AeroSports Update: American Paragliding Pilot Competes In Dubai | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.23.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.24.24 Airborne-FltTraining-04.25.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.26.24

Wed, Dec 02, 2015

AeroSports Update: American Paragliding Pilot Competes In Dubai

American Max Marien Will Unveil New Tricks At The FAI World Air Games Being Held In Dubai

In a report from the FAI, they say it’s rare to find competitors from the U.S. in Paragliding Aerobatics competitions. The sport of paragliding has a relatively small following in the U.S., and there are few pilots who embark on the niche daredevil discipline of performing aerobatic maneuvers in the sky.

One American who does compete is relative newcomer Max Marien. He has come all the way from San Diego, CA to Dubai to compete with what he says is a trio of new stunts he's developed. "They've never been seen in a competition before," he said ahead of the contest in the United Arab Emirates.

One of the hardest moves to perform in paragliding aerobatics is the so-called "Infinite Tumble" or "Infinity", a loop-the-loop that puts the pilot through forces eight times that of gravity. Marien's new tricks - one of which he's christened "The Devil's Tumble" - involve him flipping forward, backwards and from left to right while his wing loops overhead.

"It takes some physical strength," he explained. "It's especially tough on the shoulders, and I'm carrying an injury from training now."

The Californian has only competed once before, in 2014, mainly because there aren't any competitions in the U.S. The summer, when most competitions are held in Europe, corresponds with the peak season for his job as a commercial paraglider pilot, taking passengers soaring along the Pacific coast cliffs of San Diego.

Marien trains for competitions in the U.S. by getting towed up into the sky on a winch strapped to a speed boat. He practices his new tricks over a lake, which acts as his safety net if anything goes wrong. He estimates he's one of less than 10 pilots in the U.S. who can perform the Infinite Tumble.

"You have to innovate," he said. "The judges mark you down if you perform the same tricks more than once, so you have to have a good range."

Marien will be competing at the Palm Dropzone between on December 3rd.

(Image of Max Marien provided by the FAI)

FMI: www.fai.org

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.30.24): Runway Centerline Lighting

Runway Centerline Lighting Flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals beginning 75 feet from the landing threshold and extending to within 75 feet of the opposite end of t>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.30.24)

Aero Linx: Air Force Global Strike Command Air Force Global Strike Command, activated August 7, 2009, is a major command with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, i>[...]

Airborne 04.24.24: INTEGRAL E, Elixir USA, M700 RVSM

Also: Viasat-uAvionix, UL94 Fuel Investigation, AF Materiel Command, NTSB Safety Alert Norges Luftsportforbund chose Aura Aero's little 2-seater in electric trim for their next gli>[...]

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 04.23.24: UAVOS UVH 170, magni650 Engine, World eVTOL Directory

Also: Moya Delivery Drone, USMC Drone Pilot, Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle, RapidFlight UAVOS has recently achieved a significant milestone in public safety and emergency services >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC