Niviuk, Advance, and Ozone Highlights at the 2025 Icare Cup
The 2025 Icare Cup, held from September 16 to 21 in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, France, once again brought together thousands of free-flight enthusiasts under a radiant alpine sky. This iconic event, considered the world’s largest festival of paragliding and ultralight air sports, provided the perfect stage for manufacturers to unveil their innovations. Among the most popular stands, Niviuk, Advance, and Ozone shone with their new offerings, blending performance, lightness, and accessibility. Whether you’re a fan of hike & fly, cross-country, or paramotoring, these brands delivered products designed for adventure and safety. Let’s dive into the highlights from each brand!
Niviuk: Innovation for Versatility
Niviuk impressed with an extensive range of new ultralight wings, modular harnesses, and clever accessories. The focus was on the P series (for "Performance Ultralight"), ideal for mountain adventures, alongside advancements for paramotoring and speed flying.
- Kode 2 P (EN/LTF A): This ultralight hiking wing maintains a playful spirit while gaining stability in pitch and roll. Perfect for beginner hike & fly pilots, it excels at low speeds and offers a wide range of sizes to suit all profiles.
- Skin 4 P (EN/LTF B): The ultimate evolution of ultralight single-skin wings, tested in extreme conditions like the K2 ascent. Compact and safe, it prioritizes lightness without compromising flight enjoyment, ideal for pilots seeking mountain challenges.
- Artik R 2 (EN/LTF C): The most accessible two-line wing on the market, inspired by competition designs. It balances performance and comfort, perfect for ambitious cross-country pilots aiming for race-like speeds without sacrificing maneuverability.
- Jester (EN 926-1): Niviuk’s first parakite! Designed for dynamic descents and proximity flying, it offers speed, agility, and control via the risers. A fun toy for creative pilots.
On the harness front, the Konvers 3 is a versatile reversible model with a footboard, ideal for thermalling and recreational flights, while the Kooper P stands out for its modularity: configurable for hike & fly, soaring, or speed flying, with an airbag and integrated reserve compartment.
For paramotors, the Wilko (DGAC/EN A), Link 3 (DGAC/EN 926-1), and Qubik 2 (DGAC/EN 926-1) cater to all levels, from beginners to progressing pilots, emphasizing stability and ease of takeoff.
Finally, the star accessory: the NDesk Cockpit, a detachable dashboard compatible with sit-in harnesses, keeping instruments and essentials within reach.
Niviuk celebrates its 20th anniversary with a cohesive, innovative, and field-tested lineup.
Ozone: Lightness and Performance for All Horizons
Ozone showcased innovations focused on extreme lightness and race-inspired designs, with wings and harnesses tailored for alpine adventures and cross-country flying.
- Alpina 5: The fifth generation of an EN B cross-country wing inspired by the two-line Delta 4. Designed for pilots traveling light, it offers optimized glide and enhanced stability. Ideal for ambitious XC flights without excessive complexity.
- Wisp 2: The second generation of this double-skin tandem wing is the lightest in the world at 4.15 kg! Built for alpine adventures and travel, it excels in impromptu launches and tricky conditions, with impressive ease of use.
- Alta GT: A rebranding of the Alta in the semi-light GT range, with new color schemes and an XXS size (50-65 kg). Perfect for lighter pilots seeking comfort and versatility in hike & fly.
On the harness side, the Forza 2 gets a makeover with a race-inspired design drawn from models like the Submarine, with a reduced price to make race-pod technology more accessible. The Sublite, an ultralight harness for competitive hike & fly, is set to arrive in autumn 2025 after promising beta tests.
Ozone also updated its Ozo 2.1 bag (and stripped-down Ozo 2.1n version) with a robust 210D fabric base, connectors for an optional OzAir protector, and a reflective striped pattern for road safety.
Advance: Focus on Harnesses and Lightweight Racing
Advance emphasized the pilot experience with test sessions for its new harnesses and iconic wings for competition. The brand unveiled two flagship novelties: the Tau DLS and the Pi ULS, strengthening its leadership in hike & fly and lightweight cross-country.
The highlight? The Tau DLS (EN C), an innovative two-line wing bridging the gap between the Sigma and Omega. With an aspect ratio of 6.5 and 73 cells, it delivers exceptional aerodynamic performance, precision in thermals, and accessible sporty handling. Equipped with Durable Lightweight Structure (DLS) technology for lasting lightness without compromising durability, it targets ambitious cross-country pilots looking to step up to high performance while staying in the EN C category.
For ultralight wings, the Pi ULS, the fourth generation of the Pi series, remains the benchmark for hike & fly. It offers a size progression in 2 m² increments, including a new 14 m² size weighing just 1.65 kg for extreme alpine adventures. Optimized materials reduce weight and packed volume, with optional ultralight risers (up to 18 m²) saving an additional 60 g. Light, agile, and high-performing, it combines flight enjoyment and efficiency for nomadic explorations.
The new harnesses complement the lineup with enhanced comfort, optimized lightness, and reinforced passive safety (airbag or adaptive foam), ideal for XC and versatile hike & fly.
Advance continues to prioritize durability and simplicity, with controlled price increases despite market constraints.
Conclusion: A Stellar 2025 Edition
The 2025 Icare Cup confirmed that paragliding is evolving toward greater lightness, modularity, and accessibility, while preserving the community’s passion. Niviuk excels in versatile hike & fly, Ozone in tandems and lightweight XC, and Advance strengthens its expertise in harnesses and racing with wings like the Tau DLS and Pi ULS. Get ready for your next flights! Which innovations excite you the most? Share in the comments.
Article written on September 29, 2025, based on official announcements.