Soul Sisters
Pilots and profiles

Soul Sisters

From her first flights in the French Alps to the international competition circuit, Mathilde Chivet has found inspiration and friendship – but also unexpected challenges along the way. As she reflects on the women who shaped her flying she asks, do women need balls to fly? 

19 October, 2026, by Mathilde Chivet

December, 2011. I am on holiday with my family in our small-but-beautiful chalet in Beaufortain, French Alps. I learned to fly two months ago and I cannot wait to take off from Mont Bisanne, an emblematic summit of Les Saisies ski resort.

This is my first take-off in the snow, and I can feel the gaze of onlookers on my shoulders. My aunt and my cousin are there to encourage me. I take a deep breath and start to run. I stumble through the snow, almost losing a Moon Boot, but I’m airborne. Yeah! 

Back at the chalet after this tremendous première, my aunt tells me, laughing, that the guy standing next to her exclaimed “She’s got balls!” when he saw me take off.

Well, do we need balls to perform… in paragliding?

I get hooked by...

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