Pál Takáts Dominates SRS Naviter Edition in Stunning Soča Valley
Hungarian pilot Pál Takáts delivered a masterclass in competitive paragliding at the SRS Naviter Edition in Slovenia, winning four out of five tasks to take a commanding overall victory in the Julian Alps.
The competition played out across four tasks in the breathtaking Soča valley and at the Lijak site, with 101 pilots battling it out over ridge races and classic cross-country tasks.
A Tactical Masterclass
Going into task four, Pál’s strategy was conservative — he planned to defend his lead rather than push for another win. But the day had other ideas. “I managed to win another task today,” he posted on social media afterward. “My strategy was only to defend the first position,
The final task brought a forecast of weak thermals and low cloud base — tricky conditions that tested everyone. After a delayed start the clouds cleared and strong thermals kicked in, delivering a 46.6km race to goal that saw 93 pilots make it home. Pál closed it out with a perfect 1,000-point task win.
The Podiums
Overall Top 3:
- Pál Takáts (HUN) — Ozone Photon / Ozone Submarine
- Luke Nicol (GBR) — Gin GTO3 / Gin Genie Race 5
- Matthijs Derks (NLD) — Ozone Photon / Ozone Submarine
Women’s Podium:
- Mette Krum (DNK) — Gin GTO3 / Gin Genie Race 5
- Ni Mo (CHN) — Ozone Photon / Ozone Submarine
- Adel Honti (HUN) — Ozone Photon / Woody Valley X-Rated 7
Team Competition:
- Team Ozone (Arnold Castro, Rafael Rosa, Pál Takáts, Ulric Jessop)
- Gin 2
- Airtribune
Venue Highlight: Soča Valley
The SRS made full use of Slovenia’s most iconic flying region. The first two tasks delivered classic Soča valley ridge-racing — fast, technical, and spectacular to watch. When mountain weather forced a venue change, the action moved to Lijak, where pilots enjoyed clear views all the way to the Adriatic Sea.
The SRS organisers summed it up best: “The SRS in Tolmin, Slovenia was a truly amazing competition: stunning scenery with views of the Julian Alps right down to Venice and the Adriatic sea.”
Full results are available at srs.live.
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Source: Cross Country Magazine (xcmag.com)