When and why did you start paragliding?
I started paragliding during a holiday in the Alps. I had been fascinated by flying for a long time, but somehow it wasn’t a top priority. That changed in 2021, when I finally signed up for a two-week beginner course — without imagining how drastically it would change everything.

After finishing my PhD in 2022, I allowed myself one free summer in the Alps, fully dedicated to paragliding. But when the summer ended, I didn’t return to the lab. Instead, I chose a very different path — slowly building a life and a profession around paragliding and travel.

Why have you applied to participate in the X-Pyr?
I applied for the challenge, the adventure and the opportunity to race in the Pyrenees. They are such beautiful and wild mountains, and I love the idea of crossing them from coast to coast while pushing to the very edge of my limits.

And X-Pyr brings together so much knowledge and experience — there is a great deal to learn from everyone involved. And I’m honoured to be part of it. and I’m especially looking forward to share this experience with my supporters and the other teams.

Why are you attracted to hike & fly?
What could possibly be better?

With nothing but your legs, the sun, and the wind, you can move far and fast. Except if you are forced to stay on the ground, then suddenly kilometres stretch endlessly in front of you. I love this contrast.

What fascinates me most is the strategy and the many layers of decision making: being in the right position at the right time, spending energy wisely, pushing hard while preserving enough brainpower for fast decisions in the air. Making careful plans — and then letting them go when the weather evolves differently than predicted. Trusting my support team to track me down and get me moving again.

For me, it’s this intense combination of physical exhaustion, constant decision-making, and pure adventure that makes hike & fly racing so unique.

What is your greatest sporting success (flying or not flying)?
My greatest sporting successes so far are the hike & fly races listed below. Before paragliding, I did not pursue sports in a formal competitive context.

However, I have always been drawn to endurance challenges and self-supported adventures — such as crossing the Alps on foot from Munich to Venice or cycling from my hometown Heidelberg in Germany to Lisbon in Portugal.

What excites you most about participating in the X-Pyr?
It is very similar to what fascinates me about hike & fly in general — but on a completely different scale. Together with the X-Alps, the X-Pyr feels like the Olympics of our sport. It is such a demanding race that simply standing on the start line already feels special.

For me, it is a dream come true, and I am still amazed that I am actually part of X-Pyr alongside so many outstanding pilots. That is incredibly motivating for training hard and giving my very best during the race.

What is your best result in a H&F competition so far?
My greatest successes so far is finishing as first woman at the Pyrenees Open 2025, third woman at the Prealpi Tour 2025, and third woman in the German Hike & Fly Championship 2025.

Have you flown in the Pyrenees before? Do you have a favourite area?
Yes, and I love it! Last year I competed in the Pyrenees Open and spend some weeks exploring and flying in the Pyrenees. And together with the school AiR-touch I offer guided tours to the famous flying spots.

What does your typical training week consist of?
It depends a lot on where I am. My work as a paragliding guide means that I spend much of my time abroad or living in a camper. And the daily routine and surroundings changes constantly.

I always try to integrate training into my daily routine: a morning hike & fly before starting the day with the group, or hiking up to launch while others take the shuttle. I add strength and stability exercises whenever the schedule allows it.

Since my job often involves flying alongside other pilots and supporting them in thermals or on cross-country routes, I am fortunate to spend many hours in the air.

In preparation for the X-Pyr, I plan to spend some focused weeks in the Pyrenees to train specifically for the race — exploring parts of the route, practicing deeper lines, and developing a better understanding of the local weather dynamics.

What worries you the most about the event?
I am most worried for the strong and complex wind and the challenging conditions in the Pyrenees and how to deal with them. Thus, the key challenge will be finding the right balance between pushing forward and making safe decisions — even if that means losing position. In a race like this, it is easy to let ambition and expectations take over and cloud realistic judgment.

That is the most important task for me and my team: to push as hard as possible, to fight for every kilometre in the air and on the ground — while always keeping safety as the top priority. And never loose the fun in it!

Personally, how do you feel differently when you participate in H & F races in comparison to XC competitions?
For me, XC competitions and hike & fly races feel like completely different sports — a bit like comparing Formula 1 to the Rally Dakar.

XC is structured and fast. Every decision counts, and every mistake has immediate consequences. You are surrounded by others, success depends as much on reading the Gaggle than reading the environment. I see it primarily as a great learning environment, but I have not developed strong personal ambitions for XC competitions.

Hike & fly, on the other hand, feels like the long game. There are many more undefined factors, and plans rarely work out as expected. Mistakes happen — at least to me — but mindset, resilience, and the ability to adapt quickly can compensate for a lot. Often, I fly alone and need to read my surroundings and make my own decision based on these observations. It is this raw, unfiltered interaction between nature and a single pilot that makes hike & fly so special to me.

How do you know your supporter? And have your worked as athlete/supporter before?
My main supporter, Jochen, is a good friend who knows me very well. He has supported me in several races and understands the game and how I function under pressure. As my boss at the paragliding school AiR-touch, we have worked and traveled together for several years now. He knows my dynamics during a race — when to caution me, when to push, and when to simply make me sit down and eat. He will be the mastermind of the team.

I am also happy to rely on two additional close friends who support for the first time in a hike & fly race:

Matthias started paragliding around the same time I did. We went through the early learning stages together and have shared many flights since. He is highly organised and analytical, and he will play a crucial role in strategy and planning.

Mauricio knows me from my time before paragliding and has played a crucial role in many of my adventures and important decisions. He is the best motivator I could imagine. As a fast and strong runner, he will take responsibility for much of the pacing on the ground.

What advice would you ask of the race veterans?
There are so many detailed questions that may seem small on their own but add up significantly. Practical things like packing the wing efficiently, dealing with wet clothes, or communicating with supporters from the air. There are countless small tricks that can make a real difference in a race — especially the ones I haven’t even thought about yet. So I’m hoping the experienced athletes get asked, “What advice would you give the rookies?” and are willing to share a few of their secrets!

And this doesn’t even touch on the big topics like weather and strategy. I’m hoping to eavesdrop on the veterans when it comes to that decision 😉