SC PGA Competition

Because I think that there should be better and more frequent communication between the CIVL bureau and the pilots and because I wanted to get acquainted with one of the CIVL’s smaller, but fast growing disciplines, I travelled to Trakai in Lithuania in February, where the 4th FAI World Paragliding Accuracy Championship was held.

Overall organiser and meet director of this competition was Violeta Grigoraitiene. Violeta told me that organising a World Championship in Lithuania was one of her dreams. After she had convinced the Lithuanian aero club, she started on the long road towards organising the competition. Violeta organised a very successful test competition and she and her organisation staff were ready for the real comp. What has contributed to the success of this championship, and what is a problem in many of the major competitions, is the large group of volunteers that were involved in the organisation. The group of volunteers was almost as big as the number of competitors.

For the third time in a row, Slovenia takes home the gold medals for Paragliding Accuracy. Matjaz Feraric is the FAI World Champion for the second time, and his team took first place once again. Silver medallist is Andy Webster from UK. And 16 year old Martin Jovanoski of Macedonia won third place. In the team competition, Czech Republic took second place and UK gathered the bronze medals.
The 4th FAI World Paragliding Accuracy Championship, held in Trakai, Lithuania, 9 to 18 February, 2007, is the first winter paragliding competition and the first to hold a Women’s Paragliding Accuracy Championship, with 11 entries from 6 countries. The gold medal for first woman was won by Funda Durusu-Cici from Turkey (45th overall). The silver went to Czech youngster Katerina Pankova, and the bronze medal was awarded to Olga Lonina of Latvia.

The tension is wound up to full now, with 11 out of a possible 12 rounds flown. Tomorrow, Friday, is a rest day, and pilots, organisers, judges and jury will attend (and some will participate in) Trakai’s famous ‘Catch the Wind’ festival, held every year on Lithuania Independence Day. The final round will be flown on Saturday morning, with pilots launching in reverse order of their current place in the results. All is set for a spectacular finish. Spectators will be able to watch from around the world, as a live video link will be filming at the target. Saturday 17th February, from 9am (Lithuania local time) – click the link from: www.pagaukveja.lt Scores are also updated every minute.

With just three rounds to go, the Slovenians, twice world champions, are striding ahead once again at the 4th FAI World Paragliding Accuracy Championship, on Lake Galves, Trakai in frozen Lithuania. With pilots in 1st, 2nd and 10th places and top team position, Slovenia is pulling ahead in these tough, cold and nil wind conditions. Czech Republic is closing fast on the team stakes, while pilots from Bulgaria, Serbia, UK, Macedonia and Ukraine are chasing the individual medals. With stronger winds today, some are anticipating there could be some change at the top.

The 4th FAI World Paragliding Accuracy Championship, in Trakai, Lithuania is well underway, and with three rounds flown, can be validated. With 69 pilots, including 9 women, from 14 countries, the competition is the first FAI event to be held in winter, and will mark the first womens’ championship in this discipline.

The opening ceremony took place on Friday 9th February, with the charismatic Competition Director and general organiser, Violeta Grigoraitiene in charge. Local dignitaries included the Mayor of Trakai, the Lithuanian Government Minister for Sport and the President of the Lithuanian HG & PG Federation.