Presidential summit
Following the announcement that France has been awarded the FAI World Hang Gliding Championships in 2009, the Organiser Agreement was signed on 7 April on the Montagne de Chabre. It was a veritable Presidential Summit with the president of CIVL, Flip Koetsier, the president of the Féderation Française de Vol Libre (FFVL), Jean-Claude Benintende, together with the presidents of the organising clubs, David Owen (Chabre Vol Libre) and Réné-Pierre Gillain (Avolia).
The occasion was hosted by local, departmental and regional authorities who are extremely keen to ensure the competition is a great success, assuring the organisers that they will be providing some considerable support for the event. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Flip Koetsier commented on his special relationship with the Montagne de Chabre. He loves it because, in his view, it is one of the best hang gliding sites in Europe, with excellent tasks to be flown and many happy pilots. The only downside is that, as meet director or FAI official, he has spent many, many hours in the blazing heat being buzzed by insects. To the delight of the locals, his speech was delivered in excellent French!
Jean-Claude Benintende welcomed the opportunity to enhance France’s international reputation for hang gliding, and that of Laragne-Chabre in particular, emphasising the FFVL’s full support for the organising team. The FFVL also aims to take good advantage of the event to promote ‘vol libre’ to the young people of France and elsewhere.
The mayor of Laragne, Mme Henriette Martinez, thanked the organising clubs for taking the initiative to launch the bid, something the council had aspired to since running the European Championships in 1994, but had, until now, lacked the confidence and expertise to attempt.

As eloquent as ever, Auguste Truphème, president of the Conseil Général des Hautes-Alpes, and long time supporter of hang gliding and paragliding in Laragne, expressed his confidence in the organisers. Chabre Vol Libre and Avolia who have both, over the last few years, demonstrated their competence in running successful, international hang gliding and paragliding competitions.

24 nations sign up for Hang Gliding Pre-Worlds

Laragne is going to be a popular venue for hang glider pilots this summer! Registration for the 2008 Chabre Hang Gliding Pre-Worlds is now complete, with 120 pilots signed up from 24 countries. An amazing 200+ pilots registered for this competition and it may well be the highest scoring comp of 2008!  .......MORE

Team Rego Opens

Team Registration for the Pre-Worlds opened on the 20th October with a rush of entries, well a couple, and even a few payments notably from the USA who registered first and paid first!....MORE

Organisers welcome Safety Director
The organisers of the 17th FAI World Hang Gliding Championship, 2009 are delighted to announce the appointment of Ali Gali as Safety Director. He takes up this crucial role immediately, and is already a key member of the competition committee working on the Pre-Worlds event in 2008.....MORE

Eyes right! Montagne de Chabre!
In celebration of the coming of the 17th FAI World Hang Gliding Championships to Laragne in 2009, and the pre-Worlds in 2008, the local council have designed and installed two roads-side display panels.....MORE