The 2011 US Team will be traveling to Piedrahita, Spain in July to compete in the World Championships (a.k.a. "The Worlds"). The Worlds are held every 2 years, and the best pilots from each country battle it out for their spot on the podium. The level of the competition at the Worlds is amazing. The US Team is selected based on the performance of US Pilots in competitions over the last 2 years, and this ranking is called NTSS, or National Team Selection System. You can view the current NTSS rankings by visiting USHPA.aero. The 2011 Team currently consists of 3 male members and 1 female member. We will find out as we get closer to July if we will be allowed 4 male members. Based on a Nation's world ranking, Generally the top 8 to 10 teams are allowed to bring 4 male pilots.

2011 US PARAGLIDING TEAM

Brad Gunnuscio

Brad Gunnuscio has developed the reputation to be known as the best all-around paraglider pilot in the United States. Brad possesses top notch acro skills in addition to his skills in the area of cross country competition. Brad was crowned the US National Paragliding Champion in 2009 after his win in Dunlap, CA and a strong showing at Inspo in Provo, Utah. Prior that year, Brad was a member of the 2009 US Paragliding Team in Valle De Bravo, Mexico where he won Task 2. Winning a task at the World Championships is an achievement very few get to experience.

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 1

Current World WPRS Ranking: 59

Age: 35

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 202 lbs.

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah

Education: College of Paragliding

Occupation: Paragliding Instructor

Local Paragliding Club: UHGPGA

Favorite US PG Site: Chelan, Washington

Home Paragliding Site: North Side Point of the Mountain

Favorite World PG Site: Wherever the weather is good

Sponsors: Eagle Paragliding, Flytec USA, Paraglide Utah

Year Started Flying: 1996

Glider at Worlds: Ozone R11

Instruments: Flytec 6030

Achievements:
2011 Roldanillo Open 2nd Place
2010 Monarca Paragliding Open 1st Place
2009 United States Paragliding Champion
2009 Dunlap US Nationals 1st Place
2009 World Championships Task 2 Winner
2009 Monarca Open 3rd Place

Josh Cohn

Josh Cohn is perhaps the most accomplished pilot in the US competition scene. Josh has been at the top of the field for as long as anyone and continues to rule the skies. If you are at a US competition, you will likely see most pilots following Josh before and after the start of the race. As Nate Scales puts it, "People have been following J.C. for two thousand years". Josh has competed at more World Championship events than any other U.S. Pilot.

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 2

Current World WPRS Ranking: 25

Age: 38

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 70kg

Hometown: El Cerrito, CA

Birthplace: San Francisco, CA

Education: Masters, Geology

Occupation: Buyer, Independent Music Distributor

Local Paragliding Club: BAPA

Favorite US PG Site: Chelan, Washington

Home Paragliding Site: Dunlap?

Favorite World PG Site: Roldanillo

Sponsors: Eagle Paragliding, Flytec USA

Year Started Flying: 1989

Glider at Worlds: Ozone R11

Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley X-Rated 5

Instruments: Flytec 6030

Achievements:
2010 Chelan Paragliding World Cup 1st Place
2010 Monarca Paragliding Open 2nd Place
2008 Pre-Worlds Mexico 4th place
2007 World Championships 8th place
2004 World Championships Portugal task 5 winner
1999 US Paragliding Champion

Jack Brown

Although Jack has been working as a pilot for over 30 years, it wasn't until he discovered paragliding that he really found a true passion for flying. Jack Brown has been hitting the competition scene pretty hard these last few years. Jack has climbed his way up the rankings wth some notable wins. There was a task at the Chelan XC Open in July of 2010 that Jack was the only pilot to finish. It took him over 6 hours to make goal. Jack is the 2010 US Paragliding Champion after his performances in Chelan, Washington and Sun Valley, Idaho.

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 3

Current World WPRS Ranking: 52

Age: 54

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 190

Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Education: College & Military

Occupation: Pilot for Alaska Airlines

Local Paragliding Club: Arctic Air Walkers

Favorite US PG Site: Chelan, Sun Valley

Home Paragliding Site: Mt. Baldy, Eagle River, Alaska

Favorite World PG Site: Roldanillo, Colombia, Abteneau

Sponsors: Fly Above All

Year Started Flying: 2000

Glider at Worlds: Ozone R11

Harness at Worlds: Woody Valley X-Rated 5

Instruments: Compass C-Pilot, Flytec 6030

Achievements:
2010 US Paragliding Champion
2010 Chelan PWC 2 task wins
2010 US Nationals Chelan 2nd place
2010 Chelan PWC 5th place
2009 Austria Pre Europeans 5th place
Possibly the first PG pilot to fly two big dogs tandem together!

Nick Greece

Nick Greece is the 4th US PG Team member if we have 4 team members going to the Worlds. Nick has been flying well these past few years with some podium finishes including 2nd place at the Paragliding World Cup in Chelan. His accomplishments have gotten him some press, including a recent interview with Ojovolador.com. We hope we get the green light to have a 4th member added to our men's team so Nick can join us in Piedrahita. Nick has flown Piedrahita more than any other US pilot in the last few years, with one of his flight's including a 100 miler!

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 4

Current World WPRS Ranking: 29

Age: 34

Height: 6'

Weight: 185

Hometown: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Birthplace: Ohio

Education: Beloit College, Wisconsin

Occupation: Editor for the USHPA Magazine

Local Paragliding Club: Jackson Hole Free Flight Club

Favorite US PG Site: Jackson, Chelan, Sun Valley

Home Paragliding Site: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Favorite World PG Site: Aravis, Piedrahita, Colombia

Sponsors: Evovle Capital, Flytec USA, Bill and Darlene, Ozone, KAVU

Year Started Flying: 2001

Glider at Worlds: Ozone R11

Harness at Worlds: Advance Impress

Instruments: Flytec 6030

Achievements:
2011 Paragliding World Cup Americas Champion
2011 Paragliding World Cup Colombia 7th place
2010 Paragliding World Cup Chelan 2nd place
2010 Paragliding World Cup Americas Title 2nd place
2010 US Nationals Series 2nd place
2009 US Nationals Series 3rd place

Melanie Pfister

Melanie has immersed herself in the US Paragliding Competition scene over the last few years. She has been proving herself with some podium finishes at PWC events, as well as US National Events.

Check out Mel's pilot profile in USHPA Magazine

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 35

Age: 39

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 138

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Birthplace: Valdosta, GA

Education: Utah State University

Occupation: Pilates Instructor, Educator for Lululemon Athletica

Local Paragliding Club: UHGPGA

Favorite US PG Site: Jackson, Chelan

Home Paragliding Site: Salt Lake City area

Favorite World PG Site: Chelan, Annecy

Sponsors: Kevin Pfister, Superfly

Year Started Flying: 2002

Glider at Worlds: Gin GTO

Harness at Worlds: Advance Impress 2

Instruments: Flytec 6030

Achievements:
2010 Women's US Paragliding Champion
2010 Sun Valley Nationals 1st Female, 21st overall
2010 Chelan XC Open 1st Female, 40th overall
2010 US Nationals Series - 16th Overall

Meredyth Malocsay

Meredyth was the highest ranked US woman for the 2011 US Team, but has had to withdraw her position on the US Team due to some personal commitments. We are going to miss her presence during the Worlds, as well has miss having her represent the US women. She has been competing for a few years now and quickly rose to the top of the women's US rankings. You will find Meredyth at the majority of US competitions in addition to some foreign comps as her job allows to her work from her computer while traveling.

2011 US NTSS Ranking: 30

Current World WPRS Ranking: 716

Age: Young enough, yet old enough

Height: 5'2"

Weight: 112

Hometown: Fall City, Washington

Birthplace: Miami, Oklahoma

Education: BS. Mgmt Science & Computer Systems

Occupation: Database Administrator

Local Paragliding Club: Northwest Paragliding Club

Favorite US PG Site: Owen, Sun Valley, Chelan

Home Paragliding Site: Tiger Mountain, Washington

Favorite World PG Site: Manilla, Australia

Sponsors: Aerial Paragliding, Axis Paragliding, Cascade Crossfit, Michigan Suits

Year Started Flying: 2005

Glider at Worlds: TBD

Harness at Worlds: Advance Impress 2

Instruments: Flytec USA 6030, Garmin 76s

Achievements:
2009 Women's US Paragliding Champion
2009 Killarney Classic 1st place female, 2nd place overall
2009 Manilla XC Open 1st place female, 14th place overall
2009 Rat Race 1st place female, 4th place overall 2008 Women's US Paragliding Champion

2011 US TEAM LEADERS

Rob Sporrer

Rob has been a paragliding instructor since 1997. He received the USHPA Instructor Of The Year Award in 2002, and was awarded a Commendation by USHPA in 2007. Rob has been a huge supporter of competition pilots on his Eagle Paragliding Team over the years. He also serves as a Regional Director on the USHPA Board of Directors.

Rob Says: "I hope to help raise funds so the team pilots can enjoy this experience they have dreamed of and worked so hard to earn. I enjoyed working with Jeff Huey as a co-team leader at the worlds in 2009 in Valle De Bravo. I’m hoping Jeff can make the trip to Piedrahita as well. We will work together to be sure the team is ready for battle, and support them so they can focus on the flying. I was amazed at how much airtime all the competitors get a these world events. It is a true tour of duty."

Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Birthplace: Laramie, Wyoming

Education: B.A.

Occupation: Owner - Eagle Paragliding - Paragliding Instructor

Local Paragliding Club: Santa Barbara Soaring Assoc.

Jeff Huey

Jeff was ranked in the Top 10 for hang gliding competitors from 1979 to 1986. Was Top 10 in paragliding 2004 and 2005. He has been inolved in several US National Team competions in both hang gliding and paragliding. He was the US Paragliding Team Leader in 2005 in Governador Valadares, Brazil and in Mexico in 2009. Jeff's international competitive experience and relationships with many of the key players leaves him well suited to deal with any political or administrative situation that may arise.

Hometown: Bend, Oregon

Birthplace:

Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Occupation: On hiatus from Oilfield Construction Engineering

Local Paragliding Club: Cascade Paragliding Club