Bruce Goldsmith Design doubles down on the EN-C category with the launch of the BGD Tigra, a lightweight, high-performance two-liner with an aspect ratio of 6.7 and just 3.8 kg in size S. Designed to combine the demands of vol-biv and hike-and-fly racing with the relentless pace of the Sports Class Racing Series (SRS), the BGD Tigra is not simply a lightened adaptation: it has its own architecture, designed to bite into broken thermals immediately and devour transitions with responsive rear-riser control.
Technical DNA and materials
The BGD Tigra seeks the exact balance between a compact pack and clean tension in accelerated glide, thanks to a hybrid structure that combines Nitinol rods with traditional plastic reinforcements. Its profile incorporates a subtle reflex effect that adds solidity against turbulent wind without dulling the feedback that reaches the controls. It also features small winglets on the stabilos, designed to stabilise spins and channel the wingtip vortex. On the risers, the B-control system uses ergonomic carbon handles and low-friction Allen pulleys for active flying without muscle fatigue.
| Component | Material / Specification |
|---|---|
| Top surface (leading edge) | Porcher Skytex 32 g/m² |
| Top surface (main) | Porcher Skytex Classic II 27 g/m² |
| Bottom surface | Dominico Dokdo D10 (25 g/m²) |
| Internal structure | Porcher Skytex Hard Finish 27 g/m² |
| Structural reinforcements | Hybrid Nitinol + plastic rods |
| Upper lines | Edelrid Magix Pro Dry 8001U (unsheathed) |
| Risers | A: 12 mm Kevlar/Nylon / B: 7 mm + carbon handles |
| Wing weight | 3.8 kg (S) / 4.0 kg (M) |
| Projected / flat aspect ratio | 4.9 / 6.7 (70 cells) |
BGD Tigra vs Cure 3: lively agility vs inertial mass
Within the brand’s own range, the Cure 3 is the classic cross-country cruiser: a standard-weight two-liner with the solidity and durability needed to withstand abrasive launches, whose canopy mass provides a noble inertia that damps turbulence.
The BGD Tigra, on the other hand, saves around a kilogram compared with a conventional build, completely transforming its in-flight behaviour:
- Immediate climb: with no heavy inertia, the BGD Tigra does not pitch back when it bites into the thermal core; it turns the vertical gradient into clean lift instantly.
- Direct brake feel: it needs less travel and effort to tighten into steep turns, allowing you to reposition the wing inside narrow bubbles where heavier wings tend to slide out.
- Lighter B-control: flying on full bar with the BGD Tigra requires noticeably less pressure, transmitting the micro-variations of the air to your fingers without tiring your shoulders or forearms after hours of transition.
Baptism of fire: dominating the SRS
The BGD Tigra’s competition debut confirmed the design’s intentions at the top level of the Sport Class. At the SRS BGD Edition in Piedrahíta — a venue famous for its technical transitions towards Ávila and its demanding thermal convergences — Hungarian pilot Abel Varga won with authority flying the BGD Tigra, taking two task wins out of three. The wing’s sustained speed and its buoyancy along convergence lines put the BGD Young Guns team on the overall podium, confirming that its lightness does not compromise its ability to take on the leading pack in strong wind.
Flight feel - BGD Tigra
Agility and thermal turning: instant bite in broken cores
B-riser pressure: soft, restful and finely readable
Nose stability: effective reflex with winglets on the stabilos
Pack weight: 3.8 kg (size S), suitable for Hike & Fly
The verdict in the air
The BGD Tigra arrives in the Sport class to prove that a high-aspect-ratio two-liner does not have to behave like a rigid, numb board. By lightening the internal structure and refining the reflex profile, Bruce Goldsmith delivers a machine that breathes with the air mass and rewards the intuitive pilot. It is a sharp tool for those who see cross-country as a constant dialogue with the atmosphere: light enough to hike up to any wild launch, and fast and solid enough to lead a task at 60 km/h on full bar.
+ Info: bgd.world
