101 paragliders take to the sky above Barberton
The Barberton Open was once again a massive success for paragliders showcasing their skills.
The skies lit up from June 13 to 20 as 101 paragliders from seven countries competed in Africa’s longest-running paragliding event.
This year’s open saw the largest female field yet, with 10 women in the competitive category. Despite the weather limiting flying to five days, pilots showcased their skills in daily tasks scored using the GAP system, contributing to the SA Cup, National League, and World Pilot Ranking points.
Winners at a glance:
Overall: Francois de Villiers Jr
Ladies: Tyla-Jane Christodoulou
Team Trophy: SA’s Jeremy Holdcroft, Roland de Vries & Gideon de Villiers (Sooty Falcon)
Novice: Amanda Sterndale (Australia)
Intermediate: Khobi-Jane Bowden
Sport: Cal Dyker
Performance: Pierre Ackermann
Club Team: Glen Cloudbusters.
The open remains one of South Africa’s most anticipated paragliding competitions, boosted by Barberton’s reputation as a favourite flying destination.
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