Roldanillo, Colombia – Feburary 12, 2025

The Paragliding World Cup Superfinal continues to test pilots with ever-changing conditions, and today was no exception. The morning started with an extremely low cloud base, which eventually lifted to around 1900-2000 m MSL, allowing for the setting of a demanding 113 km task. The route followed the mountain ridge to the west, promising a challenging and technical race.

Throughout the task, pilots faced multiple slow sections in weak conditions, forcing them to be strategic with every climb. The most dramatic moment came at the end of the race, when competitors had to cross the valley twice—what should have been the final stretch turned into a survival battle. Overdevelopment in the area led to heavy cloud cover, shutting down thermals and causing many pilots to bomb out just short of goal.

The leading gaggle, pushing ahead, made a valiant effort but arrived dangerously low. Spectators and supporters held their breath as they came into view, only to see them land just a few hundred meters short of the actual goal line. Meanwhile, the second group behind them took a more patient approach, carefully working weak climbs and taking every bit of lift available. Their strategy paid off—Julien Wirtz led the pack to goal, securing the task win, followed closely by Constance Mettetal in second place overall.

“It was one of the hardest tasks flown in a long time,” Wirtz commented after his victory, summing up the sheer difficulty of the day. With only a few race days left, every point matters, and the competition remains as intense as ever.