Chile Dominates 1st Pan American Paragliding Precision Championship

The 1st Pan American Paragliding Precision Championship, held from July 10 to 19, 2026, in Arica, Chile, saw a thrilling competition with 39 pilots from eight countries participating. The championship was organized by the IRPA club with the support of the Ministry of Sports of Chile, the Chilean Olympic Committee, the IND, the FEDACH, and the FECHPA. The event featured 12 rounds of competition, with pilots taking off from the Morro de Arica and landing on La Lisera beach. The Chinese pilots Yang Chen and Liao Qingli participated as guests, with Chen winning the overall general category. Chile presented a strong team of seven pilots, including three junior pilots, who were trained from a young age in Maitencillo. This investment in youth paid off, as Chile won the team title, followed by Colombia and Bolivia. Elena Espinoza won the women’s gold, and Rafael Carvallo took the junior gold and bronze in the general individual category. In the individual general category, Argentina’s Andrés Racca (BGD Adam Spot) made a stunning comeback, rising from fourth place to win the gold with a record-breaking performance, achieving two consecutive zeros, known as a ‘doble cero’, on the target. Racca’s victory was sealed with a total of 35 cm accumulated over the 12 rounds. Colombia’s Diego López took the silver, and Chile’s Rafael Carvallo won the bronze. The women’s category saw Javiera Espinosa (Chile) take the gold, followed by Nathalia Pinzón (Colombia) and Jeroma Sexton (Guatemala). The junior category was won by Rafael Carvallo (Chile), with Sergio Guillén (Bolivia) taking the silver and Eliana Espinosa (Chile) the bronze.