Erick Angles <<stress.less>>
writes:

As I have been evolving in the French hang gliding world a bit, I
came across some fairly famous hang gliding pilots on the European circuits (as
many in flex as in rigid). Particularly I am well acquainted to the Souviron
brothers who have started the Fly Namibia expeditions a few years back (http://vianneynamibie.blogspot.com 
and the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTix4Lw0QFI).

Sadly, the projects have ‘stopped’ after the 2010 Edition after a bad car
accident and the loss of one. I have spent a few months talking with the pilots
that used to go to Namibia for the past few years (some of them whom hold
distance world records) and I have noticed that no new projects of that sort
really exist so I decided that I was going to throw the idea around and sure
enough, after a couple mails, I had about thirty (mostly the ‘Namibians’) very
experimented pilots and ultra light towers whom answered instantly that they
were interested. Right now, I have about twenty pilots for the project and three
Ultra Light Towers…

Here is a little description of my original project. I have chosen Morocco for
many reasons:

· Very nearby exotic destination: That attracts more pilots

· Before the beginning of the French season: April. Even more pilots

· 5000m + ceiling and an amazing cross country potential in the Atlas region.

· For per pilot budget much less than what these pilots are used to paying

· Much simpler logistic than for Namibia

· During the French holidays in April which span four weeks

· Gliding bases are present in Morocco which is perfect for towing

· In a country that makes tourism a very important part of its resources

This will happen for last three weeks of April and the first one of May in the
South Atlas (Ouarzazate Area). I have just lost a group of six pilots whom were
supposed to come the last two weeks of April and I have other pilots undecided
as of now.

I have been working on this project for about six months now and while doing so,
I have met so many pilots, came across and gathered so much info that I feel
there is a huge potential. I have already started to think about my second
expedition in autumn 2011, also in Morocco but for pilots less into performance
who prefer to do the normal foot launching, etc. And I am planning on
organizing a major open competition for 2012 or 2013 that could become a yearly
event.

I have already contacted some potential sponsors (Red Bull, a bank etc.) and I
have contacts for the French hang gliding and paragliding dedicated press. I
have contacted the Moroccan Civil Aviation Commission and the minister of
tourism through a very good contact over there. I am in the process of
finalizing the authorizations for the pilots already registered for the project
and the ultra lights etc. I am hoping to have the papers in the next few days.

I am backed up by Raymond Caux, the French team trainer, and a few guys from the
French team including Pierro Zin (French Champion 2010), Antoine Boisellier,
Laurent Thevenot and Guillaume Schoeb are hoping to come. Francoise Dieuzeide,
the French woman champion has confirmed that she will be there with her kids for
ten days. Many guys from Switzerland and a couple guys from Belgium may be
coming also.

I also have the two brains behind the Namibian’s projects (Gil Souvrion and Fred
Pignet) who have helped me a lot to start the whole thing as they think this is
an amazing idea. Some pilots that were part of the Fly Namibia project will be
part of this one. Others are already planning to come to the 2nd edition. The
Moroccan national TV is even interested by the project and I have been working
on a film/documentary about the expedition with other people.

I am also trying to link my project with the Cloud Base Foundation and Ricker,
the president, is helping me on this one. Jonny Durand, Primoz Gricar (Slovenian
HG Champion) and other big names of the hang gliding world are interested for
future years as this was too short notice for them.

See the brochure
here.

Here is the translation of the first couple paragraphs:

‘To fly is not a goal in itself, it’s a way of life, a mean to go towards
others, to travel with the wind, softly, poetically. To fly, but not exclusively
for the pleasure of flying. To fly for the richness of exchanging, sharing,
offering and receiving.’ Gil Santantonio

The Event

‘Fly Morocco 2011’ – First edition

A Free flight event combining sport, adventure, discovery, taking place
April/May 2011 in Morocco.

‘Fly Morocco’ is a project which is going to gather about thirty international
hang gliding pilots in the area of Ouarzazate. These men and women, all
confirmed pilots, some of whom are among the best worldwide, have the desire of
profiting from the extraordinary aerological conditions of South Morocco and
enjoy fully their passion of the free flight. They will also try to achieve to
beat their own distance, length, or altitude records, even absolute records.

This associative project, which cannot be qualified of an expedition, nor a
competition, has a transcendental vision, in a spirit of open-mindedness and
exchange.

In a willingness to surpass oneself and in a constant search for improvement of
their performances, hang glider pilots, like surfers, are searching all around
the world, for mystic places offering the best weather conditions and flight
potential. Most of the pilots that will be in Morocco have already been
participating at such gathering in different countries, in the last couple years
for example, in the Namibian desert, where new distance world records were
established.