Elite pilots battling in the skies above Andalusia
The 2025 Paragliding World Cup in Algodonales, located within driving distance of Costa Ballena Golf & Beach Resort, is currently in progress with top pilots competing in the Andalusian skies. The competition, which began on May 10th and continues through May 17th, has already delivered spectacular flying and fierce competition as the first event of the 2025 World Cup season.
Competition Underway
The competition kicked off with registration and a welcome briefing on Saturday, May 10th, followed by the first competitive tasks beginning on Sunday, May 11th. The daily schedule includes morning meteorological briefings at 10:00, followed by transport to the takeoff sites, with tasks running from 12:30 to 21:00 each day.
Baptiste Lambert claimed victory in Task 1 and he is leading the race with just five days remaining in the competition.
Elite Field of Competitors
Over 120 of the world’s top pilots are participating in this prestigious event. The competition features a star-studded lineup including Honorin Hamard (world number one according to FAI ranking), Sep Ospina (world number two), and Baptiste Lambert (world number four).
The local contingent is well-represented by junior world champion Marcelo Sanchez Vilchez and Spain’s top-ranked pilot Alvaro Romero Camacho. In the women’s category, France’s Constance Mettetal is competing alongside American pilots Violeta Jimenez and Alexia Fischer, all vying for top honors.
Competition Format
Each day follows a structured schedule, with pilots gathering for meteorological briefings before heading to the takeoff sites on Sierra de Líjar. The competition tasks typically begin at 12:30 and can continue until 21:00, taking full advantage of the region’s excellent flying conditions.
The headquarters for the event is located in the Multipurpose Center in Algodonales, serving as the central hub for briefings, scoring, and competition management. The competition’s safety and retrieve systems are carefully managed to ensure pilots can focus on their performance.
Historic Significance
This marks the first time Algodonales has hosted a full World Cup event, though it previously hosted a pre-World Cup competition last year. As the first of five PWC stops planned for the 2025 season, the results here will set the tone for the entire competitive year leading up to the Superfinal in Pegalajar in May 2026.
The competition will conclude on May 17th with an awards ceremony scheduled for 21:00, where the winners of this opening round of the 2025 Paragliding World Cup will be celebrated.
https://pwca.events/paragliding-world-cup-spain-algodonales-2025/