WPRS Update March 2004

PARAGLIDING Competitions added since the January update were the Argentinian Open, Swiss PG Champs, All Africa Champs, Andes Open, CNP Roldanillo, New Zealand Nationals, Monarco Open (Mexico). Results still not received so NOT added: Victoria Cup Donovaly, X Copa Pirineus, Greek Open (Amfikela) , Brazil Nationals, Algodonales Nationals. Deleted were the Belgian Mountain, German Open, Hungarian Nationals, Iberian Open, Norwegian League, PG World Cup Morzine, Portuguese de Serra da Estrela, Russian Open, Welsh International Open. The Portuguese Open was received late so is not included yet. After the large number of deleted competitions, there is a strange look to the Paragliding ranking with a poignant tribute to a talented pilot. Scotty Marion (USA) is in the number 1 position deposing Alex Hofer (SUI) to 2nd. Jean-Marc Caron (FRA) stays 3rd, Achim Joos (GER) gains a place to 4th. Nikolay Shorokhov (RUS) and Tomas Brauner (CZE rep) and Oystein Walle (NOR) all rise 2 places to 5th, 6th and 7th while Frank Brown (BRA) falls 3. Helmut Eicholzer (AUT) moves up 1 place to 9th and Norman Lausch drops 6 to complete the top 10. In the nations rankings Switzerland maintain their lead, Austria stay 2nd and South Africa remain 3rd. There are lots of other movements in the rest of the Nations ranking. More details are on the FAI website - http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/ Paragliding competitions that qualify for WPRS points are listed on the FAI site; http://events.fai.org/paragliding/calendar.asp CLASS 2 The rankings remain the same as Feb 1st with Brian Porter (USA) leading Mark Mulholland (USA), Junko Nakamura (JPN) ahead of 4th placed Manfred Ruhmer (AUT). USA is in the nations top spot, Japan is 2nd, Austria 3rd. Full details at http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/ Class 2 competitions that qualify for WPRS points are listed on the FAI site; http://events.fai.org/hgpg/civl-calendar.asp HANG GLIDING (Class 1) Competitions added were the Australian Nationals, both Hay competitions and the Bogong Cup. Deleted were: Big Springs, Brazilian Nationals, German Open, Podbrezova Cup, Portuguese Open, UK Nationals, Vikings open. Results still not received so NOT added were; Upper Austrian, Brazilia. There is no change to the top 10 individuals or nations rankings, Manfred Ruhmer (AUT) leads, Betinho Schmitz (BRA) is 2nd and Oleg Bondarchuk (UKR) is 3rd. In the nations rankings, France leads Australia with USA 3rd. Full details of the HG rankings can be found on the FAI website: http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/ Hang Gliding competitions that qualify for WPRS points are listed on the FAI site; http://events.fai.org/hgpg/civl-calendar.asp CLASS 5 The Big Springs Open and the German Open were deleted. David Chaumet (FRA) stays top, with Christian Ciech (ITA) 2nd and Johann Posch 3rd. Alessandro Ploner (ITA) stays 4th but Bruce Barmakian (USA) moved up a place to 5th, Jim Yocum up 2 to 6th. Mark Poustinchian (USA) stays 7th joined by Toni Raumauf (AUT) down 3. Manfred Trimmel (AUT) stays 9th while Ron Gleason (USA) and Hansjoerg Truttmann (SUI) remain 10th. USA still lead but Germany takes 2nd from Switzerland. Full details of the Class 5 rankings can be found on the FAI website - http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/ Class 5 competitions that qualify for WPRS points are listed on the FAI site; http://events.fai.org/hgpg/civl-calendar.asp PARAGLIDING ACCURACY No competitions were added or deleted. Results not received so not added were the Greek Nationals and more details are needed for the European Cup UK. Andy Shaw (GBR) maintains his lead, Matjaz Feraric (SLO) stays 2nd, Matjaz Sluga (SLO) remains 3rd. In the nations, Slovenia lead, GBR is 2nd and Serbia and Montenegro in 3rd. Full details of the PG Accuracy rankings can be found on the FAI website - http://www.fai.org/paragliding/rankings/precision/ Paragliding Accuracy competitions that qualify for WPRS points are listed on the FAI site; http://events.fai.org/paragliding/calendar.asp Information and an application form for CIVL category 2 sanctioning are available on the CIVL website http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/ or from Paula Howitt, paula@fai.org.