"Humility, persistence in difficult study flying are the keys to success"
– interview with Yael Margelisch
Data publikacji : 30.09.2019
Knowledge and paragliding skills are essential for flight safety, but pilot character performs a considerable role. You have to be persistent in hard work, but also have humility, because that is the way you can build your permanent position on the podium.
I invite you to read the interview with swiss pilot Yael Margelisch, which flew a new women’s world record on 1st May 2019, a 263.72km, free distance triangle course at St Hilaire du Touvet (France). Yael has survived a true school of life and continues to sustain the art of flying throughout all the years of consistent work. She was born in the mountains, in a ski resort called Verbier, in the southern part of the Swiss Alps. She lives at 2000m altitude since her birth. This geographical location gives her the possibility to ski directly from house in winter, and to take off and land just in front of it.
She has always been aiming for being outside, get some adrenaline and adventure, so she works as a ski instructor, mountain hut keeper, and started paragliding. Thanks to the place of residence (mountains) she could get to know the functioning of nature in practice and to do paragliding systematically.
Today, she can happily say that she does what she loves, living for passion, and sharing it with others.
Agnieszka Chmielewska: Can you tell when did you start your adventure with paragliding or other air sport ? What were your beginnings in this sport ? When and where did your first meeting with aviation take place ?
Yael Margelisch: As a teenager, I dreamt of becoming a helicopter pilot. My vision was not perfect, so I could not do that, I started paragliding later on, after a few tandem flights with some of my parent's friends. The beginning was not easy, I was studying and could not fly enough to get a good level and confidence.
A Ch: Why did you choose this sport – paragliding ? What made you interested in aerial sports ?
Y M: Simply because it was the easiest and cheapest way to fly. My interest in aerial sports maybe comes with the feeling of unlimited freedom it procures.
Yael Margelisch PWC 2019 © Karine Dupureur
A Ch.: Do you also do other sports ?
Y M: Yes, mostly skiing and ski touring in winter, in summer, I turn to cycle, mountain biking, walking in the mountains, hike, and flying... and some kite surf when the occasion appears.
A Ch : What competence you have to perform flights yourself ? License?
Y M : I got the Swiss paragliding license in 2010, then speed riding extension, then instructor and tandem pilot in 2015.
A Ch: Do you keep a flight book ? How many hours did you spend in the air ? For example, in thermal conditions.
Y M : Since two years, I'm downloading all my xc flights on a logbook. About tandem and Acro, it's difficult to say how many flights I do per year.
200 hrs in 2017 and 2018, and just passed the bar of 200hrs this year also.
A Ch : How long did your learning paragliding last ?
Y M : About one year.
A Ch : How often do you practice SIV training and where ?
Y M : Every year, we have to train SIV to keep our competition license. I do it in Villeneuve or in Annecy it depends.
A Ch.: What type/kind do you use a harness and a wing for paragliding ?
Y M : I'm having a few different gliders, each one used for a different purpose. In xc and competition, I fly the Ozone enzo3, which is the most performant glider in small size, and with a woody valley x-rated7. In acro, I have an AKHKA pico 17, with a sup'air Acro base harness. For hike and fly, I have a sup'air Wild with a sup'air strike. For a short speedup hike and fly, I have a skywalk tonic 14.
A Ch : How important is preparation for safe flights ? What is taken into consideration a warm-up or maybe a dream, a diet while preparing ?
Y M : I try to eat a lot before the flight, because I know I'll get energy in my body reserves during the flight. Mostly the preparation is about the route, where, when to turn, etc.
A Ch : Who is your inspiration ?
Y M : All the athletes in different sports who are humble and fight hard to realize their dreams. Especially those who had injuries on the way, as the Swiss skier Justin Murisier. In paragliding, my inspiration is, of course, Chrigel Maurer. His polyvalence is excellent, and that's what I'm aiming for.
A Ch : What motivates you to practice paragliding ?
Y M : The feeling it procures. One time, I flew a tandem, and the passenger told me: It's so great, you're free, and up here, nobody disturbs you, you forget every trouble! I think that resumes pretty much why I fly!
A Ch : What do you think about when practicing paragliding ?
Y M : In flight, I'm concentrated on here/now. And sometimes I fall in a contemplation mode.
A Ch.: Where do you often fly ?
Y M : Everywhere! Mostly in Verbier, I do tandems in Villeneuve, my boyfriend is living in Annecy, so I also fly there. And all around the world for the competitions
A Ch : What would you consider your greatest sports success as both a pilot and a trainer ?
Y M: Definitely, this world record.
Link to movie : CLICK HERE
A Ch : Can you tell more words about your flight on the 1st of May 2019 in Saint Hilaire? Your feeling, impression, your mental, and physical condition during this flight ?
Y M: I was feeling great, happy to go flying with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, in the beginning, the conditions were really weak, and I didn't think it would be possible. Then it got better and better, and I was so much trying to fly fast that I didn't take time to eat and drink. So I was kind of dead after the flight.
A Ch : Is it difficult to encourage women to play sports ? What is the most severe difficulty in activating them ?
Y M : I think it all depends on your character, how much you want something, and how confident you are. My biggest problem was always the confidence in myself, and I still have a mental coach to get in the flow as much as possible
A Ch : What three adjectives would you like to use to describe yourself and your approach to safe flying ?
Y M : Humble, determinated and honest
Yael Margelisch PWC 2019 © Karine Dupureur
A.Ch. : What obstacles do you think a woman has to face when doing paragliding tourism ?
Y M : I think women in general have less self confidence and that is something important in paragliding sport.
A Ch : What is your golden recipe do that, after so many years, you still have so much positive energy, the joy of what you do and willingness to act ?
Y M : I do not think I have golden recipe, but flying is just what I like most doing so I am always training and this is the way. Managing the mental side is important.
A Ch : What are your nearest plans for the future ?
Y M: I'm in Brazil now, I will attempt breaking record starting the end of the month. Then I'll be back at home and start training for ski season.