Dustin Martin, #1
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Years Flying: 15
Local Club: Arizona Hang Glider Association
Gear: Wills Wing T2 144, Wills Wing Covert, Flytec 6030
Longest Flight: 410 miles, Zapata
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: The many friends that I’ve made.
More: The social interaction with hang glider pilots has greatly influenced my life.
Dustin's Blog
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Dustin Martin, #1 Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Years Flying: 15
Local Club: Arizona Hang Glider Association
Gear: Wills Wing T2 144, Wills Wing Covert, Flytec 6030
Longest Flight: 410 miles, Zapata
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: The many friends that I’ve made.
More: The social interaction with hang glider pilots has greatly influenced my life.
Dustin's Blog -
Zac "Zippy" Majors, #2
Hometown: Portland, OR
Current: Santa Barbara, CA
Years Flying: Fall '92
Local Club: Santa Barbara Soaring Association
Gear: Wills Wing T2C 144, Wills Wing Covert, Flytec 6030
Sponsors: D|Focus, Wills Wing & Flytec
Longest Flight: 223 miles in Zapata
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: The synergy with nature and freedom you feel when you're flying over new terrain with birds, or around clouds.
More: I'm honored to represent my country and want to make all US pilots proud. Big thanks to my family, and everyone who is supporting the team.
Zippy's Video Bio -
Jeff O'Brien, #4
Hometown: Big Rock, IL
Current: Vail, CO
Years Flying: 10
Local Club: Utah Hang Gliding Association
Gear: Wills Wing T2C - Wills Wing Covert - Flytec 6030
Sponsors: Wills Wing, Flytec, KAVU, Keen & Vail Resorts.
Longest Flight: 220 miles in Utah
More: All of it! Soaring a foot off the ground at the local gravel pile or thousands of feet over mountains in an exotic country. Meeting like minded individuals from all corners of the globe that share my passion. Never forgetting how fortunate I am to travel with my flying machine and see sights most dream of. I'm thankful!
Jeff's Blog -
Jeff Shapiro, #5
Hometown: Woodinville, WA
Current: Missoula, MT
Years Flying: 19
Local Club: Missoula Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club
Gear: Wills Wing T2C, Wills Wing Covert, Flytec 6030/geko
Sponsors: Wills Wing, KAVU, KEEN, Flytec, BLUEYE and Wild Things
Longest Flight: 167 miles in Forbes
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: Flying and racing around the world exposes me to amazing people, culture and the constant opportunity to step outside my comfort zone.
More: When I'm not flying, I enjoy teaching people how to fly, trying to design Hang Gliding equipment, training raptors to hunt with my dog and me, and most of all, watching my 7 year old daughter grow like a weed.
Jeff's Blog -
Derreck Turner, #6
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Currently: Fort Myers, FL
Years Flying: Started In 1979
Local Club: The Florida Ridge
Gear: Moyes Litespeed S5
Supporters: The Florida Ridge Flight Park, Niles Farms and Moyes Gliders
Longest Flight: Big Springs Tx 140 miles (and it was only good for 9th place)
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: The personal challenge and concentration needed, always puts life in its true perspective.
More: As a weekend pilot, to be on the World Team is something that I have always desired and strived for; it is truly an honor to be on a team with such talented pilots.
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James Stinnett, #7
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Years Flying: 19
Local Club: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (LMFP) & Tenn TreeToppers (TTT)
Gear: Wills Wing T2C, Moyes Matrix Race, Flytec 6030, Princess Pod
Longest Flight: 215 miles
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: The Dynamic Challenge of staying aloft on the super light days.
More: I am really excited to have the opportunity to be on the US Team. I believe if we fly as a cohesive unit, we will be able to challenge the best in the world.
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Larry Bunner, #9
Hometown: Zion, IL
Currently: Wrightsville, PA
Years Flying: 36 years
Local Club: Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Hyner Hang Gliding Club
Gear/Sponsors: Wills Wing T2C144, Wills Wing Covert, Flytec 6030, Dusty Pod, Geko gps, Jockey
Longest Flight: 213 miles (longest east of the Mississippi in 2002) and 197 miles from The Pulpit in central PA to the Atlantic Ocean in NJ (longest in the northeast).
Favorite Aspect of Hang Gliding: I love flying in the innumerable diverse locations around the world. Whether it be the pink cliffs above Zion National Park, Invisible Mountain above Mackay , Idaho, the southern Pyrenees in the north of Spain, in the Pennsylvania Appalachians or the flats in Illinois they all offer immeasurable beauty that few in the world get to see.
More: I am so proud to get to represent our country in the world championships at such a young age!
