Birday: How a New Competition Format Could Define Parakiting as a Sport

Parakiting — the discipline that combines kites with paragliding harnesses for skiing and flying — has been growing quietly for years. But until now, it hasn’t had its own competition. That changed this season with the inaugural Birday event in Val d’Isère, and it might mark the moment parakiting steps out of the shadows.

## What Is Parakiting?

For the uninitiated, parakiting sits at the intersection of speed riding, kitesurfing, and paragliding. Pilots use a kite (smaller and faster than a standard paraglider) attached to a standard paragliding harness, launching and landing on skis. The result is a sport that allows for both ground-based skiing and short flights on the same run — sometimes within seconds of each other.

It’s distinct from speed riding (which uses a mini paraglider wing) and speed flying (which is foot-launched). The kite provides a different feel: more direct control, different lift characteristics, and the ability to ride wind lips and terrain features in ways that a standard wing doesn’t allow.

## The Birday Format: Three Heats, One Winner

The Birday event, organised by Léo Taillefer, introduced a three-heat format designed to test versatility rather than a single skill:

**Heat 1: Timed Top-to-Bottom**

A pure speed descent. Launch from the top, ski and fly to the bottom as fast as possible. This tests raw speed and line choice.

**Heat 2: Freeride Descent**

Pilots choose their own line down the mountain, with judges scoring on style, creativity, and use of the kite. Think freeride skiing meets freestyle kite flying.

**Heat 3: Target and Slalom**

Pilots must hit designated targets and “sliding zones” — similar to paramotoring slalom courses but on skis. This tests precision and kite control at speed.

The winner is the most versatile pilot across all three disciplines. As Taillefer puts it: “We’re trying an event that doesn’t exist yet — we’re building something from scratch.”

## Why Format Matters

The three-heat format is significant because it rewards well-rounded pilots rather than specialists. A pilot who is fast but sloppy won’t win. Neither will a stylish rider who can’t hit a target. This mirrors the real-world demands of parakiting, where conditions change constantly and adaptability matters more than any single skill.

It’s also a format that’s accessible to broadcast and spectate — each heat is short, visual, and easy to understand. That’s important for any sport trying to build an audience.

## Filmed by Hugo Lami

The event was documented by filmmaker Hugo Lami, whose footage captures the unique energy of parakiting — the interplay between skiing and flying, the speed of low-altitude flight, and the creative lines that parakite pilots choose through terrain. For anyone curious about the sport, the video is worth seeking out.

## The Growth of a Community

Parakiting has been a niche within a niche, but events like Birday give it structure and visibility. A dedicated competition creates a focal point for the community — a reason for pilots to train, travel, and push their limits together.

It also creates a feedback loop for gear development. As competition demands become clearer, manufacturers can design kites and harnesses optimised for specific tasks — whether that’s maximum speed for the top-to-bottom, or precise control for the slalom course.

## What This Means for the Paragliding World

Parakiting sits within the broader paragliding ecosystem. Many parakite pilots also paraglide, and the skills cross-pollinate. For the paragliding community, the emergence of parakiting competitions means:

– **More visibility** for the broader sport of free flight
– **New pilot pathways** — skiers who discover paragliding through parakiting
– **Gear innovation** — competition drives development, and some innovations will benefit traditional paragliding

Birday may be the first comp exclusive to the parakite community, but it almost certainly won’t be the last.

## Practical Gear for Multi-Discipline Flying

Pilots who cross between paragliding and parakiting need gear that’s versatile. Quick transitions between activities — from speed runs to hike-and-fly missions — demand efficient packing solutions. A [Fast Pack Bag](https://www.yowfly.com/product/fast-packing-bag/) lets you stuff your wing and go, whether you’re shuttling back up for another run or hiking to a different launch.

At 400g with a simple drawstring-and-buckle closure, it’s designed for exactly this kind of fast-paced, multi-run flying day.

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*New sports. New competitions. Same need for smart gear. Explore paragliding accessories at [YOWFLY](https://www.yowfly.com/).*