SAFA Skysailor Magazine

29 July | August 2024 SKY SAILOR “South Korea has a long and establish history in paragliding development and progression and is home to the famous paragliding designer GIN SOEK SONG and his brand GIN Gliders” Craig added. “Paragliding is an important sport in South Korea, contributing to the country’s repu- tation as a hub for adventure activities, and our pilots were treated like VIPs during the event.” The flying site at Mungyeong Dan Mountain is located in the north-east of South Korea and is one of the most famous locations for paragliding, having hosted a number of inter- national competitions. During the championships, pilots flew a pre-set course through the valleys and mountains of the Mungyeong region, covering distances of 100km, using thermals. Racing side-by-side, the best pilots covered the course in under three hours. As well as the team finishing in second place, a special mention was given to Australia’s only female pilot who finished in second place in the women’s category. Overall, Australia scored a second, third and fourth place based on individual achievements. Craig explained that the Korean team showed great talent on their home turf and commended them for coming in first place. “There was a very talented Korean pilot, Chigwon Won, who won six out of the seven tasks he competed in. The seventh task was won by Australian Peter Slade, plus Kari got first place in two of the tasks, which were both fantastic achievements.” The weather conditions were outstanding with only two out of the nine days impacted by rain and winds. The three days of training pro- vided beforehand also offered perfect weather conditions, which was beyond expectations. Results Overall Women 1. Chigwon Won – Korea Keiko Hiraki – Japan 2. Gareth Carter – Australia Kari Ellis – Australia 3. Peter Slade – Australia Hyunhee Kim – Korea The next Asian-Oceanic Paragliding Championships will be held in Kazakhstan in 2026. For more details and results visit civlcomps. org/event/pg-asian-oceanic-2024 Photos: CIVLcomps.org Teams 1. Koreaa 2. Australia 3. China