http://www.piedrahita2011.com/

It appears that there is no flying today as pilots are in mourning for their
terrible losses yesterday.

http://www.xcmag.com/2011/05/open-warfare-british-team-pilot-resigns/ (An
earlier article)

The move is a blow for the British Team, but the culmination of a
journey for Mark that has seen him often a lone outspoken voice against the push
for paraglider performance over pilot safety.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=40188&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=164

"Francisco Vargas was flying slightly accelerated as he got a
front collapse. The wingtips moved forward and locked with each other. The
glider get into stable deep stall. Very near the ground the glider started to
rotate ..."

"Eitel started final glide at very high altitude .He got a front collapse too,
but slightly asymmetric. Immediately the glider went into fast rotation. He was
twisted. Eye whitness told that both his hands was blocked by the twist, finally
he was able to free one hand, but it was the wrong one to pull second chance.
Maybe he lost consciousness.."

"... only few pilots told about turbulences. The conditions were not responsible
for the accidents. All pilots agreed that conditions has been good flyable..."

"From the initial informal reports we are reading in Spanish from Mario Arque (
http://www.perfils.info/?page_id=449 ) it seems that the first pilot was too
low to throw (he took a frontal collapse with less than 100mt, the wing went
parachutal and when he was at 20mt over ground the glider rotated fast 180
degrees and impacted on the rocky ridge) - the second one , they believe was not
able to throw due to a severe riser twist blocking his both hands). He was very
high (1200mt over ground) when the accident happened."

http://www.xcmag.com/2011/07/paragliding-world-championships-2011-mads-leaves/

"The next but, for me at least, has to do with the 2-liners. I
simply LOVE my wing, it is by far the finest wing I have ever flown – but it
does seem that there are just that little bit more situations where these new
2-liner wings become unrecoverable."

http://www.xcmag.com/2011/07/paragliding-world-championships-2011-our-darkest-day/

"On the other hand, if one sees it from first the CIVL point of
view then yesterdays events can really only be perceived as “proof” that all the
effort made to make these high-profile events “safer” have been in vain, and
although I’m not in general a strong backer of the CIVL decision making I think
they could be excused to think that they can’t really “take responsibility” for
this any longer."

"So all in all I wouldn’t be the least surprised if it is announced today that
the Worlds 2011 have been cancelled. And I do think the Open Class is dead in
CIVL events. I’d like to be proven wrong on both counts, but that is how I see
it now."

There was big fall out in the hang gliding world from the
Paragliding Worlds in Valle de Bravo. I wonder of this will affect the Worlds in
Montecucco.