World Pilot Rankings Update 10/05/01
There are changes to the paragliding, hang gliding and class 2 rankings (no changes to speed gliding or precision paragliding).
The hang gliding ranking sees the addition of Flytec championships (USA) and the Lithuanian Open and the deletion of Canungra 99. Oleg Bondarchuk (UKR) remains in 1st, with Manfred Ruhmer's (AUT) win at the Flytec Championships moving him up to 2nd (from 6th), moving the following pilots down a place Richard Walbec (FRA, 3rd), Gerolf Heinrichs (AUT, 4th), Mario Alonzi (FRA, 5th), Gordon Rigg (GB, 6th) and Andreas Ohlson (SWE, 7th). Betinho Schmitz (BRA, 8th) and Andre Wolf (BRA, 9th) also benefited from good results at the Flytec event both moving up one place. Jean-Francois Palmarini (FRA) completes the top 10.
Kari Castle (USA) and Kathleen Rigg (GB) both had good placings at the Flytec competition and Kari has extended her lead of the female rankings (28th place overall) over Francoise Mocellin (FRA, 29th overall) and Kathleen Rigg (GBR, 41 overall). There 619 pilots ranked from 39 countries.
Class 2 also sees the addition of the Flytec Championships, which has caused some major changes to the rankings, with 6 out of the top 10 pilots having it as their highest WPRS points competition. Brian Porter (USA) takes the lead from Diego Bussinger (SUI) who drops to 2nd. Pilots who have moved up in the top 10 are Davis Straub (USA) moving up to 3rd (from 9th), Johann Posch (AUT, 4th from 9th), Mario Campanelli (BRA, 5th from 7th), David Sharp (USA, 7th from 9th) and lastly top 10 newcomer Bowen Campbell (USA, 10th from 22nd). Those dropping places are Toni Raumauf (AUT) drops to 6th (from 2nd), Marcus Hoffmann Guben (GER, 7th from 3rd) and Bruce Barmakian (USA, 9th from 6th). There are 44 pilots from 9 countries.
The paragliding rankings see the addition of South African Nationals, Tateyama Raitou Cup (Japan), Spanish Nationals and Polish Monte Grappa Cup and the deletion of the Coo PG Cup 99 (Japan).
There have been no changes to the top 10 places with Martin Brunn (AUT) still in the lead on 286 points, ahead of Masataka Kawachi (JPN, 2nd), Tsuji Tsuyoshi (JPN, 3rd) with =4th Kaspar Henny (SUI) and Andy Hediger (SUI), Christian Tamegger (AUT, 6th), Stephan Stieglair (AUT, 7th) and Andrew Smith (RSA, 8th), Steve Cox (SUI, 9th ) and Jimmy Pacher (ITA, 10th).
Louise Crandal (DEN) still has a clear lead in the female rankings in 39th place overall (185 points). Andrea Joubert (RSA, 81st overall) mantains 2nd place while Noriko Mizunuma (JPN) has dropped to 3rd (109st overall) There are currently 707 pilots ranked from 36 countries.
Results not yet received (and therefore not included in WPRS yet) Polish PG Nationals and the Argentinian Open (PG). Competitions not valid for WPRS points Swedish Easter International (HG), National de St Andre (HG & C2). The Cornizzolo Cup (PG) has been postponed to 7 - 9 September.
Forthcoming hang gliding competitions (class 1 unless otherwise indicated) that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 1: World Air Games, Spain.
Category 2: Greek HG Open; Croatian Open; International Swiss Open;Millau classic, France; Korean Championships; Nordic Open, Iceland; Test Europeans, Slovenia; Dutch Open, Laragne, France; International de France (class 1 & 2); German Open (class 1 & 2); Test Female Worlds, USA; Test class 2 Worlds, USA; UK Open National Championships, St Andre, France (class 1 & 2); Lone Star National Championships, USA (class 1 & 2).
Forthcoming paragliding competitions that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 1: World Air Games, Spain.
Category 2: Alpe Adria Open (Accuracy); Slovenian Nationals; Erzincan Open/Pre-PWC, Turkey; Bavarian Open; Melgar Open, Colombia; PWC Konitsa, Greece; PWC Simmenthal, Switzerland; Greek PG Championships; Belgian PG Open, France; US nationals/Pre-PWC, USA; Swiss International Championships; Czech/slovak Nationals; Nordic Open , Piedrahita; Test Europeans, Slovenia; British Open, Piedrahita; PWC La Clusaz, France; PWC Castejon, Spain; Canadian PG Championships; Pre PWC Germany; Pre PWc Greece; Norwegian League Final; PWC Kobarid, Slovenia; British International, St Andre, France; Cornizzolo, Italy; Mun Gyong Inernational, Korea.
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 battle for the top continues between Austria and France, with France now back in first place and Austria dropping to 2nd. Japan have moved up to 3rd (from 4th) pushing Switzerland (4th) out of the top 3 for the first time. Germany maintain 5th, with South Africa moving up too 6th (from 10th) and displacing by one place; Denmark 7th, Great Britain 8th, Italy 9th and Slovakia 10th.
In hang gliding country rankings France maintains 1st with Great Britain moving up to 2nd (from 4th) and Austria maintaining 3rd. Australia has dropped to 4th (from 2nd), USA (5th) and Brasil (6th) have swopped places. Germany (7th), and Hungary (8th) and Spain (9th) are unchanged and Switzerland (10th) moves back into the top 10 (from 14th).
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 glider 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
The list of qualified pilots was updated 01 April 2001. The definitive list of pilots qualified as per Section 7 5.11 (published & effective from 1 May 2001 http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/documents/sc7.asp,excluding additional criteria for World Air Games Paragliding - see below) will be published on 1 June 2001. Any pilots wanting confirmation of their qualification for category 1 events should contact Paula Bowyer.
Please note that pilots still seeking qualification to compete in the WAG have until 31st May to qualify.
Qualification criteria
1. For hang gliding and paragliding
as per section 7 5.11
2. IN ADDITION for paragliding 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.
