Overall podium: 1 – Maxime Pinot, 2 – Felix Rodriguez, 3 – Luc Armant
Maxime Pinot (FR, Enzo 2) won the fourth round of the 2016 PWC series, which was held in St André-les-Alpes from 3-10 September.
After two days of strong winds, the site in the southern French Alps delivered the booming conditions it’s known for. Two tasks were stopped due to deteriorating conditions, and three tasks of 79.2km, 115km and 102.4km were scored.
Spain’s Felix Rodriguez, also on an Enzo 2, was second, just 21 points behind Maxime. One of the sport’s true all-round stars for many years, Felix bounced straight from one podium to another, having travelled to Saint André directly from the acro World Championships in Annecy, where he and brother Raul won the Synchro category.
Ozone’s Luc Armant, flying the new Zeno, was third overall. Seiko Fukuoka also flew a Zeno, in the SM size which is not yet certified so she could not score in the competition. Here’s what she had to say about the wing on Ozone’s Facebook page:
“I flew the Zeno for the first time during task 1 and I made it to goal in the top 15!
“At the end of the day my body was way less tired than flying my Enzo 2, the glider is more stable and I could fly most of the time at full speed even in strong conditions while other CCC gliders could not push full bar. This gave me the opportunity of outflying the rest of the comp gliders.
“Thermalling is easier and more efficient with The Zeno, even when I arrived late to the thermal I was able to reach the leading pilots in the climb. The Zeno light brake pressure is a big advantage to keep my energy levels during long distance flights, and my favorite things is: if i let the glider fly, it automatically takes a good line!!! 😉 After my Zeno test flights I have decided to fly this glider to chase new records!”
Women’s podium: 1 – Kirsty Cameron, 2 – Laurie Genovese, 3 – Yael Margelisch
The UK’s Kirsty Cameron won the women’s category on an Enzo 2 ahead of Laurie Genovese (FR, Enzo 2) and Yael Margelisch (CH, Boomerang 10). Kirsty was interviewed afterwards by the PWC’s videographer, Philippe Broers:
As was Maxime Pinot …
All results on pwca.org. The fifth and final event of the tour before the Superfinal takes place in St Leu, La Réunion, from 2-8 October.
• Got news?
Send it to us at news@xccontent.local.
Subscribe to the world’s favourite hang gliding and paragliding magazine home
