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8th Annual Paratour Meet
St-Jean-Chrysostome, Québec, Canada
July 9th, 10th and
11th 1999
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A total of 83 pilots, from across Canada
and United States registered for our 3 day meet. Friday, flying was possible and fun.
On Saturday the rain never completely stopped, but that didn't
stop Bill Walsh "Wild flyer" from Massachusetts, Bruce
Erion "Fly hard" from Georgia and Dan Reimer from Manitoba, from going for a short flight.
James Barr from Maryland, also experienced
the rain, during his first tandem flight with Eric Dufour.
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Other enthusiastic paramotorists, who
supported the Annual Paratour Meet, were Wayne & Susan Mitchler
from Alberta (a rare paramotor pilot couple), Eric Mazurski from
Maryland (founder of the PPG Pilots Club), Randy Markovich and
Dean Fournier from Ontario, Richy Tintera from Nebraska, Michael Theriault from
Mayne and the Lemire twins from Quebec (16 years old, both paramotorists)
and too many others to list here. |
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Beer time at the end of the day: James
Barr from Maryland, Bill Walsh from Massachusetts, Pierre Lemire
from Quebec, Eric Dufour from Quebec and Eric Mazurski from Maryland. |
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Most of the pilots attended the 7:00h.
AM briefing, even though the weather was low overcast with a
light rain. Three agents of Transport Canada (the
Canadian ministry of transportation) gave a presentation, Saturday
afternoon, covering the latest regulations governing the sport
in Canada. |
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We met and discussed the sport, compared
units, performed thrust, noise and weight tests. Dan Reimer from Manitoba won the bean-bag
drop target contest (while flying from an altitude of 100ft). |
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Eric Dufour having fun while picking
hay in flight. |
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This 1999 fly-in presented pilots with
the opportunity to try the Silex (the new paramotor glider) and
see the new training bar. There were also tandem flights, mostly
on Sunday afternoon, after the weather improved. |
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In spite of the rain that kept most
of pilots on the ground Saturday, old friends reunited and new
acquaintances gathered to share memories and plans. Everyone learned something and all
were happy to be there. |
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 Ted Dentay from Ontario,
while ground handling his 6 year old son Nicolas. |
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The highlight, Saturday night, was
a mechoui (BBQ), presided over by Chef Raymond Runtz, of Finesses d'Alsace in St-Jean-Chrysostome. Participants were treated
to beverages produced by La
Barberie Microbrewery, owned by paramotor
pilot Bruno Blais. Last year's increase in attendance
and display of human spirit helped make this fly-in a success.
In retrospect, from a humble gathering
of 10 pilots, the growth of the 8th Annual Paratour Meet is a
clear indication that 2000 year's event, like the sport, will
be even bigger and better. |
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