7 years ago (2017-01-20 20:32:20) :
     10 pilots sadly made end of speed but didn't make goal as the condtions had really stiched off by then

7 years ago (2017-01-20 20:06:21) :
     Apparently Guy and Russel have both landed short after a valiant struggle in difficult conditions

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:58:18) :
     We're still waiting for Guy and Russel to make it in they were last seen low and struggling. There is only 3mins left to task dead line

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:55:41) :
     Julian Robinson got to goal. He was with Russel Ogden and Guy Anderson after the end of speed, they had to fly 5km back across the river to get up

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:51:59) :
     Nao Takada has just landed and been helped across the goal field by Phillipe which all looked as if it was going to go horribly wrong at one point

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:44:03) :
     The police have just arrived and a horse is being escorted off the goal field

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:42:37) :
     Torsten and Petra are just enjoying a well earned beer. What a tough day.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:40:49) :
     Deonir Spancerski has just landed

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:38:31) :
     Olivier Henry has just made it in. Torsten Siegel is just lining up to land over the muddy river - very brave

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:35:00) :
     First lady Petra Slivova has just landed in goal to loud applause

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:30:38) :
     There was the faint sound of a flute playing then The Pied Piper of Reunion Island landed in goal.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:27:12) :
     There are cameras clicking and the buzz of the PWC drone to the beat of Brazilian music

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:25:19) :
     South Korean Yongtae Ahn have just come in together

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:24:27) :
     Turkish pilot Yildrim and

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:21:48) :
     What an amazing site so many making goal after such a difficult task

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:20:16) :
     Adrian Hachen and Tilen Ceglar are just walking across the goal field together with big grins

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:17:47) :
     Yury Mishanin has made goal to the sound of Brazilian tunes competing with PWC trackers beeping

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:15:50) :
     Aaron Durogati and Joachim Oberhauser have just arrived

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:13:43) :
     3 more are coming in to a back drop of the green slopes and black cliff face of take off.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:12:12) :
     Alexandre Jofresa has just bumped in along the goal field very close to the portal loos

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:10:13) :
     Next in Hernan Pitocco

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:08:36) :
     Next in Stefan Wyss

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:07:52) :
     The sun has come out and Charles Cazaux has just landed first in goal to loud applause

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:03:49) :
     After a very brave effort Samuel Nascimento has landed just short of end of speed

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:03:29) :
     There is not a breathe of wind in the landing field the cirrus has brought welcome shade for all the spectators most unwelcome for the pilots

7 years ago (2017-01-20 19:02:02) :
     Charles Cazaux and Alexander Jofresa have just got end of speed

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:53:53) :
     Everyone in goal is scanning the sky for top Brazilian pilot Samuel Nascimento. OK

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:51:47) :
     Russian Gleb Sukhotskiy and Argentinian Hernan Pitocco have just passed end of speed OK

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:48:52) :
     There is 1 last obstacle to negotiate between the river and the goal line - a row of pale blue porta-loos which judging by the smell are rather full. OK

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:44:53) :
     The last 10 km are going to be really tough, there is a lot of cirrus about and they need to negotiate the not so sweet waters of the Rio Doce before goal OK

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:42:19) :
     Hot on their trailing edges are Hernan Pitocco and Gaspard Petiot. OK

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:38:39) :
     Francisco Mantaras and Joachim Oberhauser are right up with the leaders.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:35:24) :
     Top Slovenia pilot Tilen Ceglar has just taken the lead this is going to be neck and neck to the end of speed.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:31:55) :
     The Pied Piper of Reunion Island is in the lead with only 13 km to go.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:26:24) :
     The entire crowd are here to watch Moises Sodre come in on the Coden Pro although I think they don't mind what he's flying as long as he gets here 1st.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:20:33) :
     There is a lot of pointing at the sky in the wrong direction so I'm not sure if we are all here for the same reason.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:18:45) :
     The spectators are huddled in the few metres of shade that there are at the landing field.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:15:59) :
     In the goal field there is a real feeling of suspense all eyes are on the sky watching up river to see the first pilots coming in.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 18:02:10) :
     Alexandre Jofresa has taken the lead and is nearing the river. He was 4th in last years super final and 5th in the 2015 PWC in Switzerland - one to watch.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:58:53) :
     Top Argentine pilot Francisco Mantaras. Hernan Pitocco and Julien Brung are currently leading the field back towards the muddy waters of GV's wide sprawling Sweet River, Rio Doce.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:52:58) :
     A lot of the pilots who did well in the first two tasks are currently packing up their gliders in the Brazilian boonies, todays task is going to change everying. There will be a lot of beers bought for the great god of discards tonight I think.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:50:15) :
     20 pilots have made the 2nd turn point and are on their way back to end of speed section and goal in GV. 50 pilots have already landed. Today's task is going to literally throw the last two days scores right up in the air.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:37:44) :
     50 pilots have already landed, it was probably a mistake to go so far north to save 10 kms but then have to battle back south across wind.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:35:07) :
     Well done to Leo Hamard, he's just got the second turn point and is doing well.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:27:29) :
     Martinho Ribeiro Morais, Cristiano Ricci and Eugene Claase have also just got the 2nd turn point.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:24:43) :
     Luc Armant, Damien Lacaze and Deonir Spancerski have just got the 2nd turn point.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:21:18) :
     There is a real mix of Brazilian, Pablo Rodarte, Cristiano Ricci and Martinho Ribeiro Morrais, European Luc Armant and south Korean Moonseob Lim on an Enzo 2, a Zeno, a Boom 10 and 11 at the top.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:14:12) :
     The SW wind is making it really difficult to get to turn point 1. The local Brazilian knowledge of staying south paid off. A lot of the top European pilots have already landed.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:08:02) :
     Brazilian pilot Martinho Ribeiro Morais, Richare Pethigal and Brazilian distance record holder Samuel Nasciimento have all got the first turn point. Today is definitely suiting the Brazilians.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:02:01) :
     Moonseob Lim and Torsten Siegel, both on Boomerang 11s, have just got the turn point.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 17:00:00) :
     Lionel Lang has also got the turn point. He's a paragliding instructor from Reunion Island who has a lot of experience of vol biv in remote areas having done a 225 km vol biv in Ethiopia, in a group of 5 being the first white people that some of the locals had ever seen.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:56:53) :
     Luc Armant on his Zeno has just got the turn point.%D%A

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:55:56) :
     Jan Sterren has also got the 1st turn point. He's a very experiened pilot flying in the big Alpine mountains in Switzerland. He was 11th in the Swiss championships in 2016 and 4th in the PWC in the recent Reunion Island PWC, so one to watch.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:52:03) :
     Talking of boonies, the pilots are flying over some very remote terrain at the moment so quite a few of the trackers are off line.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:50:51) :
     A lot of pilots are going much further east to take the turn point, like Richard Pethigal. Richard has lots of claims to fame, from doing some of the first descents of rivers in Peru to being the only competitor here to have been kidnapped by Shining path guerilla soldiers which will hopefully stand him in good stead for flying over the Brazilian boonies.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:45:15) :
     A Gin Boomerang 10 and an Ozone Enzo 2 are currently leading the race, nothing is certain in this constantly changing race.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:43:15) :
     Pablo Rodarte and Cristiano Ricci have just taken the first turn point.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:42:14) :
     1st to the turn point doesn't necessarily mean furthest round the course. Those who take the turn point furthest to the east will have less distance to go to turn point 2.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:37:44) :
     Deonir Spacerski is about to be the first to get the first turn point. Today is definitely a day where local knowledge counts.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:33:53) :
     3 Brazilians are leading the way - Pablo Rodarte, Brazilian Champion Cristiano Ricci and Martinho Ribeiro Morais

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:30:08) :
     It looks as if the gaggle to the south are going to get the turn point first with Cristiano Ricci leading - it must be that lucky t-shirt - don't look down!

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:27:44) :
     There are a few pilots who are right in the middle of both gaggles. Top Argentinian pilot Francisco Mantaras has taken the middle line. He was 3rd in the Argentine Paragliding Cup in Mendoza in November, winner of the first event of the US National Championship Series in June and 3rd in the Argeninian Open last year - definitely one to watch.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:21:51) :
     Cristiano Ricci is also leading the group to the south, wearing a very appropriate t-shirt with 'Don't look down' written across it.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:20:17) :
     The group from the south is currenly led by Brazilian pilot Deonir Spancerski.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:19:03) :
     The group from the north and the one from the south are soon going to meet up at the turn point. Who will get there first?

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:17:40) :
     Ozone test pilot, Luc Armant, is one of the leaders today too. Luc's dream is to be a migrating bird or being a bit more realistic, flying with such a perfect paraglider that the birds become jealous. So what do the GV vultures think of Luc's new Zeno?

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:14:42) :
     Gin test pilot Moonseob Lim is one of the leaders today too. His paragliding Dad used to buy a very reluctant Moonseob paragliders and harnesses, then Moonseob decided it wasn't such a bad sport afterall, now he's the one who buys Dad harnesses and equipment!

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:11:27) :
     Julian Robinson is currently leading the north gaggle and the competition. He's a very experienced British pilot, 2nd in the British Championships in 2016 and 3rd in 2015 along with a lot of international competition experience.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 16:06:11) :
     Those to the north, which is the vast majority of pilots, are going fastest with Jurij Vidic in the lead, he's a pilot who can win any time any place, one to watch. He's had lots of top 5 places in international competitions.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:59:11) :
     Stefan Wyss and Tim Bollinger seem to be leading the faster gaggle to the north.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:54:10) :
     Emmanuel Nicolas, the Pied Piper of Reunion Island, is right up with the leaders and currently in 4th position.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:51:48) :
     The group further north led by Maxime Bellemin, Rafael Saladini and Patrick Von Kaenel seem to be doing best.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:49:05) :
     Just to the north of the river another gaggle, led by Petra Slivova, is heading towards the first turn point.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:47:36) :
     There are lots of different ways of flying this course. Top German pilot Reiner Braun has stayed near take off and is following the line of the river.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:43:09) :
     It looks like Stefan Wyss and Laurie Genoves have gone the furthest round the start cylinder along with davide Licini and Antonio Golfari.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:36:10) :
     It's 13th 30 the start is now open, the race is on.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:18:10) :
     There are also some great pilot interviews, one with Maxime Pinot who was 2nd on day 1 has just been posted.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:16:06) :
     To get an idea of the terrain that the pilots are flying over have a look at some of Phillipe Broer's videos on World Cup TV in the Media box

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:11:33) :
     With 20 minutes to go to the start lots of pilots are crossing the muddy waters of the Rio Doce (Sweet River) to get into a better position.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:10:00) :
     Pilots who lead out at the beginning get more points.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 15:07:48) :
     Lead out points depend on how many pilots get to goal (up to a max of 120 pts). The more pilots in goal the more pts available.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:59:58) :
     Who will get the lead out points today? Tim Bollinger arrived 3rd in goal yesterday but took 1st place due to well deserved lead out points.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:58:46) :
     Discards will help those who haven't done well initially, where by pilots lose 1 in 4 tasks.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:53:22) :
     The 1st few days are a time of acclimatisation for pilots who haven t flown much recently and those on new wings there is still everything to play for.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:41:01) :
     The advantage of taking the start as far north as possible is that it cuts down the distance to turn pt 1 by up to 10 km and thus the length of the race.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:38:37) :
     The start opens at 13h30 so those wanting to take the cylinder as far north as possible will need to fly fast and stay up of course.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:36:43) :
     A few pilots are going for the north option Maxime Pinot and Yigit Yildirim are currently crossing the river and going for it.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:23:56) :
     The large start cylinder (52 km) gives the pilots lots of course choice. The 1st turn pt is a 30 km cylinder the 2nd 25 km. A very interesting task.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:18:00) :
     The first pilots are now off

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:17:44) :
     They then go East to turn pt 1 then north to turn pt 2 then west to end of speed and goal in GV

7 years ago (2017-01-20 14:13:31) :
     Today s task is a 52 km cylinder giving pilots lots of choice of where to start

7 years ago (2017-01-20 13:32:25) :
     The weather is still unstable but there shouldn t be much risk of rain. There maybe a bit of cirrus again today.

7 years ago (2017-01-20 13:29:52) :
     Briefing is currently taking place