​​1. General, Safety and Framework of the Event

The WANDERBIRD Trophy is an extreme sports event. The Trophy combines speedhiking & paragliding, which is done several times in a row during the event. Starting from the event area in the valley, the participants start towards the first paragliding take-off point. Several turnpoints have to be completed in a given order.

Participation involves significant risks, including serious injury or death. Each participant takes part entirely at their own responsibility and risk.​

Each participant must have sufficient physical condition and experience in paragliding and alpine terrain. Participants acknowledge that the starting conditions place high demands on flying skills and require high-altitude flying experience.

The permission to start depends on the acceptance of the conditions of participation and the rules listed here.

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2. Categories

For each trophy, the participant has the choice to compete in one of three categories. FUN, TOUR or HERO. ​

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2.1 FUN 

Amateur paraglider who prefers to fly rather than go up. Category for pilots with good flying experience, launching & landing skills (alpine launch sites & small landing area).

• Sporting challenge:

  • 1 lap with with or without mountain lifts 

  • complete all given turnpoints and glide off

• Motivation: Not the placing, but the fun of participating in a Hike & Fly competition is in the foreground.

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2.2 TOUR

Hike & Fly enthusiasts for whom a gondola would never be an option. Category for experienced paragliders & trained endurance athletes.

• Sporting challenge:

  • 1 lap without mountain lifts

  • Complete all given turnpoints and glide off

• Motivation: Fun at the sportive challenge is in the foreground

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2.3 HERO

Ambitious Hike & Fly athletes. Category for very experienced paragliders & very trained endurance athletes. HERO category could be a FAI cat. 2 event, regulated also on the FAI Sporting Code, Section 7 & 7L.

• Sporting challenge:

  • 2 laps or 1 special lap without mountain lifts

  • Complete all given turnpoints and glide off

• Motivation: Personal best performance & sportive competition are in the foreground.​

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3. Liability and Responsibility 

Participation involves significant risk.

Each participant:

• is responsible for personal decisions and safety

• is responsible for regulatory compliance

• must read and accept the official terms and conditions of participation.

The organization assumes no liability for personal injury, death, material damage, or consequential damages except where mandatory law applies.

The organizer reserves the right to interpret these rules and make final decisions in case of disputes.

 

4. Event and Program

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4.1 Starter package and check-in

The distribution of the starter package and the check-in will take place the day before the WANDERBIRD Trophy. The GPS trackers will be handed out on race day in the morning. For an updated time schedule check the event page.

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​4.2 Briefing

On the day before/day of arrival there will be a mandatory pilot briefing for all participants. For an updated time schedule check the event page.

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4.3 Event planning

Each event has its own schedule, and the details can be found on the event page.

 

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5. Race Course

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5.1 Route

The route leads the participants partly into exposed positions. It is therefore recommended to inform yourself in advance about the condition, the course and the dangers that can lurk on the route. Caution is generally advised! Questions about the route are to be asked at the "briefing" to avoid ambiguities.
All athletes must complete the turnpoints in the given order. When reaching a turnpoint, a photo must be taken in front of the turnpoint sign as proof. The choice of the route between the turnpoints is left to the athletes themselves (unless otherwise defined at the briefing).
Since the choice of route is left to the athletes themselves, the route will only be partially signposted.

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5.2 Route rules 

The inspection and training on the route is the responsibility of the respective athlete and has to be done under consideration of the rights of the neighbors and property owners.
Turnpoints & Waypoints are available for download at the respective event. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the route in detail and to train on it.

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5.3 Waypoints

Waypoints for each course will be posted on the event page.

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5.4 Distance 

Find the details at the respective event.

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5.5 GPS tracking 

The ranking is made directly by the GPS tracker given by the organisation. It is the participant's responsibility to provide a second GPS track if the tracker’s data fails or if they dispute an airspace/forbidden zone violation.

All GPS trackers issued by the organizer must be returned immediately after the end of the race to the designated return point. If GPS trackers are lost or not returned, € 250,- will be charged per tracker.

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6. Safety of the Course 

 

To ensure the safety of all participants and bystanders, special care must be taken when selecting alternative landing areas – i.e., those located outside of the landing points clearly defined and marked by the organizer.

Should a landing outside the designated zones become necessary (e.g., due to weather conditions, loss of thermals, or safety-relevant situations), the following criteria must be observed:

• No landing near crowds: Public areas such as hiking trails, spectator areas, parking lots, or event spaces must be avoided without exception.

• Public spaces and inner-city areas such as city squares, playgrounds, schoolyards, or parks are not suitable as alternative landing areas.

• Landing areas must be sufficiently large, clearly visible, and free of obstacles (power lines, fences, trees, houses).

• It must be ensured that neither people nor property are endangered.

• In case of doubt, a controlled abort or an intermediate landing in a safe location is always preferable to a risky landing on unsuitable terrain.

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The same criteria apply to the selection of launching places not marked by the organizer.

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7. Race Regulations

 

7.1 Fairness

Unfair or dangerous actions of any kind towards other participants will result in immediate disqualification. We wish that the participants support each other in case of an accident and that first aid is provided.

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7.2 Aids

The use of aids (motorized ascent aids, weights for paragliding, doping etc. (demonstrative enumeration)) as well as external aids of any kind are strictly forbidden.

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7.3 Paragliding rules

​For the paragliding competition the normal paragliding rules as well as the Code Sportive are valid. Pilots must comply with aviation rules, airspace restrictions, and other local regulations presented during the mandatory briefing, without claiming to be exhaustive.

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7.4 Doping 

The anti-doping regulations have to be observed.

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7.5 Support

The participant is allowed to get support (water, food,..) from other people.

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7.6 Penalties and disqualification

In case of non compliance with the rules, the race committee reserves the right to adjust the penalties according to the severity and underlying intentions. 

A penalty may also be given in the case that the race committee thinks the conduct of the pilot was dangerous for his/her health (strong wind, thunderstorms, etc.). This penalty may be applied during the race or later, after verification of the tracks. 

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7.7 Sponsoring

It is forbidden for each participant to cover or remove any sponsor surface of the organizer (start numbers, banners, headbands etc.). It is forbidden to place sponsors from outside the event along the course.

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8. Ranking and Price Money

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8.1 Ranking 

In a total of six different classifications, women & men will be judged in the three categories Fun, Tour, Hero.
The ranking is determined in the order of pilots' arrival. The winning pilot is the one who completes the course in the shortest time. The timing is recorded when the pilot enters the arrival waypoint radius, with potential penalties applied. If no pilot completes the entire course, the ranking will be based on the remaining distance to the goal. The distance will be measured regardless of whether the pilot is on the ground or in the air at the time limit.
More information about the system can be found on burnair.

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8.2 Overall Ranking 

​The overall ranking combines all Trophy events. Your total points will be calculated from your results across all events of the season. You'll be included in the rankings even if you compete in just one event.

Every race counts - join us for as many events as you can to maximize your chances of achieving your best scores!

The top three in the overall ranking men and women in each category will be rewarded during an official ceremony, celebrating their perseverance and achievements throughout the season.

• ​The 2026 season starts January 1st 2026.

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8.3 Scoring system​​​

The burnair points system is used. The points system ensures that the performance of the participants is fairly assessed, both for those who reach the goal and for those who do not quite make it.

• More information about the system can be found on burnair.

​​​When upgrading to a higher category in trophies (FUN to TOUR or TOUR to HERO), 50% of the accumulated points are carried over and count towards the annual ranking of the new category.

In case of a tie in trophies rankings, the following criteria apply:

1. Higher number of first places

2. Higher number of second places

3. Higher number of third places

4. Higher number of participations

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8.4 Prize money 

The top 3 of each event rankings in the category "Hero" (women and men) will win prize money.
Paragliding is a sport where men and women can compete together, and we are convinced that performance has no gender. However, we create separate male and female rankings, which is why we have tried to find a fair system for men and women.
It is also our way of promoting female participation in hike and fly events. 
As soon as 30% of the participants are women, the prize money is divided equally between men and women. Below 30% of women, the amount awarded is calculated by a defined mathematical formula.
Total prize money for each Trophy event in the HERO category: 2.000 € 

For participants who do not have their primary residence in Austria, we have to pay 20% of the respective prize money to the tax office. The participant can subsequently reclaim this 20 % from the tax office. We're happy to assist with any questions.

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9. Bad weather, Race Change, Protest and Change of Regulations

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9.1 Bad weather variant

The WANDERBIRD Trophy will take place in all weather conditions. If the competition is no longer sufficiently safe due to whatever circumstances (weather, etc.), the course can be relocated, shortened, only partially scored or completely cancelled. Which variant is used depends on the individual situation. In case of an event cancellation, there is no alternative competition day. Optionally, due to better flying weather, the competition day can be moved from Saturday to Sunday.

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9.2 Protest

All disputed issues will be decided exclusively by the race committee. Protests are to be submitted in writing on race day until 5 minutes after the end of the race at the race office (tent GPS issue) for a fee of € 100,-. No further appeal is allowed against the final decision of the race committee.

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9.3 Race change

For safety reasons, the race committee reserves the right to change the course at any time, to cancel a competition or to evaluate it only partially. The course will be adapted to the weather conditions and to the flying conditions.

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9.4 Change of Regulations

The race committee reserves the right to change or amend these regulations at any time if necessary for the organization of the event. The participants will be informed as soon as possible. 

 

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10. Members of the Race Committee, Race Committee, Overall Management & Organizers

​Element5 GmbH is the organizer of the event.

Part of the race committee and of the overall management are: 

• Paul Guschlbauer (paul@wanderbird.io) - Sports Director

• Dominik Brandstetter (dominik@wanderbird.io) - Event management

Wanderbird Team - February 2026