Sunshine, flying, friends from around the world and a distinctly beach-themed Ozone stand. Coupe Icare 2026 gave us plenty to smile about.

Once again, Saint-Hilaire provided the perfect setting for one of the biggest gatherings in the free-flying calendar. With beautiful weather in the French Alps and plenty of opportunities to get airborne throughout the event, Coupe Icare was a brilliant celebration of community in the skies.

From paragliders and paramotors to hang gliders, microlights, balloons, gliders and some rather distinctive costumes, Coupe Icare brings the whole light aviation community together. For Ozone, though, the event has always been about something even simpler: people.

Welcome to the beach

The Ozone stand was looking particularly special this year. We brought a little beach atmosphere to Saint-Hilaire, leaning into the theme to celebrate the arrival of our new Parakite, the Vapor.

It made for a fantastic home for the Ozone crew throughout a very busy few days, and an equally good meeting point for the many pilots, dealers, ambassadors, suppliers, team pilots and friends of Ozone who travelled from all over the world.

It was also great to catch up with so many of our friends and partners from across the sport, including familiar faces from Vittorazi, Kangook, SkyMonkey, Cross Country Magazine, Polini, PAP, MACFLY and NVolo, among so many others.

Coupe Icare is one of those rare occasions when so much of the flying community finds itself in the same place at the same time. There were new products to talk about and plenty of flying stories to exchange, but most importantly, there was time to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Into the sky

Of course, you can't talk about Coupe Icare without talking about the spectacle in the sky.

A particular highlight was Saturday's famous fancy-dress flying. Pilots take creativity to another level, transforming their wings and themselves into an extraordinary collection of flying characters, contraptions and creations.

It is one of the traditions that makes Coupe Icare unlike any other flying event, and seeing the skies above Saint-Hilaire filled with them in the sunshine certainly didn't disappoint.

With good conditions during the event, there were also plenty of opportunities for pilots to get into the air themselves. At an event built around a shared passion for flight, that's exactly how it should be.

Let’s Party

On Saturday evening, the Ozone stand became a place to gather, raise a glass and, above all, share stories.

Team pilots, dealers, ambassadors, partners, friends and pilots came together for a relaxed evening after another packed day at the show.

Just fun: drinks, music from Ozone Team Pilot Pál Takáts, plenty of conversation and a lot of familiar faces. Just a great evening with a great crowd.

In many ways, it summed up what Coupe Icare is about for us. Paragliding and Paramotoring might be what brings everyone to Saint-Hilaire, but it's the friendships, stories and community around flying that make the event so special.

Ozone Team

Coupe Icare also gave us something that has become increasingly rare in a world of international teams, video calls and remote working: the chance to bring the wider Ozone team together in one place.

Having everyone on the ground together, working side by side, catching up and meeting the people who fly our wings was a reminder of the passion that runs throughout Ozone.

And ultimately, that's what we'll remember most about this year's Coupe Icare. Yes, there was beautiful weather, some fantastic flying, the beach-themed stand and all the spectacle that makes Saint-Hilaire such a unique place to be. But above all, there were the people.

To everyone who stopped by the stand, flew with us, shared a story, raised a glass or simply came to say hello: thank you.

Coupe Icare is always a highlight of the year, but what makes it truly special is the opportunity to bring together the people who make Ozone what it is. Our pilots, partners, ambassadors, dealers, team members and friends are spread across the world, so having so many of us together in Saint-Hilaire was something to celebrate.

We leave France with great memories, plenty of stories and, as ever, an even greater appetite for flying. We’re already looking forward to Coupe Icare next year, and to catching up with the Ozone family around the world long before then.

À bientôt, and see you in the sky.