Paragliding with Nelson

20/05/2026

19/05/2026

The Super Final of the started on May 12th and we are still only halfway through the competition… yet so far we’ve had only 1 non-flyable day.

From the outside it may look like we are “just flying every day”, but the reality inside a competition like this is far more intense.

At this level, everything matters:
nutrition, rest, physical recovery, mental focus, and staying consistent every single day. Because one small mistake can cost several positions when the level of the pilots here is simply unbelievable.

The time difference between the first pilots reaching goal and the last ones is often only a few minutes. That also means the points difference is incredibly small. We are talking about the best pilots in the world flying almost at the exact same pace, making top-level decisions under pressure.

And honestly… it feels incredible to be part of this.

This year the inspections are also stricter than ever. The organization is randomly checking glider trims to make sure everything is within the required specifications — something that until now was not common in this competition format.

During the daily tasks I’ve already seen a few reserve deployments, but thankfully without serious incidents. And that also says a lot about the level here: highly skilled pilots capable of controlling the glider and reacting under pressure at the highest level.

In the end, this competition is not only about speed.
It’s about consistency.
About physical and mental endurance.
About being able to perform at your maximum level for almost two weeks straight.

And honestly… I’m proud to be flying among these monsters of the sky.

Photos by .martin.scheel

17/05/2026

99% of the noise in my head disappears the moment I start getting ready to fly.

Not because life becomes perfect.
Not because the problems are gone.

But because some things reconnect you with yourself.

The walk to take-off.
The focus before launch.
The silence in the sky.

And suddenly…
all the stress, pressure, messages and overthinking feel very far away.

Maybe everyone needs that one thing
that makes the world go quiet for a while.

15/05/2026

The first two tasks of the Paragliding World Cup Super Final in Pegalajar are now completed… and they have been truly intense days alongside the best pilots in the world.

Here I’m sharing the first photo taken by and the remaining shots captured by .martin.scheel , showing a little of the scale and atmosphere of this incredible event.

For those who are not familiar with it, the is the most prestigious competition in cross-country paragliding. The Super Final brings together only the top pilots from the world circuit, after a full season of qualification through the different World Cup events held throughout the year.

This edition features 110 pilots from all around the world, all competing at the very highest level of the sport. Over several days, pilots fly dozens — and sometimes hundreds — of kilometres across the mountains, following a route with mandatory turnpoints set by the organization before reaching goal. The winner is the pilot who completes the task in the shortest time.

When it comes to equipment, the most commonly used wings in this Super Final are the Ozone Enzo 3 and the Niviuk Icepeak X-One, both considered benchmark gliders in high-performance competition flying. For harnesses, the Ozone Submarine and the Niviuk Rocket R are among the favourites, designed specifically to maximize aerodynamics, comfort and performance during long-distance racing flights.

The entire competition is tracked live using GPS systems, allowing anyone with a phone or computer to follow the race in real time during every task.

The competition continues over the next few days, so make sure to follow the daily reports with , coach of the Portuguese team.

Let’s keep flying!

19/11/2025

I tried my new Oakley Meta Vanguard for the first time and… wow!
These glasses are truly next level!

The feeling of flying and filming at the same time, without taking my hands off the brakes, is pure freedom.

And the best part?
I can even ask Oakley Meta about the weather… and the glasses literally answer me!

04/11/2025