0°C | Tuesday October 21, 2025 
21 August 2025
By James Mullan
Crows Nest’s Chris Astill, a former paragliding pilot and wheelchair user, is ready to soar as iFLY Downunder in Sydney prepares to host the Handifly Race, a world-class adaptive indoor skydiving competition this weekend.
The event, taking place from August 23 to 24, will see athletes from around the globe showcase their skills, speed, and access to flight.
Astill, who was born in Crows Nest and returned three years ago, discovered indoor skydiving in 2022. He now plays a vital role in leading the Handifly initiative at iFLY Downunder and preparing new athletes through the Adaptive Athlete Academy.
Recalling his initial encounter with indoor skydiving, Astill shared, “I was in the tunnel with iFly instructor Shane the night before my catastrophic paragliding experience.”
His introduction to tunnel flight was through following friends Scott and Isaac to iFly Sydney to film them BASE jumping nearby as part of Astill’s psychology thesis on expertise in high risk outdoor activities.
“They were practicing vertical formation skydiving (VFS) skills in the tunnel, and Doni was practicing freestyle routines after them. Hooked. Doni, has been my regular coach at iFly since my return to the tunnel.” Astill recalled.
For Astill, being involved with the Handifly initiative is about more than just competition. When asked about leading the Handifly initiative, he humbly stated, “I’m not sure I’m leading anything… more part of a larger movement. Loz, Kyle, Hugh, Mark, Craig, Chad, Kabe, Mason, Doni & everyone at iFly Downunder involved in bringing the 2025 Handifly Race World Series into the southern Hemisphere means I get out of my wheelchair more with great people doing something I love… experiencing and enjoying the world through mastering expressing myself in movement.”
View this post on Instagram
His dedication to fostering inclusivity in the sport led to the establishment of the Adaptive Athlete Academy. “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by amazing humans wanting to see people like myself go after their passions.”
Adaptive Athlete Åcademy has become a shared focal point for others to benefit from the connections and opportunities. “I’m also curious to see where it goes… there’s a bunch of people all over the world pushing this forward!” Astill explained.
The Handifly Race is a solo timed flying discipline designed for competitors with various disability classifications. The Sydney event marks the sixth stage in a seven-stage international World Series, with points contributing to global rankings and a newly introduced Australian national leaderboard.
International official Jerome David will be flying in from Europe to judge the competition and provide training for local classification and judging, highlighting the growing momentum to expand adaptive flying pathways across Australia.
Flying will take place from 4 pm each day, and spectators are welcome to attend free of charge to witness these incredible athletes in action.