SKYWINGS - Key Persons
At 14, Alain's first flight over the practice slope was overwhelming. Since then, he has had countless flying adventures in the Bernese Oberland. An avid amateur photographer, his work has been featured by paraglider manufacturers and magazines. When not tandem piloting, he runs his own bricklaying and woodworking business.
Originally from Norway, Anders discovered his passion for paragliding during a tandem flight in Chamonix in 2000. He quickly immersed himself in the sport, which led him to Interlaken. With numerous top finishes in PWC races, he is an extremely experienced pilot. In his spare time, he enjoys ski touring, mountaineering, and hike & fly adventures.
Res is diverse in his interests. His deep passion lies in paragliding, Preferably a great soaring session, somewhere on a sand dune in Namibia during sunset. Additionally, he enjoys working with huskies, singing in a yodel club, and renovating his home in the Bernese Oberland.
Angela, born and raised in Interlaken, remains captivated by the stunning scenery of her hometown each day. With a background in banking and hospitality, she supports Skywings in accounting and customer service. She loves meeting new people from different cultures daily and providing them with a great experience. On her days off, you can find her in the mountains, skiing or hiking depending on the season.
After a tandem flight in 2006, Chrigel was determined: he wanted to fly solo! Swiftly, he acquired his paragliding license and became a tandem pilot in 2013. Anyway, he feels most comfortable with a paraglider or kite over his head. Skydiving, speedflying and kitesurfing also count to his most favorite hobbies.
Chris is frequently seen mountaineering or ski touring, sometimes accompanied by a paraglider. Paragliding grants him an unparalleled sense of freedom, a sensation he aims to share with his tandem flight passengers, creating unforgettable experiences in the sky.
Paragliding introduces Daniela to unique places and cultures, offering unconventional travel experiences. From Turkey's rural landscapes to Mexican hospitality and Colombian vibrancy, each flight unveils new wonders. Passionate about acro and cross-country flying, she has earned top 10 rankings in various paragliding competitions.
David, the seasoned paraglider, thrives on soaring from mountains, exploring new territories, and landing in uncharted spots. Connecting with nature, dancing with wind and clouds, he finds no better pastime or career. Among his highlights: tandem flying over the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau with his wife.
The former Swiss Speedflying Champion grew up in Interlaken and turned the mountains into his playground at an early age. Whether on skis, speedflying, or with a wingsuit - Flo loves athletic challenges. A personal highlight was his Climb, Ski, and Fly project in 2019 when he ascended the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau on the same day and descended each with a paraglider.
In his youth, Fred excelled in acro paragliding, mastering breathtaking maneuvers. Now, he opts for serene hike-and-fly adventures, sleeping under starry skies. When grounded, he is trail running, tending his organic garden, or researching IT behind a screen.
Originally from Florida, Hannah still finds it surreal to call Interlaken home. She thrives in the adventure community's vibe and enjoys the accessibility to stunning mountain regions. With a diverse background in adventure tourism, she ensures smooth day-to-day operations, greets every guest with a warm smile, and enriches travelers' experiences during their time in Interlaken.
Haydon enjoys paragliding for its adventurous spirit, swiftly covering vast mountain distances in a day-equivalent to a week of hiking. Alongside his escapades, he's excelled in popular Hike & Fly races, clinching 2nd at Vercro Fly and 6th in the X-Pyr race.
Jonas relishes mountain adventures, especially with his paraglider, which gifts him unforgettable moments in the sky-whether sharing airspace with eagles or enjoying flights with friends. To hone his skills, he joins local paragliding contests sporadically, always seeking growth as a pilot.
Raised near the Niesen in the Bernese Oberland, Klemens explored the mountains from a young age-on foot, skis, or bike. A paragliding taster day at 16 sparked his passion. Beyond cross-country flying and Hike&Fly, he instructs and competes in the Swiss League, spreading his love for paragliding.
Lewis adores the fusion of freedom and adventure found in paragliding. It grants access to remote areas. His go-to thrill? A backyard paraglide: hike up, hut overnight, then soar down to the valley at dawn-an exhilarating routine he treasures.
Märki's passion for flying ignited during early paragliding experiences. After a 1993 climb to the Jungfrau, watching friends soar while he hiked back sparked his determination. A year later, he earned his license and has since flown down from countless peaks, cherishing each flight as a unique privilege.
Born into a flying family, Michi took to the skies early. Solo paragliding at 15, he swiftly ascended to become a top Swiss pilot. Excelling in global contests, he claimed victory as the PWCA World Champion in 2017 and secured wins in the World XContest in 2018 and 2019. Nowadays, he works as a tandem pilot and contributes to Gin Paragliding's glider innovation.
Michelle, along with her husband Roli and his brother Stephan, founded Skywings Paragliding in 2008. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and oversees all administrative aspects. She grew up in Ringgenberg Interlaken, where she still lives with her family. She is deeply rooted in the region and in addition to her role as CEO, she also serves as a board member at Interlaken Tourism.
Since childhood, Olivier dreamed of flying, while playing with his father's remote-controlled airplanes. At 25, a tandem flight sparked his passion. Within 5 months, he obtained his license and has since globe-trotted with his paraglider. Professionally tandem flying since 2009, he has worked in Nepal and Chile before settling in Switzerland.
Ray, a Kiwi, learned to fly in New Zealand, exploring the entire North Island coastline. Working in Antarctica, he's among the few to paraglide at the South Pole. Now settled in Interlaken with his family, he cherishes his tandem pilot job, living out his flying passion daily.
Remo started paragliding when the sport was in its early days. Venturing into the rugged landscapes of New Zealand with local pioneers, he was among the first to undertake cross-country flights on the island. What he appreciates most is the simplicity of the sport. With only a backpack on your back, you're ready for your flying adventure.
Reto started paragliding when the sport was still young, and ever since, his passion hasn't waned. Be it cross-country flights, hike-and-fly missions, or soaring at various altitudes, he embraces every aspect. Renowned as a tandem pilot, his signature high wing-overs provide passengers with an adrenaline rush, making each flight unforgettable.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of Skywings Paragliding
Roli, with his wife and brother, founded Skywings Paragliding, turning his hobby into a profession. With over 30 years of experience, nothing beats exploring the world from above for him. As an experienced tandem pilot with over 10,000 flights, he combines paragliding with summiting peaks and flying back down to the valley.
Remy's passion is flying, with or without engine. Since childhood, it has been his favorite pursuit, from airplanes at 12 to paragliders since 2016. He merges flying with his love for travel, exploring landscapes worldwide from the sky.
Sarah grew up in the Zurich area, but relocated to Interlaken for her passion for mountains. With interests in paragliding, climbing, and ski touring, it's an ideal spot for her and her family. Formerly in marketing and product management in the outdoor industry, she undertook the task of digitizing Skywings and is involved in various Marketing projects.
When Sebi flies, he is in his element. He has been flying since he was 14 years old. He has flown over 400 kilometers in Brazil 11 times, placed sixth at the Paragliding World Championships 2022 in Argentina, and achieved a spectacular sixth place at the World Cup Superfinal. You can usually find him at every major paragliding race, and he almost always manages to place in the top 10.
Serena's fledgling flying journey is remarkable: starting in 2018, she swiftly amassed hours in the air. In 2020, 8 months in Brazil yielded 10,000km and 400+ hours flown. Back in Switzerland, she's an avid Hike & Fly X-Alps Academy member. Next? Crossing the Alps from French Switzerland to Slovenia, paraglider and tent in tow.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Co - Founder of Skywings Paragliding
Stefan, a co-founder of Skywings, is a paragliding ace. Crowned World Champion in 2015 and Swiss Champion five times, he cherishes the freedom, breathtaking vistas, and serenity of flight above all. Despite his competitive success, it's the sheer joy of flying that captivates him.
Stephan lives for flying. With his paraglider, he has explored the globe for 30 years, forming lasting bonds with other paragliding pilots. Hundreds of flights under his belt, he is a seasoned pro. If he is not flying, he is often on the water with his kayak. A flight with Stephan guarantees thrilling tales and sky-high enjoyment!
Steve, an adventure enthusiast, thrives on thrills! As a skilled pilot, he excels in acro, cross-country flights, and hike & fly adventures. Alongside base jumping and speedflying, he tackles extraordinary paragliding projects. His highlight: competing in the challenging Red Bull X-Alps 2021, finishing 16th despite adverse weather.
Tobi, a tandem pilot and flying instructor, lives and breathes paragliding. When not with Skywings, he's teaching eager students. For him, flying means epic nature adventures: from chasing Northern Lights in Iceland to top landings on Mont Blanc and soaring up to 6565 meters in the Himalayas-a never-ending list of unique expeditions.
Ueli, a multi-sports enthusiast, excelled in snowboarding from a young age, clinching a gold medal in Nagano in 1998. Although he has turned his back on competitive sports, he has remained true to the sport. On boards he glides over snow and water and wings of all kinds carry him through the air - always with one goal: to experience the ultimate feeling of freedom.
Yael, one of Switzerland's top pilots, made history by becoming the first woman to fly over 500km. She has been competing in the world's premier paragliding races for over 7 years, clinching the World Champion title in 2021 and participated in the toughest Hike & Fly race, the Red-Bull X-Alps, ending it as best women - an unforgettable experience!