ALARD WINS ICARUS TROPHY 2018 in AFRICA
Published on:
06 Aug 2018
Icarus Trophy is a known as the World’s Toughest Air Race where paramotor pilots fly long distance unsupported. This is a near 1000 mile adventure air race where pilots fly across some of the most challenging terrain on the planet.
The Icarus Trophy this year was about 1200 km and included crossing two international borders, from South Africa to Botswana and then from Botswana to Zimbabwe. The Race started just north of Johannesburg and finished at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe.
South African pilot Alard Hufner won the race flying Speedster 28.
Alard reports: "I had a great time! What a fun adventure! As the race was held in winter the flying conditions were pretty good. Cold mornings and manageable conditions during the day.
The Scariest moment was when Sebastian and I were out on a remote road in Zimbabwe doing some work on his motor after his throttle cable broke and 2 lions appeared on the road 50 m away. We managed to get a lift to safety with an overland truck.
The longest flying day was just over 500 km, with the longest flight 240 km. I was flying a Ozone Speedster 28 with a Parajet Zenith Polini Thor 200”
Alard’s mate and Ozone pilot Basjan van Heerden was flying Sirocco 2 26. Sebastian says: “The Icarus was very crazy! I was leading the last day but unfortunately my throttle lever broke down only 40 km before the finish line! I came 4th. The Sirocco 2 was fantastic, I did one flight of 6 hour and 301km without stopping, hit huge thermals for 3 hours up to 40 feet per second lift, no big collapses!”
Seems like Icarus Trophy 2018 in Africa was an epic adventure! Next year Brazil!
Cheers, from all the Ozone Team.