologist wife Cath had asked him, as he was leaving to come to Brazil, 'why do you do these comps, you're not any good anymore?'

2019-03-27 10:15

With another whole task drop (discard) available this could still be anybody's.

2019-03-27 10:15

Top 3 ladies places as we go into task 7: Méryl DELFERRIERE 14th overall (3169), Petra SLIVOVA 27th overall (3017), Yael MARGELISCH 32nd overall (2941).

2019-03-27 10:13

The overall positions as we go into task 7: Russell OGDEN (3349), Pierre REMY (3348), Julien WIRTZ (3345), Michael SIGEL (3289), Aaron DUROGATI (3278), Honorin HAMARD and Stéphane POULAIN (3271), Franck PERRING (3270), Alexandre JOFRESA (3238), Cody MITTANCK (3229).

2019-03-27 10:13

Top 3 lead out point baggers from task 6: Joachim OBERHAUSER, Marco BUSETTA, Honorin HAMARD.

2019-03-27 10:12

Well done to the top 3 teams in task 6: 1st Ozone, 2nd Flymaster, 3rd Air Vuisa.

2019-03-27 10:12

Well done to the top 3 ladies in task 6: 1st Méryl DELFERRIERE, 2nd Yael MARGELISCH, 3rd Laurie GENOVESE.

2019-03-27 10:12

Well done to the top 3 overall in task 6: 1st Honorin Hamard , 2nd Russell OGDEN, 3rd Frank BROWN.

2019-03-27 10:11

Here we are on launch today, ready for task 7, after one of the best days in Paragliding World Cup history yesterday, with a grand day out to Pancas.

2019-03-26 18:08

What an amazing task - 97.6% of pilots in goal. Everyone is back and the results are now available from the website.

2019-03-26 17:15

As for today's winning tactic from Honorin Hamard: I was really conscious of which would be the last thermal before the race was on for ESS. I climbed as high as possoible before going for it, unfortunately I had a big collapse on the way to ESS which slowed me down. The best bit was finishing exactly with team mate Russell Ogden.

2019-03-26 16:40

As for the ladies, Petra Slivova and Wooyoung Jang were the leading ladies this morning but a bit slower into goal today. Méryl Delferriere was third lady this morning but first lady and 9th overall across ESS this afternoon, so that will have helped her score immensly.

2019-03-26 16:35

So now that everyone is accounted for, how is today's task going to affect the overall scores? Pierre Remy, the leader this morning finished 12th across ESS. Julien Wirtz 2nd overall this morning crossed ESS 15th. Aaron Durogati, 3rd this morning crossed ESS 76th. Russell Ogden, was 4th this morning and first across ESS equal with Honorin Hamard and both had 99% of the lead out points.

2019-03-26 14:58

Davide Licini is just about to cross ESS. He was the hero of yesterday's task. He had a collapse just before the second turn point, which dislocated his shoulder, however, as if nothing had happened, he flew on to goal. That is true grit and clearly what Jack&Jones staff are made of!

2019-03-26 14:44

Whether they get to goal or not they get lead out points depending on how much of the race they were with the leaders.

2019-03-26 14:44

If they land before crossing the goal line they only get distance points. If they get to goal they get distance points plus speed/time points depending on how long it took them to get to ESS.

2019-03-26 14:43

Just a bit of a reminder that after the End of Speed Section (ESS) they can take as long as they want to cross the goal line, but they MUST cross the line. They can then land whenever they want.

2019-03-26 14:39

Actually looking a bit more closely Pepe got into goal in fortieth position and is now just having a bit of a fly around to find somewhere nice to have a picnic.

2019-03-26 14:37

Andreas Malecki is just about to cross ESS on his own, having warned us earlier about the perils of flying alone.

2019-03-26 14:34

Our heartfelt thanks go to World Cup President Goran Dimiskovski, who took part in his first World Cup in Italy in Montegrappa in 2004. He brought a big personality and a new country into our World Cup family that year. He works tirelessly behind the scenes to bring us new venues like Loma Bola in Argentina which will be hosting a World Cup for the first time from the 9th to the 16th of November.

2019-03-26 14:34

Many of you will have seen on the World Cup website that the Mexican leg of the World Cup has, for various reasons, had to be cancelled for 2019. We are delighted to announce that a fantastic new venue will host the World Cup, Loma Bola, in Argentina.

2019-03-26 14:33

Russell Achterberg, winner of the Pre PWC in Porterville, South Africa.

2019-03-26 14:33

Baptiste Lambert, winner of the Pre PWC in Reunion Island.

2019-03-26 14:33

Idris Birch, winner of the Pre World cup, in Gochang, South Korea.

2019-03-26 14:32

Emil Cervenan, winner of the Pre PWC in Cameli, Turkey

2019-03-26 14:32

Remy Pierre, winner of the PrePWC, Cerdagne Targasonne in the French Pyrenees.

2019-03-26 14:32

Tanguy Renaud-Goud, winner of the PrePWC, in Clopotiva, Romania

2019-03-26 14:32

Jacques Fournier, winner of the PrePWC Pays du Mont Blanc, in Passy, France

2019-03-26 14:32

Once again we had lots of very successful Pre World Cups in the 2018 season providing us with some excellent new venues for the future. Well done to all our Pre World Cup winners who earnt themselves automatic selection, and are competing in this Super Final:

2019-03-26 14:31

Junming Song, winner of the PrePWC in Linzhou, China is just crossing end of speed.

2019-03-26 14:26

Julian Robinson is just coming across ESS. In April 2018 Julian took off from Aonach Mor on the west coast of Scotland with a few friends. They flew with eagles south all the way down the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, which is truly remote, desolate and with very few roads, soaring some of Britain's most stunning and remote scenery. They then bravely flew where no other paraglider pilots have flown before - 4 km across the Sound of Mull and became the first ever paraglider pilots to land on the beautiful Scottish Island of Mull. Well done, what an amazing achievement! A boonies flight that was probably very good practice for todays middle of nowhere adventure!

2019-03-26 14:24

Brett Hazlett is just coming across ESS. Brett makes great videos which you can watch by going onto Vimeo or Youtube and searching for Brett Hazlett, I bet he will have some amazing footage from today. For Bret, 'The important thing is that you learn something and have fun.' I don't know about learning something but I bet they all had a lot of fun today.

2019-03-26 14:21

South African champion Russell Achterberg is just coming across ESS.

2019-03-26 14:21

Xevi Bonet Dalmau has taken a completely different route to everyone else and is approaching ESS from the south.

2019-03-26 14:19

The kids are running towards the gliders, the cows are running away clearly not knowing what to make of the alien paraglider invasion.

2019-03-26 14:18

The pilots are all decending on the goal field, I don't know what all the cows are making of this, hot like the rest of us. Kids looking up at the sky in disbelief.

2019-03-26 14:16

Frank Brown, Marco Busetta, Stefan Wyss have also got Ess.

2019-03-26 14:13

Biagio Alberto Vitale and Francisco Javie Reina Lagos have just got ESS.

2019-03-26 14:13

Kiyoshi Nariyama has just got Ess, followed by Nicola Donini.

2019-03-26 14:12

Just behind them with full lead out points Joachim Oberhauser

2019-03-26 14:11

It looks as if Honorin Hamard and Russell Ogden have taken Ess together neck and neck.

2019-03-26 14:11

Joachim Oberhauser is just behind them followed by Biagio Alberto Vitale and Clement Latour.

2019-03-26 14:10

Everyone in the Ozone offices in the South of France where Russell and Honorin work will be holding their breath, I wonder who they are cheering for.

2019-03-26 14:09

They are absolutely neck and neck. Kiyoshi's reputation in Japan for being a real attacker has been proved true here at this Super Final.

2019-03-26 14:08

What a race, it's so close, Kiyoshi Nariyama, Russell Ogden, Honorin Hamard are together in front all pushing on maximum bar, all on Ozone Enzo 3s.

2019-03-26 14:08

Just behind them Biagio Alberto Vitale, Clement Latour, Jouni Makkonen, Gleb Sukhotskiy

2019-03-26 14:07

Kiyoshi Nariyama, Russell Ogden, Honorin Hamard, and Joachim Oberhauser are racing for first place across ESS

2019-03-26 14:06

Joachim Oberhauser who was 3rd in last years Super Final is just behind Russell, along with Méryl Delferriere who is putting on an amazing final push.

2019-03-26 14:05

Honorin Hamard has full lead out points so just needs to get to Ess at the same time as the others to win the day.

2019-03-26 14:04

Racing for end of speed pretty much neck and neck Kiyoshi Nariyama, Russell Ogden, Honorin Hamard, Stefan Wyss, Méryl Delferriere, Nicola Donini

2019-03-26 14:02

After the End of Speed Section (ESS) they can land whenever they want in goal. If they land before goal they only get distance points. If they get to goal they get distance points plus speed points reflecting how long it took them to get round the course to ESS.

2019-03-26 14:02

For those of you wondering why the race always ends near a village called Ess let me explain. The implementation of End Of Speed Section (ESS) in about 2003 in competitions was one of the biggest improvements ever made in the safety of paragliding competitions.

2019-03-26 14:02

Honorin and Russell are 400m higher than Kiyoshi Nariyama so will be able to make it without having to stop to turn.

2019-03-26 14:01

Kiyoshi Nariyama is in a climb, he's slowing down to turn to get some more height to be abolutely sure he'll make End of Speed then goal.

2019-03-26 14:00

They also need to take into account the conditions: if the wind is behind them they'll need less height; into wind, they'll need more height.

2019-03-26 14:00

The key factors as to whether they will make goal or not are: the glide ratio of their wing (normally 12:1/11:1), their height and the distance remaining to goal. Are they high enough to make it?

2019-03-26 13:59

Mitch told me today that his strategy was going to be to fly with friends, he didn't add, as long as they are in the lead gaggle!

2019-03-26 13:58

Just behind him are Honorin Hamard, Russell Ogden, Francisco Javie Reina Lagos, Mitch Riley, Méryl Delferriere, Joachim Oberhauser, Marco Busetta.

2019-03-26 13:58

Yesterday's winner Kiyoshi Nariyama is going for it he's on 8.3 : 1 so might make it with 10 km to go to goal.

2019-03-26 13:56

There is a great atmosphere in the actual town of Pancas at the moment. Everyone has stopped what they are doing and come out on to the streets to look at these colourful little crescents passing over head, what an amazing sight.

2019-03-26 13:54

There is one group following the course line climbing as high as they can so that they can just straight line it to goal and a second group to the south of the course line but lower.

2019-03-26 13:52

Reigning Ladies' Super Final Champion Laurie Genovese is up with the leaders today and currently first lady.

2019-03-26 13:50

With 14 km to go yesterday's task winner Kiyoshi Nariyama is with the leaders. He owns an air conditioning company in Japan so I bet everyone will want his business card when they land in the gruelling heat of the goal field today.

2019-03-26 13:47

Andre Aristotle Rainsford was heard to ask the philophical question last night: which is worse, getting beaten by somebody half your age, or twice your age?

2019-03-26 13:46

Flavio Funiati is surfing round the highest of the mountains and might cut Andre off and take the lead.

2019-03-26 13:45

The scenery around this turn point is amazing, it's as if giants have been throwing boulders into the landscape.

2019-03-26 13:43

When I asked Andre how he was finding the flying here in Baixo Guandu he told me, 'I'm finding it very difficult, I just don't seem to be able to join the dots. But given that some of the pilots here manage to get round a 63 km task without any sunlight (task 4), it must be amazing here in good conditions.' Well that is what we have today and Andre is at the front.

2019-03-26 13:42

The leaders are about to get the last turn point: Andre Rainsford, Frank Brown and Russell Ogden

2019-03-26 13:41

Flavio told me he is really pleased to be back here in Baixo Guandu, where he did his first ever World Cup. The conditions here are very similar to those where he lives in the Vosges in France. Except that in BG you can fly almost every day. I think most young pilots would be pretty happy to be up with the leaders in their first Super Final.

2019-03-26 13:39

They are flying into a bit of a southerly wind at the moment.

2019-03-26 13:38

Youngest pilot in the comp Flavio Funiati has clearly been watching the clouds and has got a nice climb off to the west of the lead gaggle.

2019-03-26 13:37

The pilots need to think about the weather BEFORE it happens, where will clouds form etc.

2019-03-26 13:36

In weak conditions your strategy in the gaggle can be more important than the route. Try and stay with the first gaggle. The strategy towards the end so depends on the conditions and your position in the gaggle. It's like playing chess. You need to decide whether to be aggressive or conservative.

2019-03-26 13:36

The thermals are best when the sun hits at 90° onto a surface, this gives the maximum amount of energy. It is more the angle of the sun rather than the surface that it hits which matters.

2019-03-26 13:36

Frank also told me: The angle of the sun and wind direction is really important when it comes to intercepting thermals.

2019-03-26 13:35

Frank Brown 's advice for today was 'don't land out', this is properly remote.

2019-03-26 13:34

They are flying across a chain of these giant black granite domes, like enormous stepping stones across the countryside.

2019-03-26 13:33

Paragliding isn't just about how well you can fly your paraglider, it's about how well you can concentrate, and keep concentrating for every second that you are in the air. Over a ten day comp it isn't that easy.

2019-03-26 13:32

The leaders out in front are getting low Marco Busetta, Flavio Funiati, Felix Rodriguez Fernandez

2019-03-26 13:29

Stunning granite mountains below them and some nice clouds for paragliding ahead of them, what more could a paragliding World Cup Super Final want?

2019-03-26 13:28

The sky is still pretty blue, what a day.

2019-03-26 13:26

Just a reminder that task winners in a Super Final or World Cup gain an automatic place in the following years Super Final.

2019-03-26 13:25

Marco Littame is storming ahead. He won the 2015 PWC here in Baixo Guandu but didn't do as well as he had hoped here last year in April 2018. Not to be put off by a disappointing comp in a place where he had previously flown to victory, Marko put on an absolutely amazing performance by storming ahead and coming 1st in task 6 and thus winning the last task by nearly 4 minutes, earning him his place in this Super Final.

2019-03-26 13:20

If it is difficult to get the Brazilian pilots to go to competitions in Europe, bring the competitions to Brazil by providing an extremely professional organisation, excellent launches with top facilities as we have seen so many times here in the state of Espírito Santo - great scenery of course also helps along with some of the happiest and friendliest people in the World.

2019-03-26 13:20

Rafael has set up the 'Instituto Decolar' in Brazil along with Frank Brown, they have opened their hearts and helped to advance the sport of competition paragliding in Brazil in a way that the rest of the World can only watch and marvel at. Thanks to these two amazing pilots we have seen the Brazilian pilots climbing the thermals to new levels in World class competitions in the last five years.

2019-03-26 13:19

Rafael Saladini is right behind Idris.

2019-03-26 13:18

He's got a top up climb on one of the domes and is now speeding on.

2019-03-26 13:17

Idris Birch is making a break for it. He's very much on form at the moment. He was 1st in the 2018 PrePWC Gochang KOREA. Just a reminder that the winners of Pre PWCs get an automatic place in the Super Final.

2019-03-26 13:15

However Honorin is getting a lot more analytical in his old age about what he's doing these days. He can still charge off but is probably calculating it all more and being more thoughtful.

2019-03-26 13:14

Honorin Hamard has taken a bit of a lead, also one who has an aversion to staying with the gaggle.

2019-03-26 13:12

Samuel is also crinkling a lot these days as he is flying the all new Flow Paragliders Spectra.

2019-03-26 13:11

Samuel told me, 'After some time cycling again I decided to throw a challenge to myself that was to pedal the same distance as my current World Record, 564 kms, so in January 2019, weighing 77 kilos, I finished the route that connects two important capitals in Brazil, São Paulo to Belo Horizonte, capital of my state.' So anyone wondering who the very slim pilot is in the competition, with the very big Brazilian smile, it is indeed, World Record holder, Samuel NASCIMENTO.

2019-03-26 13:10

When Samuel set the paragliding World Record of 564 km in 2016, he weighed 94 kilos and flew a size L. Since then he decided to take more care of his health and rediscovered road cycling after 20 years.

2019-03-26 13:09

The main gaggle are following a ridge route close to the optimum line. Samuel Nascimento is following the cylinder round let's see where he goes.

2019-03-26 13:07

The two who so bravely led out this morning have now both landed.

2019-03-26 13:06

The leaderboard shows their furthest position round the course via the turn point cylinders. Their position (e.g. 10th) will also begin to rapidly slide down the leaderboard as the pilots behind them get the turn point, and as far as our leaderboard is concerned, overtake them.

2019-03-26 13:05

The live tracking, on the other hand, shows their actual position which may well be speeding along on their way to turn point three and goal – oopsy!

2019-03-26 13:05

If they miss, for example, turn point two, the leaderboard will show their position with a distance still to go to turn point two, showing that they haven't gone into the cylinder yet.

2019-03-26 13:05

How can you tell by watching the live tracking and leaderboard whether a pilot has had a shaving accident during the task?

2019-03-26 13:04

The object of the exercise is to shave the cylinder as closely as possible, but not too closely. If you don't cross the cylinder you will be scored to your furthest point along the course line towards the goal before the turn point you missed.

2019-03-26 13:04

Whilst they are all touching the cylinder before racing on, let me explain a bit more about cylinders.

2019-03-26 13:02

So now they need to continue north into the boonies.

2019-03-26 13:00

The top 80 have now got the second turn point, that shows just how many were in that following gaggle.

2019-03-26 12:58

In fact, I think it's time for today's Thought for the Thermal from one of the grand (young) gentlemen of our sport. Andreas (Pepe) MALECKI, who has competed in all the Super Final's since Super final time began (2009): 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far go together.' If this sounds a bit familiar to some of you, it is indeed an ancient German African proverb.

2019-03-26 12:55

Maxime Pinot has got the second turn point and is doing what very few other pilots can, and dare do, flying ahead of the creme de la creme of the paragliding world on his own.

2019-03-26 12:54

Ogi started paragliding in 1985. Why? Because it seemed like a fun thing to do, and he's been having lots of fun ever since! Mind you, Ogi found the X-Aps fun and is back doing it again this year after having done it for the first time 12 years ago. Ogi competed in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy.

2019-03-26 12:53

Kaoru Ogisawa is also breaking away for the crowd and is on his own to the east.

2019-03-26 12:52

As former Brazilian champion, Christiano Ricci, told me: To fly well in Baixo Guandu you have to look for birds, other pilots and understand the relationship between the clouds and the ground. By the river works because there are a lot of rocks, thus giving a big colour contrast which is always a good thermal source. Rocks take longer to warm, but they concentrate more energy and therefore give better thermals. In other words, rocks take longer to heat, but when they have heated up, they give better thermals.

2019-03-26 12:51

So in brief Yassen and Maxime are on ahead and the others are climbing over the river.

2019-03-26 12:50

Michael Sigel, reigning Super Final Champion and Rafael Saladini, reigning World distance champion are just behind them.

2019-03-26 12:49

Yassen is, as always, storming on ahead, and is, as always, low!

2019-03-26 12:48

Charles Cazaux, the only person to have been Super Final champion and World Champion and Aaron Durogati, the only person to have won the Super Final twice, definitely a gaggle worth following me thinks!

2019-03-26 12:47

Charles Cazaux and first across End of speed yesterday Aaron Durogati are taking a route more to the east.

2019-03-26 12:45

Yassen's first World Cup was in Poggio Bustone in Italy in 2008. Out of 4 tasks, he was 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 120th. So, had the current discard system been invented back then it is highly probable that he would have won his first ever World Cup! As Yassen told me 'I was very happy to be placed 2nd in my first PWC task, behind the master (Luca) Donini, and on final glide passing my favourite pilot at the time - Urban Valic. Good times.'

2019-03-26 12:44

Maxime and Yassen Savov are speeding ahead, taking very different routes for the river crossing.

2019-03-26 12:42

Maxime told me a bit about his X-Alps training whilst he is here at the Super Final. My training started here with an adaptation to the heat… A big change from in France. So at the beginning, it was more about slow runs in the early morning or evening. During a comp like this, we don't have so much time and we also have to save energy. So basically, it's really different from what I was doing at home during the last months, with hours and hours spent every week on the XcSkies, skitouring, or running. Here I'm not working on volume, but on speed to develop my VO2 max a bit during these 15 days, or at least maintain it. That means I will work on high heart rate targets during my runs, from 80 to 100% of my maximum, which are mostly intervals trainings. I do it in the flat, but I really prefer to work on the slopes around Baixo or like when I'm going up to take off. But still sometimes a slow run, but a bit longer in time. I do swim a bit, but I'm not a big fan even if it can be really useful for core strength. And we have a pool here. Laurie (Genovese) is doing my training program since the beginning of my project to participate in the X-Alps, that's 2 years now. The good point is that we have highly motivated people in the French Team to share my training with, like Tanguy (Renaud-Goud) and Damien (LACAZE). It is really fun.

2019-03-26 12:42

Maxime will be taking part in the 2019 XAlps for the first time with none other than 2013 World Champion, Jérémie Lager, as his supporter.

2019-03-26 12:40

Maxime Pinot is going straight for the river crossing, the others behind him are stopping to gain height.

2019-03-26 12:36

However today's tactic seems to be to play follow leader.

2019-03-26 12:34

Tactically a lot of what they do, and where they go, is dictated by the clouds. If they are high they 'hop' from one cloud to another. If they are lower they look for thermal sources which often come from changes in the terrain, and are very unpredictable and make paragliding races so challenging. What works one day won't necessarily work the next day.

2019-03-26 12:31

With the clear air today they are going to have stunning views as they fly over these incredible rock domes. Even the coconut palm trees are looking a bit thirsty and droopy today it is so hot. Between the domes, the green landscape is dotted with little oasis surrounded by bull rushes.

2019-03-26 12:27

Stephan Morgenthaler and Marco Busetta are up with the leaders. For those of you wondering why they went so far into the last cylinder in yesterday's task rather than just shaving it then going for ESS, they both told me that they were low and the best place to climb was by going far into the cylinder to a big rock face. Marco wanted to get in a dominating position so that when those behind caught up he was higher and could use them as thermal markers out in front.

2019-03-26 12:23

Kari Ellis is right up with the leaders. This celebratory 10th Super Final is Kari's first SF, but she doesn't seem to be finding it a particularly daunting experience.

2019-03-26 12:21

They are now going on a long leg north east.

2019-03-26 12:20

They seem to be coming in from all different directions to get this first turn point. Remember, they don't have to go right into the middle of the circle to tick, the turn point, just touch the outside of it.

2019-03-26 12:18

Former French champion Jonathan Marin has got the most lead out points at the moment in today's race.

2019-03-26 12:17

There is a maximum of 67.5 lead out points if nobody gets to goal, 70 if only 1 person gets to goal. 160 if 70 % or more get to goal, rising to 162 if 90% or more are in goal. Therefore, until the last pilot has landed, the lead out points and thus the task winner, can't be calculated and given in the Commentary during the race. This is why we can only give the % of lead out points during the race.

2019-03-26 12:17

Just a reminder about the scores. Each pilot's score is made up of 3 parts. Time points (how fast they got to goal), points they only get if they get to goal. Distance points (how far they flew). Lead out points (how much of the time they were with the leaders).

2019-03-26 12:15

Maxime dropped out of the PWC scene a bit this year but it looks as if the Maxime Magic is still there.

2019-03-26 12:14

Maxime Pinot has taken the lead.

2019-03-26 12:13

The leaders are approaching the first turn point.

2019-03-26 12:13

The race will really start after the second thermal and reward those who attack all along the race, whilst maintaining the reduction in points at the end to avoid the final push being too fast and furious.'

2019-03-26 12:12

We know that it won't radically change the Start but it will now be less of a help to climb at the Start. In any case, it will be less advantageous than before.

2019-03-26 12:11

'The thinking behind the new scoring system for the leadout points is to try to avoid cheating by cloud flying, and at the same time, to make the Start safer.

2019-03-26 12:11

A new system of lead out points has been introduced for this competition.

2019-03-26 12:10

The lead out points have just started.

2019-03-26 12:07

They are heading east to the first turn point.

2019-03-26 12:00

There is a warm wind blowing, could somebody please turn off the fan heater. The air is incredibly dry making the black granite domes stand out like monsters lying on the ground. The colourful gliders in 2 gaggles under two wispy white clouds mingle high above this Jurassic Park landscape The leaves on the canopy green trees wave them goodbye, as one they head for Pancas and beyond. The Start is open. The race is on.

2019-03-26 11:40

It is all about finding the fastest, shortest route round the whole couse. Pushing out at the front at the beginning to get lead out points. Remember there are more lead out points just after the Start than 70% of the way round.

2019-03-26 11:37

The big circle is the Start where they wait until 12h, then they race to touch the smaller circle inside it which is the first turn point. Where they cross the start and where they 'touch ' the first turn point is all based on finding the shortest, fastest route to the second turn point.

2019-03-26 11:30

30 minutes until the Start. At 12h their time round the course will start, this gives them their time points, how long they took to get from the Start line to the End of Speed (ESS).

2019-03-26 11:22

The last few pilots are taking off into this perfect for paraglidign blue sky: Denis Soverini, Khobi-jane Bowden, Alexey Bystritskiy, Emil Cervenan, Victor Sibirtsev, Gleb Sukhotskiy, Laurie Genovese and acro genie Felix Rodriguez Fernandez.

2019-03-26 11:15

Here's what Victor Sibirtsev told me about flying these monolythic blocks. The foot of the mountains works best here, at the top of the mountains the cycle is too short. The black granite domes don't work as well as you would think they should as, with the sun pretty much directly overhead, the exposition is wrong. In the afternoon the flats work quite well..

2019-03-26 11:13

What an amazing sight, a beautiful blue sky dotted with colourful gliders and the incredible rock domes topped with dense green vegetation in the back ground.

2019-03-26 11:12

You don't have to be first to cross the start line but in the top third is good. This way you don't play catch up for the first part of the race which is tiring and stressful. Today the start is at 12h in the air about 2km from take off so they still have plenty of time to get to the start and get high today.

2019-03-26 11:10

The start is really important, (shown in red on the App) a good start is key and gives confidence and the right frame of mind for the rest of the course.

2019-03-26 11:08

They use the weather (sun and thermals) and topography (especially ridges) and changes in the terrain to keep them airborne around the course. They use the clouds to show where the air is rising. Birds are also good thermal markers.

2019-03-26 11:08

The Start and turn points have cylinders around them to spread pilots out. They use their GPS to confirm that they have crossed the Start and the cylinders - they don't need to go to the point in the middle, just cross the cylinder around it.

2019-03-26 11:07

You can see the route the task follows on the live tracking. Once the pilots take off you can see where the take off is and thus the start and which way round the course they will go.The line is the 'optimum route', they don't have to follow this but they do have to go to the circles (cylinders) in the correct order.

2019-03-26 11:05

It's a bit like getting on the starting blocks at an athletics race then waiting for the gun to go off. Then the race starts.

2019-03-26 11:04

So that is the stage we are at today. The pilots are taking off, they will then climb so that they have enough height to go to the start where they need to wait until 12h.

2019-03-26 11:03

The task comprises a virtual Start cylinder in the air and time, after which the pilots can cross the start, followed by turn point cylinders.

2019-03-26 11:02

A briefing then takes place to explain the task and the weather conditions to the other pilots.

2019-03-26 11:02

Here the Task committee: is Michael Sigel and Andreas MALECKI

2019-03-26 11:01

A Task Committee of 2 pilots is chosen at registration. Every day the Task Committee and Meet Director set a task which should take the fastest pilot about 2.5 – 3 hours to complete.

2019-03-26 11:00

Let's just do a bit of a recap about how a comp works.

2019-03-26 10:58

Start opens at 12h in an hours time.

2019-03-26 10:58

The pilots are now all taking off and getting high already.

2019-03-26 10:46

The task is set - todays race is a 85.3 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:45 Local Time and the Start is at 12:00

2019-03-26 10:26

Cody Mittanck about the task flying into Pancas in the 2018 PWC: The task flying towards Pancas was one of those special tasks where the racing mindset dissolves and you get the feeling of flying deep into unknown territory with a bunch of your best friends. The terrain rises quickly so that the gap up to cloudbase narrowed and the task forced us to go even deeper and tighter. We flew along the west edge of the high terrain. There were shear dark granite cliffs, lush green jungle on the steep slopes, and agriculture plots on any slope that was accessible with a maze of rust coloured roads throughout. It was an incredible feat for so many of us to get out of there and back to goal.

2019-03-26 10:25

A task to Pancas has been set today. This is an area with the most stunning scenery. Here's what Cody Mittanck had to say about last year's task to Pancas.

2019-03-26 10:22

Top 3 ladies after 5 tasks: Petra SLIVOVA (2464), Wooyoung JANG (2356), Méryl DELFERRIERE (2331).

2019-03-26 10:22

With only 144 points separating the top 10, it is still very much all to fly for, over the next five days.

2019-03-26 10:22

Top 10 overall after 5 tasks: Pierre REMY (2608), Julien WIRTZ (2603), Aaron DUROGATI (2595), Russell OGDEN (2574), Franck PERRING (2544), Michael SIGEL (2523), Cody MITTANCK (2496), Yigit YILDIRIM (2485), Juan Carlos MORAN (2481), Petra SLIVOVA (2464).

2019-03-26 10:22

Top lead out point baggers: Honorin HAMARD, Russell OGDEN, Kiyoshi NARIYAMA

2019-03-26 10:21

Top 3 teams: 1st Ozone, 2nd Parastick, 3rd Gin Gliders

2019-03-26 10:21

Top 3 ladies: 1st Méryl DELFERRIERE, 2nd Klaudia BULGAKOW, 3rd Yael MARGELISCH

2019-03-26 10:21

Well done to task 5 winners: Top 3 overall, 1st Kiyoshi NARIYAMA, 2nd = Russell OGDEN and Aaron DUROGATI

2019-03-26 10:19

Here we are on launch ready for another great day.

2019-03-26 10:08

Here we are on day 7 - the sun is out, the sky is blue and there are a few high cirrus clouds. Winds are light and everything looks good for a task. Details will be along very soon...

2019-03-25 18:46

It was en epic day and the task was made easier by the skies. We got 90 pilots in goal today.

The results are now online for all to see.

2019-03-25 17:09

Note from the Commentary team, today at 12:56 we quoted Pepe MALECKI as explaining that (amongst other things): Gullys in the flats work where the sun is beating down. So today's winning tactic can be summarised quite simply as 'Read The Commentary.'

2019-03-25 17:09

So for today's winning tactic from first across ESS today, Aaron DUROGATI. He told me: I was one of the highest in the last thermal, I got a good line but then 6 km before ESS there was big sink. There was a gully which channelled the hot air and gave lift and that's how I stayed up and managed to make ESS.

2019-03-25 16:03

Last pilot in the air, Yongtae Ahn, has just arrived at end of speed, 9th overall this morning and the last one in the air today, I think task five will have had a big impact on the overall scores.

2019-03-25 15:25

Everyone at Aerofix paragliding repair centre in England, where Theo works can now breath a sign of relief (and get back to work), Theo Warden has, once again, made goal today.

2019-03-25 15:19

Today was a day of being very sensitive to changes of pace, quite a few of those who raced on at the end and didn't slow down landed. Or put another way, those who the Commentary team said were going to win didn't, the curse of the commentator strikes again.

2019-03-25 15:15

European champion and first across ESS in task 2, Theo Warden is just about to get ESS today.

2019-03-25 15:12

Flying once again in the same order as last years' Super Final, last years' runner up, Nicola Donini, is crossing Ess just behind last years winner, Michael Sigel.

2019-03-25 15:11

Michael Sigel seems to just be getting to ESS, looks like the tradition of a Michael always winning task 5 has been broken today.

2019-03-25 15:10

Paolo Veratti is doing an amazing amount of work getting a climb just before ESS and should hopefully make it across the line now. After a couple of years out Paolo made an amazing come back recently and came 1st equal in task 4 with World Cup super veteran, Marko Novak, in the Paragliding World cup in Bright, Australia in 2018.

2019-03-25 15:06

Former Super Final Champion Stefan Wyss is just crossing Ess. He competed in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy and has been Swiss champion five times: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016. As I said at the beginning the Competition is full of paragliding super stars.

2019-03-25 15:02

Eli works as a paragliding instructor. She loves hike and fly (sometimes even flying with her dog) and was part of the supporting team for Simon Oberrauner in the 2017 X-Alps and will be supporting today's first across ESS Aaron Durogati in this years X-Alps.

2019-03-25 15:01

Elisabeth Egger has just got ESS and is on her way in to goal.

2019-03-25 14:58

The goal field is in a cluster of granite domes which may look stunning but are playing havoc with our internet connection as the pilots come into goal. About 25 have now landed and more are filling this perfect paragling sky on their way here.

2019-03-25 14:55

In the overalls we think 6th - 10th across ESS were: Stephan Morgenthaler, Marco Busetta, Denis Soverini, Méryl Delferriere and Damien Lacaze.

2019-03-25 14:51

The leading ladies scores will be very close as well today. Less than a minute behind Aaron Durogati was Méryl Delferriere with 85% lead out points, followed by Klaudia Bulgakow with 91% of the lead out points, then Yael Margelisch with 87% of the lead out points and Petra Slivova with 82% of the lead out points.

2019-03-25 14:46

First across Ess with 94% of lead out points was Aaron Durogati.

2019-03-25 14:45

Russell Ogden has got 96% leading points and was 12 seconds behind the first across. Ess.

2019-03-25 14:43

Honorin Hamard got full lead out points but got a little bit stuck before ESS and had to stop to get a climb which put him 6 minutes behind the leaders across ESS.

2019-03-25 14:41

However as they all sweep down into the heat of the goal field, dripping in sweat the big question is who got the most lead out points?

2019-03-25 14:40

It looks as if the top 5 across Ess are Aaron Durogati, Moonseob Lim, Kiyoshi Nariyama, Russell Ogden, Pepe Malecki.

2019-03-25 14:36

It looks as if the top 5 have all got Ess together.

2019-03-25 14:35

Moonseob Lim is right with the leaders too.

2019-03-25 14:35

Aaron Durogati is in the lead and going to get it first

2019-03-25 14:35

Méryl Delferriere who came 10th OVERALL in last year's Super Final is with them

2019-03-25 14:34

Marco Busetta is in the lead but will need to climb more, he's on a glide rtaio of 17.3 :1 so will need another climb.

2019-03-25 14:33

Russell Ogden has now got a safe glide ratio to goal of 8 so should be able to make it without needing to stop and climb more.

2019-03-25 14:32

Aaron has a glide ratio to goal of 9, Pierre Remy, 8.2 Kiyoshi Nariyama 8.2

2019-03-25 14:31

However the others lower down are not letting them get away.

2019-03-25 14:31

Marco Busetta and Stephan Morgenthaler's strategy of climbing high inside the turn point has worked as they storm into the lead, what a race. 3 km to go.

2019-03-25 14:29

Also racing neck and neck with the leaders 5 km to goal is Wally. In the World Cup in Sopot Bulgaria, the catch phrase was very much 'where's Wally,' as he was always off following his own lines, doing his own thing, which sometimes worked very well and in fact, worked so well at the beginning of the comp that he won the first task! Where's Wally is working well again today as he charges towards ESS high with the leaders.

2019-03-25 14:28

Guy Anderson is with the leaders. Guy's bid for Super Final stardom got off to a bit of a bad start when he got marooned on the Falkland Isands and almost missed day one, one of the perils of going on a fishing holiday apparently! However with this amazing finish he will be so glad he made it here in the end.

2019-03-25 14:26

This is incredible so close, what a race.

2019-03-25 14:26

Former World and European champion, French champion, XContest winner Honorin Hamard has taken the lead. He so wants to add Super Final champion to his list of titles.

2019-03-25 14:24

Yassen's strategy in the Aksaray, Turkey World Cup in 2018 was very different to in previous ones, he told me. 'I am going to fly humbly and fly with the others (before choosing his moment to pounce). I have been experimenting in comps for the last 10 years, so now I am going to experiment with not experimenting, I am not going to be the King's fool anymore.' That strategy worked well and saw him soaring to second place. However hard Yassen tries he can't resist for long that urge to go speeding off ahead. In the words of World Cup technical delegate, Ulric Jessop, 'Yassen always gives us a diet of agony and ecstasy at any comp he is in.'

2019-03-25 14:21

Yassen Savov, like a pink panther, has pounced into first place just ahead of the lead gaggle.

2019-03-25 14:19

Just behind Russell and Julien are top ladies, Méryl Delferriere, Wooyoung Jang and Klaudia Bulgakow.

2019-03-25 14:18

Russell Ogden is pretty high now too at 1333m, will all that dog walking have paid off?

2019-03-25 14:17

Marco Busetta and Stephan Morgenthaler although they are further back have got a climb and are super high 1700 and are going for it, whereas the others are all still climbing.

2019-03-25 14:16

Peter Slade is trying to get a climb on a spur behind the turn point.

2019-03-25 14:15

Julien Wirtz is working a nice climb with Russell Ogden along the course line.

2019-03-25 14:15

Marco Busetta and Stephan Morgenthaler have gone right into the cylinder to get a climb, the others have just shaved it and moved on.

2019-03-25 14:13

Russell Ogden is close behind Pete, this could be the first time that somebody whose only training for the Super Final is walking their dog, wins a task.

2019-03-25 14:12

I don't care if it is 4 in the morning in Australia, nobody has to go to bed. This could be the first time an australian has won a Super Final task.

2019-03-25 14:11

Peter Slade is also on his own approaching the last turn point. He told me this morning that he was looking forward to a day with more speed and more assurance of better climbs. Looks like he's making the most of a great flying day, currently lying in 2nd position. I hope everyone in Australia is staying up to watch this, Pete has just gone into the lead.

2019-03-25 14:06

Marco has taken the turn point quite far from the optimum route so let's see where he goes next and if he can hold onto his lead.

2019-03-25 14:05

Aaron Durogati is right up with the leaders too today. He'll be doing the X-Alps this summer so the Super Final is a great way to top up your racing skills. Aaron also told me that during the Superfinal I do a bit of Training for my knee as well as hiking/walking up to take-off every morning. In the evening I do another work out or go slacklining.

2019-03-25 14:03

This is Stephan's first time in Baixo Guandu and he told me at the beginning of the comp that he is finding it very different to the Alps, yes Brazil certainly isn't Switzerland. But the lack of an Alp or two doesn't seem to be slowing him down today.

2019-03-25 14:01

Stephan Morgenthaler is at the front with Marco.

2019-03-25 14:00

Pepe's first ever World Cup was in Konitsa in Greece in 2001, along with other future World Cup winner, in fact here in Baixo Guandu in 2015, Marco Littame . Two other newbies also made their debut in that competition, shy and retiring World Cup cameraman Philippe Broers and future World distance record holder Marcelo Prieto.

2019-03-25 13:58

Also up with the leaders Andreas (Pepe) Malecki, who did tell me it would be a good day today. .

2019-03-25 13:55

There is an excellent interview with Mitch on Paragliding World Cup TV, which you can find in the media box on the front page of our pwca.org website. There are also interviews with the Korean team, Aaron Durogati, Mika Diaz Ruiz and Petra Slivova and of course you can see footage of the amazing scenery the pilots have been flying over too.

2019-03-25 13:54

Mitch Riley, who is always taking innovative routes is in the lead, he's certainly not a follower.

2019-03-25 13:53

Meanwhile the lead gaggle are about to overtake Marco.

2019-03-25 13:52

Those who were last to cross the river like Jonathan Marin, Russell Achterberg, Youngjong Park and Rafael Moraes Barros seem to be making better progress than the main gaggle and may yet overtake them.

2019-03-25 13:50

Can Marco keep his lead, he's in a good climb with 6 km to go to the last turn point.

2019-03-25 13:49

Those further back are all now crossing the river too.

2019-03-25 13:46

Marco Busetta is a geologist so loves nature and finds that flying lets him understand and explore the countryside and see how the air masses work. He's fulfilled a lot of his dreams when flying. This landscape of immense water streaked granite domes is a geoligists paradise so he is clearly loving it here, oh and the flying seems to be suiting him too.

2019-03-25 13:43

Marco Busetta has taken quite a definitive lead.

2019-03-25 13:42

Having come from a skiing background Tim now works at Niviuk's R&D office in Verbier in Switzerland, so he must be finding this hot, sticky landscape very different.

2019-03-25 13:40

Victor Sibirtsev and Tim Rochas are some of the furthest to the south.

2019-03-25 13:39

The leaders are spread right out in an axes parallel to the optimum line this race could still be anyones.

2019-03-25 13:38

Anywhere where there are contrasts produces thermals that paraglider pilots can use to carry them round the course, whether it be different colours in vegetation or different types of surface which will hold the heat differently, like the contrast between rocks and woodland.

2019-03-25 13:35

As Russell Ogden explained to me, 'The river can often be a useful lifty line.' He's somebody who has been flying since back in the days when even he had hair, so I think he knows what he is talking about.

2019-03-25 13:34

The milk chocolate River Doce is pulling the pilots in from both sides, green leafy vegetation dipping into its muddy waters.

2019-03-25 13:31

The leading groups are coming together, from either side of the river.

2019-03-25 13:31

Incidentally Julien has done all the Super Finals since Super Final time began so I think he knows what he is talking about.

2019-03-25 13:30

When I asked him what advice he would give to new pilots starting out in their first competition, he scratched his head trying to remember back to those days. His Thought for the Thermal, was very simple: Don't change how you fly just because you are in a competition e.g. don't attack more than you would do normally.

2019-03-25 13:27

Julien soared to fame in the paragliding scene in 2006 after making one of the most incredible vol bivouac flights in the history of the sport with Philippe Nodet, redefining adventure paragliding over ten incredible days, flying 430 km vol biv in the heart of the Karakoram in Northern Pakistan.

2019-03-25 13:26

Honorin Hamard and Julien Wirtz are leading the gaggle to the north.

2019-03-25 13:24

Russell Ogden is one of the leaders of the gaggle to the north of the river. Russell was 2nd in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy. Let's hope our new lead out points scoring system helps him move up a place in this competition. When I asked Russell what training he had been doing for this Super Final, he told me about his three stage training program, 'walking the dog, doing DIY and restoring his old car.' Well let's see if that works better than those who have been scaling the Himalayas in preparation.

2019-03-25 13:21

Nicola is climbing but he'll need to be careful.

2019-03-25 13:20

Nicola Donini has broken away from the group to the south of the river and has espablished a good lead.

2019-03-25 13:19

Wow, the race is on, two big gaggles going totally differnt routes with the World's best pilots trying to break away at the front of each of them!

2019-03-25 13:18

At the front of the gaggle catching up Jonathin is Laurie Genovese who is current Super Final first lady and no doubt wanting to hold onto her title.

2019-03-25 13:16

Jonathan comes from Pilat which is a small massif to the west of Grenoble in France which has given him the opportunity to build up a range of technical skills from flat land to mountain flying.

2019-03-25 13:15

Jonathan Marin is leading the gaggle to the north.

2019-03-25 13:14

The others are all staying on the north side of the river.

2019-03-25 13:13

Klaudia Bulgakow, Nicola Donini, Stephan Morgenthaler, Byeongkuk Moon, Andreas Malecki are the first to cross the river.

2019-03-25 13:12

Where to cross the river is really splitting them up.

2019-03-25 13:11

The terrain they are flying over is amazing all around there are massive black granite domes with tufts of leafy vegetation growing out of the top of them. They look just like those egg shells with cress growing out of the top of them that we used to plant as kids. .

2019-03-25 13:09

I think cats would go round a race course in a more orderly fashion the pilots are spread out everywhere.

2019-03-25 13:08

Their main goal is to share their knowledge about competition flying in a friendly environment, so that in the future we can have a new generation of Polish pilots in the PWC circuit. The competition is open to pilots from all over the World, (they already have 19 nationalities registered) and is for pilots flying maximum EN C gliders. If you are interested, have a look at their website: www.airtribune.com/polishsccup2019

2019-03-25 13:07

Together with Klaudia Bulgakow, in 2018 Michal started a comp series called the Polish Sport Class Cup. The first edition was in beautiful Krusevo, which has also hosted PWC events in the past. This year's competition will be in May in the Italian Piave d'Alpago.

2019-03-25 13:07

Michal Gierlach is in the group behind but breaking away to join the lead group.

2019-03-25 13:06

The groups in the mountains are in two gaggles, those in front and those who are higher, but a bit behind them.

2019-03-25 13:04

It looks as if the mountain route has been the quickest.

2019-03-25 13:03

Oh and there is Samuel Nascimento who seems to have decided to go for a swim as he and Flavio Funiati seem to be going in a totally different direction.

2019-03-25 13:01

The race has really divided up into two distinct groups, those taking the short cut across the plane and those who stuck to the mountains.

2019-03-25 13:00

Theunis told me very modestly on launch today, 'I'm just happy that the sun is out and that maybe we'll manage some racing today'! As he's at the front of the gaggle in the creme de la creme of the paragliding world, yes I think it would be fair to say he has been doing a bit of racing today.

2019-03-25 12:58

In the lead climbing up one of the big rock domes this area is so famous for are Kiyoshi Nariyama, Honorin Hamard, Ernesto Hinestroza, Jonathan Marin, Rafael Saladini and Theunis De Bruin.

2019-03-25 12:57

However judging by the way they are all climbing it is working absolutely everywhere.

2019-03-25 12:56

As Andreas (Pepe) MALECKI explained to me, the best climbs come from thermals which come from the flats. The best pools of hot air are on the flats. If there are big flats in front of the mountains, and the wind is blowing the thermals onto the mountains, this will give good climbs. Gullys in the flats work where the sun is beating down.

2019-03-25 12:55

Racing across the flats: Jeison Zeferino, Tanguy Renaud-goud, Petra Slivova, Kaoru Ogisawa and climbing together Cody Mittanck and Tim Rochas

2019-03-25 12:53

Just when I thought they were all going to go the same way there is a break away group going out into the flats.

2019-03-25 12:52

Gianbasilio told me this morning this is the first day of the comp with sunshine so although it is a much longer task it should be good. He much prefers stronger conditions, living near Rome in Italy this is what he has more experience of.

2019-03-25 12:50

Gianbasilio Profiti is one of the leaders again today, he was 2nd in the last task.

2019-03-25 12:49

Following the mountainous arc round seems to be the most popular choice.

2019-03-25 12:48

As the picture perfect paragliding blue sky, with nicely placed puffly white clouds stretches out in front of them, this is a day of thermals and lots of sun tan lotion.

2019-03-25 12:46

The leaders are now arriving at an incredible natural bowl which will give mountains or flats route choices.

2019-03-25 12:44

As ever it takes some time to fully know the wing and how the trim should be to suit you. I unfortunately didn't have a flight before coming here. One flight and a tweak and it was task 1. I'm more than happy with the feel, handling, stability and safety of the wing. On glide at trim it seems competitive. I have yet to see it in anger at half and full bar against other gliders to verify the top speed / glide angle combination. All the chat suggests it is on a par with the Enzo/Boom. That's all I need to know - then it is down to me. Early days still - but I can forget about the wing now and just concentrate on flying well and making the right decisions. I certainly feel able to use the range.'

2019-03-25 12:44

He told me 'I had a look at all the CCC options out there. I picked up all the chat through the PWC trails and forums. The Flow Spectra was the only glider big enough to carry my podge. So it wasn't really a hard decision. (Note from the Commentary team the weight range of the Spectra goes from 80 -135 kg all up weight). I did check out that the wing went well however - picking up on the impressions of the pilots I knew that had flown with it in Sopot last year.

2019-03-25 12:43

Andrew Williams is also flying a Spectra. 'Having taken a middle aged hit, last year I realised I needed a bigger wing!'

2019-03-25 12:42

Quite a few of the new Flow Spectra gliders are also approaching the first turn point. Felipe Rezende, Mr Flow gliders, told me today that this task would be a great chance to explore the Spectra's full potential especially the speed range. As Felipe is currently lying in 15th place in this top of the range Super Final, I bet he's giving it the thumbs up.

2019-03-25 12:33

They now have a 43 km leg flying west.

2019-03-25 12:32

Getting the turn point first does not necessarily mean you are in the lead, other pilots could take it further round and thus take it later, but be nearer the next turn point.

2019-03-25 12:30

To the sound of Hell's Bells in Baixo Guandu village square the first pilots get the first turn point.

2019-03-25 12:29

Theunis won the Nordic open in Kruschevo, Macedonia in 2018 so he is no stranger to being at the front.

2019-03-25 12:29

Theunis De Bruin is in the middle and possibly about to get the turn point first.

2019-03-25 12:28

Following the course line, and scooping up all the lead out points Nicola Donini, last year's runner up, Philipp Haag and Joachim Oberhauser, who was third last year. In fact they are almost flying in the order they were on the podium last year - where is Michael Sigel?

2019-03-25 12:25

As they approach the first turn point they go into terrain with amazing rock formations and small mountains, oh and not to mention a fantastic sky for paragliding, what a grand day out.

2019-03-25 12:22

Here's what Jacques had to say about the new lead out points system: I would rather a flat curve as it was 10 years ago before the system changed. If you want to lower the lead out points at the beginning or the end, why not, but it would be better I think if between the two, the lead out points were distributed in a regular manner by a flat line. That would be simpler to understand and for the pilots to use, and above all, I don't see why the lead out points have double the value at 30% of the race than at 65%, as it is at the moment.

2019-03-25 12:22

Between Mitch and those following the course line are a small group with Alexandre Jofresa, Honorin Hamard and Jacques Fournier.

2019-03-25 12:20

The pilots have crossed the river and are now going into higher ground. Mitch Riley is right out to the east. He's one of the newbies to the PWC who has already won two tasks in his first year with us including one in this Super Final.

2019-03-25 12:18

Pilots are not allowed to land during the race to have a picnic, go to the loo etc, then take off again and continue the race. Once you land that is where you are scored to. If you have to land for safety reasons, as there is a problem with your glider, a problem with one of your lines etc, you must phone or radio the Meet Director for permission to take off again for the rest of the flight to count.

2019-03-25 12:17

For those of you watching the tracking and wondering if some of them have stopped to paddle, I can assure you that there is no time for that, they are all at more than 500m above any paddling opportunities.

2019-03-25 12:16

There are those following the course line and those making the river crossing further to the east.

2019-03-25 12:16

Let's hope nobody gets wet toes or wing tips as they cross the milk chocolate coloured waters of the very slow flowing River Doce.

2019-03-25 12:15

Here goes for the first of 3 river crossings in today's race.

2019-03-25 12:14

The palm trees in the fields below the pilots flutter as nature's very own wind socks.

2019-03-25 12:14

It's now listed in the links when a task is published and also on the left of the homepage as: Livetrack 360 - a single click opens it in the browser – unfortunately it doesn't seem to like working on a phone though.

2019-03-25 12:12

Just a reminder that there is a new viewing option from Flymaster (Livetrack 360) which is a split screen view of the task with a 3D viewer on the right. It takes a moment to get used to it but it's quite responsive.

2019-03-25 12:12

The pilots are flying over fields of coffee bushes with their ever-green leaves (actually I am not sure if they are ever green leaves or not, but it is in my commentary, therefore it must be true). Date palms stand tall as a reminder that we are in the tropics. Men trot along the road on horseback oblivious to the pilots making their way silently across the skies above their heads.

2019-03-25 12:11

The clouds today are text book, with perfect cloud streets for the pilots to follow.

2019-03-25 12:08

World distance record holder Samuel Nascimento is in the lead getting all the lead out points. The Brazilians promised me on launch today that today they would win, mind you, they have promised me that with big grins every day so far in this and every other competition.

2019-03-25 12:06

This is the point in the race where if they push out they can get an unbeatable advantage, which if they then arrive at ESS with the leaders, will put them in front for points.

2019-03-25 12:05

The lead out points have just started.

2019-03-25 12:04

There are two very distinct gaggles at the Start, one keeping a bit more to the flats, the other in the hillier terrain.

2019-03-25 12:03

And they are off, the Start is Open, the electronic bells are sqwalking away in Baixo Guandu village square, if any one with a pair of wire cutters is nearby could they please, please do something about those 'Hell's Bells'.

2019-03-25 12:02

In the Brazilian heat, looking up at the blue sky, the gliders turn under a big white cloud as if looking for shade but instead they are turning slowly in a thermal, one of many which will help them along in the lifty air round today's course.

2019-03-25 11:54

With 5minutes to the Start I can almost feel the sweat and stress radiating down from each of those little dots in the sky.

2019-03-25 11:53

With 10 minutes to the Start they are already spread out into quite a few gaggles along the Start cylinder. This was one of the objectives of the new lead out points system which seems to be working well in this Super Final.

2019-03-25 11:45

15 minutes to the Start the sky looks perfect, the pilots are high, in position, ready to go.

2019-03-25 11:19

The black domes out in front stand as silent spectators to this amazing sight of coloured cresents dotting the skies, out in front of launch the green rolling, tree dotted hills beckon the pilots, this is going to be a good day.

2019-03-25 11:16

Michael Sigel, one of the favourites to win today, and not just because he's called Michael, has just taken off. He's the reigning Super Final Champion, current Xcontest champion, Gin test pilot. Could he challenge Aaron Durogati's claim to paragliding fame as the only pilot ever to have won the Super Final twice?

2019-03-25 11:12

You should be able to see the pilots on the tracking now above launch going to the big Start circle/cylinder where they will wait until 12h before heading north to the smaller circle which is the first turn point.

2019-03-25 11:09

Two of our leading ladies are taking their time too, Wooyoung Jang and Petra Slivova who have flown so incredibly well so far in this competition.

2019-03-25 11:07

Most of the pilots have already taken off and are circling high above our heads. Others like Simon Pellissier and Téo Bouvard have taken their time, not wanting to waste too much energy in the air before the race begins. This sport really is all about strategies.

2019-03-25 10:59

This leads to the safety issue, where, because it is so important to be high and fast right from the start, pilots feel the need to cloud-fly. We've tried verbal persuasion and penalties to stop the cloud-flying before the start, but it continues to happen. With the new curve, the accumulation of leading points only starts to ramp up after the start, so the incentive to cloud-fly is lowered. This allows someone to have a safe start, or even a bad start, and then catch up by the second or third thermal where the leading points will start to ramp up. Hopefully this change will make the race a bit safer and just as competitive, if not more.

2019-03-25 10:58

The leadout distribution curve is being modified for a couple of reasons: the first for sporting reasons, the second for safety. Currently, most of the leadout points are given early in the race, to the extent that if you aren't with the lead gaggle from the very start, you are quickly at a severe points disadvantage. For example, take the case of someone who has a poor start--maybe they got caught in a down cycle right before start opened--and isn't with the lead gaggle for the first bit of the race. Even if that person makes some dramatic moves, maybe takes an innovative route, catches the leaders, and ends up crossing the end of speed first, they are probably not going to win the race because the bulk of the leadout points were given to the lead gaggle at the beginning. We don't think that's the right outcome. This puts too much importance on the beginning of the race.

2019-03-25 10:58

Here's how Bill Hughes , World Cup treasurer and glider checking mystro explained the change in the lead out points which he helped to finalise at the Autumn World Cup Committee meeting:

2019-03-25 10:57

Just a reminder also that the lead out points have been changed for this Super Final.

2019-03-25 10:56

The winners of the first ever Super Final are both competing in this Super Final, Charles Cazaux and Keiko Hiraki.

2019-03-25 10:55

2 out of the top 3 ladies from that first ever Super Final are competing here in Baixo Guandu: Keiko Hiraki (1st) and Petra Slivova (3rd). How much will history repeat itself in this Super Final?

2019-03-25 10:55

Charles Cazaux (1st), Russell Ogden (2nd), Aaron Durogati (4th), Torsten Siegel (5th), Alberto Vitale (6th) and Stephan Morgenthaler (8th).

2019-03-25 10:55

6 out of the top ten from the first ever Super Final which was held in Poggio Bustone in Italy are competing in this 10th anniversary celebratory Super Final:

2019-03-25 10:54

Just a reminder that 6 pilots competing have qualified for all the Super Finals since paragliding time began (2009): Charles Cazaux: Stephane Drouin: Andreas Malecki: Yassen Savov: Julien Wirtz and Keiko Hiraki

2019-03-25 10:53

The first pilots are taking off to some very mellow tunes, Stephane Drouin has just gone skywards making it look very easy.

2019-03-25 10:31

The task is set - todays race is a 84.89 km Race to Goal The window will open at 10:30 Local Time and the Start is at 12:00

2019-03-25 10:29

The pilots are getting ready to lauch, with 1hour 30 mins to Start open this should be a good day.

2019-03-25 10:27

However it is Michal Sneiberg from UPs birthday today, so let's hope it's his lucky birthday, to keep UP our World Cup task 5 tradition here in Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-25 10:25

So for those of you wondering how to fly better, and win today's task which is task 5, the Commentary team's top tip is to change your name to Michael.

2019-03-25 10:25

Here is an interesting historical Paragliding World Cup fact. In every World Cup held in Baixo Guandu a pilot with the first name of Michael has won task 5! Michael Sigel won task 5 in both the 2013 and 2015 World Cups held here. In 2018 Michael Küffer won task 5. 'Let's keep it that way,' Michael Sigel told me yesterday!

2019-03-25 10:24

After yesterday's task win Michael Sigel is now hot on the heals of Yassen Savov for task wins since World Cup tasks were invented. Michael now has 11 task wins and is lying in 5th position after Hans Bollinger (28), Stefan Wyss (21), Alex Hofer (13) and Yassen Savov (12).

2019-03-25 10:24

The top 3 ladies after 3 tasks are: Yuki SATO COLOMBÉ (1764), Petra SLIVOVA (1695), Wooyoung JANG (1601).

2019-03-25 10:23

So after 3 tasks the top ten over all are as follows: Michael SIGEL (1935), Pierre REMY (1848), Julien WIRTZ (1840), Baptiste LAMBERT (1828), Aaron DUROGATI (1827), Franck PERRING (1822), Ernesto HINESTROZA (1808), Russell OGDEN (1805), Yongtae AHN (1795), Yigit YILDIRIM (1788). So we go into task 5 with the current Super Final Champion and the Current World Champion leading the race, but with six days still to go it is all to play for.

2019-03-25 10:23

Well done to task 4 lead out point baggers: Pierre Remy, Michael Sigel, Francisco Javie REINA LAGOS.

2019-03-25 10:22

Well done to task 4 winning teams: 1st Kortel Design, 2nd Gin Gliders, 3rd Cross Country Magazine.

2019-03-25 10:22

Well done to task 4 leading ladies: 1st Yuki Sato Colombé, 2nd Petra SLIVOVA, 3rd = Wooyoung Jang and Midori NAKANOME.

2019-03-25 10:22

Well done to task 4 winners: 1st Michael SIGEL, 2nd Gianbasilio PROFITI, 3rd Stéphane POULAIN

2019-03-25 10:21

An 84 km task has been set with the same goal as yesterday, but involving more river crossings.

2019-03-25 10:21

Task committee member Andreas Malecki is very happy about today, 'first time sunny weather, cloud base high,' he told me grinning from ear to ear.

2019-03-25 10:17

Here we all are on launch ready for task 5. The weather looks much better today, birds are already circling up at base.

2019-03-25 09:34

Day 6 is here and the weather is stunning this morning - blue skies and warm sunshine. The forecast for the rest of the competition is now looking good and we expect to fly every day now until the end.

Everyone is on the way to takeoff and we expect task news at around 11:30

2019-03-24 19:51

It was a tricky day - not made any easier by the lack of tracking near the goal. In the end 34 pilots made the goal.

Everyone is now back and the results are available from the link on the PWCA home page or HERE

2019-03-24 17:54

Just one final thought for the day. In every World Cup held in Baixo Guandu, a pilot with the first name of Michael has won task 5! Michael Sigel won task 5 in both the 2013 and 2015 World Cups held here. In 2018 Michael Küffer won task 5. So for those of you trying to work out a winning tactic for tomorrow (task 5), the Commentary team suggest you all change your names to Michael!

2019-03-24 17:50

So, for today's winning tactic from first across End of Speed today, Michael Sigel. How did you beat the others I asked him? 'I just tried to get to goal first.' Well that's an easy tactic for everyone to remember. 'I pushed all the time. At the end I was with Pierre Remy, it was shady, we waited until the thermals started again. We were the only ones with a thermal, so we just went for it. To some extent it was pilot skill but I think my glider (Michael was the test pilot for the Boomerang 11 when it was being designed), has an advantage when it is smooth conditions so that really counted today too.

2019-03-24 17:32

Despite the tracker problems at the end of the day we do know that everyone has landed safely and are on their way back.

2019-03-24 15:42

One of the many unique features of the Flymaster trackers we use in the Paragliding World Cup is that they can be interrogated by Retrieve Maestro Chris Trow from a distance. So, if during a section of no coverage there is an accident, e.g Pilot A witnesses Pilot B throwing his reserve, and radios this information, a few minutes later when Pilot A comes back into coverage, we can see where they BOTH were a few minutes earlier even though Pilot B's Flymaster tracker is still not on line, and send out a rescue to the precise location of injured Pilot B. This exact scenario happened at the 2016 Super Final.

2019-03-24 15:41

When pilots fly through an area with no coverage this doesn't mean that there is no tracklog for that part of the course, as soon as they get back into coverage we get the track and there is often a 'catch up effect' which makes it look as if they are flying really fast as their Flymaster tracker moves to their new position.

2019-03-24 15:41

For those who have felt that the live tracking is a waste of time because there are so many black holes with no coverage along the course, it's maybe worth remembering that their entertainment value is a bonus over and above the safety aspect they provide:

2019-03-24 15:41

On Google Earth and the PWCA App the pilot's positions are shown as blue squares when they haven't sent a fix for up to two minutes. After 5 minutes of no signal they are shown as a red triangle, so it is easy to see which trackers are off line. This makes it really clear as to where all the up to date action is.

2019-03-24 15:40

The World Cup choose to show when the trackers are off line so that viewers get the best possible information. Google Earth and the tracking on the App publish more up to the minute data than other systems which make them more vulnerable to momentary drop outs which all show up, whereas they wouldn't on other systems with a greater time delay.

2019-03-24 15:40

World Cups always take place where there is marginal network as competitions don't take place over heavily populated areas with an excellent network.

2019-03-24 15:40

The simple answer is that all tracking systems suffer from exactly the same holes in the network, the same as we all do when we use our own mobile phones.

2019-03-24 15:39

For those of you trying to follow this on the live tracking and asking why does Google Earth and the tracking on the PWC App seem to be off line so often?

2019-03-24 15:37

Petra Slivova, first lady again today and in with the leaders has just landed in goal, closely followed by one of our other leading ladies, Yuki Sato Colombé.

2019-03-24 15:35

Martin Long will be giving out woops of joy as he crosses Ess and heads to goal, having had two dissappointing tasks where he missed goal, 'I just need longer legs he told me,' so whether or not his fellow Brits have spent the last few days stretching him or did the conditions just suit him better today.

2019-03-24 15:32

Also just coming into goal is Jacques Fournier, one of the real characters, along with his famous hat, in the French flying season. Very experienced. Very technically oriented, one of the few people on the planet (or in the air) capable of keeping PWC scoring maestro Ulric Jessop on his toes.

2019-03-24 15:29

Julien Wirtz, Yigit Yildirim, Idris Birch and Baptiste Lambert have all just crossed ESS.

2019-03-24 15:27

Aaron Durogati is just behind him. He's another one you can read about in Cross Country magazine. At the start of this year, in January 2019, Aaron and his climbing partner Daniel Ladurner headed to the mountains of southern Patagonia to combine big-wall climbing and ultralight flying. An environment which was very different to his native town of Merano in the South Tyrol in Italy. Their intrepid story, along with some stunning pics, is recounted in the latest edition of Cross Country magazine, April 2019 (198). I got vertigo just looking at the photos!

2019-03-24 15:24

There is a great article about Damien's expedition last summer to the Karakoram in the March 2019 (issue 197) of XC mag. The photos of the Himalayan scenery (as always with XC mag) are stunning, there are also some good ones of rather sore looking feet!

2019-03-24 15:24

Damien Lacaze is going for it.

2019-03-24 15:22

There is a big gaggle of about 30 on a ridge 3 km back from Ess, all waiting for somebody else to go for it.

2019-03-24 15:21

The sky is looking pretty over cast with some fairly dark patches but there are still a few bits of blue about.

2019-03-24 15:16

Emil is just about to join the others in goal.

2019-03-24 15:16

Nicola Donini, Pierre Remy, Jeison Zeferino, Damien Lacaze are coming to join them.

2019-03-24 15:14

The others are trying to get more of a climb but with the cloud cover it is difficult.

2019-03-24 15:13

Emil is going for ESS with a 7.5 glide ratio to goal so he should make it.

2019-03-24 15:12

In the next group heading for ESS we have Emil Cervenan, Franck Perring, Yigit Yildirim, Junming Song, Stephane Drouin.

2019-03-24 15:11

After the End of Speed Section (ESS) they can land whenever they want in goal. If they land before goal they only get distance points. If they get to goal they get distance points plus speed points reflecting how long it took them to get round the course to ESS.

2019-03-24 15:10

They have got ESS about 3.5 km ahead of the others.

2019-03-24 15:10

Next Stéphane Poulain then Gianbasilio Profiti across ESS.

2019-03-24 15:09

Michael Sigel has come from nowhere and is in the lead. Wow, this is amazing.

2019-03-24 15:08

Today it is very much a question of getting the right cycle, the cycles are short, the thermals are short, they don't go high up and are difficult to find.

2019-03-24 15:07

Stéphane Poulain and Gianbasilio Profiti are racing for ESS.

2019-03-24 15:05

The climbs are pretty weak so this is going to be a tricky one to get.

2019-03-24 15:05

Emil Cervenan, is lower and on his own so will need a climb to make it.

2019-03-24 15:04

Gianbasilio Profiti and Stéphane Poulain are working together 3.5 km from the end of speed. Stephane will be playing it cautiously today having had problems with the last part of the race several times here in Baixo Guandu. But this time they both have a glide ratio of 9:1 to goal so should make it.

2019-03-24 15:02

So at the front we have Gianbasilio Profiti, going for goal, followed by Franck Perring, Emil Cervenan, Pierre Remy, Stéphane Poulain, Michael Sigel, Yigit Yildirim, Junming Song, Stephane Drouin and Wooyoung Jang.

2019-03-24 14:59

For pilots trying to judge whether they will make goal (via ESS), their instruments will tell them their glide ratio to goal (the distance to goal/their height over the goal). They will be looking for it to be about 10:1 (distance to goal:height above goal) or less e.g. 5:1. In the 2017 Super Final in Colombia 7:1 was frequently the magic number.

2019-03-24 14:59

Gianbasilio Profiti is going for it. He has a glide ratio of 11, will he make it? He's on his own.

2019-03-24 14:58

Their instruments can tell them their height and what the wind speed has been so far, but not the lift or sink in the kilometres left to goal. Those who can judge this best and leave at the lowest point, taking the optimum line to make it, will win. Simple really!

2019-03-24 14:58

World Champion Pierre Remy is trying to keep up with Gianbasilio Profiti at the front but he is a lot lower and trying to get a climb. Gianbasilio is at 890 m and about to go for ESS. Pierre is at 340m. Franck Perring is with them looking for cheese and coffee at 500m

2019-03-24 14:54

Wooyoung is used to going for gold, she was in South Korea's paragliding XC team in the 2018 Asian Games in Puncak, Bogor Regency, Indonesia. The South Korean ladies team won gold. Well done ladies.

2019-03-24 14:51

So in summary we have Gianbasilio Profiti climbing out at the front in search of ice cream followed by Wooyoung Jang who looks as if she is going to get 2nd place overall again today.

2019-03-24 14:50

They are very spread out at the front with big Brazilian Rafael Saladini taking a different route to the others a few thermals further back, could this come good for him today?

2019-03-24 14:48

Franck Perring is also up with the leaders today. He is well known as being a bit of a connoisseur of fine foods so it was no surprise at the end of task 2 that the retrieve minibus found him sharing a cup of bazilian coffee and a plate of local cheese, probably produced by the Noah's arc assortment of animals around the farm stead, with a lovely old man whose age Franck told me he estimated to be at least 200 years old'. A typical Brazilian welcome, in the land of big smiles and people who are happy to share what they have with us. However I think Franck is going to be the one with the big smile today as he is well on his way to goal with only 7 km left to go.

2019-03-24 14:45

Wooyoung Jang who came second overall in task 2, is right at the front with fellow Jack&Jones team mate Davide Licini . I think they have incorporated wings into this years Jack&Jones t-shirts.

2019-03-24 14:41

Just a reminder that Emil qualified for the Super Final by winning the Pre PWC in Cameli Turkey in 2018. He also won the 3rd task so he is no stranger to being at the front. So if anyone is within snow ploughing distance to Baptiste's Mum Sandy on the pistes could they please reassure her that Baptiste is in good company.

2019-03-24 14:39

Baptiste Lambert, Michael Sigel and Emil Cervenan are climbing together behind them.

2019-03-24 14:38

Just when I thought it was going to be a peaceful couple of km to ESS somebody said 'ice cream' and the Italians have gone storming past and into the lead, Nicola Donini and Gianbasilio Profiti have taken the lead.

2019-03-24 14:37

With 9 km to go, the competition's youngest pilot, Flavio Funiati, has gone into the lead, what a day, what a competition. Young, old, Super Final Champions, World Champions, today has had it all.

2019-03-24 14:34

And that is inevitably what has happened, they have all caught up with Pierre Remy and the charge for ESS is now on.

2019-03-24 14:33

In fact today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions comes from Baptiste, winner of the recent Pre PWC on Reunion Island: The gaggle is always right even when it is wrong because they always catch up and overtake again in the end.

2019-03-24 14:31

So if anyone is skiing near Annecy in France and sees Sandy with no fingers left in her gloves after so many nail biting moments, blue from having forgotten to breathe for the last few days, could you please reassure her that Baptiste is right up with the leaders today and doing really well at the moment.

2019-03-24 14:30

I asked Baptiste Lambert 's parents, World Cup pilots Sandy and Cyril, how they felt whilst Baptiste was in the Super Final. Between pistes skiing in the French Alps, they keep up with him via the Commentary and the live tracking on the PWCA app. Sandy told me 'The most exciting, nail biting part, where we sometimes end up forgetting to breathe is always the final glide. Baptiste rarely arrives high with a big margin, so it is always agonising suspense!

2019-03-24 14:30

This task has really split them up, Pierre Remy out in front on his own, then there is a middle group 1.5 km behind him working well together, Michael Sigel, Stefan Wyss, Stefan Bernhard, Baptiste Lambert, Jerome Hulin, Stephan Morgenthaler.

2019-03-24 14:26

There is a big group behind them on a ridge trying to get as much height as possible, all waiting for somebody else to go.

2019-03-24 14:24

In the gaggle behind him are Stephan Morgenthaler, Michael Sigel, Christian Biasi, Petra Slivova, Stefan Wyss, Stefan Bernhard and Clement Latour.

2019-03-24 14:23

Pierre Remy is going to need more height if he wants to prove that he is a worthy World Champion.

2019-03-24 14:22

Just a reminder that 8 World and European champions are taking part: Theo Warden (2018), Pierre Remy (2017), Honorin Hamard (2015, 2016), Torsten Siegel (2014), Yassen Savov (2012), Charles Cazaux (2011). Klaudia Bulgakow (2013), Petra Slivova (2011, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003)

2019-03-24 14:21

So in summary, we have the current World Champion and the current Super Final Champion batteling it out at the front.

2019-03-24 14:19

Whilst I was doing a bit of long distance writing, current World Champion Pierre Remy has gone into the lead.

2019-03-24 14:17

Current Super Final Champion Michael Sigel is in the lead with 14 km to go to End of Speed. Michael won XContest 2018. XContest (an international cross-country flying competition where each pilot's 6 best flights are added together to give their final score. His 6 longest flights were: Caico in Brazil, 533.77 km in 10 h 34, 514.98 km in 10h 52, 482.01 km in 11h 04, 413.52 km in 9h 33 and triangles in Riederalp in Switzerland, 288.55 km in 9h: 49 and in Niesen in Switzerland, 287.82 km in 9h 21. All these flights were flown on his Gin Boomerang 11.

2019-03-24 14:13

Just a reminder that we are delighted to once again have some amazing footage of the comp brought to you from the only slightly dinted World Cup drone. The drone was last seen stranded on the top of a very high mosque in Aksaray, Turkey, after rather a dramatic crash landing, having been drawn by the call to prayer. Fortunately, it was reunited with its very careful owner after a lot of kissing the ground. There are currently interviews with Miguel Diaz Ruiz and winners of task 1 and 2 Mitch Riley and Petra Slivova on World Cup TV which you can find on the front page of our website in the media box.

2019-03-24 13:56

However I think they are all going to converge at the side of this natural arena together at about the same point.

2019-03-24 13:54

Just behind them there is a group who have gone more out into the flats Ernesto Hinestroza and Clement Latour

2019-03-24 13:53

Andre Rainsford is staying in the mountains. Former Super Final champion Francisco Javie Reina Lagos and Gareth are staying a bit more out in the flats.

2019-03-24 13:52

There is quite a divergence of opinion at the front of the pack as to which way to go at the moment.

2019-03-24 13:49

Gareth told me he is finding it too hot and sticky here – impressive coming from an Aussie. This place goes from sweaty one minute to sweaty the next he added. However the conditions in the air seem to be suiting him a bit better today.

2019-03-24 13:46

Neck and neck at the front at the moment we have Gareth Carter and with his aerodynamic new hair cut, Andre Rainsford.

2019-03-24 13:43

As far as which route to take in a paragliding competition is concerned, the vast majority follow the optimum route, the shortest line which joins the turn point cylinders/circles. The further you are from the optimum line, the further ahead you have to be along your chosen route to get the same lead out points as those following the line on the live tracking and task board.

2019-03-24 13:43

As far as strategies in a paragliding competition are concerned, the most important thing is to get as many lead outpoints as you can in the first 2/3rds of the race. 75% of your leading points come from the first 2/3rds of the race. Then play it safe in the last 1/3 rd of the race. Don't take risks towards the end of the race as it won't achieve nearly as much reward as during the first section. The goal is to get to End of Speed with the leaders but with a higher % of lead out points than the others. Easy really, I don't know why everyone doesn't do it.

2019-03-24 13:41

The same exceedingly muddy Rio Doce (""Doce"" means sweet in Portuguese) that runs through Governador Valadares, then continues meandering on through Baixo Guandu on its way to the coast. It looks like a ribbon of melted milk chocolate flowing through the exotic lush green vegetation.

2019-03-24 13:40

They are just crossing the river.

2019-03-24 13:39

The lead gaggle are just flying over Baixo Guandu. They have got a nice thermal off the bright orange portaloos in the village square and are now circling peacefully with a group of birds, well they were until the grinding electonic sound of 'Hell's Bells' from the church spire disturbed the peace.

2019-03-24 13:37

They are now flying over low hills heading west to Baixo Guandu with Nicola Donini pulling away in the lead.

2019-03-24 13:35

Along the course line we have got a relatively low cloud base but the day shows a lot of promise, with nice clouds to use.

2019-03-24 13:32

Flavio is the youngest pilot in the competiton at only 19 years old. Last year, when he was only 18 years old he did his first World Cup here in Baixo Guandu where he finished in the top 10 in two out of the five tasks and finished 36th overall. He also competed in the World Cup in Bulgaria where he came 8th, thus qualifying for the Super Final.

2019-03-24 13:31

They are all in the group to the west of Stefan and Aaron.

2019-03-24 13:30

The first pilots are just getting the turn point. Victor Sibirtsev and Jonathan Marin and Flavio Funiati

2019-03-24 13:30

Stefan told me one of his ambitions for 2019 is: 'catching up with Housi Bollinger, not so soon, but maybe one day...' Stefan is currently lying in second place for task wins with 21, 2nd only to the legendary Hans Bollinger on 28.

2019-03-24 13:28

Aaron Durogati and Stefan Wyss have both won Super Finals in the past they have chosen the ridge to the east.

2019-03-24 13:26

One lead group are heading to a small hill just before the turn point, the other group are hill hoping and there are a few stragglers in the middle.

2019-03-24 13:25

Paragliding is like 3-dimensional orienteering, where your feet mustn't touch the ground. Speeding along the course line, or not, if you choose to deviate off the course line/optimum route that's OK as long as you 'touch' the circle/cylinder/turn points along the route, you can go wherever you want, which makes it such a great sport to follow.

2019-03-24 13:21

It's this wonderful mix of scenery which is splitting the pilots up today and giving so many route choices.

2019-03-24 13:20

The giant black granite blocks lie like animals turned to stone, motionless, watching the sky full of paragliders circling above them.

2019-03-24 13:19

The countryside around Baixo Guandu is a mix of flats and hills, dotted with the most grandiose granite domes and home to monster bamboo and pilot high grass which is also the home to…

2019-03-24 13:17

If any of the pilots have time to be taking in the scenery they will have a stunning view of the granite domes to their right in this land of truly amazing topography.

2019-03-24 13:00

They are already well spread out this is going to be a very interesting race.

2019-03-24 12:59

They are heading north east to the one and only turn point in today's task.

2019-03-24 12:58

The start is now open, sorry for the late announcement, I think I am running on donkey time today.

2019-03-24 12:51

The wind is a lot lighter today and coming from the south east.

2019-03-24 12:49

Base has lifted there is nice cumulous. 10minutes to the start.

2019-03-24 12:45

The sky is opening up nicely with some blue patches we should have a great task.

2019-03-24 12:36

Oopsy, sorry that should have been bump along at the end of that last post.

2019-03-24 12:35

The pilots are currently waiting for the Start to open over dense jungle vegetarian dotted with trees with beautiful purple flowers (gourmet food for donkeys it would appear), glades with farmstreads eaking out a subsistence living, creeper hanging down every where none of which is making it particularly easy to type as we burp along.

2019-03-24 12:29

So with pretty much everyone off, it is time for the pilots to get to the Start gate ready for the race to commence in 30 minutes and for me to saddle up the Commentary team donkey and head down the dusty track in hot pursuit of the leaders.

2019-03-24 12:26

1st in task 2, Petra Slivova has managed to get through the crowds and is about to take off. She always waits until the end to take off when the early comp rush has passed and she can have more time and space. She has nothing to prove so why be in a rush, what a pro. Go Petra, let's make it another ladies' day!

2019-03-24 12:19

The crowds are now dancing to Men at Work, I Come From a Land Down Under, I hope that Felipe and the other Australians who have just taken off can hear this as they all turn as colourful crescents in the sky above our heads, this one is for you guys.

2019-03-24 12:15

Rémi Bourdelle, Marco Littame, Samuel Nascimento, Martin Petz, Felipe Rezende, Peter Slade, Andrew Williams, Jeison Zeferino, Philipp Haag and Davide Licini are all flying the all new Flow Spectra glider!

2019-03-24 12:13

Flow gliders have been very much the new kid in the skies recently. Felipe Rezende joined us on his Flow CCC RFC in Sopot, Bulgaria where he amply demonstrated the efficiency of his new glider coming in the top ten in two out of the six tasks (7th in task 2. 3rd in the task 3). 10 pilots are flying the Flow Spectra in this Super Final.

2019-03-24 12:11

Felipe Rezende the man behind the phenominally successful new Spectra glider in this competition has just taken off.

2019-03-24 12:09

What a display for the crowds, a whole cloud of paragliders climbing nicely in the bowl beside launch. Never before in the history of paragliding have so many selfie photos been taken with an out of focus paraglider in the background.

2019-03-24 12:06

Andre Rainsford has just taken off. He won the World Cup back in Porterville in S.Africa in 2013. He shaved his head on the practice day here so that he will be more streamlined and can go faster, that is dedication to winning.

2019-03-24 12:01

The current top 3 Brazilian champions are taking part: Rafael Saladini (1st), Frank Brown (2nd) and Rafael Moraes Barros (3rd). Could one of the big Brazilians win on their home turf? The two Rafael's are standing on the edge of launch looking on sceptically at the low cloud base conditions today. World distance record holder Rafael Saladini has done so much to promote paragliding in this beautiful country he would certainly be a very worthy pilot to win the crown in this Super Final.

2019-03-24 11:55

I think it seems to be working well everywhere out in front of launch, the base is still low but nobody seems to be having problems, except me trying to see out over all the thousands of heads here on launch today.

2019-03-24 11:53

Gleb Sukhotskiy winner of the World Cup in Sopot Bulgaria in 2018 has just taken off, I don't blame him, I think he prefers classical music to hits from the 1970s, especially when they are being played at 5 times the volume they should be, ouch, my poor ear drums.

2019-03-24 11:46

When I asked Wally what he thought of flying in Bazil he told me he is finding the flying a bit mincey compared to the booming Australian thermals he is used to. 'But the scenery is stunning and the Caipirinhas give a good slap in the face.'

2019-03-24 11:43

Daniel Walter Arcidiacono (Wally) has just taken off, he took the World Cup by storm in Sopot Bulgaria winning the first task.

2019-03-24 11:41

Aaron Durogati X-Alps athlete, just back from an amazing trip to Patagonia which you can read about in the latest issue of our partner's magazine, Cross Country is about to 'JUMP' and escape the deafening noise on launch. He is the only pilot to have won the Super Final twice, but he told me he is pretty chilled about this competition. Due to a knee injury he hasn't competed for a while so he is just enjoying begin back in the air racing again.

2019-03-24 11:38

The task is set - todays race is a 63.72 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:30 Local Time and the Start is at 13:00

2019-03-24 11:36

Van Halen is now playing at max volume, I bet they can hear that in Rio. As the crescendo reaches a max and the words 'JUMP' pump out the crowd go mad, this is incredible.

2019-03-24 11:34

Gin test pilot Moonseob Lim has just taken off

2019-03-24 11:32

Well having explained all that, the crowd seems to have now invaded launch, the Meet Director is trying to announce over the microphone that the launch is now open. Petra Slivova, winner of task 2 and the first lady to win a World Cup task is trying to set up her wing in the smallest space possible on launch.

2019-03-24 11:29

All of this is done while pushing the highest performance paraglider to its max in close proximity to the world's best and most competitive pilots. It's as fun and full on as flying gets! The pilot who comes into goal first, and leads a lot wins the day. Hopefully we will have ten fascinating days of racing paragliders during the PWC SuperFinal. ""

2019-03-24 11:28

The thermals are invisible so it is riskier to lead than to follow. The scoring software rewards leading with lead points, so leading during the race is crucial, but if you take too much risk and land before goal your score will be dismal. Leading at the right times and following at the right times is a major part of the puzzle.

2019-03-24 11:28

While racing paragliders you have nearly infinite choices. Altitude is fuel, but it usually takes time to turn circles in a thermal and get high. Choosing the most buoyant lines, only turning in the strongest thermals, and knowing when to slow down and conserve altitude is crucial to success.

2019-03-24 11:28

Before the start, everyone is vying for position at the edge of an invisible cylinder. 125 pilots watching the start clock tick down and their distance from the edge of the cylinder on their onboard flight computers. Once the start gun goes off all 125 pilots are racing around the 50-200km course, marked in their flight computers with turn points.

2019-03-24 11:27

Mitch Riley told me:

2019-03-24 11:26

Just a quick reminder about how a paragling competition works from Mitch Riley, winner of task 1.

2019-03-24 11:24

The window will open at 11.30 (in 5 minutes) and the Start will be at 13h.

2019-03-24 11:24

The wind dummies have just taken off but due to the crowds I can't see what has happened to them, ouch somebody has just trodden on my foot again.

2019-03-24 11:22

This also means that there are a lot of pilots who are very experienced in flying these unusual monolithic granite blocks taking part. 20 of the pilots competing have already been in the top 10 in a World Cup in Espírito Santo.

2019-03-24 11:22

World Cups have also been held four times in nearby Castelo which has very similar topography (2006, 2008, 2012 and 2016), making the state of Espírito Santo, in south-eastern Brazil one of the Paragliding World Cup's favourite destinations.

2019-03-24 11:22

This part of the world has always been a favourite location for Paragliding World Cups. This is our fourth visit to Baixo Guandu (previous World Cups were held here in 2013, 2015, 2018).

2019-03-24 11:21

What a sight, a 30 deep crowd with the take off at Baixo Guando set on the edge of a stunning rock amphitheatre.

2019-03-24 11:19

Mind you, I think if you gave the little old lady standing next to me, dressed in a brightly coloured blue enbroidered outfit, gold jewelled flipflops, waist length grey hair and no teeth, a paraglider she'd be off up, up into the air no problem.

2019-03-24 11:16

It's a really moving sight, seeing so much enthusiasm for our sport (and MTV music). I've just been talking to Yassen Savov and we both looked out at the crowd and wondered how many kids in this massive, massive crowd today will be inspired by this sight and come fly with us in the future.

2019-03-24 11:13

The music is pumping out at full volume, well even if it doesn't get flyable we can certainly say we have given Glastonbury music festival a run for it's money, we've even brought all the mud with us.

2019-03-24 11:10

A wind dummy has just taken off, the crowd are going wild, I really hope they aren't going to do that for each of the 120 competition pilots, I'll be black and blue by the end of it. Today's commentary is going to be a bit squashed I think, a sports bra would have definitely been a good idea today, ouch, ouch, ouch!

2019-03-24 11:07

World distance recod holder Samuel Nascimento has taken the microphone. I thought he was going to be explaining how a paragliding competition works, however instead the 20 deap crowd started doing a Mexican wave, in a very bouncy Brazilian fashion.

2019-03-24 11:05

A 63 km task has been set going N. W, provided any of the pilots can get through the crowds and onto the launch.

2019-03-24 10:57

48 pilots competing have already won a World Cup task.

2019-03-24 10:57

29 pilots taking part in this Super Final have already won a World Cup (20 men and 9 ladies).

2019-03-24 10:56

Klaudia Bulgakow (2013), Petra Slivova (2011, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003)

2019-03-24 10:56

Theo Warden (2018), Pierre Remy (2017), Honorin Hamard (2015, 2016), Torsten Siegel (2014), Yassen Savov (2012), Charles Cazaux (2011).

2019-03-24 10:55

8 World and European champions are taking part:

2019-03-24 10:55

Three ladies taking part have each won the ladies Super Final twice. Keiko Hiraki (2009, 2013), Petra Slivova, (2010, 2011) and Laurie Genovese (2014, 2017). Petra Slivova also won the World Cup tour (the old format of the Super Final) in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

2019-03-24 10:55

The pilot quality is amazing. 6 out of the 8 overall Super Final winners are taking part: Charles Cazaux (2009), Aaron Durogati (2012 +2016), Francisco Javier Reina Lagos (2013), Maxime Pinot (2014), Stephan Wyss (2015) and Michael Sigel (2017).

2019-03-24 10:53

No wonder the paragliding autograph hunters are out in force today, let's have a look at some of the big (and long) names competing in this Super Final.

2019-03-24 10:52

Full marks Brazil for their support and enthusiasm for the Paragliding World cup.

2019-03-24 10:50

Everything you could possibly NOT need is on sale at launch this morning. The poor paraglider pilots are wandering around in amongst it all looking rather lost.

2019-03-24 10:47

The traffic jam on the orange dirt road to launch would have put the London M25 and the Paris Peripherique to shame, instead it is all happening here in Baixo Guandu, we are the only show in town, we are THE show, well we will be if the mist clears and all the dust from the road settles, what an amazing ambience.

2019-03-24 10:43

I think the meet director is trying to hold a briefing but he is competing with an awful lot of picnic cool boxes for space, and as for making himself heard, even with the help of a mega phone he has no chance of being heard.

2019-03-24 10:41

The Tour de France would eat their bicycle tyres to have crowds like this, the noise of Brazilian banter is deafening, the smoke from meaty BBQs is making my eyes stream.

2019-03-24 10:39

Here we are on launch for task 4, the conditions are not fantastic as we have 100 % cloud cover and launch is at cloud base but that hasn't put the spectators off.

2019-03-23 08:26

Today (Saturday) is designated as the 'rest day' so there will be no flying today.

2019-03-22 12:42

Todays task is cancelled due to rain on the launch.

2019-03-22 12:39

My Scottish rain sensitive skin proved more accurate than any weather forecast, it is indeed about to rain so the day has been cancelled. The exciting part of the day begins, i.e trying to get the pilot buses back down the mud slide to Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-22 12:16

We need some sunshine for the thermals to overcome the back wind, however as we are all snoozing under a big thick cloud street, that isn't looking very lightly in the short time.

2019-03-22 12:14

There is a persistent back wind. Once that has dropped new task times will be announced. In the meantime gentle snoring continues to come from some of the harness, what a great test of which ones are the most comfortable and you don't even need lots of fancy equipment, just good music, big insects and an unflyable day.

2019-03-22 12:09

With my Scottish sense of impending precipitation, I predict that we are about to get rained on quite soon. However, in the meantime, the parawaiting continues.

2019-03-22 11:55

If ever there was a thought for the thermal, today's thought would be that there would indeed be a thermal.

2019-03-22 11:50

The big Brazilians in this competition will be looking for a bigger day today, however, given that most of the pilots are sitting down in their harnesses on launch having a quick kip, I am not sure if that will be possible. Is that the sound of insects munching through harnesses I hear? No, just some gentle snoring to the mellow music on launch.

2019-03-22 11:46

For those wondering, that is a photo of Gareth and not the insect, which has just appeared on the screen of the app.

2019-03-22 11:45

The task has changed - todays race is a 56.82 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:30 Local Time and the Start is at 13:15

2019-03-22 11:45

The australians are the only other ones brave enough to be on launch: Gareth Carter, Kari Ellis and Wally. You should see the size of the insect walking about beside Gareth Carter!

2019-03-22 11:41

Hoping that today will be another ladies' day, Méryl Delferriere and Elisabeth Egger are on launch hoping the conditions will be good enough to take off soon.

2019-03-22 11:23

A 57 km task has been set keeping close to Baixo Guandu in case there is another deluge. There are more sunny patches today than yesterday which should help. There is a light wind from the South West. The window will open in 5 minutes at 11.30 and the start will open at 12.45.

2019-03-22 11:20

Andreas Malecki did admit to me this morning that he may have changed his mind in the last ten years. As proof that he really does like the new system, he is one of 6 pilots competing here who have taken part in ALL the Super Finals since paragliding time began (2009): Charles Cazaux: Stephane Drouin: Andreas Malecki: Yassen Savov: Julien Wirtz and Keiko Hiraki.

2019-03-22 11:19

The task is set - todays race is a 56.82 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:30 Local Time and the Start is at 12:45

2019-03-22 11:11

Here's the quote from task committee member in this comp, Andreas 'Pepe' Malecki: "Much worse! We have a champion from each event, but not a real champion from the whole year."

2019-03-22 11:11

'Introduced a decade ago the new Paragliding World Cup and Superfinal format proved controversial from the start. At the time Cross Country magazine asked leading World Cup pilots for their thoughts. Here's what they said all those years ago…'

2019-03-22 11:10

There is a great post on at the moment 'PWC Superfinal 2009: Better or worse?'

2019-03-22 11:10

On the front page of XCmag.com there are already several posts about the Super Final and there will be more next week.

2019-03-22 11:09

The Super Final has, so far, made the front pages of all the local press here in Brazil and, more importantly, made it onto the front pages of the paragliding press.

2019-03-22 11:06

Just a reminder that the harnesses are also all now in the scores. Being flown in this competition: GR4 (Gin Genie Race 4), Exoceat (Ozone), XR7 (WoodyValley), Kanibal Race 2 (Kortel), the Genesis (Nearbirds) and the CXC-PRO (SOL).

2019-03-22 11:06

Top 3 ladies: Méryl DELFERRIERE (1015), Yael MARGELISCH (1003), Petra SLIVOVA (973).

2019-03-22 11:05

Top 5 overall in the competition so far: Honorin HAMARD (1132), Alexandre JOFRESA (1129), Charles CAZAUX (1128), Felix RODRIGUEZ (1115) and Mitch RILEY (1084).

2019-03-22 11:04

Lead out point baggers from task 2: Petra SLIVOVA, Stéphane POULAIN, Wooyoung JANG.

2019-03-22 11:03

The top 3 teams in task 2 were: 1st Air'G Products, 2nd Jack & Jones and 3rd Ozone.

2019-03-22 11:02

Well done to task 2 leading ladies: 1st Petra SLIVOVA, 2nd Wooyoung JANG, 3rd Klaudia BULGAKOW.

2019-03-22 11:01

So well done to task 2 winners: 1st Petra SLIVOVA, 2nd Wooyoung JANG and 3rd Clement LATOUR.

2019-03-22 11:01

Briefing is taking place. Petra Slivova has just received a massive round of applause when she went up to receive her winners t-shirt.

2019-03-22 10:59

Just getting up to launch was a veritable mud slide this morning, through the rivers and bamboo jungle.

2019-03-22 10:57

Here we are on launch ready for task 3. It is very humid, we have pretty much 100 % cloud cover, but as we saw yesterday, that does't stop some people, well the ladies anyway.

2019-03-21 17:04

As the commentary has told you we were amazed to finally get 6 pilots in goal. Tomorrow's forecast is looking similar so we will see what happens.

Meanwhile the results are now online and available from the PWCA home page or HERE.

2019-03-21 17:03

I am very happy to announce that Paragliding World Cup history has been made today. For the first time ever a lady has won a task, Petra Slivova, and to prove that today really was ladies' day, Wooyoung Jang took second place. Well done to both, let's hope there will be many more.

2019-03-21 16:42

In the meantime, equally humble and modest Theo Warden has also just reported back, grinning from ear to ear, he explained his winning tactic, 'well I just looked for the birds low down, I saw a valley where there were birds marking the lift, two nearly flew into my lines, I was also a bit impatient and just went for it, probably a bit too early.' Note from the Commentary team: We think he was just in a hurry to not be last handing his tracker back in tonight.

2019-03-21 16:38

Petra has just come into HQ to report back to loud applause. Let's wait for the scores and see if Paragliding World Cup and Super Final history has been made today with the first lady ever to win a task.

2019-03-21 16:32

If there are no pilots in goal, no time points are awarded. If everyone makes goal, 477 time points are awarded. So today, with so few pilots in goal there will be about 100 time points.

2019-03-21 16:30

There is a maximum of 67.5 lead out points if nobody gets to goal, 70 if only 1 person gets to goal. 160 if 70 % or more get to goal, rising to 162 if 90% or more are in goal. There will be 80 leading points today.

2019-03-21 16:28

So Petra will have more lead out points but Theo will have more time points. They will both have the same distance points as they were both in goal.

2019-03-21 16:08

Meet Directo Marcelo Ratis, who knows this area like the top of his glider has just come into HQ with his eyes out on stalks. He told me, 'I thought no way at the beginning, when they got to the first turn point, I thought no way, when they got to the second turn point I said no way.' Then very unusually, Marcelo stopped saying anything and just stood and marvelled, it was just unbelievable, incredible to see the performance of these pilots.

2019-03-21 16:02

Last pilot in the air, Philipp Haag, has just made Ess and landed in goal.

2019-03-21 16:00

Daria Krasnova has just come in to report back and summed up the day nicely, in her inimicable fashion, 'that was a 2 diaper day.' Daria loves strong conditions, fast tasks and doesn't like 2 Pampers day tasks, so I guess today wasn't her day.

2019-03-21 15:55

Definitely making the goalfield a lot less sweaty, well done ladies, and men.

2019-03-21 15:55

Wooyoung Jang has just crossed Ess, bringing parity to the goal field today. I think this must be the first time that we have ever had the same number of ladies as men in the goal field.

2019-03-21 15:53

Petra came in 2 minutes behind Theo but she has 100% of the lead out points. Theo daudled a bit at the beginning, so he only got 65% of the lead out points, this is going to be very close.

2019-03-21 15:50

But who will win the day?

2019-03-21 15:48

Next across Ess Clement and Petra.

2019-03-21 15:47

Theo is just coming in to goal.

2019-03-21 15:47

Wow, Theo has just crossed Ess, what an amazing endeavour, he just needs to get to goal which he should manage.

2019-03-21 15:46

Clement Latour and Petra Slivovae are just behind Theo but I don't think they will be able to catch current European Champion Theo Warden.

2019-03-21 15:45

However he isn't in yet, he's on a glide ratio to goal of 7.2 in variable winds, I really can't watch, 561 m off the ground, he should make it, but...

2019-03-21 15:43

Theo was last to hand his Flymaster tracker in last night and so we told him that he would have to get a move on today, which he has clearly taken to heart, storming round and coming in first.

2019-03-21 15:41

Theo Warden is off on his final glide, at 11.7 glide ratio to goal, that is so so tight. If I was Theo's Mum I just so would not be watching this.

2019-03-21 15:40

Clement Latour has joined Petra. Who is going to make ESS first?

2019-03-21 15:38

The wind is blowning him gently to ESS with 4.5 km to go.

2019-03-21 15:38

Theo has got a nice climb, Stephane has landed.

2019-03-21 15:37

Theo Warden, the youngest pilot in last year's Super Final has got the turn point and is battling it out to get the last 5 km to ESS.

2019-03-21 15:35

Stephane is in front but very low 29m above the ground. Jacques Fournier is in front too and low but his tracker has just gone off line. Next is Petra who has sensibly gained height and has a much better glide ratio to goal than the others.

2019-03-21 15:33

Stephane is out in front, this will be bringing back memories of when he got stuck due to a head wind and the terrain racing to Ess in the last task to the PWC in BG in 2018, he was lying 2nd place overall that morning, but 24 other pilots over took him 2 km from Ess - very bad luck. If he hadn't been unlucky in the last task he could have won overall. With a bit more luck could he win this Super Final?

2019-03-21 15:31

Petra is in a climb and is higher than the others at 450m. They have just got the last turn point, 5 km to Ess.

2019-03-21 15:30

Petra was third lady in the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy, she is such a legend and so deserves to win today.

2019-03-21 15:30

Sorry, go Stephane who is with her too.

2019-03-21 15:29

Petra Slivova is in first place. Go Petra, it has been quite a ladies' day today. Could today be the first World Cup task won by a lady, go Petra.

2019-03-21 15:26

Juan Carlos Moran is currently flying low over Baixo Guandu but at 116m above the ground I don' think he is going to get that much further but he's making a very brave effort to join the others to the north west of BG.

2019-03-21 15:20

Petra is in a good climb at the end of the runway, along with Wooyoung, Jacques and Stephane, this is incredible, but it is the Super Final, the sun has just come out, they may yet make it round.

2019-03-21 15:18

Behind Theo and Clement and climbing are Philipp Haag and Loïs Goutagny.

2019-03-21 15:17

Further back, and as always very laid back, current European Champion Theo Warden along with Clement Latour, they are both crossing the river.

2019-03-21 15:15

What an amazing day, what amazing pilots!

2019-03-21 15:14

However hot on Klaudia and Alexandre's trailing edges come Petra Slivova, Clement Hoelter, Jacques Fournier and his famous hat, Wooyoung Jang last pilot in the air yesterday and winner of our paragliging perseverence award and Stéphane Poulain task winner in the 2018 Baixo Guandu PWC and 2nd overall.

2019-03-21 15:10

12 pilots are still in the air. Will they get further than Alexandre and Klaudia who have both now landed? For information, Laurie Genovese holds the record for being the top placed woman ever in a World Cup task when she came 2nd in the last task in Val Louron in France in 2013.

2019-03-21 15:03

Unfortunately 52m wasn't enough to get Alexandre round the rest of the course.

2019-03-21 14:59

Alexandre Jofresa is going round the town of Aimores and is at 52 m above the ground, can he make it round the rest of the course, 9km to go?

2019-03-21 14:56

Alexandre Jofresa is 0.9 of a km ahead of Klaudia and higher, who is going to win the day as they pass the others?

2019-03-21 14:55

Leading lady today, Klaudia Bulgakow who is with the top ten leaders needs a miracle to stay in the air and certainly doesn't need a plane to come in and land on the air strip she is just flying over.

2019-03-21 14:52

Former Super Final champion Francisco Javie Reina Lagos and wannabe Super Final Champion (but has won absolutely everything else) Honorin Hamard battle it out to stay in the air.

2019-03-21 14:51

As they try to cross the town of Aimores, it looks as if this could be the end of the race, nobody has much height and I think there is a great ice cream shop there, two good reasons for not staying in the air much longer.

2019-03-21 14:49

Felix is on the ground.

2019-03-21 14:49

Felix is low and needs one of the non existent climbs which have been so so difficult to find today.

2019-03-21 14:48

There is still total cloud cover, it is amazing that any of them have made it this far.

2019-03-21 14:48

Felix Rodriguez Fernandez has made the river crossing, unfortunately Tanguy will have to rethink his sandwich filling as he has just landed.

2019-03-21 14:43

Just a reminder that they don't have to follow the course line, which they clearly aren't today. The leaders are way to the north of the course line, Tanguy Renaud-goud, powered by hot chocolate sandwiches and Felix with his white go faster stripes on the side of his head are pulling away from the others with 2 different route choices, half way to the last turn point, about to cross the river.

2019-03-21 14:40

I first met Kari at the PWC in Bright Australia and instantly admired her, she had her finger nails painted in green and gold in the colours of the Aussie sports teams, even after 90 km her nails weren't chipped - big respect!

2019-03-21 14:38

Australia's first lady Kari Ellis is right at the front too. This is Kari's first SF too. Who said today was going to be about being old and wise, Pepe I think, as he stepped off the bus!

2019-03-21 14:32

Tanguy's diet seems to be working well today.

2019-03-21 14:31

This is Tanguy's first time in Brazil so I had a quick peak at what he was having for breakfast. As somebody who is studying physical education and a hike&fly enthusiast, I expected him to be tucking into an extremely healthy breakfast. However, unable to find a jar of Nutella his recipe was keep it simple, pour hot chocolate powder straight into a white bread roll with equal quantities of butter, and then munch away. Presumably the healthy eating part of his P.E teacher's course is next year!

2019-03-21 14:30

Still up with the leaders is Tanguy Renaud-goud.

2019-03-21 14:27

Charles never stops being right at the front and on the podium all the time and won the first ever Super Final back in 2009 in Poggio Bustone in Italy.

2019-03-21 14:25

Charles Cazaux has broken away and is making a dash for it as they head south west towards the last turn point, he's high.

2019-03-21 14:23

A lot of the leaders are now climbing on a ridge just before the turnpoint.

2019-03-21 14:21

The leaders have just got the second turn point.

2019-03-21 14:19

Unfortunately just behind the lead gaggle quite a few of the leaders have bombed out and will be spending the rest of the afternoon doing X-Alps training, well that's what you get for not landing at the ice cream shop when you had the chance!

2019-03-21 14:16

Tim Rochas has also joined the lead gaggle. Tim told me before he took off that today will be difficult as there is not much sun, well none actually, so the winners will be the ones who can be patient. He feels he's quite a patient pilot, not an attacker and thinks before he goes on full bar, that strategy certainly seems to be working today.

2019-03-21 14:12

Tanguy Renaud-goud has also just joined them. This celebratory 10th Super Final is Tanguy's first SF, however he certainly isn't flying like a newbie.

2019-03-21 14:10

Honorin Hamard has just joined Franz and Felix along with Gin first lady Petra Slivova..

2019-03-21 14:07

Felix told me very modestly that if he didn't win the comp himself he would put a few SATs on Xevi BONET winning it. However given that Xevi has just reported back to say he has landed, I think it is down to you Felix.

2019-03-21 14:04

Franz and Felix are still at the front, scooping up all the lead out points, and the few thermals that there are by the looks of things!

2019-03-21 14:02

What an amazing race, the leaders are all spread out, what a day.

2019-03-21 14:00

Kari has had quite a quiet end to the Australian flying season, having had to take things easy recovering from a shoulder injury, so it's great to see her back up at the front again.

2019-03-21 13:59

Also crossing the river, South African champion Russell Achterberg. Just behind Russell, are two of today's leading ladies, Petra Slivova and Kari Ellis.

2019-03-21 13:57

Just crossing the river to join the others Honorin Hamard, so not keeping to his very own strategy today.

2019-03-21 13:56

Following a different route taking them onto the hills a bit further back down the course Gleb Sukhotskiy, Michael Sigel, Mitch Riley and just behind Kaoru Ogisawa.

2019-03-21 13:55

So Franz Schilter and Felix Rodriguez Fernandez have crossed the river and are just reaching the higher terrain.

2019-03-21 13:52

Andreas Malecki has just checked back in and confessed that he should have followed his own advice and taken the bus today!

2019-03-21 13:49

So the leaders now have to go east to get to the next turn point, the struggle continues.

2019-03-21 13:46

He's just told me, if they make it round this task it will be crazy, crazy, crazy, however, this is the Super Final so watch this sky!

2019-03-21 13:44

Meet Director Marcelo Ratis, (owner of a paragliding school and importer for Macpara and Syride) was a very popular choice for MD having already worked with the World Cup in Baixo Guandu and in Castelo.

2019-03-21 13:43

The top 15 have made the first turn point. Felix Rodriguez Fernandez (note the photo was taken before his weekend in Rio), Franz Schilter, Honorin Hamard, Charles Cazaux, Jacques Fournier.

2019-03-21 13:40

I think this covered sky is making everyone feel very humble today.

2019-03-21 13:40

Mitch told me the key is 'be both confident and humble.'

2019-03-21 13:39

Today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions comes from yesterday's winner Mitch Riley who was with Honorin until he pulled away a few minutes ago.

2019-03-21 13:36

Honorin Hamard is pulling away. He told me before they took off today that it will be very difficult to get climbs so his strategy will be to follow the others, do the opposite of what I normally do, try to be really disciplined to stay with the others, hum, that is not what he looks to be doing right now!

2019-03-21 13:33

Working together coming along the river, Honorin Hamard, current Super Final champion Michael Sigel, Mitch Riley, Gleb Sukhotskiy, Kaoru Ogisawa.

2019-03-21 13:30

Felix and Franz are working well together.

2019-03-21 13:30

When Felix arrived in Baixo Guandu, having spent three days in Rio it was difficult to tell where his bright red t-shirt finished and his bright red skin started! He also had bright white lines across both sides of his cleanly shaven head proving that he had at least remembered to put on his sun glasses! Those white go faster stripes are definitely working for him today!

2019-03-21 13:29

For Felix RODRIGUEZ, flying ahead of the gaggle is 'the nearest to God that we get in our lives. I have such a strong urge to do this, I have a big problem stopping myself, it is something I really have to control,' he told me.

2019-03-21 13:28

Out in the lead and about to get the first turn point Franz Schilter and Felix Rodriguez Fernandez.

2019-03-21 13:26

Two very distict routes have emerged, once group close to the small hills to the west of BG and the others following the river.

2019-03-21 13:25

The large lycra clad lady selling coconuts sits with her feet up on her chair, oblivous to the group of 6 paragliders circling above her head, her parasol casting shade on this already shady day in the village square in Baixo Guandu

2019-03-21 13:20

There is also a gaggle further back just coming into Baixo Guandu: Philipp Haag, Rafael Saladini, Alexey Bystritskiy, Theo Warden, Franck Perring, Loïs Goutagny, who looked very scary this morning wearing bright blue sun tan lotion, hopefully it will attract some blue skies.

2019-03-21 13:18

The sky out in front isn't looking too promising either.

2019-03-21 13:17

Following the call to ice cream here comes yesterday's winner Mitch Riley.

2019-03-21 13:16

In the group flying over the town we have: Kaoru Ogisawa in the lead, then circling above the ice cream shop Honorin Hamard, Daria Krasnova, Gleb Sukhotskiy, Tim Rochas, Michael Sigel, Clement Hoelter.

2019-03-21 13:13

There are also some pilots following along beside the river, flying over Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-21 13:12

Base is very low, and the thermals are about as rare as a patch of grass without any biting insects in it.

2019-03-21 13:11

Behind them Jacques Fournier, Wooyoung Jang, Alexandre Jofresa, Clement Latour, Klaudia Bulgakow.

2019-03-21 13:10

Neck and neck with the Four Muskateers but following the course line are Christian Biasi, Petra Slivova, who was late to take off but didn't waste any time catching up, Tanguy Renaud-goud and Charles Cazaux.

2019-03-21 13:08

There is a small group in the hills to the west of Baixo Guandu still pushing on, they have split into several little groups. Working together Russell Achterberg, Stéphane Poulain, Felix Rodriguez and Franz Schilter.

2019-03-21 13:05

So in summary, we now have about 70 pilots on the ground looking up at the sky and about 50 in the sky trying not to look down.

2019-03-21 13:01

And if to signal the doom, or at least early landing of even more pilots, the 'Hells Bells' in Baixo Guandu have gone into out of tune electronic expletives once more.

2019-03-21 12:55

There is a gaggle to the west above the low hills who are doing much better, I hope for their sake the insects are not as hungry over there.

2019-03-21 12:51

There are birds going up, teasing the pilots who are doing their damndest to work the climb. The birds smile the pilots keep sweating and I keep getting bitten by whatever is lurking in the long lush grass below them.

2019-03-21 12:48

On the outskirts of Baixo Guando the pilots are just abouts kicking the roofs of the red brick houses they are so low.

2019-03-21 12:46

This looks like it is going to be a day of patience, in fact, I think it may be a very short day of patience if the thermal less conditions don't improve and the sun doesn't come out to play.

2019-03-21 12:43

There is not a breath of wind, the palm tree leaves are hanging motionlessly around the little farmsteads and oassis.

2019-03-21 12:41

They are all just gliding on and on, nobody is turning, the pilots I mean, not the bony cows.

2019-03-21 12:40

They are flying over lush green fields dotted with low trees, small hills, bony cows and the odd sugar loaf black dome.

2019-03-21 12:38

They look like tiny little black dots under a totally cloud covered sky, but some how they are hanging in there.

2019-03-21 12:36

This is going to feel like a very long way to the next thermal.

2019-03-21 12:35

They are now heading for the low grassy ridge between the domes and Baixo Guando, heading north west to the first turn point.

2019-03-21 12:33

The start is now open. Sorry for the late arrival of this post it had to penetrate through a 2m thick cloud of orange dust which has just engulfed the Commentary team donkey on our slow trot down the mountain track through the Brazilian jungle.

2019-03-21 12:19

It looks as if despite my predicts they are all going to take the start at the same place.

2019-03-21 12:16

15 minutes until the Start opens

2019-03-21 12:16

These big black granite domes look as if they should work really well and be great thermal triggers. However, looks can be deceptive, sometimes the ridges which come up to the mountain tops can work better.

2019-03-21 12:11

We've still got total cloud cover, the pilots are above ridge height, just. This is going to be a very difficult day with no sunny patches to create lift.

2019-03-21 12:04

Yuki Sato Colombé and Klaudia Bulgakow are just about to take off, then that will be everyone in the air and ready for the start to open in 30 minutes.

2019-03-21 12:02

I am sorry we have been off line for the last 20 minutes, I don't know if it was anything to do with us all holding our breath on launch as a gaggle of about 30 pilots sunk lower and lower into the jungle of bamboo and monster high grass below launch. Fortunately they have now all climbed, up up and away and are now in two big gaggles on the grandiose black granite domes at the start line, phew.

2019-03-21 11:41

Most pilots recognised that a change had to be made to the current scoring system which overly penalised those who had a poor start, so let's see if the new system works better.

2019-03-21 11:41

The reasons for this change are twofold: a) pilots are not obliged to be as high as possible to maximize their leading points, which will result in reducing of the pressure to play in clouds while in or out of the Starting Cylinder, b) pilots are not required to start at the optimum point to maximize their leading points, which will open up the starting options.

2019-03-21 11:40

The new formula gives no leading points at all at the Start but rapidly increases the value of the leading points thereafter until about 20% of the speed section where the formula closely matches the original formula for the rest of the speed section.

2019-03-21 11:40

Just a reminder that the main change in the scores for this Super Final is that the Leading Points formula has been updated in order to eliminate the necessity to have a perfect start (being highest at the optimized point) to have a chance of winning the task.

2019-03-21 11:37

Whilst all the Super Final newbies are looking stressed getting ready to launch Michael Sigel and Stefan Wyss are calmly finishing their picnic with task setter Pepe, who told me he was contemplating taking the bus!

2019-03-21 11:34

One of today's big choices will be where to take the start. Going up towards the river, then following the river might work best as the banks of the river usually work. If they take the direct route and fly through the mountains there are cumulous clouds which may block their way, or on the other hand might give lift.

2019-03-21 11:31

About half the pilots are still on launch waiting to take off, there is plenty of time to get to the start.

2019-03-21 11:13

A steady stream of pilots are now taking off, all having no problems staying up.

2019-03-21 11:12

The comp pilots who have taken off are climbing nicely above launch and are already pretty much up at base.

2019-03-21 11:09

The wind dummies are climbing nicely far out in the valley despite the very weak conditions.

2019-03-21 11:07

Charles Cazaux has just taken off. He is the only pilot ever to have been both World and Super Final champion.

2019-03-21 10:58

The task is set - todays race is a 57.3 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:00 Local Time and the Start is at 12:30

2019-03-21 10:57

We've just got timings for today's task. The window will open in five minutes at 11h and the Start will be in an hour and a half at 12.30.

2019-03-21 10:51

The wind dummies are about to take off, let's see how they get on.

2019-03-21 10:33

Here's the forecast for today. Light S.E winds 5-8 km/hr. Cloud base 1300 - 1500m. Possible light rain later on.

2019-03-21 10:31

Islandic sky god Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson told me, one of the big differences today is that in addition to the cumulous there is another layer of higher cloud which is shutting out all the sunshine.

2019-03-21 10:25

Andreas Malecki told me that we have a lower base than yesterday, but we have the same length of task as yesterday so the result maybe fewer pilots in goal. Let's see what our sky gods and godesses make of it today.

2019-03-21 10:24

Just a reminder of the Task committee: Michael SIGEL and Andreas MALECKI

2019-03-21 10:23

Briefing is taking place for a 57 km task back to Baixo Guandu, then zigzagging about near the town.

2019-03-21 10:07

Well done to our top teams: 1st Air Vuisa (made up of 3 past Super Final champions and an almost past SF champion!), 2nd Ozone, 3rd Parastick.

2019-03-21 10:06

Task 1 lead out point baggers were: Mitch Riley, Yassen SAVOV and Marco Busetta.

2019-03-21 10:06

Top 3 ladies: 1st Méryl Delferriere (973), 2nd Yael Margelisch (964), 3rd Yuki Sato Colombé (914).

2019-03-21 10:05

Mitch Riley

2019-03-21 10:05

Well done to task 1 super stars: overall 1st Mitch Riley (990), 2nd Maxime Pinot (989), 3rd Yassen Savov (988), 4th Stefan Wyss (987), 5th= Marco Busetta and Julien Wirtz (982), 7th = Honorin Hamard and Isidor Fink (979), 9th = Charles Cazaux and Michael Sigel (978). 12 points separate the top 10, it doesn't get any closer than that!

2019-03-21 10:03

The sky is totally covered in cloud, but that seems to mean nothing as we saw yesterday. There are big cumulous out in front and 120 sweaty pilots on launch setting up, ready to prove that anything is possible.

2019-03-21 10:01

Here we are on launch for day 2 of the 10th Super Final in Baixo Guandu, Brazil.

2019-03-20 21:34

If Maxime wins today, he will move up the task winner's rankings into 9th = position. Could today be his 8th World Cup task win?

2019-03-20 21:28

Maxime told me he just stayed high and in the group. If you were low the thermals were really weak and moved a lot which made them difficult to stay in. Higher up, the thermals were more organised. At the end of the race there was not much working so he waited for the right cycle, he was higher than the others and well placed and the rest is paragliding history as they say.

2019-03-20 21:25

So what was Maxime Pinot's winning tactic today?

2019-03-20 21:24

Unfortunately Wooyoung did not make goal, but full points for persistance. So that is everyone landed now.

2019-03-20 20:44

Day 1 is over - we had 42 pilots actually making the goal today with a lot landing just short - the results are now online and available from the link above. More tomorrowt

2019-03-20 20:29

Wooyoung Jang is the last one in the air, at 33m above the ground, just by the last turn point. They are playing Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, exceedingly loudly in the square in Baixo Guandu. I hope Wooyoung can hear it, it is definitely her song!

2019-03-20 20:22

Michal Sneiberg has lost his bid to stay in the air and landed just after the last turn point.

2019-03-20 20:09

We've still got two pilots left in the air, trying to avoid the snakes around turn point 2, Wooyoung Jang and Michal Sneiberg.

2019-03-20 20:06

I think Peter Nägele wins the prize for the scariest photo of the day, a stunning red and black snake and a very smelly dead cow. A good reminder not to stroke the less than friendly wildlife!

2019-03-20 20:04

Lots of sweaty bodies have just arrived in HQ with their trackers, I think Yassen Savov wins today's wet t-shirt competition!

2019-03-20 19:49

Further back we have also got Alexey Bystritskiy and Khobi-jane Bowden.

2019-03-20 19:45

We've still got a few pilots making their way to goal. Youngjong Park, Deonir Spancerski, Klaudia Bulgakow, Christian Biasi and Junming Song are thermalling to the sound of the bells going off (yet again) over Baixo Guandu.

2019-03-20 19:28

Commiserations to the next 30 who didn't make goal and are probably all looking up and watching Brett Hazlett flying over their heads.

2019-03-20 19:25

The top 30 pilots are now all dripping buckets of sweat onto the airport runway and begging for shade.

2019-03-20 19:23

For those of you watching the race on Google Earth and have spotted that we have set up goal on an airport runway and are just wondering when you'll see the next plane come into land, what you can't see is that it is no longer used. Given the carnage of gliders strewn everywhere that is just as well.

2019-03-20 19:20

Just a reminder that there are a maximum of 477 time points available (if 90% or more of the pilots get to goal), which makes it a very big part of each pilot's score, given that the maximum score for the day is 1000 points.

2019-03-20 19:16

This last part of the race is proving very diffcult and quite a few pilots have landed just before the finish. Just a reminder that to qualify for their time points they need to get to goal, otherwise their score is just made up of their distance and lead out points.

2019-03-20 19:13

It looks as if the next across ESS after the 3 leaders were, Charles Cazaux, Honorin Hamard, Aaron Durogati, Isidor Fink, Martin Petz, Julien Wirtz, Andreas Malecki, Marco Busetta, Yassen Savov, Pierre Remy, Yigit Yildirim, Méryl Delferriere, Alexandre Jofresa.

2019-03-20 19:08

Maxime Pinot is first to arrive in goal.

2019-03-20 19:06

First across Ess virtually neck and neck, Michael Sigel, Mitch Riley, Maxime Pinot, what a day, what a race.

2019-03-20 19:06

Unfortunately, Rafael didn't get that climb and has, sadly, landed short.

2019-03-20 19:05

The sky is blue but there are some very big white cumulous clouds about, the palm leaves are fluttering in Baixo Guandu to welcome them home

2019-03-20 19:03

There is a westerly wind, so they are flying across wind.

2019-03-20 19:01

World record holder Rafael Saladini is storming ahead but may need to stop to get another climb.

2019-03-20 18:59

Some of the leaders have got a good enough glide ratio to make goal Mitch Riley, Méryl Delferriere, Isidor Fink, Yigit Yildirim, Aaron Durogati.

2019-03-20 18:57

Well I'm glad that somebody in the lead gaggle is reading my commentary as they have now decided to go for it.

2019-03-20 18:56

They are all now making a bee-line for the ridge that the lead gaggle are on, this is going to get a big crowded.

2019-03-20 18:55

The lead gaggle are on a ridge, just before the lake trying to climb but further back in the flats there are two other gaggles which seem to be doing slightly better but they are being blown the wrong way, away from the course line.

2019-03-20 18:51

One of our leading ladies is also at the front Yael Margelisch, she has recently had problems with her foot but she seems to be managing more than OK today.

2019-03-20 18:48

This is excruciating to watch, they are so nearly there, but they have also got a loopy lake in the river to cross.

2019-03-20 18:46

The climb the leaders are in is very very weak, they are in maximum +1. This looks so tough and they are so so nearly there.

2019-03-20 18:45

They are getting a climb on a little ridge so should hopefully make it to goal - famous last words, this is nail biting.

2019-03-20 18:44

Well they were until the others over took them, but they are all so low at the front, this could all end in tears.

2019-03-20 18:44

Mitch and 2014 Super Final winner Maxime Pinot are absolutely neck and neck in front.

2019-03-20 18:42

Mitch Riley is out in front, he's really taken the World Cup by storm in the last 12 months. Mitch came 4th overall in only his second ever World Cup, the PWC in Aksaray, Turkey in 2018.

2019-03-20 18:39

Just a reminder about how the scoring works. Each pilot's score is made up of 3 parts. Time points (how fast they got to goal), points they only get if they get to goal. Distance points (how far they flew). Lead out points (how much of the time they were with the leaders). I'll explain more about that over the next few days.

2019-03-20 18:38

So having got the last turn point, they are now racing south east to what we call End of Speed, this is the end of the timed part of the race. They need to cross End of Speed as fast as they can, but with enough height to fly the 2 km back to goal.

2019-03-20 18:35

The leaders have got the last turn point. Yassen Savov is at the front but low.

2019-03-20 18:34

Towards the end of the race the crucial decision is how high to climb before breaking away for the final glide to end of speed and goal. This is the point where the race is won or lost. This is what they will all be thinking about at the moment, how much more do they need to climb before they can just race in a straight line.

2019-03-20 18:32

Flavio Funiati is following the ridge right round to the turn point and the only one further to the east.

2019-03-20 18:32

The leaders to the east are in a fast charge across the flats but all sinking, although they are high so probably not hunting for thermals - yet, but they will need to get another climb to get them to End of Speed.

2019-03-20 18:30

Peter Slade is coming to joint him and also in a climb.

2019-03-20 18:29

Marco Littame, winner of the 2015 World Cup in Baixo Guandu, is taking a very different route to the others, he's right on the course line, on a little ridge and the only one at the front who is climbing at the moment.

2019-03-20 18:26

At the moment in the mountains there are some nice clouds about which always helps but in the flats not much is working.

2019-03-20 18:24

The announcement of the Gin team was eagerly awaited at registation last night and kept a very closely guarded secret. As always, there are lots of world class pilots and Super Final winners flying Gin gliders competing for those precious three places: Idris Birch, Dominik Breitinger, Aaron DUROGATI, Maxime Pinot, Andre RAINSFORD, Torsten SIEGEL, Michael SIGEL, Frank BROWN to name but a few. But one thing was always going to be certain, their leading lady would be star and legend Petra SLIVOVA. Go to the team scores at the end of the task to see the final selection and find out who her 3 team mates are.

2019-03-20 18:22

We've got a real mix of gliders in the top 10 at the moment. Kiyoshi Nariyama is on an Ozone Enzo 3, Jonathan Marin is on a Niviuk Icepeak Evox, Marco Littame is on a Flow Gliders Spectra and Michael Sigel is on a Gin Boomerang 11.

2019-03-20 18:16

Kiyoshi Nariyama on the flats is lower than Yassen Savov in the mountains. I think Yassen will be hoping to climb really high on the big mountain at the end of the chain he is following to put him in a winning position to get round the rest of the course.

2019-03-20 18:13

Following the course line and now breaking out into the flats: Kiyoshi Nariyama followed by Peter Slade, Stéphane Poulain and Wally

2019-03-20 18:12

We've still got two distinct groups at the front, those following the mountains led by Yassen Savov, being chased by Mitch Riley and Russell Achterberg.

2019-03-20 18:10

They are all now in high terrain. It's a tricky day as there isn't a vast amount of sun so I think that they are trying to follow the mountain chain round as far as they can to get to the third/last turn point.

2019-03-20 18:08

Just an update on the weather. There is a bit of high cirrus and towering white cumulous clouds but there is blue sky in between.

2019-03-20 18:03

By the river may work better because there are a lot of rocks, thus giving a big colour contrast which is always a good thermal source. Rocks take longer to warm, but they concentrate more energy and therefore give better thermals. In other words, rocks take longer to heat, but when they have heated up, they give better thermals.

2019-03-20 18:02

It's worth keeping an eye on the group who are staying closer to the river, Peter Slade, Nicola Donini, Dominik Breitinger and Stéphane Poulain.

2019-03-20 17:59

Mitch Riley is in the lead neck and neck with Yassen Savov.

2019-03-20 17:57

There are very nice paraglider friendly clouds in the sky, full speed ahead to the last turn point.

2019-03-20 17:55

This leg is going to really split the gaggle up, where will be the best place to cross the river?

2019-03-20 17:53

The first 40 have now got the second turn point and are heading north west to the last turn point.

2019-03-20 17:52

And of course - always remember to have fun! We fly comps on our vacation time!!!

2019-03-20 17:52

Step 2: learn racing! Once you know how to make goal, it is time to learn how to go fast!

2019-03-20 17:51

Step 1: learn consistency. Forget about the fast pilots (seriously - let them go!) and just concentrate on flying XC to goal EVERY day.

2019-03-20 17:51

In fact, that reminds me today's Thought for the Thermal, a piece of advice from an experienced World Cup pilot for those who are just starting out in competitions comes from Australia's first lady, Kari Ellis.

2019-03-20 17:50

Some of our leading ladies are also with the leaders, Petra Slivova and Kari Ellis.

2019-03-20 17:49

Russell Achterberg is doing it again, first round the turn point, could he swoop away with this comp in the same way he did the Askaray PWC?

2019-03-20 17:46

The objective of today's task was to set a do able task given the weather conditions which were always going to be difficult to predict and work with, or around the rain showers, should I say.

2019-03-20 17:43

As far as the conditions are concerned, there is rain on the terrain behind the pilots but nice cloud streets ahead of them. There is very little wind.

2019-03-20 17:41

Russell flew to fame in the last World Cup of 2018, in Aksaray, Turkey, winning 2 out of the 3 tasks very convincingly and left everyone asking where the motor was on his glider.

2019-03-20 17:39

Whilst I was just saying how well Marco was doing he got over taken by Kiyoshi Nariyama and Russell Achterberg.

2019-03-20 17:35

Marco Busetta is at the front, half way to the second turn point. He's used to being at the front and came second in task 2 in the Gemona Italy World Cup which was one of the highest pilot quality comps we had last year.

2019-03-20 17:32

As always, Honorin Hamard is right up with the leaders, he's been World, European and French champion and won XContest. To claim full paragliding supremacy he 'just' needs to win this Super Final!

2019-03-20 17:27

So we've got one group following the course line and another group to the east of the optimum route.

2019-03-20 17:26

We first saw Deonir pushing out a lot in the Pico do Gaviao World Cup in 2017, definitely one of the new leaders and as he is proving here one to watch.

2019-03-20 17:24

Deonir Spancerski and Isidor Fink are in the lead.

2019-03-20 17:23

The leaders are now well on their way north west to the second turn point just before the Rio Doce.

2019-03-20 17:22

What an amazing first task, everyone is well spread out already.

2019-03-20 17:19

Samuel Nascimento and Mitch Riley have got the turn point and broken away from the others, taking a route slightly to the east of the others.

2019-03-20 17:14

Huseyin Tanriverdi has gone for it and, along with virtually all the lead gaggle got the first turn point.

2019-03-20 17:09

As I mentioned already, the leadout point system has changed so there are no lead out points at the actual Start, but they are now all in the zone where the lead out points apply so they are all now clocking up extra points as it were, if they are with the leaders.

2019-03-20 17:06

So they now head east to the first turn point shown on the live tracking (which should now be working), as a circle.

2019-03-20 13:02

To the sound of what are fondly known as 'Hell's Bell's' in Baixo Guando village square the race is now on. The Start is open.

2019-03-20 12:53

We are just trying to resolve a problem with our server which is why the live tracking makes it look as if the pilots have all just landed in South Korea.

2019-03-20 12:50

10 minutes until the Start opens at 13h .

2019-03-20 12:23

Keiko Hiraki, the first ever ladies' Super Final winner back in 2009 is just taking off, last off but I don't think she will be last in goal.

2019-03-20 12:19

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

2019-03-20 12:19

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

2019-03-20 12:19

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.

2019-03-20 12:18

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

2019-03-20 12:17

So what happens now?

2019-03-20 12:16

Most pilots are nicely established to the east of take off, there is lot of cloud cover still, so it looks as if it will be quite a mellow day.

2019-03-20 12:14

With 45 minutes to go to the Start Open virtually everyone has taken off.

2019-03-20 12:13

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.

2019-03-20 12:11

For the first time in many years, we have got a real variety of gliders being flown in this Super Final, with pilots flying wings from five top manufacturers, all CCC certified: Flow, Gin, Niviuk, Ozone and UP.

2019-03-20 12:09

Davide Licini is just thermaling up above launch with an enormous Jack&Jones logo on his crinkly new blue Flow Gliders Spectra glider.

2019-03-20 12:06

Three ladies taking part have each won the ladies Super Final twice. Keiko Hiraki (2009, 2013), Petra Slivova, (2010, 2011) and Laurie Genovese (2014, 2017). Petra Slivova also won the World Cup tour (the old format of the Super Final) in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

2019-03-20 12:04

The pilot quality is amazing. 6 out of the 8 overall Super Final winners are taking part: Charles Cazaux (2009), Aaron Durogati (2012 +2016), Francisco Javier Reina Lagos (2013), Maxime Pinot (2014), Stephan Wyss (2015) and Michael Sigel (2017).

2019-03-20 11:57

So who are some of the famous faces currently taking off?

2019-03-20 11:53

The sky is clearing, the clouds are breaking up, day 1 is finally looking taskable.

2019-03-20 11:51

To the sound of loud Brazilian dance music which just so makes you want to get up and tango, they are taking off to a back drop of black granite domes, jungle vegetation, lush green grass, and woops from the spectators.

2019-03-20 11:49

And they are off!

2019-03-20 11:45

The wind dummies are doing OK they are maintaining just above the height of take off, however we now have a bit of a back wind so the Start (in the air) has been delayed to 13h, in 75 minutes time.

2019-03-20 11:39

The task is set - todays race is a 57.52 km Race to Goal The window will open at 11:30 Local Time and the Start is at 13:00

2019-03-20 11:34

However, so far there are not many takers, or take offs.

2019-03-20 11:33

Despite the low cloud base and humidity the window is now open for a 59 km task.

2019-03-20 11:16

120 pilots are sitting in the shelter on launch studying their instruments, there are a few conversations but the atmosphere on day 1 of this 10th celebratory Super Final is mainly anxious, anticipation, silence.

2019-03-20 11:11

Good morning from beautiful, but slightly damp Baixo Guandu in Brazil.

2019-03-20 09:13

The 10th Paragliding World Cup Superfinal event begins today in Baixo Guandu - Brazil. We have a good forecast for the period and the pilots are already en-route to the takeoff. As usual we will have Live Tracking and Live Commentary throughout every task so you can follow all of the action as it happens.

Task details will be published here as soon as they are available.

You can also follow everything on your smartphone or table by using the PWCA App which you can get from HERE or for iPhones search PWCa App in the App Store.

We hope you will all enjoy our 10th SuperFinal - keep watching

10th Paragliding World Cup Superfinal ::: Brazil, Baixo Guandu

Brazil, Baixo Guandu

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