News

Sky Gods for Hire in Cross Country issue 129 argued that flying guides could help hang glider and paraglider pilots skip weeks of do-it-yourself learning. But it also argued you want a sky god for a guide, not a cowboy and asked “Is it time for an internationally recognised standard for fly-guides?”

The second Asian Paragliding World Cup round finished in Linzhou, China, on 9 June. Russian Andrey Eliseev and France's Orlane Sturbois were the male and female winners.

The Snaplock is a new lightweight and easy-to-use karabiner for paragliding from Finsterwalder & Charly. Despite being half the weight of a steel krab, it has an incredible 30 kN (3,000 kg) breaking strength.

23-year-old 2007 junior French champion Alexandre Jofresa has won the first round of the British Paragliding Open that was held in Kobarid, Slovenia, from 5 - 12 June. In second place and first Brit was Jamie Messenger.

In keeping with their philosophy of creating well-designed XS gliders for smaller pilots, Icaro Paragliders now have an extra small version of the EN B Wildcat.

The Energy Cross is a reversible paraglider harness from Icaro. It is designed to be comfortable to walk and fly long distances, and despite being lightweight has plenty of storage space for vol-biv kit.

British pilot Mark Graham flew his Axis Vega 3 to victory in the Ozone Chabre Open 2010, winning the sailplane flight courtesy of longtime sponsor Quo Vadis.

Organisers have described last weekend's Lakes Charity Classic as "possibly the biggest and most successful free flying/comp event of its type ever held in this country".

Young rising French paragliding acro star Greg Fayolle died doing the sport he loved in Spain last month. His funeral was held in Champnix on 31 May.

Italian Luca Donini is the new European Paragliding Champion for 2010, and Italy the top nation.