| Act Sports

Paragliding launch site at Envol de Provence renovated

When people think of paragliding, they picture someone floating through the sky. But a safe and smooth takeoff and landing are just as important—and those depend on a solid, reliable underground. Paragliding school Envol de Provence partnered with Vente Green to renovate its launch site. Our Evia turf improves both the resilience and safety of the 800 m² site, while seamlessly blending into the stunning surroundings.

Founded in 1983 as a hang gliding school, Envol de Provence went on to become the first paragliding school in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Run by a team of state-qualified professionals, they offer varied training programs for all skill levels—from beginners to experienced pilots.

Surface issues

In paragliding, a reliable surface is essential for a smooth takeoff and a safe landing. At one point, instructors at Envol de Provence raised concerns about the condition of their launch site. Not only was the terrain often muddy, it was also littered with hundreds of small pebbles that damaged the gliders. To maintain the high standards of their courses and ensure safety, they needed a surface that would protect both the pilots and instructors and their equipment.

Evia turf: improved resilience, natural appearance

For the renovation of its launch site, Envol de Provence partnered with Vente Green. The goal was to improve the resilience and safety of the terrain, while also maintaining its natural aesthetic. To meet these demands, Vente Green suggested Evia—a durable, realistic-looking turf with a 5/8 gauge and a unique blend of yarns and colors. For the finishing touch, 6 kilograms of Sibelco NH31 silica was added to further enhance surface durability and performance.

Construction challenges

Renovation works began in January 2024, with the team facing several challenges from the start. For example, transporting materials to the 1371-meter-high site took over four hours, as the steep slopes and rugged terrain made access difficult. Additionally, the site was exposed to powerful whirlwinds, which required the turf to be carefully stabilized. Stakes were placed along the edges to secure the turf and prevent it from lifting,

Despite these challenges, the renovation was completed in just a few days. With the new surface, instructors and pilots can once again enjoy their sky-high adventures, knowing that they will land smoothly afterwards and without damage to their equipment.

Mineral-filled football turf pitches for Dubai School Al Khawaneej in UAE

To encourage physical activity among students, Dubai School Al Khawaneej, an international school in Dubai built by Al Turath Al Aseel, invested in modern sports facilities. Act Sports supplied a sand-dressed turf system for a full-size football pitch and an additional five-a-side pitch. The installation was completed by our trusted partner, Raymond Sport.

A matter of the right infill

When the board of Dubai School Al Khawaneej was planning their new sports fields, they outlined three main requirements. The first two focused on the turf itself: it had to provide a safe and comfortable playing surface while maintaining a natural and pristine appearance at all times.

The third and most specific requirement was the use of mineral infill instead of rubber granular infill. Rubber granules can emit a strong odor in the UAE heat and tend to stick to players' skin, causing discomfort and mess in other areas such as the locker rooms or cafeteria.

A long-standing partnership

For the construction of the new pitches, Dubai School Al Khawaneej teamed up with Raymond Sport, one of the Emirates' leading sports surface installers with over 30 years of experience. This partnership brought Act Sports into the project. Since 2007, Act Sports and Raymond Sport have collaborated extensively in the UAE, delivering top-tier sports fields known for their quality and performance.

"Act Sports was the perfect partner for this project. Their turf systems, produced in European facilities, are arguably best-in-class, with proven performance, safety, and durability."

Sujit Tavkar

General Manager at Raymond Sport

A high-performance, mineral-filled pitch

Both pitches were completed in the summer of 2024. The turf system features a 32mm customized, straight duo-shaped monofilament yarn combined with a texturized yarn for a natural appearance. Installed on a prefabricated shock pad and dressed with silica sand, the system completely eliminates the need for rubber infill. With this state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, Dubai School Al Khawaneej is now well-equipped to inspire students to stay active and promote a healthy mind in a healthy body.

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SEOUL 2024: CELEBRATING OUR 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP

The Homeless World Cup (HWC) is a global football tournament organized by the Homeless World Cup Foundation, which advocates the end of homelessness through the sport. Every year, dozens of national men’s and women’s teams meet in iconic cities like Oslo, Mexico City, and Sacramento to compete for glory. And wherever they go, we go as well. Act Global and Act Sports, B.I.G.’s US and European sports turf brands, join forces to offer the teams the most natural, consistent, and comfortable player experience out there.

Maximizing our social impact

“From the very start of our sports turf activities, exactly 20 years ago, we’ve made it our mission to put smiles on people’s faces”, says John Baize, founder of Act Global. “Yes, we’re known for providing world-class turf to elite clubs in American football, baseball, soccer, field hockey, tennis, rugby, and other sports, but we bring our innovations from the professional sports arena to local communities as well. Our turf is for everyone. We feel equal satisfaction seeing kids, recreational players, homeless people, and others act on their dreams. To put it boldly, we’ve turned synthetic turf into the most inclusive recreational turf available.”

“Step by step, we’ve turned synthetic turf into the most inclusive recreational turf available.”

John Baize

Founder Act Global

Welcome to Amsterdam

It was written in the stars that a company culture marked by social commitment would soon inspire like-minded organizations to get in touch. John Baize: “When the Homeless World Cup Foundation approached us to become a partner for the 2015 tournament in Amsterdam, we didn’t have to think long. Our common passion to offer every sports enthusiast a top-notch surface signed the deal.”

For nearly a decade since, Act Global and its European co-brand Act Sports have provided professional-level sports turf for every Homeless World Cup tournament in places as far afield as Glasgow, Mexico City, and now Seoul.

Here’s to the next decade

The partnership with the Homeless World Cup is also a success internally. “Our people ensure that the turf systems that fly out to the HWC venues are the best we have to offer". “An illustration of such attention to detail is one of our colleagues who travelled to the 2023 tournament in Sacramento, got out a leaf blower in the 40-degree-Celsius Sacramento heat, and started sweeping the pitches. That same staff member also got down on his hands and knees with a knife to manicure the pitches in order to keep them pristine.”

John Baize concurs: “The energy we all get from our 10-year partnership with the Homeless World Cup is something we cherish and wish to prolong. Quite simply, it’s what our brand motto Act in line with your dreams is all about, so we look forward to next year’s edition in Oslo, Norway.”

“It is a privilege to continue our partnership with the Homeless World Cup. Having attended multiple tournaments in the past, I have witnessed the impact to players, fans and communities around the world. The tournament is absolutely amazing.”

John Baize

Founder Act Global

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