Sixteen elite wingsuit pilots from 11 countries gathered at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, China, for the 2026 Wingsuit Flying World Championship, racing through one of the world’s most dramatic mountain courses.
Competitors launched from a glass platform more than 1,400 meters above sea level, diving between steep cliffs and ravines before crossing the finish line stretched across the gorge. The speed course featured a vertical drop of about 990 meters and a straight-line distance of roughly 1.3 kilometers.
Pilots reached speeds of around 200 km/h, requiring precise control as they followed the shape of the canyon and flew close to the mountainside.
Australia’s Tahi-Paul Munroe won the speed race in 24.051 seconds, successfully defending his title. Norway’s Joakim Lerhaugen finished second in 24.292 seconds, while China’s Zhang Shupeng took third in 24.663 seconds.
Munroe’s victory also made him the first competitor to win the event’s speed title three consecutive times.
The championship also included a precision target event, where pilots were judged on accuracy rather than speed. Zhang Shupeng later won that competition, becoming the first Chinese athlete to claim the world title in the event.
Tianmen Mountain has hosted World Wingsuit League competitions since 2012 and has become one of the sport’s most recognizable venues because of its steep cliffs, deep canyons and demanding flight paths.
Sources: Reuters Connect | Hunan Today | China News Service | Rednet
By NJ RADAR Team