The 20th FAI Hang Gliding world Championships kicks off in Mexico at the weekend, with two weeks of competition scheduled for the first two weeks of March.
Pilots from 20 countries have arrived in the well known free flight mecca of Valle de Bravo, a three hour journey from capital Mexico City, to compete.
Ninety-seven pilots are on the confirmed pilot list on the organiser’s website, with some national squads featuring eight pilots. Spain, Mexico, France and Japan all have eight-member teams.
Top of the list and one of the favourites for winning the World Championship title is Australian Jonny Durand. He is currently ranked number one in the world, and is fresh from winning the Australian national title at Forbes in January.
Hot on his heels however will be the US’s Zac Majors, who won the international competition at Forbes and is ranked second in the world.
Neither Zac or Jonny have won a world title before – they’ll be up against experienced former world champions Attila Bertok (HU, 2007) and the legendary Manfred Ruhmer (AT, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2013). Manfred is defending World Champion and will be going for a record fifth title.
Others to watch among many include Italy’s Christian Ciech, Britain’s Gordon Rigg and France’s Mario Alonzi. For paraglider pilots, Switzerland’s Peter Neuenschwander is a former PWC Superfinal champion who is now flying hang gliders.
Three women are competing: Francoise Dieuzeide Banet (FR); Corinna Schwiegershausen (DE); and Claudia Meija from Colombia.
March in Valle de Bravo is late season and could throw up some strong conditions and interesting tasks. Teams must organise their own retrieves, and paragliding is not allowed during the launch window of the competition.
Live tracking will allow online spectating. For that, news and the pilot list see www.faihgworldmex.com.
Hang Gliding Champions of the Past
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