The second event of the US Nationals wrapped up this past Saturday after 5 valid tasks. Task 4 of Chelan 2016 saw the longest competition paragliding task ever flown.
OZONE Team Pilot, Cody Mittanck reports:
“Unbelievable. Chelan does it again! In the previous 2014 nationals, we set a world record for task distance at 205km. Last year Australia went even further at 215 km. Maybe it’s manifest destiny or maybe Chelan really is just that GOOD, but on the penultimate day of the comp, after already 3 long and difficult tasks, we reclaimed the world record flying 228km! Not only is the distance mind blowing, but more than 60 pilots made goal, most of which crushed their previous personal bests. The leaders were deep in the bar, pushing their skinny comp wings to the limit, while getting hoovered under cloud streets and keeping their mouths closed through thermal hurricanes thick with dust. In these conditions it only took 4.5 hours to cross the goal line. Side note… local hero Matt Henzi wasn’t satisfied with only one record for the day, so he continued on past goal to set the Washington state record at 310km. But the coolest story has to be Krista …read more
Source:: Ozone Paragliders