Chrigel Maurer
Name: Chrigel Maurer
Date of birth: 1982
Nationality: Switzerland
Paraglider: OMEGA ULS, PI, THETA ULS
Harness: LIGHTNESS, WEIGHTLESS
Flies since: 1998
Achievements: 8x X-Alps & 4x World Cup Winner
About
Since setting a European record in 2004 of 323 km from his local mountain, the Niesen, Chrigel has become "The Eagle of Adelboden" to the media. You cannot count the number of his X-Alps victories on a single hand: he has routinely dominated this toughest paragliding race since his first entry in 2009. Before his X-Alps career, he won the overall World Cup three times in a row and became European Champion. Chrigel passes on his enormous knowledge to pilots and young talents in countless lectures through his X-Alps Academy, or by personal coaching sessions for promising pilots.
Interview
Do you remember your first flight? How was it?
I practised take-offs with my father’s wing on the training slope, then I lifted off and it was fast and high – after 30 seconds I landed safely again.
What moments make flying worthwhile?
The paraglider allows me to do a lot:
Hike & fly: you can climb mountains under your own power and enjoy a flight, it saves me the climb down
Competition: enables me to play a game in the air with others
Tandem: I can show others the great feeling of flying
Acro: experiencing wing control and G-force
Your three top flying areas?
In Switzerland we mostly have the best places to fly whatever the wind and weather!
The Dune du Pyla is super for playing and learning and I find the Dolomite landscape incredibly thrilling.
What are you doing on a day that is not flyable?
As an athlete and father, I have plenty to do with organising, preparing, planning, office work etc. For me flying means collecting experiences which I can then pass on at lectures. Also, I invest a lot of time in my endurance training, to be fit for competitions.
Most important paragliding successes?
European Champion
3 times World Champion
3 times X-Pyr winner
8 times X-Alps winner
6 times Swiss Champion
11 times World Cup winner
Longest FAI triangle 343km (2.6.2019)
515km XC Flight in Brazil 2017
Infinity Tumbling Record 2009 with 210 loops
Flying over the Matterhorn with the tandem
Why do you fly for ADVANCE?
In 2001 ADVANCE made it possible for me to have an easy entrance into competition, and from 2004 with work in development (mainly the IMPRESS) I could make my hobby my job, and alongside that, fly international competitions. We have benefited a lot from each other, and ADVANCE has also built up a complete palette of products that are more than competitive in the market – THANKS A LOT!
What is your favourite food?
Food? I thought this was about flying... but yes – man lives by eating, but that is not so important to me. Mainly pasta!
What is your favourite quote in life?
Set goals to make progress!
Speedlanding
Packing
Stories
Adventurous Mind
Where does the comfort zone end and the adventure begin for someone who has already achieved legendary status in his lifetime? Chrigel Maurer gives us…
Dubai Flashback
It is nearly a year since Chrigel Maurer caused a stir at the top-class desert event. Not only were his skills put to the test in this superlative…
Above the Glacier Sea
The 4273 m high Finsteraarhorn towers majestically above a unique glacier world at the heart of the Swiss Alps, far from a trace of civilisation.…
