Dedicated to all the epic moments we live in competitions and the friends we lost along the way. After 25 years of flying and being involved in all the different disciplines of the sport, I can tell that high-level racing is without doubt one of the - if not the most - incredible thing you can experience with a paraglider. I would even go as far as saying that perhaps out of all the extreme sport activities I’ve ever practiced. A colourful sky with breathtaking views, a tactical and technical game with a crazy rollercoaster of emotions, and a high level of dopamine and adrenaline rush over an extended period of time (unlike in base jumping for example, where it’s more intense but short-lived). It’s very special and unique. The same moments, the same hours-long challenge shared with a bunch of friends and rivals alike. With practically zero price money involved, no professionalism, no big sponsors nor recognition to make a living out of it that we deserve like in other sports at this level of performance, and in fact spending tens of thousands of our hard-earned money on it, driven by one simple reason: PASSION.
It is so strong that we are willing to risk our lives for it. I’m not here to judge. I’m feeling the same and have been living the majority of my life like this. I can’t deny it is amazing and highly addictive. However, I also cannot deny that my motivation has been changing in the past years, which is why I’m not willing to push that hard anymore - or at least to choose those moments more carefully. I’m still in the stage of processing and adjusting to a new reality and identity, but it is still difficult to draw those lines.
These images were shot during an epic task of the 2025 Paragliding World Cup in Algodonales.
#flyozone
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1223 km in 7 days through the Alps. For some athletes it is an event every two years. For me this third participation in 15 years was unique and unforgettable. I was flying good and being in podium position most of the race was not something I expected but was the cherry on the cake and changed everything. The everyday borderline physical effort and suffering, the long and demanding flying days, the all-out team effort of 5 people for the same goals, You, the friends, fans and followers meeting us to cheer and support out there and online, the everyday magic moments through one of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet, the persistent adrenaline rush and emotional rollercoaster…. Just a few points on a long list that make this event the most impactful competition in the paragliding world and being the only one reaching far beyond our little bubble. Many thanks to my dear friend @hannesarch for dreaming big back in 2003, to the organisation of redbullxalps and chiarahipfl - (without whom this movie wouldn’t be the same), to bas.vandenbranden the most epic helicopter cameraman, of course all my sponsors especially ozoneparagliders for investing the time, money and effort into creating the most sophisticated wing that clearly gave us few an edge and motivation boost in this race, everybody who sent me their videos for this edit (the list is too long!) and of course all the community, because it is mostly you (and not us, the athletes) who really elevate this event to heroic heights!Get yourself comfortable, fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride with me through the alps and back!
#flyozone
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One day during the 2023 XC Mastercourses in Piedechinche, Colombia!
Eat, learn, fly, smile, eat, repeat! Thanks to all our participants for joining, the guides Ernesto Hinestroza, Stefan Bernhard, Jay Cady, and Byron David for the video production!
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A 6 years old dream coming true, finding the path up to the mystical Pan de Azucar, the nearly 4000 meter high mountain above Piedechinche of which we are living on the foothills of. I have been working on this for quite some time! This was certainly the longest and hardest hike I made since Red Bull X-Alps 2017 in very demanding terrain with the first signs of lack of oxygen in the altitude. Up there we were rewarded by a breathtaking Paramo landscape, a fragile and unique alpine tundra ecosystem that only exists in this part of the planet, over an altitude of approximately 3300 meters. There is literally a forest of Frailejones, a plant that only grows 1 cm per year and is the indicator of a healthy ecosystem. We discovered new possibilities to take-off in high altitudes, it will be very difficult but one day it will happen (the next mission is set!). This time the clouds did not let me fly, although I even carried the Ozone XXLite2 in my backpack. An unforgettable day full of emotions and, over 10 hours walking and more than 1500 meter vertical climb, even though we cheated the first 1000 vertical meters with the car. Now time to recover and plan to return up there later this season!
#paramo
#pandeazucar
#senderismo
#Frailejon
#colombia
#valledecauca
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Sleeping at 2700 meters in Piedechiche, Colombia in a camping adventure with Ozone's ultralight flying equipment and the Zpacks Duplex tent! Use my affiliate link to purchase your 525 g tent and other ultralight Zpacks gear: https://zpacks.com/?aff=109
#flyozone
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My first free-diving video. A dream coming true, swimming with dolphins, a manta ray and turtles in crystal clear waters of Hawaii. Spots (Big Island):
Two Step, Puako, old Kona airport
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Exclusively in August 2022 at the Gerlitzen!.
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Benefit from a hands-on instructional tandem flight with Pál Takáts on an Ozone Magnum 38m2 tandem equipped with double brake system.
I still cannot believe that all this - and more - happened in just one year... It feels so unreal looking back! Sometimes I tend to forget how intense of a life I'm actually living...Despite the pandemic, 2021 wasn't my eco-friendliest year for sure, but at least I'm changing my way of living for the better in many other aspects of life. After Colombia, Guatemala, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Turkey, Argentina and Indonesia in two days starting a new cycle by back to Colombia! Feeling so blessed for all this but especially that all our beloved ones are healthy! 🙏
Happy new year my friends!
Crazy views and tense moments in the factory thermal near Gemona during the Paragliding World Cup. This was a key moment of the task with most of the 130 participants fighting for a better position only 30 km from goal. With no margin for error, it was not your regular adrenaline rush 🤪
#flyozone
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Overflying the Hasan Dağı volcano (3268m) before the start of the race was special and breathtaking! And we were literally holding our breath trying to keep our gliders open in extremely turbulent air, due to a weird combination of windsheer, inversion, and tight bullet-like thermals... I totally needed my Master Acro] skills not to stall the glider while constantly pulling heavy breaks in order to stabilize it. Luckily 'only' one pilot had to use his reserve parachute but landed safe, high up on the slopes of the mountain.
We were up there for 45 minutes up to 4000 meters! Our fingers froze, but the worst pain came after we glided to the valley and they melted back to body temperature.
Many thanks @yassen_savov for the guts to take this picture. Just a moments before and after, we were hit and thrown around by waves of turbulences.
Thanks beautiful Turkey for these unforgettable moments!
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