On June 20, 2021 FAI has received 6 simultaneous Paragliding World and North-American record claims for Free distance of 610 km, Free distance using up to 3 turn points of 610,00 km, and Straight distance to a declared goal of 555,00 km made by Sebastien Kayrouz (USA) in Del Rio, TX (USA) on Ozone Enzo 3. This is the first-ever flight exceeding 600 km with a paraglider.
We contacted Sebastien to find out the details:
Congratulations! You are the first to get over 600 km! Why did you decide to break that very record in that very place? I heard you followed the HG record flight route, is it so?
Thank you very much. Last year I set the North American record with a 500 km flight but that flight did not maximise on the potential the conditions offered because i) I foot launched and ii) I was flying a serial wing. After that flight I realised that with a tow launch, which allows a significantly earlier take-off, and a higher performance wing, much bigger flights are possible so I started preparing for it.
I did follow pretty close route to the one used by Jonny Durand and Dustin Matron on their record flight. That line is probably one of the best lines in Texas. When the high plains of Llano Estacado meet the low great plains, it forms what is called the Caprock Escarpment. The Escarpment funnels the general wind flow in a comparatively narrow area so whenever we fly that line, we always end-up roughly in the same area.
Is it the same flying site you had your North American record?
It is in the same general area. Last year I foot-launched from Caprock Mountain in the Texas Hill Country. This year I took off a bit more West and 20 km South of the Hill Country. (2021 launch is by winch – FAI CIVL)
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