I Started Flying at the Age of 9 and Today I’m Ranked Second in the World

April is coming, and for us, April is the month that announces the new spring and summer adventures. You agree, right? April is the month that brings cycling, diving, kayaking, or even flying. Today, we’ll share a 'flying' story with you, or rather, introduce you to a person who is as much on the ground as they are in the air.

"Meet Borjan Jovanovski, a young and successful paraglider who, after a series of achievements and victories in world-class competitions, managed to reach second place on the world rankings. In the previous competition year (2019), he won 10 medals from a total of 12 competitions. This earned him a lot of points and propelled him to second place on the world rankings.

Borjan says for our travel blog that paragliding is a part of his everyday life, something he is fully dedicated to. His beginnings date back to when he was 9 years old, starting his training and making his first flight from a school field.

He says that throughout history, people have been searching for and discovering ways to achieve flight, to become "birds." Even as a child, he realized that this sport is different from others, offering something that no other sport can provide. He comes from a sporting family, a family completely dedicated to paragliding.

Watching his father and brother reach great heights, he too desired to experience the freedom of flying.

There was no skepticism in the support he received. The success he proudly carries today is due to the support of his family, as well as the International Slavic University, which, in addition to education, provides support in sports. With their help, he was able to acquire new equipment, which played a significant role in achieving these results.

Kruševo is the place where he conducts most of his training. The Kruševo Mountain and Pelagonia region offer excellent conditions for paragliding, with thermal currents and favorable winds in this area creating an ideal climate for the sport. This is confirmed by the fact that every year, many paragliding competitions are held in Kruševo, and it has become a well-known tourist destination for paragliders from around the world.

This year, in 2021, their club "Paragliding Club Delta" will organize the World Championship in Precision Landing, which is scheduled to take place in October. According to the rules, the competition will last for fourteen days.

The competition will focus on precision landing, where competitors must aim to land at the center of a designated target. The results from all rounds are collected, and the winner is the one with the fewest negative points, i.e., the one who lands closest to the center of the target.

Borjan says that around 130 participants from 28 different countries are expected, making it a spectacular event. This will be one of the opportunities for those who want to get informed and learn more about paragliding.

The Paragliding Club Delta has achieved remarkable accomplishments on a global scale and is the most successful club in aviation sports in our country. The International Aeronautical Federation has been monitoring the club's quality over the years, and it is thanks to their reputation that they were given the honor to organize this event.

Pelagonia, on the other hand, offers vast relief conditions for paragliding, with more than four takeoff sites, as well as favorable weather conditions that allow for over 300 flying days throughout the year.

Due to the COVID pandemic, all competitions in the past year, 2020, were canceled. However, the dates for the European and World Cups for the current year, 2021, have already been confirmed, with the hope that they will take place as planned. Borjan hopes to maintain this continuity of good results and is confident that he will soon reach the top of the world rankings.

Tandem paragliding is the easiest, simplest, and safest way to experience the magic of flying, says Borjan, adding that no prior knowledge or experience is required for tandem paragliding. Anyone can try it, from 7 to 77 years old. After a 10-minute briefing on the procedure and equipment, you will be ready to fly as a passenger alongside your paragliding instructor. All the passenger needs to do is enjoy the views, the freedom, and the feeling of being a bird.