2024 FAI World XC Contest Results Announcement
We are excited to reveal the victors of the 2024 FAI World XC Contest for the 2023-2024 season!
Paragliding Results
The latest edition of the FAI World XC Contest featured 2,770 paraglider pilots, a slight decline of 7% from last year.
The Sport category saw the biggest decrease, dipping by almost 12%.
Encouragingly, this year’s figures reflect a notable rebound compared to the previous season, which faced a staggering 25% drop in cross-country participation.
Most impressive flights took place in Brazil, although few participants managed to exceed the 500-kilometer mark, with the highest average speed hitting over 50 km/h.
Open Class Highlights
Switzerland’s Sebastian Benz exhibited exceptional skill in the Open Class, amassing 2,771.46 points from six extraordinary flights.
He skillfully navigated the Ozone Enzo 3 in Caicó, Brazil, and the Zeno 2 in Switzerland, demonstrating remarkable endurance and tactical acumen.
His standout performance occurred on September 13 during an 11-hour adventure in Caicó, where he covered 557.59 km at an average speed of 49.28 km/h, earning the equivalent of those kilometers as points.
Benz also achieved two other significant flights in Brazil: 551.97 km at an average speed of 50.71 km/h and 460.57 km at 43.06 km/h. Earlier in the season, he completed triangle flights of 299 km, 283 km, and 320 km in Switzerland.
- Claiming second place was Brazil’s Samuel Milani Pereira, who accumulated 2,474.06 points with six October flights launching from Cachoeirinha, all exceeding 400 km.
His most notable feat was a phenomenal 467.08 km flight on October 7, which lasted 10.5 hours at an average speed of 44.65 km/h.
- Swiss competitor Philippe Leuenberger secured third place with 2,206.59 points, demonstrating remarkable prowess while flying the Ozone Zeno 2.
Serial Class Overview
Leuenberger not only excelled in the Open Class but also in the Serial Class, where he faced stiff competition from Argentina’s Damian Lestarpe.
Lestarpe finished close behind with 2,201.30 points flying a Skywalk Mint glider, which also garnered him the top spot in the Sport Class.
His peak performance of the season was a 425.59 km journey on October 29 from Caraubas, completed in 10 hours at an average speed of 42.66 km/h. He also accomplished flights of 397.94 km at 39.57 km/h on October 24 and 391.54 km on October 27.
- Sebastian Benz made yet another appearance in the top three, earning 2,033.58 points in the Serial Class with the Ozone Zeno 2.
- His crown jewel was a triangle route of 299.85 km from Mornera, Switzerland, which earned him 419.79 points on May 9, 2024.
Sport Class Insights
In the Sport Class, which featured 1,483 pilots, Argentina’s Damian Lestarpe topped the leaderboard with 2,201.30 points.
- In an impressive second place, Switzerland’s Serena Ronchi emerged as the top female pilot, netting 1,933.61 points.
- Poland’s Lukasz Sieminski rounded out the top three with 1,759.18 points, flying a Nova Codex.
Standard Class Summary
Italian pilot Manuele Dondi was the standout performer in the Standard Class, accumulating 1,564.14 points thanks to a series of impressive flights across Europe.
- Jacober Werner placed second with 1,369.90 points while piloting an Ozone Swift 6.
- Finishing third was Reto Ivan Clénin from Switzerland.
This season, the top three spots in the Open Class for women mirrored those in the Serial Class.
A total of 138 women participated, with 122 flying Serial Class gliders and 16 piloting CCCs.
Switzerland’s Serena Ronchi led the female Overall and Serial rankings with her impressive performances in Brazil.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Complete Results
Complete Results Available Here: Click Here
Source: Fai.org