Elena Filonova writes:

New World Champions in Paragliding – Seiko Fukuoka, Pierre Remy
and First National Team – France, the result of the competition that has ended
yesterday in Pedavena, Italy.

Seiko Naville Fukuoka has defended her champions title. She was the first pilot
who took advantage of the rule, allowing the champion to get into the
competition apart from national team selection. Seiko is also first pilot to win
back-to-back titles with an European Champion title in between. Still she has
many more records to beat, for example, to keep up with Petra Krausova-Slivova,
who is still ahead with her three World titles and three European titles.

In the female division in second place was Kari Ellis from Australia. The third,
Silvia Buzzi Ferraris from Italy.

In overall, on the last task, Honorin Hamard lost his first place to Pierre
Remy. France was still dominate, but a great loss for Honorin, who has held the
previous World and European Champion titles.

The second place is won by Guy Anderson, who unexpectedly moved up to the podium
by winning the last task. Third place was Jurij Vidic, who did very well during
all the competition and was one of the favorites, but lost at the end to Remy.

France now becomes the World Champion Team for the 3d time. We congratulate them
with the title showing great progress that French air sports and sports
education has made in recent years. Still they are challenged to beat
Switzerland with its 7 titles.

The competition was extremely well organized. Despite weather surprises there
were 10 valid tasks in 12 days and 1 not valid. So the pilots enjoyed subalpine
flying every day. Conditions were tricky, so pilots had to use all they skills
and knowledge. On one task, for example, we had only 21 in goal out of 150.

There was some landings in difficult conditions, but no injuries, no protests.

There was tremendous attention from the local population and nationwide press.
RAI, Tg5, Gazetta Dello Sport were the first in the row of dozens of media that
followed the course of the competition plus support from National Airforce and
legendary Frecce Tre Colori. All this made 15th FAI World Paragliding
Championship a huge milestone in the history of Air Sports.

See our photos from Closing ceremony in the link below.

At the end of the ceremony CIVL President Stephane Malbos handed over FAI flag
to next FAI Categoty 1 competition organizer - Portugal!

Article and photos: http://www.fai.org/civl-news/43175-event10517-pg-worlds-2017-closing

Results: https://airtribune.com/worlds2017

Competition web site: http://monteavena2017.org/

Competitions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monteavena2017/

CIVL daily reportages: https://www.facebook.com/fai.civl/

Closing ceremony: https://www.facebook.com/pg/fai.civl/photos/?tab=album&album_id=269812063495679