The Kiwi nomad and national champion on what really matters
Where do you live?
I’ve been a bit of a wanderer for the last ten years. My base is Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand, but I work six months of the year in the North Island. My trusty Citroen Jumper van is home for European summers.
How and when did you start flying?
My sister lives in Lans-en-Vercors, France, and I did a couple of intro days there.
There was a lot of gesticulating as I don’t speak much French. After a year of travelling, I came home and learned with Infinity Paragliding in Queenstown in 2012. I was Swanny’s first signed-off student.
What got you hooked?
My fifth flight, thermalling with a hawk for 20 minutes and being in that complete feeling of flow. Before that flight, I remember watching others soar and having a strong urge to stay up, too. I was getting bored with kitesurfing after having done a lot of adventure kiting, including a 2,000km solo downwinder in Brazil, and knew after that thermalling flight that...
