When and why did you start paragliding?
I had seen paragliders many times, but they had never particularly caught my attention. Everything changed at the Torelló Mountain Film Festival, when I discovered what you could really do: climb mountains on foot and then fly down, travel hundreds of kilometres in bivouacs… It had a profound impact on me.
Then the pandemic hit, but as soon as it was possible, I looked for schools and found Parapent Volfactory, a small school in Amer. I spoke to Lluís, the instructor, and my partner Nuri and I signed up for the N1 course as soon as travel within the region was allowed. We were alone with Lluís and Carol, and it was a great experience. I started flying in June 2020. X-Pyr 2026 will mark six years since it all began.

Why have you applied to participate in the X-Pyr?
The truth is that it was hardly a conscious decision. In 2023, a friend, David Polo, asked me to support him in his project to participate in the X-Pyr 2024. I accepted without thinking twice and created a WhatsApp group to prepare for the race. The name of the group was ‘Polo X-Pyr 24 and Gras X-Pyr 26’, and that same group is now registered for the race.
At the time, I never imagined that I would end up participating, but today I am very happy with the friendship and support of the team, and very excited to be part of this adventure. The Pyrenees are home: I have spent many hours running, skiing and flying in these mountains, and the race ends up in my area. I am passionate about hike & fly, and being able to cross the Pyrenees in this way is undoubtedly a dream come true.

Why are you attracted to hike & fly?
Practising sport in nature fulfils me and gives me a great sense of calm. Climbing mountains has always been part of my life: first with my parents, later with friends, and now with my paraglider on my back. The views and sensations you experience in flight are incredible. Being able to take off and fly down after the effort of the climb is, for me, the best gift there is.

What is your greatest sporting success (flying or not flying)?
I believe that being in the top 9 of the world hike & fly rankings reflects the level of demand and commitment required by this discipline, and it motivates me to keep working to maintain my position and grow within that group.

What excites you most about participating in the X-Pyr?
Experiencing the Atlantic to the Mediterranean on foot and by air, enjoying the Pyrenees in all their glory, seems truly spectacular to me. What’s more, the fact that the race takes me home makes it a particularly beautiful and meaningful goal for me.

What is your best result in a H&F competition so far?
I came second in the Pyrenees Open, part of the Spanish Hike & Fly Championship.

Have you flown in the Pyrenees before? Do you have a favourite area?
Yes, there are many beautiful areas for flying in the Pyrenees that I love. However, I have a very special memory of a flight I shared with Guillem Monroset, a participant in the X-Pyr 2026. We took off from Castejón de Sos and were lucky enough to fly over all three thousand-metre peaks, from the Aran Valley to the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. It was simply spectacular.

What does your typical training week consist of?
I am very much guided by my feelings. I plan my training according to the time of year and the conditions each week, trying to adapt to the weather and the moment. I like to vary and combine the sports I enjoy: splitboarding, mountain biking, road cycling, trail running, CrossFit and, of course, hike and fly.

What worries you the most about the event?
There are two aspects that concern me a little. The first is the weather: I’m sure we’ll have some tough and demanding days. However, I hope that not all of them will be like that and that we can fully enjoy the Pyrenees and everything they have to offer.
The second and most important is the team. I don’t know if I will be able to live up to their commitment or if they will experience the race with the same intensity as I will. I am very fond of them and deeply appreciate the effort they are making to accompany me. I would like this experience to be as special for them as it will be for me, and for them to enjoy it to the fullest.

Personally, how do you feel differently when you participate in H & F races in comparison to XC competitions?
In XC competitions, I feel like I’m flying in a group, accompanied at all times. In the end, the fastest person wins, but you can’t afford to “bomb out”.
In hike and fly, on the other hand, you often feel like you’re alone. Here, the winner is the one who manages to spend the most time in the air, and if you bomb out, it’s no big deal: you’ll just have to walk.

How do you know your supporter? And have your worked as athlete/supporter before?
I met my supporter at the Bellmunt launch site. Those were my first flights outside of school, and he, on the other hand, was already a great pilot: he holds the Spanish free distance record, with 372 km. He was always very humble and eager to help; he explained how the area worked and how to prepare for the flight. I think I managed my first 15 km that day, haha.
Since then, we have shared many flights and now also the X-Pyr.
I have never been a supporter, but I would like to experience it one day. In fact, I have already mentioned before that this adventure began with the idea of accompanying him as his supporter in the X-Pyr 2024, although an injury prevented him from participating. It was a shame, because I am convinced that he would have had a great race.

What advice would you ask of the race veterans?
We will never stop asking them for advice; they are always one step ahead. Veterans have lived through and witnessed countless experiences, and it is a real gift that they share their adventures and knowledge so that those of us who are just starting out can do things right from the beginning. They have advice for everything: steps to follow, safety, meteorology… they are inexhaustible.
Since the subject has come up, I would like to mention a few who have helped me in particular. Lluís Rico taught me to fly; he was my first instructor and, in a way, he still is. Xevi Bonet, Jordi Vilalta, Sergi Claret and Albert Cantenys are great veterans whom we have been lucky enough to have around to learn from; they are always willing to help. Jordi Aymeric, a friend who, with a smile and a beer in his hand, could write a book.
And Fredy Tuset, participant in the X-Pyr 2026: a role model. With a demanding job and caring for his family, he has found time to organise the Catalan hike and fly team and, lately, he has been the one who has taught us the most.
Thank you all very much for your advice, young veterans.

Anything else you like to comment?
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who, in one way or another, is accompanying me on this journey, and especially my team: David, Nuri, Lluís and Ardila. You are the best.
Nuri, my partner, thank you for supporting and motivating me every day. I love you.
And a very special thanks to David, my friend and supporter, who is not just waiting for race day to arrive, but has been involved for a long time, helping me with everything.
LET’S GO TEAM.