SAFA Skysailor Magazine

6 SKY SAILOR September | October 2022 Australian pilots have returned to the international skies this year with the Paragliding World Cup back on the agenda for many of our country’s top paraglider pilots. After such a long absence, it was encouraging to see so many Australian pilots competing in the World Cup gaggles, flying above the fields and mountains in Clopotiva, Romania and Krushevo, Macedonia in June and July. The competitions were attended by 121 and 123 pilots respectively with Aussies Gareth Carter, Peter Slade, Phillip Mansell, Felipe Rezende, Tim Marshall, Wally Arcidiacono, Geoff Wong and Zane Priebben- ow taking to the skies. Their skills clearly shone through with some of them finishing in the top 10 for several tasks. Clopotiva, Romania The skies came to life over the rural town of Clopotiva with five days of competition from 27 June to 2 July. Pilots flew high above the small, rustic town where horse and cart can still be found as a mode of transport. Zane had already made his mark on Clo- potiva with a resounding win in the Skytribe Open the previous week. It was great to see the Aussies maintaining their lead at the front again in the World Cup, with Gareth winning task four. Gareth made a valuable contribution to the task committee by using his experience to assist with tasking in a tricky area which had not been used before, and for which the arena was not well understood. Tasking was made more difficult with limited options due to the leeside wind and daily storms in the higher ground. Aussie Pilots Welcomed Back for Paragliding World Cup