Paragliding Competition: Why and How to Get Started
You’ve earned your advanced pilot license, mastered thermal flying, and completed your first short cross-country flights? Why not try your hand at paragliding competitions?
You don’t need a competitive mindset, as the rewards go far beyond winning and enrich both your flying skills and life experiences.
You don’t need a competitive mindset, as the rewards go far beyond winning and enrich both your flying skills and life experiences.
Why Dive into Paragliding Competitions?
Push Your Technical and Mental Limits
Competitions require advanced piloting techniques, such as mastering thermals or navigating in groups. They also sharpen your focus and stress management, as every in-flight decision can save time, prevent accidents or collisions, or lead to landing.
Competitions require advanced piloting techniques, such as mastering thermals or navigating in groups. They also sharpen your focus and stress management, as every in-flight decision can save time, prevent accidents or collisions, or lead to landing.
Connect with a Passionate Community
Competitions bring together pilots from around the world. It’s a chance to share experiences, learn from others, and bond with fellow adventure enthusiasts. For me, this was the number one reason to compete—nothing beats reuniting with the same group of passionate pilots year after year.
Competitions bring together pilots from around the world. It’s a chance to share experiences, learn from others, and bond with fellow adventure enthusiasts. For me, this was the number one reason to compete—nothing beats reuniting with the same group of passionate pilots year after year.
Discover Exceptional Flying Sites
Competitions often take place in diverse locations across France and beyond. Start with regional circuits and Sport-level events to explore iconic sites with accessible tasks suitable for advanced pilots.
Competitions often take place in diverse locations across France and beyond. Start with regional circuits and Sport-level events to explore iconic sites with accessible tasks suitable for advanced pilots.
Progress Rapidly
Nothing accelerates progress like competition. Briefings, flight analyses, and feedback from experienced pilots help you improve with every event. Group flying also makes it easier to read air masses and discover new flight lines.
Nothing accelerates progress like competition. Briefings, flight analyses, and feedback from experienced pilots help you improve with every event. Group flying also makes it easier to read air masses and discover new flight lines.
The Thrill of the Race
Let’s be honest—racing with friends is exhilarating. The bubble of excitement during a competition, especially those intense moments in a thermal just before the start, is absolutely incredible.
Let’s be honest—racing with friends is exhilarating. The bubble of excitement during a competition, especially those intense moments in a thermal just before the start, is absolutely incredible.
How to Get Started in Paragliding Competitions?
Master the Basics of Paragliding
Before considering competitions, ensure you have a solid foundation. Train at a certified school (e.g., approved by the French Free Flight Federation - FFVL in France) and obtain your advanced pilot license.
Before considering competitions, ensure you have a solid foundation. Train at a certified school (e.g., approved by the French Free Flight Federation - FFVL in France) and obtain your advanced pilot license.
Join Cross-Country and Competition Prep Courses
Once comfortable, sign up for performance or cross-country (distance flying) courses. These teach you to read weather conditions, optimize flight paths, and find thermals—key skills for competition.
Once comfortable, sign up for performance or cross-country (distance flying) courses. These teach you to read weather conditions, optimize flight paths, and find thermals—key skills for competition.
Join a Club or League
Local or regional paragliding clubs often organize friendly competitions or introductory events. These are great entry points to experience the competition atmosphere without pressure. In France, FFVL offers departmental or regional competitions perfect for beginners.
Local or regional paragliding clubs often organize friendly competitions or introductory events. These are great entry points to experience the competition atmosphere without pressure. In France, FFVL offers departmental or regional competitions perfect for beginners.
Enter Sport-Level Competitions for Beginners
Regional circuits are ideal for learning. Tasks are straightforward, rankings are limited to Category C (sport) wings, and they allow you to gain experience.
Regional circuits are ideal for learning. Tasks are straightforward, rankings are limited to Category C (sport) wings, and they allow you to gain experience.
What Gear Do You Need for Paragliding Competitions?
Choosing the right equipment is critical for performance and safety. Here’s what you need:
The Wing
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EN-B+ or EN-C: For sport-level competitions, choose an EN-B or B+ (versatile and high-performing) or EN-C (more demanding, for advanced pilots) wing. Popular models include the Advance Sigma, Niviuk Ikuma, or Ozone Delta.
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Advanced Competition (EN-D or CCC): Competition-class wings (CCC, like the Ozone Enzo or Niviuk Icepeak) offer exceptional glide but require significant experience, as even minor collapses demand precise handling.
Tip: Select a wing suited to your skill level and annual flight hours.
The Harness
A cocoon harness is ideal for cross-country flying, offering stability and glide efficiency. Good entry-level cocoons include the Advance Lightness, Sup’air Delight, or Niviuk Arrow. High-end harnesses like the Ozone Submarine are suited for top-tier pilots using CCC wings, with smooth, aerodynamic fairings for better performance.
A cocoon harness is ideal for cross-country flying, offering stability and glide efficiency. Good entry-level cocoons include the Advance Lightness, Sup’air Delight, or Niviuk Arrow. High-end harnesses like the Ozone Submarine are suited for top-tier pilots using CCC wings, with smooth, aerodynamic fairings for better performance.
The Reserve Parachute
A lightweight, quick-deploying reserve is essential for safety. Square reserves open faster, descend slower, and are more stable. Ensure it matches your total in-flight weight (PTV).
A lightweight, quick-deploying reserve is essential for safety. Square reserves open faster, descend slower, and are more stable. Ensure it matches your total in-flight weight (PTV).
Flight Instruments
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GPS/Vario: A GPS vario with variable-radius waypoints is necessary for competitions.
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Tablet or Smartphone: Fully usable as flight instruments with apps like XCTrack or Flyskyhy.
Safety Gear
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Helmet: A certified helmet (e.g., CE EN966) is mandatory for competitions.
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Clothing: Pack warm clothing for high-altitude flights and gloves for a secure grip. Even if it’s 30°C on the ground, it can be cold near cloud base in spring.
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Radio: A VHF radio is mandatory, with the frequency announced during briefings.
Carrying Bag and Accessories
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A lightweight bag for small gear (gloves, snacks, keys, pee valve).
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Hydration (camelbak) and a pee valve or diaper are useful for maintaining focus during long flights.
Tips for Getting Started
Stay Patient: Progress in competitions takes time. Don’t pressure yourself early on. It’s all mental—chasing a win too soon often leads to landing early.
Prioritize Safety: Never fly in conditions beyond your skills or with overly advanced gear. Don’t hesitate to skip a task if conditions feel unsafe, even if it’s launched.
Compete to Learn: Even if you’re not aiming for the podium, every competition improves your skills.
Invest Gradually: Start with good-quality used gear to keep costs down, then upgrade to high-performance equipment as you gain experience. Cross-country wings depreciate quickly, and performance hasn’t changed much since 2015, so there are great deals on the market.
Prioritize Safety: Never fly in conditions beyond your skills or with overly advanced gear. Don’t hesitate to skip a task if conditions feel unsafe, even if it’s launched.
Compete to Learn: Even if you’re not aiming for the podium, every competition improves your skills.
Invest Gradually: Start with good-quality used gear to keep costs down, then upgrade to high-performance equipment as you gain experience. Cross-country wings depreciate quickly, and performance hasn’t changed much since 2015, so there are great deals on the market.
Conclusion
Paragliding competitions are an exciting adventure blending strategy, technical mastery, and camaraderie. You don’t need a competitive spirit to enjoy them—there’s nothing to “win” in paragliding, just pure joy. However, it demands sacrifices, as reaching cross-country and competition levels requires dedicating most of your free time to flying from April to August. Without this commitment, progress is nearly impossible. Every flyable day is rare and must be seized!
It’s one of the most thrilling aspects of our beautiful sport and will push you to grow. Once you have your advanced license, give competitions a try!
It’s one of the most thrilling aspects of our beautiful sport and will push you to grow. Once you have your advanced license, give competitions a try!