When and why did you start paragliding?
In 2017 my little brother who was 19 years old handed me his old equipment because he switched to an EN-C wing. We started groundhandling in the fields and I towed him with a car. Coming from motorbike racing sports I didn’t take paragliding very seriously in the beginning, flying at 35km/h felt slow and boring, but I discovered the potential of the sport when I had my first 3-hour thermal flight.

Why have you applied to participate in the X-Pyr?
I love the idea to travel from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea.

Why are you attracted to hike & fly?
Being able to take off for a beautiful flight after a strong hike up is like a tiramisu dessert after having to eat up a soggy ratatouille.

What is your greatest sporting success (flying or not flying)?
I finished 1st in a Disentis Open XC competition task in 2022.

What excites you most about participating in the X-Pyr?
It’s my first international H & F race. I am wondering if I will observe big differences in flying style/strategic decisions from other nations pilots.

What is your best result in a H&F competition so far?
I finished 3rd at last year’s Swiss championship H & F in Lungern, where 4 X-Alps athletes competed and maybe had a bit of bad luck.

Have you flown in the Pyrenees before? Do you have a favourite area?
No, we went to Bagnère de Luchon in spring 2025 to fly, got surprised by really bad weather (raining the whole day) and when we got refused to enter in the thermal baths, we decided to head to Dune du Pyla where the weather was better.

What does your typical training week consist of?
I try to organise my activities in an efficient way, always trying to combine work/sport/family. Not living close to a flying site, I don’t do hike and fly except in competition or if I bomb out on a XC flight. I go to work by running or bicycle, and started Uber eats delivery by bicycle for endurance training and earning a little extra money for a new harness as I don’t have any Sponsors yet (Hello sponsors 😀 )

What worries you the most about the event?
Not being able to stay healthy. I never participated in such a big event.

Personally, how do you feel differently when you participate in H & F races in comparison to XC competitions?
H & F races demand much more spontaneous decision making. If you don’t make it over a ridge or the weather gets bad you can top land and continue the race with a little hike.

How do you know your supporter? And have your worked as athlete/supporter before?
I have known him since 2017, we started to work together right after our studies. We drank beer many times after work and trash talked about our outdated boss. After Covid, we met each other at the Dune du Pyla, I handed him an old glider which was way too big for the strong wind, he got pulled over the sand dune quite far. I was happy seeing him to apply in a regular flying school in Switzerland so I didn’t have to be his master of disaster teacher.

What advice would you ask of the race veterans?
Can you carry my backpack?

Anything else you like to comment?