Like the raptors that have been rising on the thermals above the Makhonjwa Mountains and the Agnes Mine Valley for thousands of years, paragliders from all over South Africa rose to the sky above Barberton from last Sunday to Friday.
Competitors followed a predetermined route (task) on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from the Lone Tree Hill launch site.
The conditions on Monday and Wednesday were not suitable for competitive flying.
As soon as they were airborne, they needed to complete a number of different challenges. These included seeking thermal columns to get them to their next checkpoint via GPS.
These daily tasks of between one and two hours finished at Barberton Golf Club.
The ground crew were on hand to ensure that there were no accidents, and recorded the flights that would determine this year’s
winners in the different categories.
Thirty-two paragliders took part.
Hartebeespoort’s Russell Achterberg successfully defended the title he had won in 2021.
Achterberg, with his Ozone Enzo 3, scored a total of 2 626 points.
Lowvelder Anton Naudé (Ozone Enzo 3) was second with 2 525 points. Jon Pio (Gin Boomerang 10) of Pretoria finished third
on 2 400 point
Class results
Performance class
1. Heinrich Marloth: 2 213 points
2. Henry Schurink: 1 845
3. Jan Anthony Minnaar: 1 408
Sports class
1. Justin Anderson: 1 944
2. Cal Dyker: 1 755
3. Mark Miller: 1 477
Intermediate class
1. Shaun Holiday: 1 283
2. Ryan Cook: 1 166
3. Bradley Baretti: 988
Novice class
1. Matt Ashwell
2. Albert Verster
3. Jentz Wohlitz.
