Born to Fly

I remember looking up at the clouds as a child, imagining myself bouncing from one to the next. I pictured sinking into their plush softness, like a goddess of the sky. Paragliding has given me the chance to turn those childhood daydreams into reality. How lucky we are to know what it truly feels like to have our heads in the clouds! For me, the magic becomes more profound when I use my own strength to hike to the launch – the portal between life on Earth and life in the sky. Hike-and-fly isn’t just a sport to me; it’s a passion. The physical and mental challenges required, the peace derived from repetitive motion amidst the sounds of birds singing and leaves rustling, keep me coming back for more and more. 

Some of my most memorable hike-and-fly expeditions have taken place in the high mountains of Colombia, home to ecosystems pulled straight from a fairytale. These include launching from the highest point in the region of Antioquia, El Páramo del Sol, and being the first woman to launch from the 5,220m glacial peak of El Nevado de Tolima. Inspired by these missions, I competed in my first hike-and-fly race during the 12th edition of the Bornes to Fly in the French Alps in May. The race spanned a total of four days, the first being a prologue task, and 171km. Just under 100 pilots competed, with a record female participation of 11 women. 

This is my first season flying in the Alps, and I spent the month before the race training in the surrounding area. Coming into the race, I felt confident in my physical preparation, as hike-and-fly has become a part of my daily life. I have been training consistently for the past six months, primarily in the...