The weather finally cleared and we were airborne! The first task of the European Paragliding Championships took place on Thursday, 6 Sept. at St Andre les Alpes. Pilots launched into a light updraft and scratched a while until the sky finally decided to deliver its blessing of lift. All pilots made it onto the course, and the race was on. The task was a 103 km race up and down the region’s magnificent peaks and sinuous valleys. The lift was reliable and widespread. In the end it was too widespread, for it ODed and dropped some rain. Due to the sensitivity of the new gliders to moisture, the task was stopped after three and a half hours, but already 73 pilots were in goal. In the end Xevi Bonet Dalmau from Spain flying a Niviuk Icepeak 6 took home the bacon in first place. (Photos Martin Scheel)