The Paragliding World Championship is being held at the moment in Mexico, the Brits are being represented by Mark Hayman, Jamie Messenger, Mark Watts, Russ Ogden & Kirsty Cameron. Good Luck all of you & you can follow the competition from this
link, it’s a list of all the blogs from pilots there watching and competing.
My money is on Jean-Marc Caron, seems to be on fire the last season. For what it’s worth 
A huge high pressure over Europe has delivered the first thermic flights of 2009, although thermals were only going to 300m over launch it was nice for the local pilots over the weekend to get rid of the rust from the time the chair lift was closed in the off season.
My guess is that the first XC days will be in around a month, the local pilots will be out to try and be the first to complete the valley tour. Really looking forward to the next few months as the early spring conditions are some of the nicest times here.
Perfect lapse rates and light valley wind means it’s possible to thermal up from extremely low down if in the right place. Climbing out from 30m is not uncommon. My lowest save being from only 25m over ground, harness open and almost ready to land.
Other news is that I’ve been asked to help with the Club Master task setting again this year, let’s hope for good conditions for those weekends too. I’ll post a report as usual when they happen.
Also AXIS are planning a course with us here in April just before the Austrian Leagues, Zillertal Open. For more information check axispara.co.uk. if this week fails to run I’ll be running an XC course before the comp anyway.
All the best
KF
Due to the weakening Pound or strengthening Euro and after some thinking I’ve decided to try and meet pilots somewhere in the middle from what the courses used to cost in Sterling last year. The quality and structure of the courses has remained unchanged however.
The XC courses in my home town of Mayrhofen will now cost only 500euros in May and June as this is low season and the accommodation is sensibly priced. However the earlier courses during high season in Mayrhofen are 550euros as being high season the rooms are higher priced.
XC Courses in Bassano are now 600euros and this includes transfers, lifts to launch and a retrieve driver. Numbers are limited this year to 7. I think this is extremely good value still and it’s an exceptionally reliable place to fly.
Ther is a great chance to work on your flat land skills as well as basic Alpine knowledge. 2 years in a row we’ve flown 6/6.
Courses in the Dolomites are now priced at 650euros. I will definitely continue to run courses there. In my opinion some of the World’s biggest panoramas and stunning evening soaring are on offer here. Everyone on these previous weeks has expressed there desire to return. Accommodation is first rate at the 3* Flora Alpina.
Check out the new 2009 dates here and looking forward to seeing some old faces as well as new ones in the coming season.
KF