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A few short weeks before the skies are covered with flocks of migratory birds moving south, there is a grand precursor to this natural spectacle. From the heights of Billing, scores of human eagles will sail the skies under brightly coloured canopies as the Paragliding Pre-world Cup Event takes place between the 6th and the 9th November, 2004. A test of skill, experience, courage and endurance, this event will be held at Bir-Billing in Himachal's picturesque district of Kangra dominated by the snow clad Dhauladhar ranges. The participants will complete for a place in the World Cup. This event is being organized by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with the Paragliding World Cup Association France and with the support of the Department of Tourism, Government of India, Ministry of Youth Services & Sports, Government of India and the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute located at Manali. Bir and Billing are the twin positions where the event is being hosted. This site is regarded as among the best in the world for paragliding. The bald rise of Billing (2600 m) is the take off site and Bir (2080 m) is the landing area. The road distance between the two is 14 Kms. Bir is sheltered by the mountains and surrounded by tea gardens. Billing at 2,290 mtrs. is 14 Km. away from Bir and offers opportunities for high altitude and cross country flying for more than 200 Kms. The world record for out and return paragliding was set at Bir-Billing by Frenchman Xavior Redmond when he flew 132.5 Kms. Bir also has a Budha monastery and is surrounded by tea gardens and wide fields. The small towns of Taragarh, Baijnath and Jogindernagar are close to Bir-Billing.The larger town of Palampur is 29 Kms. from Bir.In Himachal Pradesh, this event was first hosted in 2002 at Bir-Billing and again, in 2003. Now, in its third year at this venue, the event ranks high in the list of adventure events hosted in India.

  The Federation Aviation International (FAI) recognizes the event and has granted it a 'Category-II Status' in international ranking. The event is held in association with the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA) being conducted according to its guidelines and the Aero Club of India (DCI), the national sports body. The initiative to launch and sustain the event, was taken by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Himachal Pradesh. Over the last couple of years, the infrastructure and facilities in the area and for the event have been steadily developed. For example, this year, take off sites have been improved at Billing, a black-topped road of considerable length is expected to make the journey comfortable over a distance of 14 Kms. from Bir-Billing, a water pipeline is expected to be in position at Billing before the event and a complete tented
      colony will be available for the participants. In 2002, the Pre-World cup was conducted between the 26th and 29th October. Professional, amateur and tandem competitions were held at the time. Sixty-three competitors from India, and twenty-two from Germany, France, Portugal, Switzerland, UK and USA participated in this event. The PWCA deputed two technical experts and observers for the event. In 2003, the events included the National Championships. More than a hundred Indian and international pilots participated in the event. As in the previous year, PWCA deputed an expert/ observer to supervise the conduct of the Event. Representatives of Aero Club of India were also available to supervise conduct of Event. Several renowned pilots have appreciated and enjoyed the event in Bir Billing. Stephen Andre, a paraglider from France say "I really enjoyed my flight. The conditions at Bir and Billing are excellent". Germany's top paraglider Norman Lausch, who won the Pre-world Cup-2002 said "I have enjoyed every minute of my paragliding here and I would love to be here again". For both these years, technical and administrative committees were notified by the State Government. The technical committee was entrusted with the responsibility of the conduct of the event, selection of the candidates, safety, rescue and retrieval and allied functions. The administrative committee oversaw appropriate infrastructure development and arrangements for boarding, lodging and transportation. The rescue and retrieval for both Events was handled by the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali. Over ninety participants have already registered themselves for the event this year and most of these are foreigners from UK, Indonesia, Japan, USA, France, Bulgaria, Australia, Spain etc. PWCA will depute experts/ observers for the Event.

Images by Prem Sood

                       The rescue and retrieval will again be handled by the WHMI, Manali. The participating pilots will be housed in a tented accommodation being set up at Bir. The paragliding rules of PWCA as modified will be applicable for the event. The technical aspects of this year's Pre-world Cup will be supervised by the Aero Club of India in association with the PWCA. The State Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation will be responsible for the overall conduct of the event and also superintend the administrative aspects of the event. The event Mascot is an Eagle with wings outstretched and extended for wide wearing a Himachali cap and jauntily supporting a Himachal scarf. The Eagle is strapped to a Paraglider that carries it higher and farther into the sky and is framed against the sphere that is representative of the world.

                        The success and experience of the past years, makes Himachal a strong contender for hosting the Paragliding World Cup in the future. The current Pre-World Cup is another event in the chain of world-class items that Himachal has been organizing to place the State securely on the world tourism map. The publicity at an international level and the firsthand experience of the participants, are going a long way in successfully promoting the myriad experiences that Himachal Pradesh has to offer to the world.

                               Links:-  Paragliding in Nepal ( Photo Gallery)

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