New PG World Record (News from XC Magazine)

[hang_pilot]

CROSS COUNTRY NEWS FLASH


PARAGLIDING OPEN DISTANCE WORLD RECORD BROKEN


Yesterday, three of Brazil's most accomplished big distance XC
pilots, Frank Brown, Rafael Salladi and Marcelo Preito, foot launched
from Brazil's fabled big distance mecca of Quixada in Ceara state and
461.8 km!

The team took off on Sol Tracer competition wings at 07:30 and
managed to climb out under a cloudy sky. They were part of a group of
seven pilots, but the other four quickly went down. The team of three
flew the entire day together and only landed after night had fallen.

The massive flights across the hot, dry northeast corner of Brazil
finally takes Will Gadd's 2002 record of 426 km. The record had been
broken by 5 km before by the Valic brothers from Da Aar in South
Africa, but a technical glitch in the rules meant the FAI were unable
to ratify it. Whether the team have their paper work in order and are
able to get this flight ratified will remain unknown for several
weeks yet.

The new record has been brewing for a while now with the team having
already logged three flights over 400 km from Quixada this year.

With the record out of the way the team can focus themselves on what
will be a massive milestone in the history books of paragliding: the
first 500 km flight by paraglider. With other teams in South Africa
and Australia waiting for conditions the race is on.

More news as it breaks. Full report next issue.