I’m currently in Stockholm at the Nordic Hang and Paragliding Commitee (NHPC) meeting, where we discuss Nordic matters. The NHPC decides about matters like Nordic championships, records, and disccuss safety, training, and other matters that are of concern to the Nordic organizations.

From Norway it’s Me, Anders and Stein Tore. Sweden have Riika and Hans Peter (No HG pilots, don’t know why), Finland is Esa and Pasi, Denmark have Scott and Niels, and August from Iceland. Also the Baltic countries are here represented with Violeta from Lithuania and Anton and Sergei from Latvia.

The Nordic Championships for 2006;
Hanggliding XC is awarded to Norway, to be arranged in Vågå, Norway
Paragliding XC is awarded to Norway, to be held in Annecy, France
Paragliding Acro is awarded to Norway, to be held in Åra, Sweden
Paragliding Accuracy is awarded to Lithuania, to be held in Trakai (28 km from Vilnius capital of Lithuania)

New Nordic records
HG – Olav Opsanger (NOR) – Speed over 100 km FAI triangle, 33,2 km/h
HG – X X(FIN) – FAI Triangle Female,
PG – Peder Sperstad (NOR) – Speed over 50 km out and return

The Nordic Trophy is a awarded for the longest flight within the Nordics every year. Out end return distance is multiplied with 2, FAI triangles by 3. Olav Opsanger (NOR) won the HG trophy for his 100.1 km FAI triangle, and Sindre Hauglum (NOR) for his 52,4 km FAI triangle.

All countries reported about safety matters, going through the more serious accidents. Finland reported a trend with accidents occuring in the winter when towing PG on the ice. They have had several stalls that seems related to the cold weather conditions combined with the winch type start.

We had a long discussion about motorized HG and PG. Some organizations have the paramotors within the HG/PG organization, the Danish do not organize motorized within the HG/PG. The Swedish have one standalone organziation for paramotors, as well as some pilots in the PG federation. Seems like if it has wheels it goes under Ultralights in all countries. The Latvians told us stories about Russian Paramotor pilots lengthening the brake lines to steer with the feet so they could hunt from the air… Seems like every country anticipate a big growth in Powered PG, and it needs to be handled within our organizations

Numbers of pilots vary in the different countries, from 50 in Latvia, to Norway and Sweden with around 2500 members each.

Riika updated on enviromental issues in Sweden, where there are some sites under threat. Enviromental issues are getting more attention as we come into conflict with other sports and development of areas where we fly.