2022 Paramotor World Championship: discover and follow our French Team!
News from 6 April 2022. Last updated on 6 May 2022: some information may have changed. Latest news
From 20 to 30 April 2022, the Paramotor World Championship is being held in Saquarema, Brazil. Below you will find day-by-day summaries, the results and the best photos of our competitors.
You can follow our pilots' flights by clicking here!
View the profiles of our 12 crews.
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Saturday 30 April
FRANCE WINS THE PARAMOTOR WORLD TITLE
Thursday 28 April
REST DAY FOR EVERYONE TODAY
Today had been declared a rest day by the organising staff yesterday. The decision came as a surprise to us, as the weather conditions were favourable. We made the most of the day to relax while staying focused on the competition and our objectives.
At this stage, we used the break to go back over the fundamentals and the right attitude for managing the end of the competition. On the programme: physical training early in the morning, with a 40-minute jog for some of the pilots and the support team, and rest for the others. A visit to the town of Saquarema and time on the beach were a necessary contribution to strengthening group cohesion.
Tomorrow (Friday 29) looks set to be a long, busy day. Three rounds remain to be flown and, logically, it should all be over tomorrow evening… But the race director has left some doubt over a possible final round on Saturday morning!
The end of this championship is in sight, and the team is not letting up!
Wednesday 27 April
BIG SESSION OF EVENTS BEFORE A REST DAY TOMORROW!
Today was another intense day, with an event that is quite unusual for a world championship: the “paraball” for PF1 (foot launch). In this event, pilots must grab a soft ball about 60 cm in diameter with their feet in flight and drop it into a basket about 1.5 m across. Three balls in the basket earns the maximum points. The event must be completed in under 3 minutes.
The precision flying continued with a “bowling-landing”: 5 pins spaced 2 metres apart, which must be knocked over without touching the ground. Once the pins are down, the pilot must then land on their feet with no problems. Our French pilots had a very good day, the bowling in particular. The shifting, sustained wind did not help pilots from any of the nations.
For the trikes, it was a precision landing event on an “aircraft carrier”! The aircraft carrier is a very narrow strip (25 cm) marked on the ground in the middle of a rectangle, with 1-metre strips on each side. The closer the pilots get to the central strip, the more points they score. It is a classic event for the pilots, but with the somewhat gusty wind there was, it was much harder to be accurate.
Unexpectedly, tomorrow (Thursday) is a REST day for everyone, pilots and staff of all nations. The organisers apparently need some quiet time to score the events.
The marshals wait for the first competitors
Marie Mateos during the first event of the day, paraball!
It's in for Julien Meyer!
Bowling-Landing for Romain Mauban
Landing accuracy for the trikes: Glenn Michelland
Oriane and Fabrice Breuzard, working hard to score the maximum points
Our other trike crew also makes a fine landing, Stéphane Clavurier and Cyril Pasquier
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Tuesday 26 April
ANOTHER DAY FULL OF EVENTS
Third day of events for our paramotor pilots! The day was split in two today: the morning for PF1 (foot launch) and the afternoon for PL1 and PL2 (single-seat and two-seat trike launch).
The morning event was a long 85-kilometre navigation with regulation segments. This means that each pilot declares their times over the known gates before taking off. Maximum concentration is needed for about two hours. Our competitors gave everything in this event and came back exhausted. All our pilots completed the event, and we are waiting for the results.
The afternoon event for PL1 & PL2 was a manoeuvrability test: short take-off and short landing with the fastest possible re-launch against the clock, with a mandatory wing touchdown. The event was flown in a sustained wind, which considerably increased the difficulty and the risk of damaging the lines and/or propellers…
Tomorrow (Wednesday 27 April 2022) is a Brazilian-style “football” day: an event in which pilots hold a ball between their feet in low-level flight and drop it into a big basket. Three balls to drop in 3 minutes at most. Plenty of tension and pressure in prospect!
Green flag, flying today, Tuesday 26 April!
The other competitors and Nicolas Aubert get ready
Boris Tysebaert on his way to the take-off area!
Final preparations for Oriane and Fabrice Breuzard
Romain Mauban taking off!
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Monday 25 April
THE ROUNDS FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER
The afternoon was devoted to a very long pure economy event for PF1 (foot launch) and PL1 (single-seat trike launch). The aim is to stay in the air as long as possible with just 2 litres of fuel. The idea is to seek out thermal or dynamic lift to save fuel... and above all keep enough to get back to the airfield!
When paraglider mode is possible, pilots switch off the engine so as not to consume anything… But beware, the engine has to restart! Unfortunately, two of our pilots were penalised because their engine would not restart when they landed.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) should follow the same pattern, with the events continuing. We are keeping a close eye on the official results, which take quite a long time to be released. The French team managers have an essential job to do to make sure no mistakes have been made, as the time allowed for protests is limited.
Our pilots' concentration is at its peak and must stay there!
From left to right: Pascale and Sandro (Italy), Nicolas Aubert, Cyril Planton and Julien Meyer
Glenn Michelland takes off in a PL1 (single-seat trike)
Michael Merle's smile!
In the 1000 for Alexandre Matéos ...
For Julien Meyer ...
For Marie Matéos ...
And for Jean-Emile Oulha!
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Sunday 24 April
FIRST DAY OF COMPETITION
Today the weather was much better than yesterday. This allowed the events to follow one another. The day gave us a really good start, with three rounds perfectly flown back to back and perfectly handled by the French team. All our pilots got back within the time limits. The results are taking a while to be released because the scoring staff still need to perfect their command of the detailed rules.
A significant number of competitors “landed out” (landed beside the airfield): 15 pilots! That is a lot for the organisers, who were not expecting it… It comes from everyone's enthusiasm and desire to perform. Taking this risk is no guarantee of success, because pilots who land out receive a 0 for the round.
Tomorrow (Monday) should be much like Sunday: favourable weather, perfect air, a beautiful day is forecast… France is in excellent form, and we need to bank the points!
The machines are ready for today!
All the pilots prepare for the navigation event
Romain Mauban taking off!
Glenn Michelland in the foreground; Oriane and Fabrice Breuzard in the background
Cyril Planton gets ready to go to the take-off area
Jean-Emile Oulha concentrating a few minutes before take-off
Final preparations for Stéphane Clavurier and Cyril Pasquier!
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Saturday 23 April
FALSE START FOR THIS FIRST DAY OF COMPETITION
This Saturday was supposed to be the opening of the competition... but the weather decided otherwise!
The organisers were unable to launch a round this morning. By late afternoon the wind had eased a little, but the Race Director, with great care, took no risks. The start of the events has been postponed until tomorrow (Sunday). Weather conditions are paramount in our activity.
Most of the teams went back to their hotels early, and we did the same. A physical training session was organised from the hotel. A group of pilots and staff members went jogging along the seafront, a few minutes from the hotel.
Tomorrow (Sunday) looks better, with the weather likely to be perfect for flying rounds. The first is a max-beacons navigation with a one-hour time limit: it involves flying over as many gates as possible on a circuit given to the pilots just before the event.
Lots of wind this Saturday at the Saquarema site
Jean-Emile Oulha and Nicolas Aubert wait for a take-off window that will not come
The machines stayed on the ground this Saturday
The French team worked on this day off
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Friday 22 April
THINGS GET SERIOUS FOR THE FRENCH TEAM
Day five, and the start of official training, with all the teams in action. A snake* navigation was flown in the morning under the organiser's authority, to check that a round runs properly and that the marshals' team is up to the job. The results have been published and are available below.
The afternoon was devoted to the official presentation of the organising team in the presence of the officials, the prefect of the region, the president of the Brazilian Federation and the various federation presidents attending.
A very fine ceremony was then held in the seaside town of Saquarema. An inaugural flight with two pilots from each nation was warmly applauded and was truly impressive for the many local residents who came to the ceremony. Marie Matéos and Julien Meyer represented France at this ceremony.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the official start of the competition. Things are getting serious, and concentration is at its peak.
(*) Snake: a navigation in which pilots follow a track with hidden gates; the pilot's skill is measured by how precisely they fly over the line, thereby validating as many hidden gates as possible.
PL1 training (single-seat trike launch)
PL2 training (two-seat trike launch)
Preparing for the practice event
Pascal Vallée, Pascal Burel and Bruno Oulha
The French team in Saquarema
The French team before the ceremony
The delegations during the ceremony
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Thursday 21 April
PREPARATION COMES TO AN END
Fourth day of preparation, starting with a navigation set by our team leader, Pascal Vallée. Each pilot was then able to fly individual training flights, among other things to prepare as well as possible for the fuel economy events. Official training is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday 22 April) with all nations in the air. This afternoon was a time for rest, concentration and releasing stress. The pilots were able to recharge and enjoy themselves before the intense week of competition ahead.
At the end of the day (night falls quickly here in Brazil, around 5 pm), we held a group briefing covering paperwork adjustments, explanations about the GPS trackers and other race arrangements.
Friday (tomorrow) will therefore be official training for all nations, and training for the Brazilian staff… Things are slowly starting to get serious.
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Wednesday 20 April
TRAINING CONTINUES AND FIRST BRIEFING
This morning, each crew was able to carry on with its training flights and adjustments. The afternoon was devoted to optimising the French stand so that things run without wasting time during the competition.
From 4 pm, we finalised the official registrations. The machines were inspected by the organisers. Late in the afternoon, a first general briefing was held, introducing the members of the Brazilian organisation and the FAI officials. The briefing focused on flight safety as well as safety on the ground. The presentation was of a very high standard, exemplary.
In the evening, the Brazilian organisers hosted a welcome for the teams with Brazilian music, a very pleasant moment to get to know our hosts.
Tomorrow (Thursday 21 April) will focus on official training for all nations and all track marshals.
© James Simon Lugada / FFPLUM
Tuesday 19 April
SECOND TRAINING DAY FOR THE FRENCH TEAM
Today's flights allowed the pilots to fly a navigation (regulation NAV), to discover the flying areas and get used to the terrain and scenery. The day also made it possible to fine-tune the engine settings and to confirm that air humidity (around 80%) has a crucial effect on how the machines run.
In addition, the local conditions, with intense heat and humidity, mean the carburettor settings need to be perfected. Apart from this point, which will have to be mastered quickly, the team will need to adapt to the specific topography of the area (mountains, forests…). Everything is falling into place and the French Team is starting to find its feet.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 20 April) is the first day of the official camp set-up for all the competing nations. This will make it possible to organise training flights for all the competitors.
Oriane and Fabrice Breuzard preparing their wing © FFPLUM
Monday 18 April
Our pilots
