Philippines Hosts the 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Championship

Before I post the press release, I first had to make sure I knew what paragliding was. After some Googling, I realized I was wrong in my assumption.

First, paragliders – the flying contraption that people ride on – are free-flying, foot-launched glider-like aircrafts with no rigid primary structure. The single-passenger is the pilot who sits in a harness suspended by a fabric wing all connected by suspension lines to the harness. Second, paragliding does not use an engine. That’s where I got it wrong. Powered paragliding is the flying of paragliders with a small engine attached. And kite skiing is not paragliding; it uses equipment similar to paragliding sails.

Despite not using an engine, paraglider flights can last many hours and cover many hundreds of kilometres, though flights of 1–2 hours and covering some tens of kilometres are more the norm. By skilful exploitation of sources of lift the pilot may gain height, often climbing to altitudes of a few thousand meters.

Paragliders are unique among human-carrying aircraft in being easily portable. The complete equipment packs into a rucksack and can be carried easily on the pilot’s back, in a car, or on public transport. In comparison with other air sports this substantially simplifies travel to a suitable takeoff spot, the selection of a landing place and return travel.

Here’s the press release:

Philippines hosts the 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Championship

The country takes on a new challenge this year, as Air Sports Adventure Philippines (ASAP) sets in motion the history of Philippine aerial sports with the the 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Championship (IPAC 2014).

Paragliding pilots representing more than 11 counties around the globe will be flying down to Sitio Seguil, Barangay Tinoto, Maasim in Sarangani Province for this much anticipated event set on August 22-24, 2014.

At a press a conference held at the SM City General Santos (GenSan), ASAP President Buko Raymundo said, “There are a lot of paragliding competitions abroad, and with our local pilots doubling in number since we began promoting the sport in the country, we believe it is the perfect time that the Philippines staged its own.

Come August, the Sarangani gale will be at its finest, giving competing pilots the best of its 300-day flying season, which will as well highlight the most majestic bay south of the Archipelago. Accredited by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, the competition has been sanctioned a pre-world status, and opens doors to exciting possibilities for Philippine Air Sports.

“We would like to elevate the country’s position as one of Asia’s top air sports destinations while featuring the future of paragliding in the Philippines,” continued Raymundo, who was also dubbed as ‘The Chief of Paragliding in South East Asia’ for taking home the gold medal in accuracy paragliding at the 2011 South East Asian (SEA) Games, held in Jakarta Indonesia.

Outdoors enthusiasts, in recognizing the popularity of safety paragliding and tandem paragliding as leisure and recreational activities, see opportunities in promoting Philippine Culture, Tourism and Trade.

With opening day festivities arranged for August 21, 2014 by the DOT-12, it will stage a line-up of spectacles and activities, in cooperation with the City Government of General Santos and the Provincial Sarangani Office. Kicking off the phenomenal affair will be a motorcade with international paragliders and a meet-and-greet with the winners of Ms. Earth Philippines. Outdoors accuracy and nature adventure sports can also be experienced at the site during the 4-day event. A trade fair will also exhibit the best offerings in food, gear, apparel, and Filipino-made products.

As preparations for this historic happening take off, ASAP continues to work with, and for the benefit of the SOCCSKSARGEN Paragliding Club, to gather support from different sectors meaning to promote Filipino excellence in sports.

“For many Filipinos to learn this great sport – for them to feel, relax and experience the elements of nature while free flying through safety paragliding; for outdoors adventure seekers and airs ports athletes to recognize the beauty of our country – that is our humble mission”, Raymundo states.

With the participation of private companies, advocacy and local groups, IPAC 2014 will launch the Safi Fly-site as one of the destinations of Department of Tourism’s 12th Paradise, clearly signaling the promise to a claim — that paragliding can truly be more fun in the Philippines.

For more information on how to get involved at the IPAC 2014, and for publicity inquiries and requests, contact TuklasSining™ Creative Services and Communications Group at 0918-4248494 or 0926-6483076, or email tuklassining@hotmail.com.

Source of some text: Wikipedia.org.

Photo by ADwarf from Wikimedia.org.

_