The test event for the Hang Gliding Class 1 and Class 5 Championships has successfully started in Ager, Spain. Organized by the local club Zenith with the support of the NAC of Spain and the National Hang Gliding Commission, the event is held in one of the most renowned hang gliding destinations in Europe. The Meet Director is the CIVL Delegate for Spain - Jose Manuel Sanchez Garcia, commonly known as Juaki Sanchez, and the Safety Director is Dr. Nuria Moreno Barranco. Both have organized dozens, if not hundreds, of competitions in this area. The FAI Steward for the event is Jamie Shelden.

A total of 139 pilots from 24 nations (111 pilots in Class 1 and 28 in Class 5) have come to compete in Ager. The event began on July 21 and will conclude on July 27, 2024.

The opening ceremony included a safety briefing, where pilots were reminded of the main safety requirements for the event. Many participants also flew in the preceding Ager Open, held back-to-back with the Pre-Worlds. The organizers simulated an FAI 1 allocation when accepting pilots to this event, ensuring participation from a wider range of nations.

Safety is a top priority at this event. At each task briefing, the Meet Director, who is very familiar with the area's specifics, provides recommendations for safe performance. For example, he advises on the best strategies for safely reaching certain turnpoints or goals. Although Class 1 and Class 5 fly the same tasks, they are separated by time, with the faster Class 5 rigs starting first and the Class 1 flex wings starting almost an hour later.

So far, two tasks have been completed: 121 km and 112 km, both finishing at a lake beach much appreciated by the pilots who made it there. Today’s task is a 130 km route toward Andorra, but the wind direction raises doubts about many pilots reaching the goal.

The winners of Task 1 were Franz Hermann (SUI), Marco Laurenzi (ITA), and Owen Morse (USA) in Class 1, and Guido Perrone (ITA), Jochen Zeyher (GER), and Christopher Friedl (AUT) in Class 5. The winners of Task 2 were Primoz Gricar (GER), Scott Barret (AUS), and Marco Laurenzi (ITA) in Class 1, and Christopher Friedl (AUT), Jochen Zeyher (GER), and Carlos Punet (ESP) in Class 5.

The overall leaders so far are Marco Laurenzi (ITA), Peter Neuenschwander (SUI), and Scott Barrett (AUS) in Class 1, and Christopher Friedl (AUT), Jochen Zeyher (GER), and Christian Kamm (GER) in Class 5. There is no women's podium as only two women are participating: Francoise Dieuzeide-Banet (FRA) and Corinna Schwiegershausen (GER). The national ranking is conducted in a fun way, with each nation allowed up to two teams.

You can find all results at the CIVL competition website https://civlcomps.org/event/pre-hg-worlds-2025/results.

Watch livetracking

CLASS 1 https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=6077

CLASS 5 https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=6078

Follow the event on CIVL social media: Facebook and Instagram.