The FAI World XC Contest 2025 marked another exceptional year for cross-country free flight, bringing together paraglider and hang glider pilots from around the world in pursuit of distance, endurance, and the freedom of long, open routes. This season 3606 paraglider pilots and 266 hangglider pilots participated in FAI CIVL WXC. It shows a growth of 30% more in PG and 16% more in HG compared to the season of 2024.
From the thermic expanses of Brazil’s Sertão to the tricky Alpine valleys of France, Switzerland, and Italy, pilots showed how geography and season shape their achievements.
The year was defined by considerable distances and strong, consistent performances across both hemispheres — a celebration of free flying at its finest.

Paragliding XC season 2025

Overall winners - Sertao is the key

Paragliding WXC in 2025 was predictably dominated by long Brazilian free-distance flights and extensive Alpine triangle routes.
The Overall category winner, Edouard Potel (France, Ozone Enzo 3), achieved a series of FAI triangle flights from Col de l’Izoard, with his best covering 359 km. His steady flying through the French summer demonstrated the potential of Alpine air when combined with endurance and route planning.

Sebastian Benz (Switzerland, Ozone Enzo 3) took second place by dividing his season between Caicó, Brazil, and Switzerland, with a remarkable 592 km free-distance flight and multiple Alpine triangles above 280 km.
Cláudio Luis Matos Guimarães Filho (Brazil, Icepeak X-One 26) secured third with six free-distance flights from Caraúbas, reaching up to 495 km under Brazil’s powerful September skies.

Serial and Sport Classes – EN-C taking over EN-D Gliders

The Serial Class was led by Serena Ronchi (Switzerland, Ozone Photon), whose season combined free-distance flights from Assu, Brazil, up to 469 km, and flat triangles from Riederalp, Switzerland, between 280 and 325 km.
Her flights across two continents also brought her victories in the Sport and Women’s categories — a remarkable triple success!
Damian Lestarpe (Argentina, Mint) took second with six long-distance flights from Caraúbas between 317 and 404 km, while Philipp Aeschbach (Switzerland, Ozone Zeolite 2 GT) completed the podium with FAI triangles in the Swiss Alps reaching 321 km.
In the Sport Class, Gaëtan Marti (Switzerland, Ozone Photon) joined Ronchi and Lestarpe in the top three with free-distance flights from Assu up to 456 km.

Standard Class – Exploring Alps

The Standard Class, restricted to EN-B and A gliders, had similar geography.
Sandro Salathé (Switzerland, Ozone Swift Six) won with a combination of free-distance flights from Tomé, Brazil, up to 329 km, and FAI triangles from Niesen and Grindelwald around 185–190 km.
Werner Jacober (Switzerland, Ozone Swift Six) followed with six flights from Fanas between 136 and 234 km, and Markus von Mallinckrodt (Germany, Ozone Rush 6) took third with FAI triangles from Grente, Austria, up to 266 km.
Their results showed how Alpine conditions in spring and summer can sustain long cross-country flying.

Women’s XC Paragliding – Swiss leadership

The Women’s Overall, Serial and Sport  categories were once again led by Serena Ronchi (Switzerland, Ozone Photon), who achieved one of the season’s longest women’s flights with 469 km from Assu.
Stéphanie Westerhuis (Switzerland, Ozone Zeno 2) followed her with flights up to 410 km from Caicó, while Claire Garnesson (France, Ozone Lyght) rounded out the top three with a strong series of FAI triangles from Bleine and Saint-André-les-Alpes, each between 200 and 250 km.
In the Sport Women’s category, Martina Hauri (Switzerland, Ozone Lyght) joined Ronchi and Garnesson on the podium with flights from Fiesch and Fanas up to 251 km.

The Women’s Standard Class saw Gabriela Jacober (Switzerland, Ozone Swift Six) take the top spot with FAI triangles from Fanas reaching 187 km, followed by Valerie Schubert (Germany, Skywalk Cumeo 2) with flights from Greifenburg of 125 km and Lisa Fässler (Switzerland, Gin Explorer) with flights up to 133 km that she made in her home country.

All in all out of 12 podium places 8 were taken by Swiss female pilots.

Hang Gliding season 2025.

In Hang Gliding, the 2025 season highlighted the diversity of routes from Brazil’s open plains to the Alpine circuits of Europe.

The Class 1 (Flex-Wing) - Glauco did it again

The Overall winner title went to Glauco Pinto (Brazil, Laminar 14.8), with a 480 km free-distance flight from Tacima — one of the longest hang glider flights of the year — supported by multiple strong FAI triangles from Jaraguá between 216 and 242 km.
Suan Selenati (Italy, Wills Wing T3) followed with FAI triangles up to 329 km from Zoncolan and Val Secca, and Alain Chauvet (France, Icaro Laminar Z9) took third with flights from Chabre between 156 and 235 km.

Class 5 (Rigid Wings) – Alpine Cross-Country Power

The Class 5 (Rigid Wing) category saw Toni Raumauf (Austria, Atos VR) take victory with six FAI triangles from Kössen, ranging from 199 to 327 km.
Christian Voiblet (Switzerland, Atos VR) followed closely with flat triangles up to 333 km from Montoz and Col de Bleine, and Jochen Zeyher (Germany, Atos VR) took third with FAI triangles up to 272 km from Forst and Brauneck.
Their flights captured the strength of European summer conditions and the endurance required to complete large circuits under dynamic mountain air.

Class 2 (Ultralight Rigid Wings) – Performance in home skies

The Class 2 division, though small, displayed the highest efficiency in modern hang gliding.
Roger Ruppert (Switzerland, Ruppert Archaeopteryx) led with a 406 km FAI triangle and a 415 km flat triangle from Schänis during the Swiss spring. The average speed of that flight was 48 km/h with peaks up to 105 km/h.
Philipp Steinger (Switzerland, Aeriane Swift Light Electro) finished second with flat triangles up to 425 km from Buochs, while Philippe Harignordoquy (France, Ruppert Archaeopteryx) placed third with FAI triangles from Chevalet up to 327 km.
All top pilots flew during the Alpine spring and summer, making full use of long days and strong thermals.

Women’s Hang Gliding – Familiar Leaders and New Names

The Women’s Hang Gliding ranking once again featured the familiar top three:
Sasha Serebrennikova (Austria, Moyes RX Joey), who achieved flat triangles up to 155 km from Àger, Spain, and FAI triangles from Quest Air, USA.
Corinna Schwiegershausen (Germany, Moyes Litespeed RX 3 Pro) followed with flat triangles up to 162 km from Emberger Alm, Austria, and Françoise Dieuzeide-Banet (France, Moyes Litespeed RX 3) completed the top three with flights up to 100 km from Chabre.

It was also encouraging to see continued participation from Ana Carolina Franco de Oliveira (Brazil) and Stella Potgieter (France), alongside newcomers: Maya de Best (Netherlands), Nóra Péter (France), and Lison Rebouillat (France) — signaling a growing interest of women in international hang gliding scene.

More info: FAI CIVL XC Contest 2025