Idris Birch: Advance Paragliders

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Name: Idris Birch
Date of birth: 1991
Nationality: Wales
Paraglider: OMEGA ULS, PI ULS
Harness: LIGHTNESS XA, STRAPLESS
Flies since: 2007
Achievements: Competition and ADVANCE test pilot

ABOUT

Flying since the age of 15 in 2007, he was first taught by his father in Wales. After several years at the World championship and PWC level he has focused on Hike and Fly in the last 2 years. Idris has been working as a test pilot around the world for 10 years.

INTERVIEW

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST FLIGHT? HOW WAS IT?

Yes of course, my first solo flight was from a small Welsh hill with a swamp at the bottom for a landing. It was really the feeling of the feet leaving the ground for the 1^st time that stays with me. But really the flight that hooked me into paragliding was a few years before while flying tandem with my dad.

WHat special MOMENTs DO YOU FLY for?

Being able to be so completely absorbed in the aerial chess game that time and the general problems of life are blown away with the wind.

YOUR THREE TOP FLYING AREAS?

Malvern Hills in the UK… its the best XC spot in Britain for me. A good day in Britain is as good as anywhere else in the world.
Bernese Oberland; So many protected areas that still fly when the weather is bad. But, when the weather is good it’s can be a playground for easy XC flying or a proving ground where you can challenge yourself to try new things or the same crossings but lower.
Inner Mongolia, China. Simply stunning landscape with grass covered dunes where the grass is long enough that you see the thermal gusts rippling through the surreal seascape.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON A DAY THAT IS NOT FLYABLE?

Modifying wings in the workshop.

MOST IMPORTANT PARAGLIDING SUCCESSES?

British XC Team x5
Pre PWC Nepal 2015: 2nd
4th Korean League 2016: 1st
PWC Superfinal 2017: 11th
Pre PWC Korea 2018: 1st
PWC China 2019: 6th
Korean Championships 2020: 1st
UK XC League 2021: 1st
Jura Airtour 2025: 1st
EigerTour 2025: 3rd

WHY DO YOU FLY FOR ADVANCE?

Advance as a company instills quality not only in the products but in the way they work. The work life balance within the company is second to none in the world.