Handifly Race – iFLY Downunder (6th stop in the international Handifly World Series)

 Hot on the heels of the 2025 Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships, iFLY Downunder in Sydney is preparing to welcome a new wave of athletes as it hosts the Handifly Race from 23 to 24 August, a global adaptive indoor skydiving competition focused on skill, speed and access to flight for all.

The Handifly Race is a solo timed flying discipline created for competitors with disability classifications including impaired muscle power, limb deficiency, ataxia, hypertonia, short stature and more. The Sydney event marks the sixth stage in a seven-stage international World Series, with points counting toward global rankings and the newly introduced Australian national leaderboard.

“This is a new and exciting discipline for our community,” says Holly Jaadla, Entertainment Marketing Manager at iFLY Downunder. “It offers a stepping stone for many of our regular flyers living with disability to explore individual competition and eventually team formats.”

The event will be judged by international official Jerome David, who is flying in from Europe to oversee the competition and provide training for local classification and judging. His visit reflects growing momentum to expand adaptive flying pathways throughout Australia.

“Having Jerome join us from Europe brings global credibility to the event,” adds Holly. “It’s an exciting step forward for the future of adaptive skydiving in Australia.”
Flying will take place from 4pm each day, with spectators welcome to attend free of charge.

Confirmed competitors include:

• Chris Astill, from Crow’s Nest, a wheelchair user and former paragliding pilot who discovered indoor skydiving in 2022 and now leads the Handifly initiative at iFLY Downunder. Chris plays a vital role in preparing new athletes through the Adaptive Athlete Academy and is helping shape the future of inclusive flight in Australia.
• Andy Hensel (@whatdisability), from the Gold Coast, a dynamic competitor and social advocate known for breaking down barriers in adaptive sport through elite tunnel flying and broad community engagement.
• Greg Pinson, from the Lower Blue Mountains, iFLY Downunder’s All Abilities Ambassador, who has been instrumental in building the local Handifly community and supporting athletes to progress from introductory flights to competition.