Barberton Paragliding Open '26

The Barberton Paragliding Open is Africa’s longest-running paragliding competition, set around the historical mining town of Barberton with the Barberton Golf Club as the meet centre and Lone Tree Hill as the official launch. Expect winter thermals, big skies, and a welcoming local community.

Practice day and logistics

• The day before Day 1 is an unofficial practice day.
• Shuttles run from the golf club to the Lone Tree Hill take-off.
• Permits are provided for all participants on practice day.
• Event safety and recovery services are only active from Day 1 for registered participants.

Competition categories, scoring and rankings

• Competition classes include: Novice, B, C, D, Open (CCC), Overall Women, Overall Men.
• Team and Club Champion titles will also be awarded.
• Scores contribute to the SA Cup, National League, and WPRS.
• CIVL Category 2 event; disciplines: PG XC and PG XC Sport.

What your entry includes

• Daily Lone Tree Hill permit fees
• Event paramedics
• Daily recovery to launch and back to meet centre when a task is set
• Daily task setting, safety committee, and scoring
• Event director and technical director support
• Event apparel, goody bag, giveaways, special activities
• Prizegiving on the final day

Entry fees and payment

• Full event entry: R4,500
• Early-bird full event entry: R3,500 (see Early-bird limitation below)
• Daily competitor fee: R750 (includes permits, recovery, and scoring)
• Payment details:
  • Account Name: All Mountain Aero PTY Ltd
  • Type: Current Account
  • Number/IBAN: 63125425454
  • Branch Code: 210554
  • Bank: FNB
  • SWIFT/BIC: FIRNAJJ
  • Reference: Pilot full name
• More info on daily free-flyers/students, Lone Tree Hill vehicle permits, golf course camping/glamping, and other offers: https://www.instagram.com/barberton_open

Early-bird limitation

• Early-bird entry fee closes 5:00 PM on Friday, 1 May 2025.
• Early-bird rate: 185 EUR or R3,500.
• Proof of payment must be received by the organiser before the cut-off.

Selections and pilot requirements

• Limited to 100 entries; 25 places reserved for non-South African pilots until 1 June 2026, after which remaining places open on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All participants must:
  • Successfully register and pay
  • Hold a valid FAI Sporting Licence
  • Be a member or temporary member of SAHPA
• Equipment certification and airworthiness are the pilot’s responsibility.

Registration deadline

• Registration closes: 24 June 2026, 07:43 UTC

Daily schedule

• 09:00 Vehicles leave for take-off
• 10:30 Task briefing
• 11:30 Window opens
• 15:00 Window closes
• 18:00 Tracklog upload deadline (FAI scoring run)
• 19:00 Provisional results published
• 20:00 Deadline for backups/fixes (organisers must be informed)
• ASAP Daily final results published

Flying site

• Lone Tree Hill launch: 1290 m ASL; designated landing at Barberton Golf Course: 830 m ASL.
• Aspect: North-facing; suitable for westerly to northerly to north-easterly winds.
• Layout: Hill launch; at least three gliders can comfortably lay out at once.
• Conditions: Predominantly winter flying; thermals ~0.5–5 m/s; flying often starts ~12:00 (sometimes as early as 10:00).
• Typical task distances: 30–80 km; >100 km flights have been achieved to the west.
• Facilities: Toilets at launch; grass cut a few weeks before the event.
• More site info: https://paraglidingearth.com/?site=7241

Travel info

• Nearest city: Mbombela (Nelspruit), ~45 km north, with Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and car hire.
• Approx. 4.5-hour drive from O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) via N17 and R38.

Community

• The organisers actively support the Barberton community and encourage competitors and visitors to do the same.

Organising team and contacts

• All Mountain Aero — mias@allmountain.co.za — https://winelandsparagliding.co.za
• Lowveld Slope Soaring Club — willie@lkonstruksie.co.za
• Key roles: Mias de Klerk (Organizer), Daniel Bakker (Scorer), Deniva Philander (Safety Director)

Official site and resources

• Official event page: https://civlcomps.org/event/barberton-paragliding-open-2026/info#
• Local