Hang gliding competitions in the UK: the British Open Series and XC League

• What you need first: Normally the Pilot rating, because that's what lets you fly cross-country under BHPA rules. At BHPA-sanctioned events, Club Pilots can fly limited corridor tasks after a documented briefing.
• Cost: The panel prices each round, with a lower early-bird fee and part-week options. Prices come out with each round's information.
• What's next: Pilot track: international events such as the Class 1 Worlds. Coaching track: Club Coach.

Who runs it

The BHPA Competitions Committee includes a hang gliding panel. The panel runs the national championships, picks national teams and oversees other hang gliding competitions. The BHPA lists three places to start:

• British Hang Gliding Competitions, the panel's own site, with news, results and entry details.
• UK National XC League: BHPA members can enter their cross-country flights. The BHPA links it from its competitions page.
• The British Club Challenge.

The British Open Series

The British Open Series (BOS) welcomes every hang glider pilot, not just experts. It offers development help based on the panel's Pilot Development Pathway for new and returning pilots, plus workshops, presentations and social events on days you can't fly.

The series runs as rounds of about eight days at UK flying sites, such as the Yorkshire Dales and Mid Wales, with scoring tasks counted across the season. Pilots can earn FAI world ranking points. The panel holds its planning meeting in November, so look out for 2027 dates on its site after that.

The UK Nationals

The panel runs the UK Nationals, a week or so of tasks that can be held abroad alongside another country's championships. Watch hgcomps.uk for the next venue and dates.

Abroad

The BHPA links CIVL's hang gliding competitions page. The panel is looking for a team and a team manager for the 25th Class 1 Worlds in Andradas, Brazil, 5 to 18 September 2027.

For other UK events in 2027, see our British competitions 2027 guide.

Source: BHPA Competitions Committee, Who can fly cross-country? (BHPA), and British Hang Gliding Competitions (home page and BOS information), checked October 2026.

Governing body: British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for hang gliding, so it's the official place to find out more.

Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.

The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.