Teenager sails off with top European paraglider award

A BRITISH teenager has been crowned Europe’s champion paraglider after winning a 10-day competition in Portugal. Theo Warden, 19, who learned his skills in the Peak District, beat 150 other pilots to win the title in Montalegre, and in doing so became one of its youngest winners.

After eight tasks, the Sheffield pilot scored 5,348 points, with German Torsten Siegel on 5,346. Afterwards, he said: “I can’t really believe it. I don’t really feel like I’m ready to be winning a comp. I feel very new to the comp scene, so it all feels a bit fast.

“I’m young but I still have so much to learn, and I can’t wait for it. It’s going to be an awesome experience.”

Theo’s father, John Warden, said: “I had confidence in his talent and attitude, but this level of success has come unexpectedly soon. I am so pleased for him.”

As in sailing competitions, paragliding championships ask pilots to navigate around a set course, tagging “turn points” in the air as they go. They use GPS technology to navigate and the fastest pilot around the course wins.