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	HH Tsai: 131km on a small Vega II HH joined the Axis team on our 2009 Axis Mountain Masterclass in France with the goal to break a 100km flight during the year. As the one pilot who always managed to patiently climb to the top of every thermal in his path HH became known as 'Helium' -H Tsai. After considerable coaxing, HH was finally convinced to only take the 'good' climbs and use his speedbar in every glide. Not only did he come away from the Masterclass as one of our 'Mountain Stars' but he well and truly smashed his way through the 100km barrier in June 2009 with a flight from Bradwell Edge to the coast at Boston. For those who think that this is an achievement outwith their capability remember that HH is flying an EN-B certified glider, equivalent to a DHV/LTF 1-2. Read what HH had to say about his flight HERE See HH's flight on the UK XC league HERE
	Kelly Farina: 181km Triangle from Zillertal Axis UK team pilot Kelly Farina has been planning a 200km triangle taking in the Ziller, Tux and Pinzgau valleys for a while. Wednesday 20th May saw Kelly fly 185km of the route in 8 hours 45 minutes.Kelly managed 170k in 6hrs 30mins then got stuck in shade and wind making closing the triangle really challenging. It took over 2hrs to do 15km in super weak thermals to get back to base, it never happened even though he climbed out to 2300m from 1400m.Kelly landed in Krimml unable to clear the Gerlos Pass, 20km from goal Read what Kelly had to say about his flight HERE See Kelly's flight on the XContest website HERE
	Franck Arnaud: 328km French record. On 22 June 2009 Franck flew his Mercury 08 328km from Jeufosse, a tiny site N of Paris, very nearly breaking the European record which currently stands at 331km. A nine hour flight, taking off at midday and landing at 9pm at Fontenay le Comte, about 40km NE of La Rochelle on the West coast of France. See Francks flight on the French CFD HERE See a video interview with Franck HERE ( In French)
	Bruno Croué: Piedrahita site record 254km Bruno Croué from Annecy broke the Piedrahita site record during the week of the British Open 2009 with a flight of 254km from Peña Negra to close to Soria on his Axis Mercury 08 XS. The British Nationals task committee set a 126km task to Navalmanzano which was won by Mark Watts in a scorching time of 2 hours 51minutes. Bruno was flying just slightly slower out on his own after the first 100km to average a impressive speed of 33km/hour. The flight lasted 7hours 45minutes with a maximum ground speed of 91km/hr. Bruno held the previous record from Piedrahita set 1 year ago, this is his 3rd 200+km flight. Download Bruno's flight .igc file HERE (right click> save as) Download Bruno's flight .klm file for Google Earth HERE (right click> save as)
	Debu Choudhury - 176km out & return for starters, then a 211km triangle in the Himalaya Back in October 2008 during the Himalaya Pre World Cup Ed Ewing interviewed Debu for Cross Country Magazine. The following extract is taken from the 'Future Heros' article in issue 122. What's he going to do next..? Read Hugh Millers interview with Debu HERE See Debu's 177km flight on the XContest website HERE See Debu's 211km flight on the XContest website HERE
	Mark Watts - 138km to the beach &122km crossing the Thames Mark became the first paraglider to cross the Thames (we think!). After landing at the shore ending a 70km flight early a few weeks ago he was determined to find a route over. We had been thinking that he needs to move somewhere that the sea doesn't cut short all his flights but it seems the solution has been found! See Mark's 138km flight on the UK XC league HERE See Mark's 122 km flight over the Thames on the UK XC league HERE Mark playing dodgems avoiding airspace HERE
	Mark Graham - 700km in 7 days on a Vega II One of the first production Vega II's was sent to Mark just before he left for Manilla, Australia and the now infamous XC Open. The first few days of the XC Open were stormy which restricted flights..for some! During these short days Mark racked up 130km. The following days consecutively saw him push the bar out to 70km, 141km, 164km and 192km. Read what Mark had to say about his flights HERE Download Marks 192km flight .igc file HERE (right click> save as) Download Marks 192km flight .klm file HERE (right click> save as) Google Maps representation of the flights HERE