Pilots overballasting
Discipline
Paragliding XC
What went wrong ?
Bigger gliders went more and more efficient compared to smaller one. It's impossible to be competitive at less than 95 Kg. Still many girls are weighted in the 50 Kg range. 70Kg pilots are also ballasting to reach M size at 115. Pilots carrying too much are facing more problems at TO and landing. Their outcome are worsened in case of crash.
What would you propose ?
Many proposals have been raised : weight category, weight check, equalizers, weight bonus. I'll take anything but this must stop immediatly.
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I also strongly agree. However, some comp pilots are hesitant to use equalizers for instance due to their concerns about safety of them in case of collapses. I believe safety is our main concern and their safeness should be provided by reliable organizations (not manufacturers only). If not, other solutions should be implemented for sure.
Why are we putting everytihng on the pilots and stating that the gliders below 95kg are not competitive. They can be competitive in sport class but cannot be in CCC?
The majority of the manufacturers do not even have in house small/light test pilots who could work on those sizes. So how they can know if it is competitive or not?
I wonder who is working on the xs and s of all the other classes for them? When the safely is even more needed as the pilots skills are definetly not there.
In the current framework, there are not many rules regarding ballasting. A lighter pilot has to ballast up to fly a less aggressive wing and remain competitive. Conversely, it is also rational for a heavier pilot to ballast up and fly a more efficient glider, as racing is about efficiency and speed. It is suggested to find a solution to limit the maximum ballast for all the pilots and to help compensate for the disadvantages faced by lighter pilots. Perhaps the tube is the solution, but it must work in conjunction with a policy to cap the maximum ballast amount.