Paragliding World Cup
The Paragliding World Cup (or PWC for short) is a cross country flying competition for paraglider pilots, organized by the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA), based in Marlens, France. Each year, the Paragliding World Cup Tour visits 5-6 different locations worldwide. At each event several tasks are flown to establish the overall classification.
The goal of each competition task is to fly round a predetermined course with a start, some turn points (usually 4-6) and a finish line. Slightly simplified, the winner is the fastest pilot round the course, or the pilot who flew furthest if no one completes the course. Pilots carry a GPS receiver to record their flight track, which is afterwards used to verify that they correctly followed the course and determine timings.
Since 2009, there is one event at the end of every year called "PWC Superfinal". The best pilots selected from the events all over the year compete to select the overall winner of the year. Before 2009 the total winner was determined by adding the results of all worldcups of the year.
Overall Winners
- 2022:
Honorin Hamard (FRA) - 2021: Luc Armant (FRA)
- 2018: Pierre Remy (FRA)
- 2017:
Michael Sigel (SUI) - 2016:
Aaron Durogati (ITA) - 2015: Stefan Wyss (SUI)
- 2014: Maxime Pinot (FRA)
- 2013:
Francisco Javier Reina Lagos (ESP) - 2012: Aaron Durogati (ITA)
- 2011: Peter Neuenschwander (SUI)
- 2010: Yann Martail (FRA)
- 2009: Charles Cazaux (FRA)
- 2008: Andy Aebi (SUI)
- 2007: Christian Maurer (SUI)
- 2006: Christian Maurer (SUI)
- 2005: Christian Maurer (SUI)
- 2004:
Oliver Rössel (GER) - 2003: Achim Joos (GER)
- 2002: Alex Hofer (SUI)
- 2001: Patrick Bérod (FRA)
- 2000: Andy Hediger (SUI)
- 1999: Kari Eisenhut (SUI)
- 1998: Peter Lüthi (SUI)
- 1997: Jimmy Pacher (ITA)
- 1996:
Christian Tamegger (AUT) - 1995: Hans Bollinger (SUI)
- 1994: Jimmy Pacher (ITA)
- 1993: Richard Gallon (FRA)
- 1992: Uli Wiesmeier (GER)
Winners for 2015
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baixo Guandu (BRA) |
 Marco Littame (ITA)  Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
 Ally Palencia (VEN)  Yayoi Ito (JPN)
|
 Urs Schoenauer (SUI) Nao Takada (JPN)
|
| Montalegre (POR) |
 Honorin Hamard (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Yoshiki Kuremoto (JPN) Silvia Buzzi Ferraris (ITA)
|
| Disentis (SUI) |
Christian Maurer (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI) Emanuelle Zufferey (SUI)
|
Michael Küffer (SUI) Yael Margelisch (SUI)
|
| Ager (ESP) |
Pierre Remy (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
 Xevi Bonet Dalmau (ESP) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
 Helmut Eichholzer (AUT) Atsuko Yamashita (JPN)
|
| Bir (IND) |
Michael Küffer (SUI) Yuki Sato (JPN)
|
Xevi Bonet Dalmau (ESP)  Petra Slivova (CZE)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Yael Margelisch (SUI)
|
| 2015 Superfinal | |||
| Valle de Bravo (MEX) |
Stephan Wyss (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Luca Donini (ITA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Winners for 2014
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valle de Bravo (MEX) |
Michael Maurer (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Pierre Remy (FRA) Tomoko Uno (JPN)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI)  Andrea Jaramillo (COL)
|
| Mina Clavero (ARG) |
 Richard Pethigal (BRA) Tomoko Uno (JPN)
|
Jacques Fournier (FRA) Nicole Fedele (ITA)
|
 Jared Anderson (USA) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
| Coeur de Savoie (FRA) |
Félix Rodriguez (ESP)  Kirsty Cameron (GBR)
|
Alfredo Studer (SUI) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Clement Latour (FRA) Tomoko Uno (JPN)
|
| Celorico de Beira (POR) |
Félix Rodriguez (ESP) Emi Hirokawa (JPN)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA)  Ayse Bayrak (TUR)
|
 Andreas Malecki (GER) Yvonne Dathe (GER)
|
| Krushevo (MKD) |
Stephan Morgenthaler (SUI) Nicole Fedele (ITA)
|
 Yassen Savow (BUL) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Stephan Gruber (AUT) Tomoko Uno (JPN)
|
| 2014 Superfinal | |||
| Denizli (TUR) |
Maxime Pinot (FRA) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Honorin Hamard (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Yuki Sato (JPN)
|
Winners for 2013
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porterville (RSA) |
 Andre Rainsford-Alberts (RSA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Félix Rodriguez (ESP) Nicole Fedele (ITA)
|
Washington Peruchi (BRA) Kirsty Cameron (GBR)
|
| Baixo Guandu (BRA) |
Michael Sigel (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Adrian Hachen (SUI) Ayse Bayrak (TUR)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
| Val Louron (FRA) |
Richard Gallon (FRA) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Ulrich Prinz (GER) Seiko Fukuoka Naville (FRA)
|
Xevi Bonet Dalmau (ESP) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
| Raska-Kopaonik (SRB) |
Maxime Bellemin (FRA) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Francisco Javier Reina Lagos (ESP)  Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
Charles Cazaux (FRA) Daria Krasnova (RUS)
|
| Erzincan (TUR) |
Manuel Nübel (GER) Daria Krasnova (RUS)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Alexander Schalber (AUT) Yvonne Dathe (GER)
|
| 2013 Superfinal | |||
| Governador Valadares (BRA) |
Francisco Javier Reina Lagos (ESP) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Joachim Oberhauser (ITA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Stephane Drouin (FRA) Nicole Fedele (ITA)
|
Winners for 2012
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castelo[1] (BRA) |
Yann Martail (FRA) Emanuelle Zufferey (SUI)
|
Michael Sigel (SUI) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
Carlos Cordido (VEN) Svetlana Piskareva (RUS)
|
| Talloires (FRA) |
Alfredo Studer (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Joel Debons (SUI) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Charles Cazaux (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Montalegre (POR) |
Yann Martail (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Marco Littame (ITA) Tomomi Masuko (JPN)
|
Helmut Eichholzer (AUT) Ayse Bayrak (TUR)
|
| Krushevo (MKD) |
Olivier Michielsen (FRA) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Armin Eder (AUT) Ayse Bayrak (TUR)
|
Charles Cazaux (FRA) Joanna Di Grigoli (VEN)
|
| Sun Valley (USA) |
Mark Watts (GBR) Regula Strasser (SUI)
|
Andre Rainsford-Alberts (RSA) Yayoi Ito (JPN)
|
Kiyoshi Nariyama (JPN) Andrea Jaramillo Jaramillo (COL)
|
| 2012 Superfinal | |||
| Roldanillo (COL) |
Aaron Durogati (ITA) Nicole Fedele (ITA)
|
Michael Maurer (SUI) Laurie Genovese (FRA)
|
Rusell Ogden (GBR) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Winners for 2011
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roldanillo (COL) |
Michael Sigel (SUI) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Russell Ogden (GBR) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Peter Neuenschwander (SUI) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Mun Gyeong (KOR) |
Jack Brown (USA) Daria Krasnova (RUS)
|
Jimmy Pacher (ITA) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Lucas Bernardin (FRA) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
| Lienz (AUT)| |
Alex Hofer (SUI) Regula Strasser (SUI)
|
Josef Brandner (AUT) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Jacques Fournier (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
| Bayramoren (TUR) |
Stephane Drouin (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Raul Penso Hernandez (COL) Petra Slivova (CZE)
|
Marc Wensauer (GER) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
| Ager (ESP) |
Jeremie Lager (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Stephan Morgenthaler (SUI) Kirsty Cameron (GBR)
|
Xevi Bonet Dalmau (ESP) Petra Slivova (CZE)
|
| 2011 Superfinal | |||
| Valle de Bravo (MEX) |
Peter Neuenschwander (SUI) Petra Slivova (CZE)
|
Jean-Marc Caron (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
 Dusan Oroz (SLO) Regula Strasser (SUI)
|
Winners for 2010
| Host site | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poços de Caldas (BRA) |
Urban Valic (SLO) Classic Ferd (FRA)
|
Russell Achterberg (RSA) Orlane Sturbois (FRA)
|
Aljaz Valic (SLO) Kamira Pereira (BRA)
|
| Happo (JPN) |
Lucas Bernardin (FRA) Tomomi Masuko (JPN)
|
Kaoru Ogisawa (JPN) Noriko MIzunuma (JPN)
|
Yasushi Kobayashi (JPN)  Junghun Park (KOR)
|
| Linzhou (CHN) |
Andrey Eliseev (RUS) Orlane Sturbois (FRA)
|
Alex Hofer (SUI) Christine Metais (FRA)
|
Yasushi Kobayashi (JPN)  Xiangping Hou (CHN)
|
| Drama (GRE) |
Thomas Brandlehner (AUT) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Jamie Messenger (GBR) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Luc Armant (FRA) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
| San Potito (ITA) |
Luc Armant (FRA) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Aljaz Valic (SLO) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Andreas Malecki (GER) Regula Strasser (SUI)
|
| Chelan (USA) |
Josh Cohn (USA) Joanna Di Grigoli (VEN)
|
Nicholas Greece (USA) Melanie Pfister (USA)
|
Yasushi Kobayashi (JPN)  Nicole Mclearn (CAN)
|
| Serra de Estrela (POR) |
Lucas Bernardin (FRA) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
 Claudio Virgillo (POR) Katarzyna Gruziewska-Losik (POL)
|
Julien Wirtz (FRA) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
| 2010 Superfinal | |||
| Denizli (TUR) |
Yann Martail (FRA) Petra Slivova (CZE)
|
Jurij Vidic (SLO) Seiko Fukuoka (FRA)
|
Jean-Marc Caron (FRA) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Winners for 2009
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Governador Valadares (BRA) | Raul Penso Henandez (VEN) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Andreas Malecki (GER) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI) Svetlana Piskareva (RUS)
| |
| Mun Gyeong (KOR) | Seyong Jung (KOR) Orlane Sturbois (FRA)
|
Denis Cortella (FRA) Noriko MIzunuma (JPN)
|
David Ohlidal (CZE) Xiangping Hou (CHN)
| |
| Denizli (TUR) | Russell Ogden (GBR) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Jean-Marc Caron (FRA) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
Yassen Savov (BUL) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
| |
| Talloires (FRA) | Stefan Wyss (SUI) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Aljaz Valic (SLO) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Peter Frauenschuh (SUI) Seiko Fukuoka Naville (JPN)
| |
| Buzet (CRO) | Yassen Savov (BUL) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Armin Eder (AUT) Marion Slunka (AUT)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
| |
| Poggio Bustone (ITA) | Charles Cazaux (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Russell Ogden (GBR) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Luca Donini (ITA) Petra Slivova (CZE)
| |
Winners for 2008
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Poggio Bustone (ITA) | [1] : | Urban Valic (SLO) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Primoz Podobnik (SLO) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Stefan Schmoker (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
| Grindelwald (SUI) | [2] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Peter Frauenschuh (AUT) Dorothea Stichlmair (GER)
|
Michael von Wachter (VEN) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Castejon de Sos (ESP) | [3] : |  Karlo Bonacic (CRO) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Jean Marc Caron (FRA) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
| Sopot (BUL) | [4] : | Helmut Eichholzer (AUT) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Jean Marc Caron (FRA) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
| Castelo (BRA) | [5][permanent dead link] : | Stefan Schmoker (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Urban Valic (SLO) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
| Total: | [6] | Andy Aebi (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Jean Marc Caron (FRA) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Stefan Schmoker (SUI) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Winners for 2007
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Ibaraki (JPN) | [7] : | Primoz Podobnik (SLO) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Urban Valic (SLO) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
David Ohlidal (CZE) Yasuko Murakami (JPN)
|
| Àger (ESP) | [8] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Eliane Ueltschi (SUI)
|
Jean Marc Caron (FRA) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
Stefan Schmoker (SUI) Hana Matyaskova (CZE)
|
| Cornizzolo (ITA) | [9] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Andy Aebi (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Christian Tamegger (AUT) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Kayseri (TUR) | [10] : | Urban Valic (SLO) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Aljaz Valic (SLO) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
| Tucuman (ARG) | [11] : | Urban Valic (SLO) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Stefan Wyss (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Aljaz Valic (SLO) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Total: | [12][permanent dead link] | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Urban Valic (SLO) Ewa Wisnierska (GER)
|
Andy Aebi (SUI) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Winners for 2006
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Castelo (BRA) | [13] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Martin Orlik (CZE) Noriko Mizunuma (JPN)
|
| Seeboden (AUT) | [14] : | Gregory Blondeau (FRA) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Kaoru Ogisawa (JPN) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Martin Orlik (CZE) Eliane Ueltschi (SUI)
|
| Fiesch (SUI) | [15] : | Christian Tamegger (AUT) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
Marina Olexina (RUS) Klaudia Bulgakow (POL)
|
Martin Pacejka (CZE) Eliane Ueltschi (SUI)
|
| Kobarid (SLO) | [16] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Renata Kuhnova (CZE)
|
Denis Cortella (FRA) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
| St. Leu (La Réunion) | [17] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Bruno Arnold (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Gregory Blondeau (FRA) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
| Total: | [18] | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Gregory Blondeau (FRA) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
Winners for 2005
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Sopot (BUL) | [19] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Gregory Blondeau (FRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Armin Eder (AUT) Eliane Ueltschi (SUI)
|
| Bourg St. Maurice (FRA) | [20] : | Patrick Berod (FRA) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Bruce Goldsmith (GBR) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Frank Brown (BRA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
| Niš (SRB) | [21] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Charles Cazaux (FRA) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Luciano Tcacenco Bender (BRA) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
| Monte Cornizzolo (ITA) | [22] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Martin Orlik (CZE) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Max Jeanpierre (FRA) Marina Olexina (RUS)
|
| Serra da Estrela (POR) | [23] : | Torsten Siegel (GER) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Marco Littame (ITA) Keiko Hiraki (JPN)
|
Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Anja Kroll (SUI)
|
| Total: | [24] | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Ewa Wisnierska Cieslewicz (GER)
|
Max Jeanpierre (FRA) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
David Ohlidal (CZE) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Winners for 2004
| Host | First | Second | Third | |
| Monte Grappa (ITA) | [25] : | Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Steve Cox (SUI) Caroll Licini (SUI)
|
Bruce Goldsmith (GBR) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
| Abtenau (AUT) | [26] : | Christian Tamegger (AUT)  Louise Crandal (DEN)
|
Paolo Zammarchi (ITA) Karin Appenzeller (SUI)
|
Achim Joos (GER) Caroll Licini (SUI)
|
| Talloires (FRA) | [27] : | Christian Tamegger (AUT) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Frank Brown (BRA) Elisabeth Rauchenberger (SUI)
|
Andreas Birenstihl (SUI) Elisa Houdry (FRA)
|
| Kayseri (TUR) | [28] : | Achim Joos (GER) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Tomas Brauner (CZE) Elisabeth RauSUInberger (SUI)
|
Chrigel Maurer (SUI) Caroline Brille (FRA)
|
| Tapalpa (MEX) | [29] : | Stefan Wyss (SUI) Elisabeth RauSUInberger (SUI)
|
Paolo Zammarchi (ITA) Caroll Licini (SUI)
|
Torsten Siegel (GER) Caroline Brille (FRA)
|
| Total: | [30] : | Oliver Rössel (GER) Petra Krausova (CZE)
|
Paolo Zammarchi (ITA) Elisabeth Rauchenberger (SUI)
|
Frank Brown (BRA) Caroline Brille (FRA)
|
See also
- Paragliding Accuracy World Cup (PGAWC)
External links
- http://www.pwca.org/
- https://musee.cquest.org/pwca/ (archived web sites including results and task reports snapshotted in 1999, 2002 and 2006)
References
- ^ World Cup Brazil Castelo 2012 Archived 2015-11-22 at the Wayback Machine (March 24, 2012)
Original version of this article