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Paragliding World Cup 2005 in Bulgaria - Sopot

for the first time in European Extreme Sport Centre “SHAMBHALA”

April 22th -30th

Paragliding started in France in 1980. Air is symbol and atmosphere. Ecology, Nature, Adventure, Discovery, Self-control are components. So organization of this competition is declaration of ecologically safe sports epoch, and extreme sports – paragliding, parachuting, mountain biking, skating, mountain climbing etc.

Nowadays more than 200 000 pilots go in for paragliding, women are 10%. Paragliding World Cup is traditionally held in various countries of the world in 5 stages. In 2005 it will be held in Europe: Bulgaria, France, Italy, Serbia, Portugal. This year the first stage is held in European centre of extreme sports “SHAMBHALA” near Sopot (Bulgaria). The participants are paragliders from Denmark, Japan, Portugal, Austria, Italy, Germany, England, South Africa, Slovenia, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Croatia, Spain, Russia, Czechia, France.

About competitions in Bulgaria: Paragliding becomes more popular in Europe every year and these championships prove it. Bulgaria will join European Union soon and it means that such contribution will consolidate your Brand on the European market.

Competitions are supported by the Bulgarian Sport Committee, Ministry of youth and sport in Bulgaria, Municipality of Sopot and World Federation of aviation. The invited guests are Bulgarian, Russian and European statesmen, popular sportsmen, politicians, cultural figures, show-businessmen and heads of charity organizations. The other competitions held on the territory of European Extreme Sport centre “SHAMBHALA”:

Extreme Race “Treasure of Shambhala” (16-17 April 2005). The purpose of the Race is to pass 3 stages: speed tracking, mountainbiking (downhill) and paragliding. Main prize of the Extreme race “Treasure of Shambhala” is 1 kg of gold. This Race is hold for the first time in Bulgaria.

Open World Cup of Moscow (Shambhala’2005) on paragliding (10-21 April 2005). Preambula of the Cup is proclamation of epoch of ecologically safe extreme sports.

About European centre “Shambhala”: It is situated on the territory of the National park “Central Balkan”. Infrastructure of the Centre is built according to the world standards of Chempionship’s Organization. Nowadays “Shambhala” is one of the best European Megacomplexes for holding World competitions on paragliding.

Cup of Shambhala will be held for the first time in the centre of extreme sport and meditation "Shambhala". For several years "Shambhala" has turned into a famous paragliding resort in Europe. Every year more pilots and tourists gather at competitions. That’s why organizers decided to hold one more international championship so that all paragliders could visit "Shambhala" this year. Cup of Shambhala is a part of festival "Shambhala".

World Cup 2005 is the most significant event in paragliding. The highest status has a World Chempionship on paragliding. This competition for individuals – team results are not official. It’s difficult to become a participant of competition – pilots apply PWCÀ themselves not a country. Pilots are chosen according to the rating in competitions of the 2-d FAI and higher. A pilot also must be a member of PWCA association. There are more than 300 apply forms for competing. Only 135 pilots can take part in the 1-st stage of PWC. Registration and confirmation are made by the Chief Office PWC according to the Rules of the International Competition ICR, published on the site of PWCA before competition http://www.pwca.org

Program of Paragliding World Cup 2005

22.04.05 Registration
- 10:00-20:00 Registration at HeadQuarters Cinema centre "Aleksandr Vazov" in the centre of Sopot;
- 21:00 Opening ceremony and party

23.04.05 - 29.04.05 Competitive days
30.04.05 Last competition day and awarding the winners
- 09:00 pilots briefing at HQ;
- 09:30 transfer to the take off;
- 12:00-16:30 competition flying;
- 16:00-18:00 GPS consignment and compilation of landing declaration;
- 19:00 official over results;
- 20:00 prize-giving ceremony and party.

24 April

The 1-st competitive day

About 200 of free-minded people gathered on the territory of European Extreme Sport centre “SHAMBHALA” to compete in World Paragliding Cup . All together, all on the place of take off, in the sky and then on the place of landing. People are enjoing flights, communicating with each other. So different, beautiful and smart people meet for one week to get acquainted with each other, for racing in the air, for living independent life.

The quantity of reported pilots was 125, there are 13 women among them. The tasktype was “race to goal”. The type of the take off was simultaneous. The window was opened at 13.50 and closed at 14.50. The task distance was 65,2 km, minimum distance was 30 km. The first take off was at 14.30. Pilots who passed minimum distance was 123, pilots in Goal were 67. Goal deadline was at 19.00.

The winners of the first day:

There more than 40 World champions on paragliding at competition: Rossel Oliver, Joos Achim, Maurer Christian, Tadano Shoichiro, Eichholzer Helmut, Siegel Torsten, Lausch Norman, Orlik Martin, Brandlehner Thomas, Roten Mathias, Tsuji Tsuyoshi, Malecki Andreas, Bollinger Hans, Wyss Stefan, Shorokhov Nikolay, Hierling Daniel, Brunn Martin, Herling Marco, Krausova Petra, Davide Licini, Elisabeth Rauchenberger, Jimmy Racher, Eder Armin, Ueltschi Eliane, Song Gin Seok, Dorothea Stichlmair.

Respectfully, Bagrizlova Darina Press-attache of European Extreme Sport Centre “SHAMBHALA”

Bulgaria: 08995 44223, 08866 45561, + 359 313 430 77, +359 313 46376

Russia: +7 095 507 97 47, +7 095 299 35 71 info@shambhala-center.ru