Howard Jones first flew in a glider as a three year old, when he and his brother Steve squeezed into a two seat Capstan with their Dad in France.

Born into the UK's foremost gliding dynasty, it is not surprising that Howard graduated into the league of top UK competition pilots. Gliding is a family affair for the 37 year-old graphic designer, their late father Ralph Jones was eight times National Gliding Champion and a member of the British team on a regular basis. Howard's older brothers Phil and Steve Jones have both secured World Championship wins in the past.

As well as being a Designer, Howard runs an aviation clothing company called 'Wingthing' with business partner Pete Masson, a former Club Class World Champion and Un-flapped classes Team Coach for the 2010 Championships.

Howard, of Hungerford, Berkshire, fly's from Lasham Gliding Society and will be competing in a Schempp Hirth Discus 2a. Although newer to competitive gliding than his two older brothers, Howard has been the British Standard Class Champion and is representing Great Britain for the second time. His highest International Gliding Commission (IGC) ranking to date is 80th.

'I went Solo as a teenager but I really wasnt that interested, it seemed everyone who told me what to do was gliding. I decided surfing seemed like a much better occupation and thats pretty much what I did for fun for ten years,' he said. 'After crewing for my brother Steve at the World Championships in New Zealand in 1995 I realised I couldnt bear to watch people compete I was itching to do it myself. I vowed I would start gliding again at the next opportunity, and at 25 I entered the British Junior nationals for the first (and last) time'.

Howard will be supported by his crew Max Kirschner in Slovakia. Max has crewed at many international competitions and should prove invaluable.