1. Scope of Application 

The Terms and Conditions of Participation, in the version valid at the time of registration, form an integral part of the contract between Element5 GmbH and the persons who register as participants. They apply to all participants in the version current on the day of the event. 

​​

​

2. Type of Event 

Participants are aware that the WANDERBIRD Trophy is a high-alpine hike & fly event. Participants acknowledge that the starting conditions place high demands on flying skills and require high-alpine flying experience.

​

​

3. Participation Requirements, Sports Equipment 

​

3.1 Eligibility to participate 

Anyone who is at least 18 years of age, has successfully registered, and meets the requirements specified in the rules and conditions of participation, and has read and accepted these, is eligible to participate. 

​

3.2 Physical Condition and Flying Skills 

By registering, participants confirm that they have the knowledge required to start the Trophy, that they are physically and mentally fit to do so, and that they have sought medical advice in case of doubt. On the day of the event, participants will only compete if they are healthy and in sufficient physical condition.  

​

3.3 Pilot License

Each participant must hold a valid (international) pilot license, e.g., IPPI card 5, which meets the requirements for the event. The participant is aware of the legal requirements for the relevant license and is responsible for ensuring that they hold the necessary pilot license. 

​

3.4 Equipment, Type Certifications

Furthermore, each participant is responsible for the functionality of their flying equipment (paraglider). Each participant confirms to the organizer that their paraglider, harness, helmet, and rescue system meet the conditions required by the organizer.  

All flying equipment must be certified:

1. Paraglider: EN 926-2 and 926-1 or LTF 91/09; For reasons of safety and fairness, only certified paragliders (up to max. EN D / LTF 2-3) may be flown by all pilots in the weight range. In addition, the original trim must not have been manipulated to gain an advantage.

2. Harness: EN 1651 with certified protection or LTF 91/09  

3. Rescue system: EN 12491 or LTF 91/09

4. Helmet: EN 966, EN 1077 A-B.

Participants must always carry or have with them their mandatory equipment, consisting of the following items:

•    Paraglider

•    Harness including protector

•    Rescue system

•    Helmet

•    A cell phone with an official number as an emergency contact and   WhatsApp application

•    Live Tracker (provided by the organization).

The organizer may check the pilot's equipment at any time.

 

3.5 Compliance with Aviation Regulations

All relevant national aviation regulations and provisions apply, including airspace restrictions, VFR rules, equipment certifications, and local regulations.

Serious violations may result in immediate disqualification and possible reporting to the authorities.

Participants are solely responsible for complying with the regulations. 

 

4. Registration and Conclusion of Contract

​

4.1 Registration Procedure

The registration period for the respective WANDERBIRD Trophy will be announced on the organizer's website. It is expressly pointed out that registrations can only be considered if all participants are registered with complete details and the participation fee has been received in full in the organizer's account. If this is not the case, the registration is considered not to have been received. 

​

4.2 Conclusion of Contract

The contract with the organizer is concluded when the participation fee has been received and the participant has received confirmation of participation.

​

4.3 Registration Process

Registration is only possible via the online registration form on our website www.wanderbird.io. Registrations received by email, post, fax, or telephone will not be accepted. During the registration period, the current list of participants with the starting places confirmed at that time will be published on our website. The organizer reserves the right to exclude individuals from participation at any time without giving reasons.

​

4.4 Selection

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis – the number of participants is limited. The total number of participants is limited to 120 pilots. For events that count towards the Austrian or German Hike & Fly Championships, 25% of the available places are reserved for pilots from other countries (countries other than that of the organizer). The registration deadline for foreign pilots is 15 days before the start of the respective competition.

 

​

5. Costs, Refund of Participation Fee, Withdrawal, Revocation 

​

5.1 Costs

The individual entry fee for the respective WANDERBIRD Trophy event is published on the respective event page at www.wanderbird.io.

​

5.2 Non-payment, Cancellation, or Non-appearance

In the following cases, we understand the declaration or behavior of the participant – regardless of whether the person registering or the participant is entitled to do so – as a final waiver of the right to start and participate in the event:

• If the person registering or the participant does not fulfill their payment obligations despite a reminder with a deadline (in text form);

• or if participants declare that they do not wish to adhere to the contract for participation in a sporting event (e.g., by declaration of termination or withdrawal);

• or if they cancel participation in the sporting event;

• or if they do not exercise the right to start without cancelling (non-appearance).

 

5.3 Refund of Participation Fee 

If a participant withdraws from participation one month before the event, the participation fee will be refunded in full. After this date, no refund is possible. 

If a participant does not show up, there is no entitlement to a refund of the participation fee. If participants declare that they will not be starting, for whatever reason, they are only entitled to a refund or reimbursement of the participation fee up to 14 days before the event. The same applies in the event of exclusion or disqualification of participants. 

​

5.4 Revocation

There is no statutory right of revocation in accordance with § 18 (1) (10) FAGG.

 

​

6. Insurance

​

6.1 Mandatory Insurance

Participants confirm that they have valid owner liability insurance,  mountain rescue insurance, and health insurance that covers the costs of paragliding accidents and search and rescue operations. In addition, we strongly recommend that participants have accident insurance that covers both paragliding and mountaineering in high alpine terrain.  

​

6.2 Note on Private Accident Insurance

Participants are advised that private accident insurance policies generally do not provide coverage for accidents occurring during participation in competitions or similar event formats, nor for accidents involving the use of paragliders.

​

6.3 No Coverage by the Organizer

Furthermore, the liability insurance concluded by the organizer does not provide insurance coverage for participants in the event of accidents that are not attributable to a breach of the organizer's duty of care resulting in liability on the part of the organizer. If the participant wishes to obtain insurance coverage for these risks, they are solely responsible for acquiring such coverage at their own expense.

 

​

7. Risk Note and Self-Responsibility of the Pilot 

​

7.1 Risk

Participants are aware that paragliding and (high) alpine mountaineering are inherently dangerous activities that can lead to serious injury or death. They are aware of the risks associated with changes in weather, difficult terrain, and physical exhaustion.

​

7.2 Self-Responsibility of the Pilot

Participants are aware that they are the "responsible pilot" at all times. They are solely responsible for all their decisions – including, but not limited to: assessment of weather conditions, choice of take-off and landing sites, flight route, and the decision to start or abort a flight.  

​

​

8. Safety on the Routes

Participants are aware that, in accordance with the event announcement, the organizer is only responsible for the permission to use the event locations, in particular the take-off and landing sites, but cannot provide any guarantee for the function, special condition, or securing of the same.

Insofar as public roads or traffic areas must be used/entered, the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung) must be observed.

Participants may generally only take off and land at take-off and landing sites designated by the organizer. Only unscheduled outlandings or emergency landings may be carried out at alternative landing sites. To ensure the safety of all participants and bystanders, special care must be taken when selecting alternative landing sites – i.e., those located outside the landing sites 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-related situations), the following criteria must be observed:

• No landing near crowds: Public areas such as hiking trails, spectator areas, parking lots, or event areas.

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

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

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

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

 

​

9. Support 

Participants may receive outside support (e.g., for water and food or similar).

​

​

10. Live Tracking und SOS Function 

​

10.1 Mandatory Live Tracking

Tracking must remain active throughout the entire duration of the event. It is the responsibility of the participants to keep the tracker charged and functional. In the event of a failure, participants must immediately inform the organizer and provide backup GPS data upon request. Intentional manipulation or unexplained gaps in tracking may lead to disqualification.

​

10.2 No Safety Guarantee 

Participants are aware that the live tracking provided is a tool for coordination and participant tracking and does not constitute a guarantee for immediate rescue. In an emergency, participants are responsible for triggering a rescue via the SOS function of the tracker and primarily by means of a mobile phone. 

​

​

11. Emergency

​

11.1 Emergency Protocol

In an emergency, participants first call the official European emergency number 112 or the number of the regional mountain rescue service. Live tracking can support the coordination of the rescue but does not guarantee immediate rescue. Participants must be able to perform a basic self-rescue or have knowledge of the steps to be initiated.

​

11.2 Rendering Assistance

Rendering assistance to a participant in distress is always permitted and expected – provided that the safety of the person helping can be guaranteed. Safety takes precedence over personal progress. Time lost due to first aid measures can be taken into account by the organization when confirming the finisher status.

​

​

12. Briefings 

Participants confirm that they will participate in the mandatory briefings and accept and comply with all information, prohibitions, rules, etc., contained therein.

​

​

13. Exclusion of the Participants by the Organizer  

The organizer may exclude participants from the race if: 

1. the participant violates the rules and/or the regulations and instructions communicated to the participant before or during the event, or behaves unfairly;

2. the participant acts contrary to the instructions of the event management or the staff;  

3. or if the participant persistently disrupts the execution of the event or endangers themselves or others. 

​

​

14. Adjustments to the Event Procedure and Force Majeure 

​

14.1 Principle

The WANDERBIRD Trophy takes place in all weather conditions. Should the competition no longer be sufficiently safe due to external circumstances (weather, etc.), the route may be relocated, shortened, only partially scored, or completely cancelled. Which variant is used depends on the respective situation. In the event of a complete cancellation of the event, there is no alternative date. Optionally, the competition day can be moved from Saturday to Sunday due to better flight conditions.

​

14.2 Adjustments to the Event Procedure

Element5 GmbH is entitled and, if necessary, even obliged to relocate the event in terms of time and/or location, to shorten it, to cancel it in whole or in part, completely or temporarily, to partially close it or to cancel it in justified exceptional situations. The organizer will notify participants of such changes – as far as possible – in advance by email or WhatsApp and provide information on the relevant website. 

​

14.3 Force Majeure

If the organizer is entitled in cases of force majeure, or obliged due to official orders for which it is not responsible, or for safety reasons, to make changes to the execution of the event that make an economic execution impossible or to cancel it in whole or in part, the organizer shall have no obligation to pay damages to the participants. In these cases, the organizer may withdraw starting rights, exclude individual or all participants from the event, and/or withdraw from the contract.  

​

14.4 Refund

If the event must be cancelled for safety reasons or due to force majeure, the participation fee will be refunded minus the organizational costs already incurred and non-refundable.

​

​

15. Image and Sound Recordings, Data Processing 

 

15.1 General Processing of Personal Data

The personal data provided during registration (surname, first name, address, date of birth, gender, nationality, club, email address, bank details, and, if applicable, telephone number) will be collected, stored, and processed by the organizer for the organization, execution, and billing of the event. The processing is based on Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR (fulfillment of a contract).

​

15.2 Deletion and Data Security

Insofar as these are available to the organizer, account details will be used exclusively for payment processing and deleted after successful debiting. Otherwise, personal data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required for the stated purpose, provided that no legal retention obligations prevent this.

​

15.3 Publication of Participant Data

The participant agrees that their surname, first name, year of birth, participation category (Fun, Tour, Hero), place of residence, placement, and time may be published in official start and result lists (print, online, apps). The legal basis for this is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in a transparent presentation of results).

​

15.4 Photographic and Audiovisual Recordings

Participants may be filmed, photographed, and/or interviewed at the sports events by us or by service providers commissioned by us. We may use the photographs, film recordings, and interviews created (hereinafter: recordings) for event reporting and marketing. The recordings may be used by us offline and online as well as in social networks, including but not limited to: newsletters, photo and video impressions of the event, highlight videos, and press releases. The recordings will also be shown on our website and our social media profile. 

Participants may object to the processing of their recordings at any time. 

​

​

16. Liability

​

16.1 Unlimited Liability  

The organizer is liable for intent and gross negligence. For slight negligence, the organizer is liable for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health of persons.

​

16.2 Limitation of Liability 

In the case of slight negligence, the organizer is otherwise only liable for the breach of an essential contractual obligation, the fulfillment of which enables the proper execution of the contract in the first place and on the observance of which the participants may regularly rely (cardinal obligation). Liability for slight negligence is limited in amount to the damages foreseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract, the occurrence of which must typically be expected. This limitation of liability also applies in favor of the vicarious agents of Element5 GmbH.

​

16.3 Property Damage/Valuables

No liability is accepted for loss, theft, or damage to objects (e.g., clothing, equipment, valuables, equipment handed in at the bag depot); participants are responsible for sufficient insurance coverage.

​

​

17. Sponsoring

It is prohibited to place sponsors not associated with the event along the route.

​

​

18. Final Provisions

​

18.1 Severability Clause

Should one or more provisions of these terms and conditions of participation be or become invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall otherwise remain unaffected.

​

18.2 Applicable Law

Austrian law shall apply to all legal relationships between the participant and the organizer, to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and the referral norms of international private law. 

For consumers, this choice of law only applies insofar as it does not restrict any mandatory legal provisions of the state in which the consumer has their habitual residence.

​

18.3 Place of Jurisdiction

The place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with these conditions is – as far as legally permissible – the registered office of Element5 GmbH at the time the contract is concluded. 

​​​​

​

Wanderbird Team - February 2026

​