The Paragliding World Cup in Mun Gyeong, South Korea, runs from 16-21 May 2011: It was won by Jack Brown of the USA
21 MAY 2011: CANCELLED
Bad weather on the final day of the Paragliding World Cup in South Korea meant no task and the day was cancelled.
That means Jack Brown wins the comp.
The top three look like this:
1. Jack Brown, US, Ozone R10.2, 1571 points
2. Jimmy Pacher, IT, Gin Boomerang 8, 1566
3. Lucas Bernadin, FR, Ozone R10.2, 1536
Top woman is Russia’s Daria Krasnova on an Ozone R10.2. Second is Elisa Houdry (FR) and third is Marina Olexina (RU).
And Japan’s Ayumu Miyata won the Asia comp. He flies a Gin Boomerang 8.
The PWC now moves to Lienz in Austria for 11-18 June 2011.
20 MAY 2011, RAIN: CANCELLED
Rain stopped play today in Mun Gyeong. The forecast for Saturday is not good either, but as the organisers say, “forecasts can be wrong”.
If the forecast is right, then Jack Brown will take home a win. According to the not-quite-up-to-date profile on the PWC website Jack is a relative newcomer to the World Cup. He flew the Turkey and the Brazil legs in 2009 where his best finish was 21st.
In 2010 he then stamped his mark on the PWC with a brilliant flight in the fourth task of the US PWC held in Chelan. He won Task 4, the only pilot to make goal after a flight of six hours 18 minutes on a huge 165km race to goal.
In 2010 he was 88th at the Superfinal in Turkey.
At this comp he came sixth in the first task and second in Task 2. Will he hang on to the top spot? There’s all to play for on Saturday.
TASK 4, 19 MAY 2011: CANCELLED
They marched them up to the top of the hill and they sat there until it became really obviously too windy… No task in Mun Gyeong on Thursday 19 May as the forecast proved correct and strong wind blew in.
‘They’re nervous… they don’t say it but they’re a little bit nervous!’ Task cancelled. Commentary starts at 3:10. Video: PWCTV
After two tasks the US’s Jack Brown (Ozone R10.2) is leading ahead of Jimmy Pacher (IT, Gin Boomerang 8 ) and Lucas Bernadin (FR, R10.2). Jack, 54, won the US National Championships last year. Only five points separate Jack from Jimmy, so there is still all to play for on Friday.
Leading the women is Russia’s Dari Krasnova (R10.2) ahead of Women’s World Champion Elisa Houdry (R11).
In the Nations table France is on top, ahead of Italy and Korea in second and third.
And in the Continental table – i.e. Asia – Ayumu Miyata from Japan is ahead of Jinoh Kim by 58 points. He’s flying a Gin Boom 8.
Full results for the comp to date are here.
TASK 3, 18 MAY 2011, 50KM: WON BY LUCAS BERNADIN (FR)
World Cup action from Task 3 on Wednesday 18 May. Video: PWC TV
Light conditions meant the PWC field didn’t set off until 2pm in South Korea today. And even trickier conditions meant many pilots struggled on course and failed to reach goal – only 25 made it in.
However, France’s Lucas Bernadin won onboard his Ozone R10.2. He flew the nine-turnpoint course in two hours 22 minutes and 25 seconds. Lucas is no stranger to the podium – he won the Japanese Paragliding World Cup in May 2010.
Second was the USA’s Jack Brown on an R10.2 – the States is having a good comp – and third Florian Haller from Italy on his Mac Para proto. Seiko Fukuoka Naville (FR) won the day among the women.
TASK 2, 17 MAY 2011, 66.7KM: WON BY DEAN STRATTON (US)
In-air action with Phillippe on Task 2
Task 2, the first valid task of the South Korean Paragliding World Cup, was won by Dean Stratton (US). The former US national champion flew the 66.7km race to goal task in 1hr 31 mins 47 seconds.
He was 53 seconds ahead of second place Pepe Maleki (DE). Both pilots were flying Ozone R10.2s, with 84 pilots out of 118 in goal.
Read an interview with Dean Stratton:
TASK 1, 16 MAY 2011: CANCELLED
Launch at Mun Gyeong on Task 1 when the task was cancelled. Video: PWC TV
The second leg of the 2011 Paragliding World Cup calendar has started in South Korea. However, rough conditions mean the first task was cancelled at 1.25pm local time today.
Light winds and good conditions were reported early, but Level 3 (dangerous) conditions developed soon after the race started and the task was cancelled.
The competition is based in the hills around Mun Gyeong, a historic city in the centre of South Korea, and runs until 21 May.
The first leg of the PWC 2011 was in Colombia in January and was won by Michael Sigel (CH).
After South Korea the PWC heads to Austria in June, Turkey in July and Spain in August before the Superfinal in Mexico in January 2010.
Keep up to date with the action at www.paraglidingworldcup.org
Watch it all on Paragliding World Cup TV
Paragliding World Cup 2011 calendar
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