Jennifer Lauritzen from California has won a brand new paraglider in the Cross Country Prize Draw 2024. She gets to choose a new solo EN A, B or C paraglider from either Advance, Gin, Ozone or Supair.
Her name was first out of the hat when the draw was made yesterday 1 February, but it came with a twist. Although her name was drawn – it was her partner Jason’s email address attached to the subscription details. The couple, who live in San Jose, share a subscription to Cross Country and both fly.
Jenn has been flying since 2018 and currently flies an EN C two-liner. At the moment she is resting after a shoulder operation but she is planning to get back into the air for May. “Just in time for my new wing to come!” she said.
“I’ve been flying my current wing for 18 months. I live in San Jose, California, so I usually fly the Northern California sites. But it’s pouring with rain right now, we’re having what they call an atmospheric river, it’s been 10 days of rain!”
Faced with the choice of a new glider she said she wasn’t sure what she’d choose yet. “I will probably choose a C wing, so I’ll take a look at what they have and figure it out!”
Possible EN C choices include the Sigma 11 from Advance, the Bonanza 3 or Camino from Gin, the Delta 4 or Photon from Ozone or the Savage or Eiko 2 from Supair.
Looking ahead at the year Jenn said she was hoping to step into the world of vol-bivouac. “It’s been hard in California with all the droughts, but I want to do some vol-biv in our local mountains this year. So I’m working on planning that route. That’s the biggest plan. And then travelling in June or July to a country as yet to be determined.”
As well as the glider, Cross Country subscribers won other good prizes in the draw. The names of the prize winners and what they won include:
Brand new paraglider: Jenn Lauritzen, California
Naviter Oudie N: Eric Toshalis, USA
Supair Evo Lite 2: Mika Kiistala, Netherlands
Velodrom Sunglasses: Mauro Chies, Brazil
XC Shop vouchers for £50: Simon Stingelin (CH), Andrew Watson (UK) and Jonathan Hagan (USA).
In another twist to the draw this year, the pilot who won the air-sports sunglasses from Velodrom turned out to be a qualified and practising ophthalmologist. Despite having no shortage of sunglasses himself down there in sunny southern Brazil Mauro Chies was happy to hear the news he was a prize-winner of a pair of specialist shades from Sweden. DHL are already on the case.
And finally, winning the prize for the best response, Harvard scholar and Naviter Oudie N winner Dr Eric Toshalis couldn’t have been more gracious. “Wow! Terrific! Thank you!” he said.
“I love your curation of stories, insights, lessons, and the joy of free flight in Cross Country. It’s an inspiration every time it arrives in my mailbox. Keep up the fantastic work!”
Thanks to all our subscribers new and long-standing who support the magazine throughout the year. Our next Subscribers Prize Draw will be held later in the year when there will be another chance for subscribers to win some more fantastic prizes.
