Dear CIVA members and all other friends of aerobatics . . .

Absolutely shocked and in deep sorrow, we have to realize the sudden and unforeseen death of wellknown German aerobatic-instructor Heinz Clasen (74), on Tuesday morning, July 17th.

He died in an aircrash, while doing aerobatic instruction on a student(40) at his side. The aircraft he was using lost one wing and in consequence crashed into the forest. For both there was no chance of escape.

Heinz Clasen, a former pilot and retired colonel in the German air force, a basic and aerobatics flightinstructor, and airshow-pilot was well known in Germany and the neighbouring contries as France, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria. He practiced both, glider and powered aerobatics and many, partly now successful pilots received their first and basic aerobatic instructions and ratings through his hands.

For decades, his life was dedicated to aerobatic flying, not only in practising but in theoretical work as well. He did essential work developing the "ALFA-Katalog", a basic tool for evaluating glider aerobatics. This was replaced by the FAI Catalogue of Glider Aerobatic Figures (GAF) only in 1991, after a periode of 14 years. CIVA and FAI honored the developing of the "ALFA Katalog" by awarding a FAI Group Diploma to him and his collaborators on this system Victor de Beauclair, Josef Hoessl, and Helmut Laurson, all from Germany.

Our deepest regret and sorrow are with Heinz Clasens´ relatives and with the bereaved family of that student who died at Heinz´ side at the age of 40, leaving his wife and a son of 8.

From August 24th till 26th will take place in Villeneuve, on the Lake of Geneva shores, the 4th edition of the Red Bull Vertigo. The worldwide best pilots will measure themselves there: Rob Whittall, the Rodriguez brothers, winners from the last edition, Mike K|ng that recently won the Wings Over in Aspen or Andy Hediger, winner from the PWC 2000 have already signed in.

For this 4th edition we also have some news: at the same time and same place will take place this year the first free glide exhibition: the best-known manufacturers will be there to present their products. You will also have the opportunity to try them.

For the hanggliding pilots, a 2-days acrobatic discovering course will take place there from August 22nd to 23rd. That's the opportunity to discover this activity with Heinz Zwyssig, winner from the last 2 editions of Red Bull Vertigo, with optimal security criterias, above the sea. The best pilots from this stage will of course have the possibility to subscribe for the competition. Subscriptions have to be sent directily to Heinz: h-glide@tic.ch

Du 24 au 26 ao{t aura lieu ` Villeneuve (VD) sur les rives du Lac Liman, la 4e idition du Red Bull Vertigo. Ce sera l'occasion pour les meilleurs pilotes du moment de se mesurer sur le site qui a vu nantre le vol libre acrobatique: Rob Whittall, les frhres Rodriguez, vainqueurs l'an dernier, Mike K|ng, vainqueur du ricent Wings Over ` Aspen, Andy Hediger, vainqueur de la PWC 2000 et bien d'autres encore se sont dij` annoncis partants.

La grande nouveauti de cette annie est la tenue simultanie du 1er Salon du Vol Libre, oy vous aurez la possibiliti de rencontrer les reprisentants de la plupart des grandes marques du vol libre qui viendront prisenter leurs nouveautis pour la saison 2001. Possibiliti d'effectuer des essais en vols.

Du ctti des deltas, un stage de perfectionnement aura lieu en priambule les 22 et 23 ao{t sur ce mjme site sous la conduite de Heinz Zwyssig, vainqueur des deux dernihres iditions du Red Bull Vertigo. A l'issue de ce stage, les meilleurs pilotes auront bien entendu la possibiliti de s'inscrire ` la compitition. Les inscriptions ` ce stage se font directement auprhs de Heinz :
h-glide@tic.ch

Pour plus d'informations sur le Red Bull Vertigo ainsi que pour les inscriptions ` la compitition, une seule adresse: www.redbull-vertigo.com

En attendant de vous rencontrer nombreux ` Villeneuve, nous vous souhaitons ` tous "HAPPY LANDINGS"!!!

Following the 2nd World Air Games (WAG), there are some big changes to the paragliding, hang gliding and class 2 rankings.

In addition to WAG, results from the Millau HG Classic have been included and the 1999 South African nationals have been deleted. The WAG results have had a big influence on the WPRS positions. Manfred Ruhmer's (AUT) win takes him to 1st place in the rankings, 13 points ahead of Oleg Bondarchuk (UKR) who drops to 2nd. Robert Reisinger (AUT) moves up to 3rd (from 6th), with Gerolf Heinrichs (AUT) maintaining 4th, ahead of Josef Zweckmayer (AUT) and Gordon Rigg (GB) who are =5th. Mario Alonzi (FRA) drops to 7th (from 5th) and Richard Walbec (FRA) frops to 8th (from 3rd) with Jean-Francois Gerard (FRA) coming into the top 10 in 9th (from 14th) and Andre Wolf (BRA) returning to the top 10 in 10th (from 11th).

Kathleen Rigg's (GBR) 23rd place at the WAG gives her the lead in the female rankings (27th overall) 38 points ahead of Francoise Mocellin (FRA, 41st overall) and Kari Castle (USA, 44th overall). There 639 pilots (41 female, 6.4%) ranked from 39 countries.

In Class 2 the WAG again has brought about some major ranking changes. Brian Porter (USA) maintains his lead, 5 points ahead of Johann Posch (AUT) who moves up from 4th to 2nd. Diego Bussinger (SUI) climbs to 3rd (from 6th) ahead of Toni Raumauf (AUT, 4th from 10th), and Michael Huppert (SUI, 5th from 11th). Steve Elkins (GBR) climbs one place to 6th, whilst Davis Straub (USA) drops from 2nd to 7th. Newcomers to the top 10 are manfred Trimmel (AUT) who climbs from 25th to 8th and Rene Leiser (SUI) who moves up from 18th to =9th with David Sharp (USA) who was previously 3rd. There are 63 pilots from 10 countries.

In addition to the big influence of the WAG, paragliding sees the addition of the PWC's in Greece and Switzerland, causing 4 newcomers and some major changes to the top 10. Steve Cox's (SUI) 4th place at the WAG takes him into 1st place overall (from 8th) on 306 points, 9 points ahead Christian Tamegger (AUT) and Kaspar Henny (SUI) who are =2nd, and who pushTsuji Tsuyoshi (JPN) down a place to 4th. Jimmy Pacher (ITA) climbs 5 places to 5th, whilst Martin Brunn (AUT) the long time leader of the rankings falls 5 places to 6th. The reamaining top 10 places go to newcomers; Joos Achim (GER) leaps from 19th up to 7th, Marc Antoine Arnold (FRA, from 17th) and Angus Tapper (NZL, from 12th) are =8th, and Jean-Marc Caron (FRA) climbs to 10th (from 17th).

Louise Crandal's (DEN) WAG win keeps her in the lead of the female rankings, and she is now ranked 28th overall, 107 points ahead of Andrea Joubert (RSA, 97th overall) with Noriko Mizunuma (JPN, 116th overall) ) in 3rd. There are currently 750 pilots (38 females, 5%) ranked from 39 countries.

There are no changes to the accuracy rankings.

Results not yet received (and therefore not included in WPRS yet the Argentinian Open (PG), Belgium PG Open, US PG Nationals, International Swiss
PG Championships, Nordic HG Open, .

Forthcoming hang gliding competitions (class 1 unless otherwise indicated)
that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 2: Test Europeans, Slovenia; Spanish HG Open; Dutch Open, Laragne, France; International de France (class 1 & 2); German Open (class 1 & 2); Test Female Worlds, USA; Test class 2 Worlds,
USA; UK Open National Championships, St Andre, France (class 1 & 2); Podbrezova HG Cup, Slovakia; Lone
Star National Championships, USA (class 1 & 2), Korean Championships;

Forthcoming paragliding competitions that qualify for WPRS points are:
Category 2: Czech/slovak Nationals; Nordic Open , Piedrahita; Greek PG Championships; Test Europeans, Slovenia; British Open, Piedrahita; PWC La Clusaz, France; PWC Castejon, Spain;
Canadian PG Championships; Zimbabwe PG Open; Pre PWC Germany; Pre PWc Greece; Norwegian League
Final; PWC Kobarid, Slovenia; alpe Adria PG Open; British International, St Andre, France;
Cornizzolo, Italy; Mun Gyong Inernational, Korea.

Country rankings
------------------------

In hang gliding country rankings the Austrians, following their domination of the WAG, have taken the lead for the first time, pushing France into 2nd. Great Britain maintains 3rd ahead of Brazil who move up to 4th and Australia maintain 5th. The USA drops 4 places to 6th, Switzerland moves up to 7th, with Spain in 8th (from 13th), Germany 9th (from 7th) and Ukraine maintaining 10th. Major climbers outside the top 10 are Norway and Slovenia.

Switzerland returns to the top of the paragliding country rankings, which have been dominated by Austria (now 4th) and France (now 2nd) for the last year. The following countries all maintain the same positions: Japan (3rd), Germany (5th), South Africa (6th), Denmark (7th) and Italy (9th). Slovakia (now 8th) and GB (now 10th), have changed places. Major climbers outside the top 10 are Mexico, Canada, Sweden and Korea.

Full details of the country rankings (PG and HG) can be found on the
World Pilot Ranking System website. Pilots should check that their
personal record shows the correct nationality, particularly as there are
a number of hang glider and paraglider pilots of unknown nationality.