Discipline
All
What went wrong ?
The establishment of the Airsport Federation of Asia (AFA), approved by the FAI, appears to be a double-edged development. While its primary intention is to strengthen the representation and development of air sports within the Asian region, it may inadvertently create division among nations and pilots. There is a growing perception that this move encourages regional segregation rather than global integration.
Asian nations may now operate under a different dynamic, focusing primarily on their own regional goals and initiatives, while European, American, and other regions continue with their own established frameworks. This can result in fragmented growth, inconsistent standards, and reduced cross-regional collaboration.
Furthermore, within the paragliding community, Paragliding Accuracy has often been viewed with skepticism or even criticism. However, both the FAI and CIVL believe that the growth of the sport lies in Asia. They have encouraged nations to organize Category 2 (CAT2) events and to promote participation in accuracy competitions as an entry point for aspiring athletes—a more accessible path to competitive paragliding compared to cross-country (XC) flying.
Interestingly, while accuracy flying grows in popularity in Asia, the International Free Flyers Pilots Union seems to be dominated by XC pilots, reflecting differing priorities and cultural attitudes within the global paragliding community. This imbalance highlights the need for mutual respect and cultural understanding among disciplines and regions, rather than the creation of silos.
Asian nations may now operate under a different dynamic, focusing primarily on their own regional goals and initiatives, while European, American, and other regions continue with their own established frameworks. This can result in fragmented growth, inconsistent standards, and reduced cross-regional collaboration.
Furthermore, within the paragliding community, Paragliding Accuracy has often been viewed with skepticism or even criticism. However, both the FAI and CIVL believe that the growth of the sport lies in Asia. They have encouraged nations to organize Category 2 (CAT2) events and to promote participation in accuracy competitions as an entry point for aspiring athletes—a more accessible path to competitive paragliding compared to cross-country (XC) flying.
Interestingly, while accuracy flying grows in popularity in Asia, the International Free Flyers Pilots Union seems to be dominated by XC pilots, reflecting differing priorities and cultural attitudes within the global paragliding community. This imbalance highlights the need for mutual respect and cultural understanding among disciplines and regions, rather than the creation of silos.
What would you propose ?
1. Promote Unity under FAI Governance:
Encourage FAI and its commissions (e.g., CIVL) to reinforce global integration among regions. The creation of regional federations should complement—not compete with—the overall mission of FAI to maintain international unity in airsports.
2. Establish Cross-Regional Exchange Programs:
Introduce initiatives that foster collaboration between Asian, European, and American pilots, such as joint training camps, mixed-continental competitions, and pilot exchange programs to build a shared culture and technical understanding.
3. Equal Recognition across Disciplines:
Advocate for balanced promotion between Accuracy, Cross-Country, Aerobatics, and other paragliding disciplines. Each discipline contributes uniquely to the sport’s development and should be equally supported in global discussions, funding, and visibility.
4. Cultural Awareness and Mindset Education:
Organize workshops and online forums under FAI or NACs to discuss the cultural mindset of pilots across regions. This helps reduce bias or misconceptions (e.g., Accuracy vs XC vs Acro) and cultivates respect for diversity in skills, culture, and growth paths.
5. Unified Athlete Development Pathway:
Develop a consistent pilot development framework that integrates both Accuracy and XC progression within FAI’s athlete pathway model. This will help avoid fragmentation and promote a holistic view of paragliding disciplines.
Encourage FAI and its commissions (e.g., CIVL) to reinforce global integration among regions. The creation of regional federations should complement—not compete with—the overall mission of FAI to maintain international unity in airsports.
2. Establish Cross-Regional Exchange Programs:
Introduce initiatives that foster collaboration between Asian, European, and American pilots, such as joint training camps, mixed-continental competitions, and pilot exchange programs to build a shared culture and technical understanding.
3. Equal Recognition across Disciplines:
Advocate for balanced promotion between Accuracy, Cross-Country, Aerobatics, and other paragliding disciplines. Each discipline contributes uniquely to the sport’s development and should be equally supported in global discussions, funding, and visibility.
4. Cultural Awareness and Mindset Education:
Organize workshops and online forums under FAI or NACs to discuss the cultural mindset of pilots across regions. This helps reduce bias or misconceptions (e.g., Accuracy vs XC vs Acro) and cultivates respect for diversity in skills, culture, and growth paths.
5. Unified Athlete Development Pathway:
Develop a consistent pilot development framework that integrates both Accuracy and XC progression within FAI’s athlete pathway model. This will help avoid fragmentation and promote a holistic view of paragliding disciplines.
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