Nationality: GER
IGC Ranking Position: 521
Home Club: LSV Hayingen
Occupation:
How and why did you start gliding?
I started flying radio controlled models. Than till I was 15 years old I did riding, also championchips, but riding had the problem that you need to have a very good horse to win. In gliding we fly in different classes, so you can choose the level of costs. Riding a horse is fantastic, you have to learn the characters of your horse, in gliding you have the great honour to learn the characters of the weather, where you have to be in the middle of. You have to learn to understand the 4 dimensions and that makes gliding much more interesting.What do you enjoy most about flying in competitions?
I love most flying competitions, because I feel like to be at university, to learn and to understand quickly in a short time whats going on in the atmosphere. The camaradery , even in high level competitions each competitor knows that we have to respect each other, otherwise we can have accidents. Also on the airfield we go to eat and drink with the opponents and this high level of social behavior makes the scenery of the gliding competitions so great.
What is your most satisfying result?
Become second at the Worlds in Omarama 1995. This scenery in Omarama was the most challenging region I ever visit. Each valley has its secrets with weather phenomenas and landscapes.
What are the most important factors for success in gliding competitions? To be self motivated in the highest level. And that you can realize very quickly where the chances are.
