The super finals day lived up to expectations as the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals 2015 culminated with the champions winning their titles amid a breathtaking atmosphere in Salzburg. No kerosene, no engine, just a regular A4 sheet of paper and a pilot throwing it was all that was required to win the title.
Watch highlights from the World Finals in the video player below.
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The World Finals did not disappoint, setting the stage for performances that captivated the fans filling the iconic Hangar-7 to capacity for the fourth edition of the event.
The world’s paper-plane elite finally gathered in Austria following a gruelling 535 qualifiers and more than 46,000 contenders worldwide. The 200 athletes who made it to Salzburg certainly delivered a night to remember.
Veselin Ivanov, of Bulgaria, dethroned champion Thomas Back in the longest distance category, even though the Czech edged close to a world record with his second throw. Ivanov kept his cool in an electrifying atmosphere to win with a throw of 53.22m ahead of Jovica Kozlica, from Croatia, and Japan’s Yuki Kajiya, who managed third thanks to his plane’s unique design.
I did not expect this and I cannot believe I won. It is such a dream come true for me
– Veselin Ivanov
The aerobatics category was equally tight with the winner, Lebanese Avedis Tchamitchian, seemingly defying the laws of physics as he landed a maximum 50 points.
I am overwhelmed. The judging was so fair for every participant. Just awesome. I will definitely be back in 2018 to defend my title
“As judges we're looking for three things: We're looking for the construction, the creativity and the flight performance,” said internet sensation Zach King, one of five judges. Double Olympic champion sailor Hans Peter Steinacher added: “It is amazing what some of the competitors come up with. Sensational ideas. I am fascinated by the creativity on show.”
There was a nail-biting finale for the longest airtime title, the narrowest seen at the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals, with Armenian Karen Hambardzumyan snatching victory with a 14.36 second flight, ahead of Ma Ieng, from Hong Kong, whose plane lasted 13.76 seconds in the air. Japan’s Yohei Hayashi was third.
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