Why did you choose the X-Pyr?
I always dreamed of “hike & fly” with high-level athletes, telling myself that it was something too difficult for me… But 2 years ago during the last X-Pyr I got hooked following the race and particularly Pierre Remy! At the end of the race I decided to train to become a hike & fly competitor. Last year I did my first competitions and today being one of the pilots in this competition is clearly a dream come true!

What is your greatest sporting success?
In paramotor I was world champion in 2012 and in paragliding I won a serial competition (Transplaine) last year for my second competition.

When and why did you start paragliding?
My first paragliding flight was in 2005. It was a winch flight in France close to Angouleme in a very flat land 🙂
The reason why I started to fly was an opportunity… For many years I got dizzy at heights and I thought flying is not for me. That was terrible. because on one hand I was scared and on the other hand I was dying to do it!
After my first flight, it was a revelation… And I decided to organise my life around the flying 🙂

What is your mountaineering experience?
I don’t have a lot of experience, especially because I live in a flat land. But I practice climbing and since 2 years I do hike & fly as I can…

What are your best and worst sporting memories?
My best sporting memory was in 2012 when I became world champion and my worst memory was a crash in 2013.

Have you flown in the Pyrenees before? Do you have a favourite area?
Yes, I know many spots in the Pyrénées, maybe my favorite spot is Loudenvielle!

Is there anything you like to see (or not) in the route?
Yes, Loudenvielle!

Apart from flying far and walking little, what will your strategy be during the race?
My strategy will be to prepare myself as best as possible on a physical level so as not to fall too far behind in the Basque country… Then I will trust my instinct, my preparation of the places and above all I will particularly look at the weather forecasts for my racing options!

What does your typical training week consist of?
My training consist of running a lot. I don’t run a long time but I try to run almost every day. And For sure if it’s flyable and if I’m free – I fly 🙂

What has been the hardest part of your race preparation so far?
The hardest part so far has been organising my work so that it takes as much time as possible during the last 3 months before the X-Pyr! But normally it should be fine!

What excites you most about participating in the X-Pyr?
The human adventure and surpassing oneself, testing my limits is something I love!

What worries you the most about the event?
For me, the biggest challenge is making the right decision… That’s why I’m taking a lot of time to analyse the tracks of the X-Pyr pilots!

How do you know your assistant?
My assistant was one my students in my paramotor school!

What are your assistant’s main strengths?
He is a former military rescue diver so he has a great ability to adapt and he is a physical machine 🙂

What advice would you ask of the race veterans?
This is a difficult question, because the advice that applies to them is correlated with their levels.. I have already asked a few questions. 😉

Anything else you like to comment?
Very happy with this participation and maybe we will be the first paramotor team 😉