Laurent Thevenot
23
French team
Laurent has been flying paragliders since 1998 and hang gliders since 2000. He was French Junior Champion five times and started to fly in the French Nationals in 2003. Since then he has flown in the Red Bull Giants of Rio (2004), Pre-Europeans (2006), US Nationals (2006) and Australian Opens (2008). His best world ranking is 78, but he expects that to be top 50 by August 2008 and is aiming for top 10 in 2009. He is an engineer, having graduated in 2008.
Best distance was 175km in Forbes, Australia. Best triangle was 150km in the Italian Dolomites, of which he says: “It was a six-hour flight at Bressanone from an impressive take off at 2400 in the snow in the middle of July. There were strong conditions and good pilots. It was 150km over the tremendous landscapes of the Dolomites, flying close-in to the mountains with lakes and pastures below.”
Laurent says he “knows and loves to fly in Laragne”. He says: “Its contrast between mountains and valleys give it a large number of task possibilities playing with dynamic and thermal lift.
“It also benefits from a well known convergence phenomena. The thermals are quite strong and regular and the landscape is magic. I am very happy that the World Championships will take place their.”
Kite surfing, skiing, gymnastics, rugby. Holds French and US licences for ultralights. Also flies paragliders and paramotors. Has 30 hours of fixed-wing flying logged. Likes travelling and has an interest in renewable energies.