• What is your paragliding specialisation, and what drew you to focus on this particular aspect of the sport?
My big passion is cross-country flying. As soon as I started paragliding, I loved to be as long as possible in the air and to fly as far as possible to discover new places. I love the adventure that I live, the pure freedom I feel, and the beauty and power of nature I can see. It’s incredible to be in the sky all day long. Looking for the good lines and the thermals and analysing the sky is so captivating!
• Which wing do you fly, and what makes it special to you? How does it enhance your flying experience?
I fly the MERLIN because the handling of this wing is amazing, and I feel safe on it. I love the easy turning, the smooth B-handling and the overall kindness of the wing. It’s the first time I’ve felt so confident so quickly. On my fourth flight with it, I flew 325km in the Alps. I was able to fly really fast and save a lot of energy because I felt confident with the wing.
• What was your first contact with paragliding?
I did a tandem at 17, and I fell in love with the feeling of flying. But at the time, I thought it was something inaccessible to me. The idea of paragliding came back years later when I saw two guys flying down after hiking a via ferrata. I found it so amazing that I immediately searched on Google for a paragliding school.
• How long have you been flying, and where do you fly the most?
I started flying in 2018 when I was 25. I mostly fly in Switzerland in the Alps and the Jura. I also fly in the flatlands in the north of Brazil.
• What is your best flight so far?
In terms of kilometres, my best flight is 325km out and return in the Alps with the Merlin. In one way, it is 470km in Brazil, still with an EN-C Glider.
• Have you faced any fears or significant challenges while flying, and how did you overcome them?
I had to face a lot of fears since 2021, when I had a really bad accident. When I started flying again after my rehabilitation, I was often too scared to stay in the air and had to land early. I even considered stopping paragliding. But because I love this sport so much and it brings me so much happiness, I decided to work through those fears.
I worked with a psychotherapist and a hypnotherapist, and I spent a lot of groundhandling to rebuild confidence. I also chose to fly in areas with weaker thermals to reduce the stress.
• What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your paragliding career?
My biggest lesson I learned is to respect the elements and listen to my intuition. I remember one day in Brazil, I was flying in a blue sky with light wind. The air felt strong and turbulent. I had already seen three dust devils before 10:00. I didn’t feel safe and decided to land. Just five minutes after my landing, a dust came exactly where I was.
• Who or what inspires you to keep pushing boundaries in paragliding?
I love to launch as early as possible and fly as long as possible. What inspires me most is the feeling of freedom I get in the air and the deep connection with the elements. I’m also inspired by other pilots who are pushing their limits with humility and joy, not just chasing numbers, but seeking progress, flow, and personal growth.
After my accident, I learned to value not just big distances, but also the small wins: a clean launch & landing, a good decision, or staying calm in turbulence.
Pushing boundaries now means to me flying with more awareness and trusting myself and my wing a little more every day.
• Can you share a memorable experience you've had while flying?
It was in the summer, on a very unstable day. A thunderstorm had been forecast for the late afternoon, so I decided to wait and fly after it passed. I hiked up a mountain in the rain, and when I arrived at the top of the mountain, the conditions were perfect. When I took off, I found myself soaring for 30 minutes in the most magical conditions. The sun was breaking through the clouds, casting rays over the landscape a brilliant rainbow arched across the sky. It felt like flying inside a painting – quiet, glowing and unreal. That flight will stay forever in my heart.
• How do you perceive the risks involved in paragliding, and how do you manage them during your flights?
I see paragliding as a beautiful sport that requires a lot of awareness and humility. The risks are real, but they can be managed with the right mindset and preparation.
For me, managing risk starts before I even take off — choosing the right day, analysing the weather carefully, and listening to my intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, I don’t fly. I’ve learned that it’s better to miss a flight than to take unnecessary risks.
In the air, I stay very focused and present. I try to make calm, conscious decisions, and I constantly reassess the conditions. Flying isn’t about fighting nature — it’s about working with it.
Safety must always come first. My priority is to fly in a way that keeps me both happy and safe.
