WHITWELL, Tenn. – Five pilots gathered along the ridge atop Whitwell Mountain late Wednesday morning to set the course for the day’s competition. Competitors sprinkled the ridgeside, preparing equipment and overlooking the valley they soon would soar across for the fourth day of the Sequatchie Valley’s inaugural paragliding competition.
The route and tasks would be set in the final hours before takeoff. Event directors monitored wind strength and direction before setting the day’s objectives. Pilots would later soar about 35 kilometers (roughly 22 miles) back and forth along the ridge as quickly as possibly. The 14 men and one woman competing in the weeklong Hurricane Open were making local history. The competition was the first in the valley and one of the few in the Eastern U.S.
“I love it, I love the area,” said 60-year-old pilot Jeff Sinason, who moved to the area in December for better paragliding opportunities. “Our nickname for this valley is the Magic Valley, and it truly is magical.”
The competitors were a blend of local, national and international pilots. Some had been flying through the valley for years, while others were coming for the first time. One competitor was a New Zealand special forces officer who made a side trip after attending a wedding in Nashville. Another was a local tandem instructor seeking asylum from Venezuela.
The lone female competitor for the week was Pennsylvania resident Andria Lea. Lea learned to fly in the Sequatchie Valley two years ago and quickly progressed to competition flying. This week marks her fifth competition this year.