Spain’s hike & fly elite met in Panticosa from 4 to 7 June to contest the Pyrenees Open and the 2026 Spanish Championship. In a high-mountain setting marked by demanding conditions, Antonio Ramos claimed the national title, confirming his form in a race where strategy and reading the terrain were as decisive as skill in the air.
The Pyrenean challenge
With 41 pilots on the start line, the competition presented a complex technical scenario. The weather laid down the law: strong south-west to west winds forced competitors to constantly adjust their route planning. On Friday, a marked temperature inversion added an extra layer of difficulty, complicating the launch and the initial exit from the valley towards the first turnpoint at Pelopín.
The race traced an ambitious course over the area’s most emblematic peaks — Ezkaurre, Oturia, Blancas and Otal — before the final return to Panticosa. The long legs flown into a headwind were the decisive filter, where equipment efficiency and the pilot’s energy management made the difference between success and premature exhaustion.
The debut of the GIN Puma 2
The Spanish podium had a clear technical protagonist: Gin Gliders’ new Puma 2. Flying it, Antonio Ramos not only secured the national title but also finished fourth overall in the Pyrenees Open. The brand highlighted that three of its pilots finished in the overall Top 10, validating the wing’s performance in mountain conditions where pitch stability and climb rate are critical.
Beyond the results, this Spanish Championship confirms a discipline that is growing in rigour. Hike & fly is no longer just an adventure; it is a speciality that demands total physical commitment and precise decision-making when the air gets difficult. Ramos read the map and the wind better than anyone, taking a well-deserved title in an edition that, for its difficulty, will be remembered.
Spanish Championship podium
1st – Antonio Ramos Moyano
2nd – Andreu Moreno Martin
3rd – Alejo Louro Noguera
Spanish Women’s Hike & Fly Champion
Francesca Mugianesi
+info: https://civlcomps.org/event/pyreneesopen2026
Results: https://civlcomps.org/event/pyreneesopen2026/results
