Congratulations to Eagle Team Pilots Brad Gunnuscio, Eric Reed, and Rob Sporrer, who swept the podium at the 1st round of the US Paragliding Nationals in Dunlap, California. The competition, which was held April 27th through May 2nd, had great weather with five total tasks, with all four of the big tasks won by Eagle Team Pilots on their Niviuk Icepeak 3's. Tasks involved a blend of flying the flats and mountain terrain. There was a lot of good racing and picking lines. For complete results, visit www.eagleparagliding.com. Be sure to follow Round 2 of the US Nationals that will be held in Utah August 16th through 22nd.
The 2009 West Coast Paragliding Championships took place at Woodrat in Oregon from May 31st through June 5th. Bad weather led to only 4 tasks being called. Eagle Team Pilots Matt "Farmer" Beechinor and Josh Cohn took 1st and 2nd place on their Niviuk Icepeak 3’s. Congratulations to Eagle Team pilot Peter Warren on his win in the Serial class on his Airwave Mustang 5. For complete results, visit flyxc.org.
One of the World's most grueling and spectacular races is around the corner....The 2009 Red Bull X-Alps Adventure Race. The 818km race will consist of 30 athletes from around the world, with only their paraglider on their backs. The Rules? Fly and hike your way across the European Alps from Salzburg to Monaco, hitting a few turnpoints on the way. The sole representative from the United States will be Honza Rejmanik, and we expect him to get some podium time this year. Please support Honza with as little as a $20 donation and be listed on his web site as a team member. You can make your donation to help cover costs by visting his website, www.honzair.com. The race begins July 19th, and you can follow it live at www.redbullxalps.com.
2009 PARAGLIDING WORLDS FEATURED ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Eagle team pilots represented the United States at the Paragliding World Championships this past February in Valle De Bravo, Mexico. The Americans (Matt “Farmer” Beechinor, Brad Gunnuscio, and Eric Reed) were the only team to have each member finish in first place on one of the ten tasks during the event. Niels Dachler is gaining the reputation for being the best at capturing amazing paragliding footage with his solid team. Here is a wonderful piece he did on the 2009 Paragliding Worlds that was featured on Good Morning America this past April.
Production by www.dachler.com
Production Pilots: Robert Bernat, David Prentice, Raoul of Alas
Camera, Script, Editorial by Niels Dachler
Additional Operating & Producing by Othmar Dickbauer and Ian Harrington
Eagle's Spring 2009 Owens Valley Clinic with Kari Castle saw excellent conditions, and once again had many personal bests. Arnie Frankenberger broke last year’s clinic record by flying 62.5 miles south from Flynn’s. We will be back in the Owens doing another clinic in October, and we hope to see you there. Here are some posts from SA, and tour participants on this Springs clinic:
"Today is Monday and I feel like a stranger to my old life. On Friday I was a different man than the one I am today. What happened, you might ask? I was transported to a new life, with new meaning and values. The trip was only 40 miles or so. It took two flights and about 6 hours. Those flights seem tangibly small, but my spirit went on a much longer journey. It visited the Inyo, which in Paiute means “The dwelling place of the great spirit.”........
Read More about our Spring 2009 Owens Valley Clinic
The Airwave Magic 5 is proving to be one of the best serial class wings out there. Peter Warren managed to do a good job of keeping up with the open class wings while winning the serial class at the recent West Coast Paragliding Championships in Oregon. With an aspect ratio of 6.4:1, the Airwave Magic 5 has pushed the limits of the Serial Class, but Peter and the rest of the pilots flying this wing rave about how solid it is at trim and on speed. For stability, Airwave has incorporated the X-Brace, which is a technology used in Airwave's FR Series, and the Sport 4. The reinforcing webbing along the center of the glider creates a stronger, more collapse resistant wing. In addition, Airwave has added a new style of internal ribbing used in its FR series, Mustang 3 and Sport 4, which gives the glider more stability and an improved glide ratio throughout the speed range. You can view the technical data, test results, and more of the Magic 5 in our online store.
UP’s new Ascent 2 has been designed specifically in response to the feedback regarding LTF 1 wings in general. The result is a wing that caters to the most discerning users in the skies. The Ascent has wonderful launch characteristics. It comes up practically on its own, and does not overshoot. UP has found success with the Hybrid Synergy Airfoil and applied it to the Ascent 2. This is the same airfoil used on the Summit XC and the Kantega XC. It ensures the highest performance with easy solid handling. The trailing edge line holds very clean tension through BTS, which is the same brake line attachment system used on the high-performance UP wings. There is a refined load management from the lines throughout the canopy attachment points giving this wing a very clean profile. The trim and top speeds are a very respectable 38/51km/h. This glider has great climbing ability. Don’t be surprised to find yourself on top of the stack! The Ascent 2 comes in the updated 2009 UP look and may be designed individually using the advanced color chooser software tool on the Up web site. The Ascent 2 is available in sizes XS, S, M and L, covering a takeoff weight range from 60 to 125kgs.
WINDTECH ZEPHYR LITE - THE BEST PERFORMING LIGHTWEIGHT 1-2 GLIDER AVAILABLE
The hike and fly craze is in full swing, and Windtech’s DHV 1-2/EN B Zephyr Lite is as light as they get with amazing performance and handling. The Zephyr Lite is one of the lightest, best performing gliders in its DHV 1-2 lightweight class. The Zephyr Lite is much lighter than similar gliders in the market. The quality of manufacturing on this wing is amazing, and the feedback is it handles wear and tear very well. Windtech has kept the Austrian Alpin metal pulleys as well as the metal magnets for the brake handles. All profiles are made out of 35gram fabric. The main lines are sheathed for protection, and the top lines are the lighter, thinner, DC 60 from Liros giving a step up in performance. Pilots have been blown away by the performance and security of this wing. Most of the Zephyr Lite's we have sold have been purchased with Woody Valley’s Lightweight Voyager Plus harness, which has its reserve compartment under the seat. Windtech’s DHV 1-2 wings have always been its signature class. They have continued the tradition with the Zephyr, and Zephyr Lite. The Zephyr Lite is unmatched in the hike and fly arena. You can see more details of the Zephyr Lite in our online store.
View this table below to see how the Zephyr Lite compares to other gliders in its class:
The Woody Valley Voyager Plus is a top of the line lightweight reversible harness and rucksack. Weighing only 3.5 kg, the Voyager Plus sacrifices no comfort. The Voyager Plus features an under the seat reserve compartment with a side reserve handle, airbag back protection, carbon fiber seat board, and a rucksack compartment large enough to fit your glider, full face helmet, and a flight deck. We have been moving loads of these harnesses to hike and fly pilots all over the country, and we are getting loads of positive feedback on its comfort, durability, and performance.
Go to our online store to read more about the Voyager Plus.
Airwave's new Quick-Pack bag makes packing your glider easy, and resembles many of the other quick pack ruck sack type models. The problem with most of the other quick packs on the market is comfort while carrying your gear. Airwave realized by adding a small amount of weight they could beef up the shoulder straps and actually make carrying the gear very comfortable. The geometry and design of the shoulder straps make this the most comfortable quick pack on the market. The Airwave quick pack is large enough and strong enough for a tandem glider with 2 harnesses. The heavy-duty cordura material will make this bag last. The small amount of extra weight is worth the comfort of hauling your gear out of the LZ, and back to launch for another go round. This is especially true for tandem pilots.
Introducing the Eagle Paragliding Radio Harness. We have included all the features that we want to see in a radio harness. Plenty of lanyards to keep your radio or camera from falling out of the harness. Sleeve on shoulder strap allows you to keep the antenna out of your face while flying. Your radio is guaranteed to fit. This product is MADE IN THE USA!
The SPOT Satellite Messenger is a GPS device that allows you to send your location to friends and family.
What else does SPOT do?
- Alert emergency responders to your location.
- Lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay.
- Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps.
There is only two weeks until we head to Europe to fly the French Alps. Does anyone still wish to join us for an amazing flying experience in Europe?
July 1st through July 11th
The 2009 Eagle Tour to the French Alps will run from July 1st through 11th. This year we will split the groups up depending on flying levels to better provide for all the participants. There will be two buses and 4 instructors to guide both basic flying and advanced XC skills in one of the best places on earth to fly.
The A team will work on site analysis, including walking every LZ, beginning XC skills, ground handling if necessary, thermaling techniques, and getting as many flights as possible from as many different sites as possible.
The B team will work on XC route analysis, potential triggers along course, valley flows, advanced thermaling techniques, flying as many kilometers as possible given the particular day, landing out skills and LZ analysis from the air.
When possible, the groups will fly the same site and as the trip progresses it will be possible for A teamers to join B teamers on larger XC missions.
Prior to the trip, each participant will receive reading material and literature on the various topics described above so that a common area of understanding can be flown from when we arrive.
US Paragliding Champion and Eagle Paragliding Team Pilot Dean Stratton will be organizing grassroots competitions for pilots of all levels. Locations include Marshall, Santa Barbara, Dunlap and The Owens Valley. Here are some 2009 Dates:
Congratulations to Eagle Team Pilots Brad Gunnuscio, Eric Reed, and Rob Sporrer, who swept the podium at the 1st round of the US Paragliding Nationals in Dunlap, California. The competition, which was held April 27th through May 2nd, had great weather with five total tasks, with all four of the big tasks won by Eagle Team Pilots on their Niviuk Icepeak 3's. Tasks involved a blend of flying the flats and mountain terrain. There was a lot of good racing and picking lines. For complete results, visit 
The 2009 West Coast Paragliding Championships took place at Woodrat in Oregon from May 31st through June 5th. Bad weather led to only 4 tasks being called. Eagle Team Pilots Matt "Farmer" Beechinor and Josh Cohn took 1st and 2nd place on their Niviuk Icepeak 3’s. Congratulations to Eagle Team pilot Peter Warren on his win in the Serial class on his Airwave Mustang 5. For complete results, visit 
