World Pilot Rankings Update 18/02/01 and Country Ranking
Lausanne, 19 February, 2001
The WPRS sees changes to paragliding, hang gliding, speed gliding and class 2. There
are no changes to precision paragliding.
The paragliding rankings sees the addition of All Africa Open, Mexico Open, Bright Open, Zicosur Open, Australian Open, Millenium Cup and Real Minas Governador Valadares Open. Deleted events (from 1999) are Jackson Hole (USA), Swedish Open and the Morzine and Piedrahita PWC's .
The top 10 is dominated by Swizterland, Japan and Austria with the exception of Andrew Smith from South Africa. The top 4 places remain the same Martin Brunn (AUT) maintains the lead on 286 points, ahead of Masataka Kawachi (JPN), Tsuji Tsuyoshi (JPN) and Kaspar Henny (SUI), who now shares 4th place with Andy Hediger (SUI, from 10th). Steve Cox (SUI) continues his descent, now 6th (from 4th), with Christian
Tamegger (AUT) moving up 2 places to 7th, Stephan Stieglair (AUT) dropping to 8th (from 7th), Andrew Smith (RSA) moving back into the top 10 at 9th and Kari Eisenhut (SUI) also descending to 10th (from 8th).
Louise Crandal (DEN) still has a clear lead in the female rankings and is in 40th place overall (185 points) with Petra Krausova (CZE) and Noriko Mizunuma (JPN) in equal 2nd place (86th overall). There are currently 740 pilots ranked from 37 countries.
The hang gliding ranking sees the addition of Xceara (Brazil), South African Nationals, Australian Nationals, Forbes Flatlands, Zicosur (Chile) and the Millenium Cup (Mexico). The following 1999 events have been deleted; HG World Championships, Canadian Grand Prix, Slovenian Nationals, British Open and Spanish Nationals.
Oleg Bondarchuk (UKR, 1st) maintains the lead on 243 points, ahead of Richard Walbec
(FRA, 2nd). Those moving up the top 10 are Gerolf Heinrichs (AUT) whose win at Forbes has moved him right back into the top 10 to 3rd (from 12th), Mario Alonzi (FRA) is up to 4th (from 9th), Jon Durand Jnr (AUS) is a newcomer to the top 10 in 7th (from 29th), Andreas Ohlson ((SWE) moves up to 8th (from 15th), Jean-Francois Palmarini (FRA) up to 9th (from 13th). Gordon Rigg (GB) maintains 5th and those moving down the top 10 are Manfred Ruhmer (AUT, 6th from 3rd), Andre Wolf (BRA, 9th from 4th) and Betinho Schmitz (BRA, 9th from 6th).
Francoise Mocellin (FRA) still leads the female rankings in 32nd place overall (125 points) closely followed by Kathleen Rigg (GBR, 37th overall, 118 points) and Kari Castle (USA) 3rd (41st overall, 111 points), who have both closed the points difference between the top three. There 622 pilots ranked from 39 countries.
Speed Gliding sees the deletion of the WHGS Canada 1999 event. John Smith (NZL) still leads the rankings ahead of Oleg Bondarchuk (UKR), Manfred Ruhmer (AUT) and Karl Ewing (AUS). 5th to 9th places are held by the USA (5-GW Meadows, 6-Ken Brown, 7-Chris Giardina, 8-M Vorhis and 9 Aaron Swepston). Michael Scrott (AUT) is 9th. There are 38 pilots from 12 countries.
Class 2 sees the deletion of the 1999 World championships and subsequently a few changes in the top 10 places. Diego Bussinger (SUI) is the first pilot outside of the USA to head the Class 2 rankings. Toni Raumauf (AUT) is second with Brian Porter (USA) =3rd with Marcus Hoffmann Guben (GER). Christof Kratzner (GER) has dropped from equal 2nd to 5th, David Sharp (USA) has dropped to 6th (from 4th). USA pilots Jim Zeiset (and Bruce Barmakian are =7th ahead of Mario Campanelli (BRA) =9th with Hansjoerg Truttmann (SUI). Niki Hamilton (GBR) is the only female ranked (26th overall). There are 39 pilots from 9 countries.
Results not yet received ( and therefore not included in WPRS yet) Bogong Cup, Australia (HG class 1 & 2) and the Argentinian Open (PG).
Forthcoming hang gliding competitions (class 1 unless otherwise indicated) that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 1: World Air Games, Spain.
Category 2: Oshino Rigid, Japan;Flytec championships, USA; International Swiss Open;Millau classic, France; Test Europeans, Slovenia; Dutch Open, Laragne, France; Test Female Worlds, USA; Test class 2 Worlds, USA; UK Open national Championships, St Andre, France; Lone Star National Championships, USA.
Forthcoming paragliding competitions that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 1: World Air Games, Spain.
Category 2: Coo Spring Cup, Japan; Cornizzolo, Italy; Tateyama Raityou Valley Cup, Japan; Bavarian Open; PWC Konitsa, Greece; PWC Simmenthal, Switzerland; US nationals/PrePWC, USA; Nordic Open , Piedrahita; Test Europeans, Slovenia; PWC La Clusaz, France; PWC Castejon, spain; Pre PWC Germany; PWC Kobarid, Slovenia.
Details of these competitions can be found on the CIVL web page:
http://events.fai.org/hgpg/civl-calendar.asp
Any queries/questions regarding the World Pilot Ranking Scheme should be
sent to Paula Bowyer, e-mail paula@fai.org
Information and an application form for CIVL category 2 sanctioning are
available on the CIVL website http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/ or from
Paula Bowyer.
Country rankings
In paragliding country rankings the top 3 places have changed with France now leading, ahead of Switzerland who have climbed to 2nd and Japan who have moved up to 3rd ahead of Austria 4th, Germany 5th, Great Britain 6th, Denmark 7th, Italy 8th, Slovakia 9th and South Africa 10th.
The female nations which are entitled to send 2 females to the WAG (PG are Denmark, Czech Republic, Japan, south Africa, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand and Austria.
For details of team size allocation for the World Air Games (PG) please see http://www.fai.org/paragliding/rankings/
In hang gliding country rankings France are 1st ahead of Austria and Australia, with Great Britain now 4th, Brazil 5th, USA 6th, Germany 7th, spain 8th , Hungary 8th and Ukraine 10th.
Full details of the country rankings (PG and HG) can be found on the World Pilot Ranking System website. Pilots should check that their personal record shows the correct nationality, particularly as there are a number of hang glder and paraglider pilots of unknown nationality.
All amendments should be e-mailed to Paula Bowyer paula@fai.org. Full details of the rankings can be found on the FAI/CIVL website at http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/rankings/
Pilot qualifications for World Air Games
Please note that pilots still seeking qualification to compete in the WAG have until 31st May to qualify.
Qualification criteria (both 1 & 2 must be met):
1. as per section 7 5.11 (and proposed amendment to be voted on at the Plenary meeting 22 - 25 Feb, 01)
2. In ADDITION to section 7 5.11, either
a. Top two thirds overall place in a PWCcompetition, or
b. Eagle gold badge distance (i.e 100km or more)
See CIVL website for full details.
The list of qualified pilots will next be updated 01 April 2001. Any pilots wanting confirmation of their qualification for category 1 events should contact Paula Bowyer.
