Swiss Acro League

The "Paragliding Swiss League" was founded in 1990 as the equivalent of the already existing "Delta League" and has since become an integral part of the Swiss paragliding scene. It has continued to evolve and now comprises two leagues (Competition and XC League) and is supported by the SHV (Swiss Paragliding Federation), sponsors, and Swiss Olympic. Simon Amoser wrote an article providing a comprehensive overview of the Swiss League in Glider 6/19, highlighting its structures, opportunities, and entry points. You can find the article in PDF format HERE. Structure The Competition and XC League together form the Swiss League, but each remains a separate league. They both have a very similar structure, with each comprising three different levels of management, which entail their own specific requirements and contributions. More detailed information on this can be found in the article above. An overview of the services and contributions of the various management levels is available HERE. All important Swiss League events are listed in the calendar. Competition League The Competition League focuses on competitive flying and develops a consistently high-performing Swiss national paragliding team through the promotion and ongoing training of pilots. Emphasis is placed not only on participation in international competitions, but also on fostering young talent and organizing training sessions. Swiss League Cup The Swiss League organizes the Swiss League Cup on several weekends. These are training competitions, and the venue is chosen based on weather conditions. All Swiss League Cup matches count towards the Swiss Cup standings. Swiss Cup and Swiss Championships The Swiss League represents a large part of the technical management. The Swiss League participates in working groups at CIVL and PWC. At Swiss Olympic, the competitive discipline is classified at level 3, which unlocks financial resources of approximately CHF 200,000 per year. The Swiss League is actively committed to safety (mandatory safety training, concepts, continuing education) and maintains an active media presence as well as a media archive. The organizational chart provides an overview of the most important tasks and their allocation. XC League The XC League has been part of the Swiss League since 2017 and includes the long-distance flying discipline. In addition to promoting young talent and providing ongoing pilot training through conferences and practice sessions, record attempts organized in Switzerland and abroad are also a key component. XC League members regularly receive weather updates via chat regarding the best flying days. The Hike & Fly League has been part of the Swiss League since 2021 and encompasses the competitive side of the rapidly growing sport of Hike & Fly. As part of its efforts to promote young talent, the Hike & Fly League offers its members workshops, training sessions, and a wide range of attractive partnership opportunities. Its organizational structure is largely based on existing Competition and XC leagues. Regional framework Regular Swiss League training sessions are organized within regional frameworks, spread across five geographical regions (French-speaking Switzerland, Jura, Bernese Oberland/Central Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Ticino). This minimizes travel time and allows for training sessions to be conducted as effectively as possible in small groups. Within the regional frameworks, members of the Competition League and the XC League train together. They are guided by experienced competition and long-distance flying pilots who adapt the training to the pilots present. The requirement for participation in the regional framework is membership in the Foundation Framework within one of the two leagues, as well as having a functional Livetracking system. Both aspects are designed to ensure safety and enable an optimal response in the event of an incident. To participate in the regional program, you need a Swiss League account and must apply for a pilot level. You must be at least part of Team C. Finally, you can indicate your preferred regional programs in your profile settings and receive all relevant training information via SMS/Telegram. Newcomer Challenge To maintain a consistently high-performing team of pilots, promoting young talent is extremely important. The Swiss League (both leagues combined) therefore organizes the Newcomer Challenge once a year, aimed at ambitious young paragliding pilots. In addition, a three-day, self-supported Newcomer Challenge Hike & Fly is held twice a year. This allows participants to experience competition for the first time, expand their cross-country flying skills, or compare their physical performance with others. The Newcomer Challenge typically lasts five days, with all participants staying in the same location. This allows for a very intensive and instructive program. In addition to daily flying (weather permitting), the program also includes extensive theoretical sessions on meteorology, flight tactics, risk management, competition procedures, and mental training. Each day begins with a detailed briefing and ends with a debriefing, during which the day's flying is thoroughly analyzed and linked to the theory covered. This personalized approach allows for spontaneous responses to participants' wishes and questions. The flights include everything from small tasks to be completed in competition to long-distance flights. The skills acquired during these flights are compiled into a final ranking, giving the Newcomer Challenge a motivating competitive edge. Many of today's top Swiss paragliding pilots have participated, a testament to its quality. To register for the Newcomer Challenge, you need a Swiss League account and can then register here . The prerequisites include flights of approximately 100km, and young pilots are given preference.