• What is your specialization in paragliding, and what led you to focus on this particular aspect of the sport?
My specialization is cross-country flying and XC competitions. I fly mainly to enjoy the views, the calm, and the silence in the air. At the same time, I’m drawn to strong Alpine thermals, speed, and the intense focus required during races.
• Which wing do you fly, what makes it special for you, and what does it give you?
I fly the MERLIN, because in the two-line category it offers uniquely precise, linear handling even at higher bank angles on tip steering. I really enjoy cranking tight gaggles in strong cores, where other pilots simply can’t turn as efficiently. An important feature of the Merlin is its calm behavior on full speed, which allows me to fly through most turbulence without having to slow down.
• What was your first contact with paragliding?
I became interested in paragliding in a pub, where the father of Merlin’s designer, Standa, was talking about flying. The very next day he lent me a wing from the 1990s, and I spent dozens of hours ground-handling it. Within a few weeks, I was already traveling around the hills with the local group.
• How long have you been flying, and where do you fly most often?
I’ve been flying since 2012. For the first ten years, I flew mainly in the northeastern corner of the Czech Republic, with occasional trips to the Alps and Czech competitions. In recent years, I’ve focused primarily on XC races, and I now fly pure cross-country only marginally.
• Have you faced any fears or serious issues while flying, and how did you deal with them?
I’ve never been afraid of flying itself, nor have I experienced any situation close to an accident or landing in trees. However, after having children, I had to mentally come to terms with theoretical risks and responsibility. To reduce risk, I decided not to move from EN-D to CCC, but instead to switch to the EN-C Merlin, which actually outperformed my previous EN-D wing. It was a great decision, and I enjoy every single flight.
• What inspired you to become part of the Sky Squadron team?
My long-term goal was to compete more often abroad, especially in bigger mountains where I can improve more effectively than in the Czech league or national championships. With Sky, I can attend SRS competitions, where the level of pilots is extremely high. I’m also very happy to recommend the brand and the wings in my surroundings after years of flying them, and especially with the Merlin, that’s easy to do.
• Where do you think your paragliding career will lead in the future, and what are your goals or ambitions?
At the moment, I’m very satisfied with Sport Class competitions, where safety and performance are balanced at a reasonable level, so I don’t plan to change that for at least the next two years. In the future, however, I’d definitely like to try competing at the highest level.
• What do your family and close friends think about your flying, and how do they support or influence you?
My wife, Simča, is my driving force when it comes to XC competitions. For me, racing was originally just a way to broaden my horizons and improve my free flying. I’m not really a competitive type. But when Simča saw that I did well in my first two races, she became my biggest motivator and even handled childcare and race registrations. In my first year with Sky, I’ll be spending all my vacation days at competitions, and my wife still takes it with a smile. She and our kids attend most of the competitions with me.
Our four-year-old daughter Viktorie can’t wait for her first flight, so the family’s relationship with my flying is fantastic.
