Competition News

After the last task of the 2021 Superfinal could not be flown due to weather reasons, the results are now final. With seven flights, we can look back on a great competition. The conditions were partly difficult, partly very pleasant. Nevertheless, the best of the best had a neck-and-neck race and well-deserved winners can be crowned. We look back on the 10 days with a crying and a laughing eye. Crying because the competition is already over, laughing because we had a great time with great people. Without an accident, all pilots can return home healthy and satisfied. We are already looking forward to the 2022 edition and will do our best again. Final summary written by Ruth Jessop: Today brings to an end this amazing, first ever, Alpine Super Final. 103 pilots came to Disentis with the same dream: just to fly together and be reunited with much missed friends. Disentis 2021 brought together an all-star cast of young and old, famous and not so famous. We had a Costa Rican pilot in the Super Final for the first time and X-Alps Super star Chrigel Maurer made a comeback. The competition far exceeded all expectations. It was Alpine splendour at its best: Seven tasks with stunning views of rocky peaks and glaciers. For Marc Wensauer it was rock faces, waterfalls, sharp edged rocky ridges, chamois roaming the high pastures and a whole combination of conditions. Wind directions varied, with winds from the north and south high up, then a strong valley breeze from the east, all in one task, giving challenging racing conditions. For Colombian pilot, Alejandro Salazar, it was such impressive terrain and possible to get high in an incredibly short space of time. For Seb Ospina the aerial racetrack here connects so many steep valleys, lakes, intimidating terrain, but at the same time stunningly beautiful panoramas. Even two days of good flying weather would have made it a most memorable competition because of the landscape, but to have had seven is a blessing. Everyone will remember their flights here forever - truly unforgettable flying. For Felix Rodriguez this Super Final has been unexpectedly good. Nobody in their wildest dreams expected seven tasks out of a maximum of ten. The pilot level has been fantastic and great conditions gave very technical flying. But above all, the best thing about Disentis 2021 was all the people helping, with their wonderful, encouraging smiles. I will always remember these nice people. Well done to Martin Scheel and his team of helpers, in particular Danny and Michaela for their efficient retrieve, and Emilia for taking care of the trackers every day. A big thank you to the pilot task committee for daring to set tasks, which they seemed to literally pull out of the mist on some of the days: Michael Sigel, Remo Maissen and Ferdinand Vogel. More than 500km of task distance were set. Aaron Durogati, Michael Maurer, Stefan Wyss, Christian Maurer and Stephan Morgenthaler all won tasks. This competition has been a dream come true for everyone, especially Luc Armant, winner of the World cup in Coeur de Savoie, France in 2017, and San Potito, Italy in 2010. Winning three tasks and flying away with the title of Super Final Champion here in Disentis, makes him truly King of the Mountains. The top 10 overall: 1st Luc ARMANT 2nd Aaron DUROGATI 3rd Adrian HACHEN 4th Stephan MORGENTHALER 5th Baptiste LAMBERT 6th Christian MAURER 7th Honorin HAMARD 8th Joachim OBERHAUSER 9th Julien WIRTZ 10th Ferdinand VOGEL Many congratulations also to Seiko Fukuoka Naville who was first lady in three out of the seven tasks and has already won the ladies’ title a staggering sixteen times. Disentis 2021 brings her Super Final titles to three, have already claimed the top spot in 2016 in Governador Valadares, Brazil, and in Valle de Bravo, Mexico in 2015. Top 5 ladies: 1st Seiko FUKUOKA NAVILLE 2nd Meryl DELFERRIERE 3rd Nanda WALLISER 4th Yael MARGELISCH 5th Constance METTETAL Well done to the top three paragliding manufacturer teams, who have shown that glider and harness design has anything but stagnated over the last 18 months. Top 5 teams 1st Ozone 2nd Gin Gliders 3rd Niviuk 4th Flying Tree Environmental Management 5th Chinese Taipei Gliding Sports Association

A weak zone of disturbance touched German-speaking Switzerland last night. Behind it, the high-pressure wedge reaching from the Atlantic to the Alpine region will continue to dominate the weather today, especially for the western parts of the country and in the higher layers. A humid air mass will remain below an inversion at about 2800 m above sea level. Similar situation as yesterday. The cloud-layer turn into 3/8 cumuli, Base at about 2700m. The inversion at 3000m is expected to lead to spreading. North overpressure ca. 5hp. Moderate valley winds Up to 2400m north-east, above north-west, both relatively light. 3000m 12 kn NW Briefing middle station 11:00

Summary written by Ruth Jessop This morning was damp, to say the least, in Disentis. A short 52km task up and down the valley was set, with a very low cloud base and even lower expectations. The day cleared up progressively, and much to everyone’s surprise, the task proved possible. For Felix Rodriguez it was like flying on Reunion Island, lovely and smooth, although admittedly, the views were a bit different. The dynamics were different to the other days - gentler and nobody reached the dizzy heights of the previous days. We reported in the commentary that geologist Julian Robinson was taking a closer look at some geological features. In fact, he was actually low enough to see the squirrels and tree climbing marmots in the pine trees he was flying over! It was a fast task where, if you made a mistake, you got left behind with no chance of catching up. One quote stands out from today’s commentary, posted at 12:40: I would bet a bowl of muesli that there is more chance of Silvia Buzzi Ferraris managing to finish off knitting herself a down jacket on launch today, than anyone flying 53km from Disentis. Well done to the 73 pilots who made goal and to the pilot task Committee who were brave enough to set the task: Michael Sigel, Remo Maissen and Ferdinand Vogel. Top 3 overall 1st Stephan MORGENTHALER 2nd Honorin HAMARD 3rd Pierre REMY Top 3 ladies 1st Meryl DELFERRIERE 2nd Yael MARGELISCH 3rd Nanda WALLISER

A weakly active occlusion crossed the northern side of the Alps during the night. Behind it, a high-pressure cone extends from the Atlantic to the Alpine area. However, stabilisation and drying will be slow and mainly in the higher air layers. Towards evening a branch of the jet stream will approach Switzerland from Germany. North overpressure 8 hp (in the ground field). Decreasing In the morning low clouds, dissolving at noon. In the afternoon high clouds (shading is uncertain). Subsidence, warm air advection in the upper layer Thermal top 2800m, but difficult to reach. Later in the afternoon the thermals become worse again (probably quite good for 2 hrs, then stabilising). Valley winds, Strength increasingly Up to 2200m north-east, above north-west, both relatively light. 3000m 9kn NW Briefing middle station 11:00 Start about at 13 Uhr

The task goes relatively straight to Bonaduz and then to the landing in Cazis.The pilots will cover 62 kilometres. The task offers the possibility of two routes, which will be very exciting. One route is shorter but goes over thermally not so active area, the other route is longer and is on the thermally active side. All pilots chose the southern route.

Weather and Infos for Sunday, update 07:15 Very warm and somewhat unstable air will be brought to the Alps with a westerly high-altitude current. Today, Sunday, the high pressure area in the Alpine region will gradually weaken. This will increase the tendency for thunderstorms. Quick formation of 2-3/8 cumulus, base 3500m and higher Later in the afternoon spreading clouds. At certain times cirrus clouds, but hardly dampening the radiation Thermals 1-2m/s after 11, 2-4 m/s and more from 12 Showers: Cosmo 1 model makes showers early, from west to east, Disentis at 13h. Probably it is less as expected. Winds at 14h: Ground: Relatively weak valley winds, Chur 25 km/h 2000m: SW, 10-15kmh 3000m: SW, 15-20km/h 4000 W, 25-35km/h Föhn will be early at Disentis Briefing middle station 10:00 (maybe later) Take Off 11:15 Chairlift will work 10:00 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30 Monday (official restday) Possibly a flight (10-13h), certainly no task. In the evening/night some precipitation Wind shifts to NW, strong Tuesday North congestion, possibly can be flown under a low base (2000) Wednesday Stable (bad thermals) Wind weaker again, 1500: 5-10kn WSW North wind component must be taken into account No sandwich on monday

Summary written by Ruth Jessop With beautiful blue skies a 97 km task was set taking the pilots west, then a long leg east, followed by a circuit round the end of the Disentis valley, then back to goal at Ilanz. For Aaron Durogati it was the best day of the week - not too turbulent and with quite a few options. For Christian Maurer, it was perfect, better than expected, with totally blue conditions. The air start gave everyone stunning views from 3900m. Every time it looked as if it was going to be a procession to goal the pilots chose different route options. For Felix Rodriguez, everywhere was working, no need to stop in weak thermals - a really good racing day. It was a neck and neck race to end of speed between two veteran task winners Honorin Hamard and Stefan Wyss. Stefan won by 1 point bringing his task wins total to 23, inching his way nearer to Tim Bollinger’s Dad, Han’s overall lead of 28 task wins. Just a reminder that you can follow the commentary and live tracking on our split screen: https://live.pwca.org/app/split.html The first 98 pilots made goal, and thus all flew the same distance, and gained the same distance points. Today’s winner is therefore the one with a combination of the best speed points and lead out points. Top 3 overall 1st Stefan WYSS 2nd Honorin HAMARD 3rd Xavier LAPORTE Top 3 ladies 1st Meryl DELFERRIERE 2nd Nanda WALLISER 3rd Yael MARGELISCH

Weather and Infos, update 07:20 2-3/8 Cumulus, base 3500m Good thermals with a slightly delayed start Winds at 14h: Ground: - on Lukmanier south probably to Disentis - very little winds in the Surselva (this is a sign that it is foehny) - east of Flims weak valley winds (Chur-Davos-Thusis, Tiefenkastel etc) - Prättigau: I estimate 20km/h at Schiers (valley wind comes from west) 2000m: - from the Lukmanier the wind pushes as SW to about Trun - from „Vals“ the wind pushes as SW to Flims and to Chur - from San Bernadino to Thusis (and Scalottas!) - from Julier/Savognin to Davos, where Davos itself has only light winds at 2000 - Prättigau 5 kn NW 3000m: - 10-15kn W WSW As the wind forecast has increased, we may land in Schiers (Task Disentis - Sedrun - Davos - Schiers) Briefing middle station 10:30 Take Off 11:30 Chairlift will work 10:30 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30.

The day looked quite ok, a 70-km task was set, but a shower cell ruined what was probably quite pleasant flying with little wind. The task was cancelled before the air start.

A westerly air flow has brought a humid, hot and unstable air mass to the Alps. On Friday, this hot and still quite unstable air will continue to dominate the weather. 3-6/8 Cumulus, base 3500m In the afternoon, first showers possible south of us, later also possible in Disentis. Good thermals, partly disturbed by shadows. Ground: - Normal valley winds - on Lukmanier south to Curaglia 2000m: - From the Lukmanier the south wind pushes as SW to about Disentis, elsewhere the wind is light. - Vals: Weak winds - Safien and Thusis: 5-7kn NNE 3000m: - 10-15kn W, Flims 15kn WNW Cable Car 9:30-10:00 Briefing middle station 10:30 Take Off 11:30 Chairlift will work 10:30 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30.

After yesterday's very demanding task, today we will fly with the wind to the east. The thermal forecasts look very good, the cloud base with 3300-3600 meters high enough to plan a long task. The route leads via Lenzerheide to Davos. 90 kilometers over high mountains.

A stretched high ridge causes stable and hot conditions again during the day. Some cirrus clouds, intensity not yet estimable. However, they should not disturb the thermal development much. Few small cumuli, base 3300 rising to 3600. The wind forecast has changed from "WNW" to "WSW“: Relatively weak valley winds 2000m 5kn SW-Wind, at Cavistrau 10kn 3000m 10kn W, at Cavistrau 15kn Cable Car 9:30-10:00 Briefing middle station 10:30 Chairlift will work 10:30 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30. It could well be that we fly to Schiers on a indirect route.

This morning a small low pressure system in altitude crosses us and causes a temporary stabilisation (rain in our area for a short time ;-)). Behind it, the influence of high pressure quickly increases again. Afternoon, 14h: 2/8 cumuli, base at 3200 Good thermals Normal valley brise 2000 NNE 5-10kn 3000 W 10kn Transport from Camping: 9:00 Cable Car 9:30-10:00 Briefing middle station 10:30 Chairlift will work 10:30 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30.

The third task is set. 85 kilometres criss-cross in the Surselva. Landing will be in Ilanz, as in the first task. With the detour in the direction of Vals, the run has been tactically very demanding.

Summary written by Ruth Jessop With a much more promising weather forecast today an 84 km task up and down the Disentis valley was set. The wait for the start gate to open gave fantastic views of sharp mountains and snowy, glacial terrain. The race northeast to Flims was fast and furious. Luc Armant and Julien Wirtz took an early lead which they kept almost to End of Speed. The following gaggle overtook them 1km from ESS when they hit tricky conditions and their route shaded over forcing them to stop for a climb. Jan Jares, on the other side of the valley, used a cloud to climb out and fly straight to ESS, crossing the virtual line with a convincing lead of 1 minute and 28 seconds. The constantly changing wind direction in the goal field made it look as if nobody would make it, so helmets off to the 83 pilots who made the tricky final part of the race as the waiting crowd and paparazzi held their breath. The first 83 pilots made goal, and thus all flew the same distance, and gained the same distance points. Today’s winner is therefore the one with a combination of the best speed/time points and lead out points. I (Martin) was filming, which is why there are few photos.

Some high cloud fields (difficult to predict when and how dense), in the afternoon formation of 2/8 cumuli over the relief. Base approx. 3500m, even higher Moderate thermals, possibly delayed start, in the afternoon good. Probably dry. Wind 14h: Normal valley winds (rather a bit less than today). 2000m SW, 5kn up to Brigels, east of Brigels variable, towards Chur NE, 5kn 3000m 10kn SW 4000m 20kn WSW Generally less wind towards east Briefing 10:30 at Middlestation Chairlift will work 10:30 -12:00 and 13:00 - 13:30.

Summary written by Ruth Jessop: Day one of the first ever alpine Super Final started off with weather that didn’t even seem to impress the Highland cows grazing in front of HQ. A short sharp 54km task was set, with a turn point at Flims and goal at Llanz. The day was slow to launch but once it got going, what a race. It was anything but a straightforward ridge run. An X-Alps breakaway group led by Christian Maurer and Aaron Durogati took a route much further into the mountains reaching heights of 3300m with stunning views of the glacier and great, grey rock faces. Meanwhile, Honorin Hamard led the charge on the front ridge. Between the first and second turn points some of the leaders from the first part of the race got stuck. From what looked as if it was going to be a Swiss whitewash, Italians, Joachim Oberhauser and Aaron Durogati, took end of speed, almost neck and neck. ‘It was a day where it was turbulent in places, but an appropriate task given the conditions,’ Stephan Morgenthaler confirmed. The first 62 pilots made goal, and thus all flew the same distance, and gained the same distance points. Today’s winner is therefore the one with a combination of the best speed/time points and lead out points. 1 Aaron DUROGATI ITA Icepeak X-One/Impress 3 865 1 Joachim OBERHAUSER ITA Enzo 3/Exoceat 865 3 Adrian HACHEN CHE Boomerang 12/GR4 Gin Gliders, AXALP Technologies 858 4 Stephan MORGENTHALER CHE Enzo 3/GR4 856 5 004 Michael SIGEL CHE Boomerang 12/GR4 Gin Gliders, Jack8Jones 853 1st Seiko FUKUOKA NAVILLE 2nd Constance METTETAL 3rd Nanda WALLISER

There is the possibility to follow the pilots live via Flymaster or Google Earth. Livetracking will be available each day as soon as the task is defined. The airspace file has one more change! Please download the current files to your device.