PWC Colombia

The Paragliding World Cup represents the highest level of racing paragliders, period. To fly with PWC Pilots one needs to make smart moves, fly the hottest glider and not be afraid to send it full throttle. Team USA pilots proved they have the metal by taking turns placing in the top ten in nearly every task. In the end it was Nick Greece that was the most consistent in the tricky Colombian conditions, Nick placed seventh overall. Nick was also the highest placing pilot in the Americas making him the 2011 PWC Americas champion, a crown that was handed to him by the 2010 PWC Americas champion, Josh Cohn. Congratulations team USA!

Task Results.

Task 1 -  Nick Greece 6th place

Task 2  - Eric Reed 2nd place

Task 3  - Jack Brown 2nd place

Task 4  - Josh Cohn 6th, Nick Greece 11th

Task 6  - Josh Cohn 4th, Nick Greece 8th

Full Results

http://www.paraglidingworldcup.org/node/1559

Check out Josh Cohn's Photographs from the Colombian PWC

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshcohn/sets/72157625825216340/

2011 Colombian Open. Roldanillo, Colombia

Many top level international pilots used the Colombian open to practice for the Colombian PWC which was being held the following week.  Nation wide floods a month prior to the contest created tricky, light conditions and limited landing options. In a field stacked with talent, USA team pilots came out on top with Eric Reed finishing first and Brad Gunnuscio second.

Competition website

http://www.volandoenroldanillo.com.co/

Results

http://www.volandoenroldanillo.com.co/resultados/General%20Open.pdf

The Badger is free!

After over a month of waiting with bail posted for a resolution from the Indian authorities on alleged transit paperwork issues in the course of their Himalayan Odyssey expedition, good news for Eric Reed and Brad Sander, from Eric's facebook page:

Judge dismissed our case, we're free! That's it for now and probably next 20 hours or so. (No electricity, almost no phone, no gear, lots to arrange.)

Eric was previously in the news for winning the Roldanillo Paragliding Open in Colombia earlier this year (team member Brad Gunnuscio second).  And before that he was a frequent US Team member.

-JC