Stage set for India's first AAI Paragliding World Cup 2015
Author(s): Arvind SharmaDharamshala, October 17, 2015: Three of the four top-ranked paragliding pilots of the world will fly in India's first AAI Paragliding World Cup 2015, the last World Cup in the series for this year, to be held in...
Dharamshala, October 17, 2015: Three of the four top-ranked paragliding pilots of the world will fly in India's first AAI Paragliding World Cup 2015, the last World Cup in the series for this year, to be held in Himachal Pradesh's Bir-Billing from October 23, the organisers said here on Friday. The first four Paragliding World Cup this year were held in Baixu Guandu in Brazil (April); Montalegre in Portugal (July); Disentis in Switzerland (August) and Ager in Spain (August).The World Cups are followed by an annual Super Cup, which will be held in January next year in Valle de Bravo in Mexico.
In the maiden Paragliding World Cup of India. Bir-Billing is considered one of the most natural locations for paragliding and is about 40 km from Dharamshala (now also known for world cricket).
France alone will have 14 pilots among the odd 100 competing at the event during October 23-31
A French contingent with 14 pilots, including many who have won World Cups and Super Cups and have been ranked World No. 1, will figure in the event, Sudhir Sharma, The Minister of Urban Development Himachal cum president of the Billing Paragliding Association, (the event organising club), said ,” The French team also includes Julien Wirtz , who has been ranked World No. 1. The other top-ranking pilots who have confirmed their participation in the event are, Vidic Jurij of Slovenia and Torsten Siegel of Germany.”
Jurij, Wirtz and Siegel held the second, third and fourth spots, respectively, in the world and also in Europe. Andreas Malecki of Germany, who held the World No. 1 rank from September 2011 to February 2012, and Maxine Pinot of France, World No. 8 and winner of 2014 Super Cup in Turkey, are also among the top participants.
Sudhir Sharma further informed that a total of and so far, 451 pilots from 47 countries have registered themselves of which 130 pilots have been selected so far from 35 countries ,who have also confirmed their participation. Beside this eights pilots are from India. They include Ajay Kumar and Gurpreet Dhindsa -- the best pilots in the country.
“The paragliders also includes about 12 women, including former World No. 1 Klaudia Bulgakow of Poland, who also won the 2013 Pre-World Cup at Bir-Billing. The take-off site at Billing, situated at an altitude of 2,325 metres, has been refurbished to enable 15 to 50 gliders to take off simultaneously. The landing site at Bir, located at1,360 metres, has also been expanded for safe landing,” said Sharma. Sharma added, "France has also used the sport to lure tourists and improve local economy. We also have German, English and other foreign pilots coming in and want them to be taken in by the natural beauty of Bir Billing and Kangra."
While the state government and the Billing Paragliding Association would jointly organise the event from October 23 to 31, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would be the title sponsors.
Bir-Billing has been a paradise for paragliding and hang gliding since 1984, when the first hang gliding event was held there. Now the Bir-Billing valley will taste a new high with the world cup. The competition will be held from October 23 to 31.
Bir-Billing is among the top 10 aero-sports sites in the world.The valley is surrounded by snow covered Dhauladhar ranges also known for their lush green tea gardens. The Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA) cleared it as one of the venues following the successful hosting of Pre-Paragliding World Cup in 2013.
The world record of an out-and-return flight of 132.5 km was set in Bir-Billing in 1992.
Date:
Saturday, October 17, 2015