Sky, dust, and determination in Porterville — race-to-goal days, campsite vibes, and big smiles from the 2025 comp.

Just a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure I'd be standing on a launch site at all this season, let alone competing in the prestigious Porterville Paragliding Competition.

On the 17th of November, my world was upended by a bicycle accident that left me with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. For a pilot, that's more than just a physical injury; it's a sentence to stay grounded while the best thermals of the year begin to fire. I spent a month wondering if I'd even be able to pull a glider into the air.

But paragliding has a way of calling you back. I arrived in Porterville for the practice day, feeling tentative. I took my PHI Scala X-Alps — an easier, more forgiving wing than my newly acquired competition beast, the Zeno 2 — and went for a test XC flight. The post-frontal air was kind, my body held up, thermalling felt good and pushing the bar felt even better. There was no doubt, I was staying for the week.

I didn't go into this paragliding competition to win a trophy. I went because I missed the community, the 22 Waterfalls campsite vibe, and the simple joy of chasing a goal line across the Olifants River Valley. Here is how an incredible eight days in Porterville unfolded.

Eight Days in the Valley: An Overview

The 2025 event was a true test of patience and skill. While some pilots managed to fly 8 out of the 8 days I was there (including the practice day), the official scoring saw five tasks completed out of a possible seven. We dealt with everything from booming post-frontal conditions to two frustrating days of cancellations due to weather.

For me, the week was about personal milestones. I flew 6 out of 8 days, and while I made a couple of mistakes on a few days, I loved every second of it. Porterville paragliding is legendary for its reliability, but this week proved that you still have to respect the elements and fly with your head as much as your heart.

The Task-by-Task Grind

Task 1: The Opening Salvo (14 Dec)

The competition kicked off with a 75 km Race to Goal. With 88 pilots in the air, the sky was a mosaic of colour. Mathias Ioualalen (REU) made an immediate statement, winning the day with 997.4 points. It was a day that favoured the bold but required precision — 33 pilots reached the goal.

Community highlight: Bruce Zaayman (GBR — such a loss for RSA 😉) pulled off what many thought was impossible, taking 8th overall on an EN-C wing (Skywalk Mint) against a field of high-performance CCC gliders. It was a clear reminder that in a South African paragliding competition, pilot skill is often the ultimate equaliser.

I landed on my way to goal after tagging the last turn point — it was a silly choice of line after working so hard to get to Citrusdal.

Task 2: The Sprint (15 Dec)

Task 2 was a shorter, more intense 42.6 km Race to Goal. It was a faster day with 53 pilots making the goal line. Aurelijus Andreliunas (LTU) took the win, but South Africa's Francois de Villiers was hot on his heels, finishing 2nd for the day.

This was possibly the easiest task of the comp, and I messed it up when being "cautious" had me blown off the course line for a never-ending battle into wind and ultimately onto the ground. That wasn't smart.

The Long Wait (16–17 Dec)

The mid-week was a test of a different kind. Two days were cancelled due to conditions. At the 22 Waterfalls campsite, the social vibe took over. We spent time reflecting, camping, and enjoying the camaraderie that makes cross-country paragliding in South Africa so special. Others went wine tasting, game viewing, and dune soaring.

Task 3: The 84 km Separator (18 Dec)

When the wind finally behaved, the task committee didn't hold back. Task 3 was the longest of the week at 84.2 km. This was the "brutal" day — out of 88 pilots, only 24 managed to find the goal. Andreas Malecki (GER) won the task, closing the gap on Mathias Ioualalen to just 1.5 points.

Community highlight: Gavin Andrews (RSA) became a local legend this day, reaching the goal on an EN-B Ozone Rush 6 while dozens of high-end gliders were forced to land in the dirt.

This should have been a goal day for me. Line choices put me on the ground in Citrusdal Valley when I gave up the reliability of the eastern ridges to chase a gaggle in the flats ahead of me (they also landed a while later). I also made a bigger mistake at the start — by not paying attention to my instruments, I missed the start and had to fly back (into wind — yay!) to retake it whilst the rest of the field charged onto turnpoint 1.

Task 4: The Demanding Line (19 Dec)

Task 4 was another 75 km run and was incredibly demanding. We did the usual flatlands zig-zag in the Porterville valley before crossing over for another turn point and goal in the Citrusdal Valley. Only 30 pilots made it home. Ming Wu (TWN) took the win, while RSA's Theunis de Bruin proved his "Sprint King" title by taking 2nd on the day.

I finally made goal, making sure not to repeat previous mistakes from earlier in the week. It was also a sweet victory as I chose a different line to the gaggle ahead of me, and my solo move paid off when I jumped ahead before entering the Citrusdal Valley.

Task 5: The Final Dash (20 Dec)

The final task was a 47.3 km dash. Thomas Lone (NOR) set a scorching pace, winning the day with an average speed of 38.0 km/h. It was a day of high drama as pilots fought for every last FTV point to secure their final standings.

This was an interesting task — we used large concentric circles to create a flatland task that offered multiple options of line choice. Manu Wegmershaus and I teamed up occasionally to help each other, and parted ways for a final dash into goal.

Leaderboard Storyline: The Wire-to-Wire Masterclass

The 2025 Porterville paragliding title belongs to Mathias Ioualalen (REU). In a rare display of dominance, Mathias led the competition wire-to-wire, holding the top spot from Task 1 all the way to Task 5. He finished with a total of 3702.5 points.

It wasn't easy, though. Andreas Malecki (GER) pursued him relentlessly, finishing second overall with 3687.1 points — a tiny gap of just 15.4 points after five days of racing. Jonas Prüssing (GER) rounded out the podium in 3rd. Mathias proved that consistency is king; he only won Task 1, but he never left the top of the leaderboard.

South African Heroes: Local Knowledge at Work

The South African contingent represented us with incredible pride.

Fielies de Villiers: Our top-placed local hero, finishing 6th overall in a world-class field.
Francois de Villiers Jnr: Displayed top-10 consistency throughout, finishing 9th overall and nearly winning Task 2.
Theunis de Bruin: Dubbed the "Sprint King" after taking 2nd place on two different task days.
Jon Pio: Showed great resilience to break into the overall top 10 after a strong Task 3 performance.
Nevil Hulett: Saved his best for last, placing 11th on the final task.

In the class standings:

Francis Dudley de Klerk took 2nd in the EN-D class.
WJ De Vries secured 3rd in the EN-C class.
Gavin Andrews won the EN-B category outright.
Tyla-jane Christodoulou finished 2nd in the ladies category.

Ladies Highlights: Queens of the Olifants Valley

Anna-Reeta Eksymä (FIN) was the standout, winning the ladies' category overall with 1831.0 points. She took the lead in Task 2 and remained untouchable.

However, the local story of the week was Tyla-jane Christodoulou. Flying an EN-B wing (Flow Freedom 2), she finished 2nd lady overall. Her Task 5 performance was legendary — she was the only woman to reach the goal on the final day, clocking in at 02:12:48 and outperforming other higher-end glider goal makers with her superior line choice.

We also saw great flying from Nicole Heimberger (AUT), who led after Task 1, and South Africa's Andrea Greyling, who remained a consistent force on her Ozone Swift 5.

Community Moments: Not Just the Winners

Comps aren't just about the podium. They are about moments like Philip Benson, the "Lone Novice," who competed on his EN-A Advance Alpha 7. They are about Zdenek Stehlik, who showed technical mastery by outflying CCC wings on his EN-C UP Trango X in Task 2.

We saw professionalism in action when an objection by Rick van Der Sloot was handled expertly by the meet director in Task 4, ensuring the integrity of the results. These moments of sportsmanship and perseverance are what define the paragliding competition spirit.

Stats and Nerd Corner

Longest task: 84.2 km (Task 3)
Shortest task: 42.6 km (Task 2)
Total goal landings: 182 across the week
Success rate: Task 2 was the most accessible (53 in goal), while Task 3 was the most brutal (only 24)
The winner's speed: Thomas Lone averaged 38.0 km/h in Task 5
The margin: Just 15.4 points separated 1st and 2nd overall

Final Thoughts: Why We Compete

Coming back from a punctured lung and fractured ribs taught me one thing: we don't compete to beat others; we compete to find out who we are. Whether you are flying a CCC super-glider or an EN-A wing, the Porterville paragliding competition is a place to test your limits.

I didn't win the week, but I flew 6 out of 8 days, survived the "brutal" tasks, and shared laughs with the best pilots in the country. If you've ever thought about trying a competition, don't wait for "the perfect wing" or "the perfect time." Just show up.

FAQ: Porterville Paragliding Competition

1. Is Porterville suitable for intermediate pilots? While the competition attracts world-class pilots, the valley offers various conditions. During the comp, we had pilots on EN-B wings making goal.

2. What is an "FTV" score? FTV stands for Fixed Total Value. It's a scoring system used in paragliding to weight your best flights while allowing for "throw-away" days if you have a bad task.

3. Do I need a high-performance wing to enter? Absolutely not. As shown by Gavin Andrews (1st EN-B) and Tyla-jane Christodoulou, you can reach goals and even podium in your class on intermediate gliders.

4. Where do pilots stay in Porterville? 22 Waterfalls Campsite was my favoured choice — hanging out with my flying friends is high up on my reasons for competing. Other pilots opted for the extremely affordable accommodation offered by Porterville High School, and of course there's a range of B&B-style accommodation from the Flyers Lodge to homestays.

5. How long are the tasks? Tasks usually range from 40 km to over 80 km, depending on the weather and the day's quality. Safety always takes first place in task setting.

At Air School Paragliding, we believe competition and XC flying are the best ways to grow as a pilot. Whether you're recovering from an injury like I was or looking to transition from coastal soaring to the big mountains of the interior, we offer mentorship and advanced training to help you reach your own goal lines.

Sky, Dust, and Determination: My Recap of the Porterville Paragliding Competition 2025