News

Paragliding World Cup Womens Champion 2011: Petra Slívová

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Petra Slívová (CZ) on retaining her title of Paragliding World Cup Womens Champion after 9 hard tasks at the World Cup Superfinal in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Petra is women's champion for the 5th time! The GIN team pilots battled hard on the Boomerang X and there were task wins for Hans Bollinger and Ulrich Prinz.

Thanks to all GIN pilots and congratulations to Peter Neuenschwander on becoming Paragliding World Cup Open Champion 2011.

Read again the daily reports on the GIN team pilot blog

Female podium L-R: Regula Strasser, Petra Slívová, Seiko Fukuoka

Introducing the Boomerang X

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Boomerang X is our new EN-D glider for XC and competition, the successor to the Boomerang GTO.

The outstanding feature of the Boomerang X is its unique planform which gives the wing excellent handling, security and climbing ability.

The Boomerang X is already certified EN-D in sizes S, M and L and additional sizes are planned.

Follow the progress of the GIN Team pilots and the Boomerang X at the World Cup Super Final in Valle on the GIN Team pilot blog.

Colours

Technical Specifications

GIN Fluid 2012 video

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

GIN Fluid: speed, deceleration, precision, energy retention, steepness, dynamism, solidity...

These are the qualities of the Fluid 2012...

Enjoy these few moments of fun with the experienced and expert speedride wing from Gin Gliders...

Watch the video...

A Phenomenal start to the speedriding season

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This winter has seen incredible snow falls in the Northern Alps. In Haute Savoie and Savoie, the crop of speed runs and images was more than expected for the GIN France riders.

Hours of driving and computer editing were needed to produce the movies and pictures for the 2012 speedriding range. Samoens, Val d'Isere, Flaine and les Arcs became the "photo studios" used to present the Nano and Fluid with their 2012 colours and trim. More details can be found in our speedriding pages.

Special thanks to the riders : Arnaud Baumy, Jérôme Baud, Eric Roussel, François Bon, Xav' et Dod' Dufresne, Arnaud Martin-Levain, and to the camera men: Jérome Maupoint and Jean Mi Ara.

Nano 2012 in action

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The GIN Speedriding team demonstrate how to have fun on the Nano.

With new trimming and new colours, the Nano 2012 is even more fun!

Watch the video...

Waiting for the new speedriding season

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The first snow is here and to get into the mood, here's a video from last winter's session with Jérôme Baud.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a title="speedriding les arcs tonneaux, biplace, ride un avant gout de la saison 2012!" href="http://www.zapiks.fr/speedriding-les-arcs-tonneau.html" mce_href="http://www.zapiks.fr/speedriding-les-arcs-tonneau.html"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;speedriding les arcs tonneaux, biplace, ride un avant gout de la saison 2012!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

GIN pilots win in the Brazilian Nationals

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

After a year of intense competitions, the dedication of the GIN Brazil team pilots has paid off. Gustavo Agne de Oliveira won the serial class and Domenica Tcacenco won the women's class. Both pilots were flying the Boomerang GTO. Thanks and congratualations!

More info here

General serial...

Fluid 2012

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The experts "choice, the champions" tool!

More info here....

New Nano 2012

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

5th generation of the reference speedriding wing.

More info here...

Women's softshell light jacket

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Women's softshell light jacket is a highly breathable, stretchy jacket, offering first-class comfort in a wide range of outdoor activities.

More info here...

Share the feeling: GIN 2011 video

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Watch the highlights of Gin Gliders' 2011 in this 3 1/2 minute film.

Beautiful in-flight footage from around the world captures the essence of why we fly. There's also a sneaky peak over Gin's shoulder and exclusive behind-the-scenes factory footage.

Please share it with your friends and look forward to another year!

Watch the video...

Speedglider stretch fleece jacket

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The speedglider stretch fleece jacket has a robust outer face and cosy velour fleece inner face. It can be used both as an outer layer in warmer seasons, or as a technical winter mid layer.

More info here...

Bill and Chris fly 279km for a USA XC distance record

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

On August 21, Bill Belcourt (GIN Boomerang 8) and Chris Galli (GIN Boomerang 7) flew 279 km together for a new USA foot-launched distance record. They started from the Wasatch mountains of Utah and flew into central Wyoming, USA.

The flights also set a new Utah state distance record. With a total air time of just over 6 hours and climbs past 5,400 meters, the route chosen put them over the remote terrain of Wyoming’s high deserts—a landscape of parched valleys, rows of wind turbines, meandering rivers, and towering red sandstone cliffs. The two pilots landed within 3 meters of each other and the new record is shared.

Chris Galli, the founder of XC Skies Soaring Forecasts, writes:

August 21 was not a particularly stellar day for flying long distances from Utah into Wyoming, but the best possible route was easily determined by reviewing XC Skies before we chose the Jupiter site for launching. Picking the right location and day to fly is half the effort in attempting to break records. XC Skies allows remarkably precise flight planning to maximize the soaring potential of any given day.

Special thanks to Sarah Galli who provided excellent ground support and retrieval, making the remote crossings easier to commit.

Bill’s tracklog can be viewed here...

Uli Wiesmeier wins the German XC Championship on the Boomerang GTO

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Uli flew 3 big FAI triangles of 214km, 213km and 204km. He took off twice from Speikboden in Italy and once from Wank in Garmisch, his home flying site.

Uli's victory on the Boomerang GTO (EN-D) was in Open Class, in which both gliders with and without EN certification are scored. The German XC Championship takes place from 1st October - 15th September every year.

Congratulations, Uli!

Full results here...

Stolen Moments #2

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

GIN official photographer, Jérôme Maupoint, is just launching his new book, Stolen Moments #2.

Discover it here: www.jeromemaupoint.com

Stolen Moments #2 is a selection of more than 200 images captured by Jérôme Maupoint.

This collection of photographs show us a large aspect of free flying seen by Jérôme’s eyes after 15 years of passionate commitment to this sport. Stolen Moments #2 is the fruit of long travels, meetings and contemplations, intense and rare moments.

“This is my second paragliding photo book. Flying photography really drives my life. It’s a never-ending search, as every day, in every place, the light, atmosphere and elements are different.

This book is not about paragliders, their performance or technology; it’s about evocations and emotions. To me, the most important aspects of my life of flying adventures are the places and their perspectives, the situations and their contrasts, and the special people I shared special moments with.”

Each photo in this book was captured in 1/500 of a second or so, but it took years to capture the right moments for them all.

The book itself is a limited square format edition, 25cm by 25cm, with 144 pages. Captions for each image are written in French and English. Stolen Moments #2 is self-published. This freedom has allowed for a polished work, printed on high quality paper.

FLYGIN Functional Zip Shirt

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A new Zip shirt is available now in women's (XS, S) and men's (M-XXL) fit. Featuring a thin and breathable stretch fabric, it keeps the wind out without you overheating, yet has enough warmth for autumn evenings. Available from GIN dealers.

More info here...

GIN Safari tandem video

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:17:47 +0100

Watch the new GIN Safari tandem paraglider in action in Châtel and Le Grand Bornard, in the Northern French Alps.

The Safari has the easiest ever take-off and landing with the performance and handling of a solo wing. Also available are the matching Safari pilot and passenger harnesses.

Click here to watch the video

Red Bull X-Alps: the athlete's view

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Reflecting on the 2011 Red Bull X-Alps, our GIN Team athletes, Kaoru Ogisawa and Vincent Sprungli, told us about some of the challenges of the race.

Vincent:

"The most challenging part of the race is that you walk, you fly, not on 1 day, not on 2 days, but for 2 weeks. Day by day, your physical and mental state are worse and worse. And you must find your way to Monaco with enough lucidity not to make bad choices that could lead to an accident or injury."

For Ogi, coming from Japan, another challenge has been getting to know the fastest routes through the Alps. But he also agreed with Vincent, "Safety is a challenge. When you're tired, keeping the right state of mind is important. But you can make your own decisions. It's a very interesting and enjoyable event."

Vincent adds:

"I think that this race is safer than competitions where you must fly, as fast as possible, without having the possibility to land to walk over a pass, like XC flights. You do what you want, what you feel is best for you, for your security.

It's a hard race. It can be an extreme race if you make the choice to go over your limits.

But It's a very intelligent race.

Hannes Arch and Ulrich Grill are not crazy men. Above all, they are human beings and have a lot of respect for life and all the pilots who come from all over the world to take part in this big adventure."

Neither athlete could confirm that they would take part for a 4th time in 2013. But judging by the fun they've had--despite their difficulties this year--it would seem a likely possibility!

Both athletes were flying special light Boomerang 8 gliders, with 27g/m2 fabric from Porcher Marine. The same materials, and much of the technology, feature on our new lightweight mountain glider, the Yeti (EN A).

Klaudia Bulgakow: Polish Female champion

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Well done to Klaudia for winning the Polish female championship at the Jelkin Hram Open in Kobarid, Slovenia on 20-27 August. The competition was a combination of the Polish and Lithuanian championships.

The weather was on the pilots' side. Over 6 days, 5 tasks of between 50km and 62km were flown. Klaudia reports, “It was tight at the top and any small mistake would put you out of the lead so it was all about who could stay cool till the end. Now that the competition is over and I feel very very happy”.

Results and reports

Primoz Susa: 2011 Slovenian League Champion

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Slovenian league champion, on the Boomerang 8, is Primoz Susa. Congratulations!

The Slovenian league championship is a combined result of league competitions in different parts of Slovenia, the Slovenian Open, and the Nationals (held as part of pre-PWC Macedonia in 2011). There was a mix of different areas and seasonal conditions and a really interesting finish: flatland flying in Macedonia. There is a discard system for the scoring: from 15 successful tasks flown this year, each pilot's best 11 tasks counted towards the final ranking.

Primoz reports:

"Last year 2010 I was national champion and winner of Slovenian Open competition and this year, Slovenian League Champion 2011. Difference from last year Slo Open is mostly that the competition was held in a strong and very fast, mountain flying place of Soča Valley. When this year we had Slovenian Open in a flat land flying area which makes me sometimes little bit too greedy. On our nationals this year two times it happened that I had to correct final glide approach and gain some more altitude while watching others fly into goal and so loosing some valuable minutes.

In the end this year there some really nice moments but also some not so good that I it would not hurt if I would forget them soon. If there would be a second chance I would want to retry Colombia PWC and Bassano competition since that were actually the best and the strongest competitions of the year. Anyway season in our place finished with one of the most enjoyable flying in Macedonia, that I had this year."

Slovenian league 2011 overall results:

1. Primoz Susa, Gin Gliders

2. Peljhan Klemen, Ozone

3. Urban Valič, Niviuk

"This is video from unforgettable magic winter day we had this year in Slovenia."