With events like the SRS Ozone Edition behind us and the British Winter Open still under way, here’s a look ahead into February – and a little bit of March – at what’s next in the free-flight calendar
The over-water slalom paramotor course in Qatar. Image: 6wpsc.com
FAI World Paramotor Slalom Championships
Qatar is hosting the fast and the furious of the paramotoring world at this over-water event in Doha. Fifty-six pilots from 15 countries will compete for FAI gold medals and the world championship title. It will be broadcast live online and expect an avalanche of high profile social media. Opening ceremony is on 3 February with the first competition day on 7 February. Contenders, are you ready?
www.6wpsc.com
Roldanillo … Colombia’s principal home for paragliding and hang gliding competition. Photo: Airtribune
Niviuk Roldanillo Open 2024, Colombia
4-11 February
Roldanillo is home to many paragliding and hang gliding events in Colombia. Pilots will fly the foothills of the Cordillera Occidental and above the sugarcane fields of the Cauca Valley at this pre-PWC event. It follows a month of competition in Colombia, which has included the Sports Class Racing Series and the British Winter Open.
airtribune.com
Power up …. The AFC is an event like no other. Photo: arizonaflyingcircus.com
Arizona Flying Circus
15-18 February
This Burning Man-style paramotor fly-in attracts scores of pilots to a remote airstrip in the Sonoran Desert, USA. Includes costumes, explosions and a “bowling ball cannon”.
arizonaflyingcircus.com
Pre-PWC … High level competition flying around Mt Elliot. Photo: Airtribune
Pre PWC Corryong Open
18-24 February
Pilots will compete at one of the “best Alpine flying sites” in Australia: Mt Elliot. This high-level, Cat 2 competition is just a few thermal glides from Australia’s highest mountain and is a well-known competition venue.
airtribune.com
Valle de Bravo … Mexico’s world-class competition venue
El Peñon Classic Race
18-24 February
This dual Sport Class and Open Class hang gliding comp is held in the skies above the beautiful lakeside town of Valle de Bravo, Mexico. It’s a chance for all levels of competent pilot to go wing-tip to wing-tip in a world-class competition venue.
airtribune.com
Wanaka … Three days of hike-and-fly fun in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Photo: Wanakahikefly.nz
Wanaka Hike-and-Fly Race
16-19 February
The fourth edition of this three-day hike-and-fly race returns to the Southern Alps of New Zealand with Kinga Masztalerz as race director once again. A fun race suitable for both high-level athletes and leisure pilots. Live tracking lets you follow along wherever you are.
wanakahikefly.nz
Stubai Cup 2024
1-3 March
The first big testival of the season will see hundreds of pilots converge on the beautiful Stubai Valley in Austria to test-fly new wings. It’s a good opportunity to see what the makers have been up to over winter and to test-fly some new gliders.
parafly.at
Paragliding World Cup Super Final
5-16 March
The Paragliding World Cup Super Final lands in Baixo Guandu, Brazil for its 13th edition. Some 125 pilots will compete in this tropical “megathermal” climate to crown the champions for the 2023/24 season.
pwca.events
