Adventurous Mind

For me, adventure begins where the plan ends. I know that uncertainty is unpleasant for many people, I have learned, over the years, to actually enjoy uncertainty. For me, it's like a big puzzle for which you have to find a solution. When I'm suddenly faced with a challenge and have to act spontaneously – when plan A, B and C don't work out – that's what makes an adventure for me. The X-Alps unites all of this for me. I know the Alps almost like the back of my hand, but it's different every time. The weather is different, the lines to fly are different, and my physical and mental condition varies. None of this can be planned, and that's what makes it so exciting.

Flying today can be much more pre-planned than in the past. That has also changed the X-Alps experience. More electronic assistance and better weather forecasting have made 80 percent of the race predictable. Mistakes today may cost me a few minutes, but no longer a whole day. The attraction lies in the remaining 20 percent: the unknown part. The X-Alps forces me to go to places at unusual times that I would never otherwise visit. I have already been surprised by what I can find there – reverse thermals in the evening or a thermal release point at nine in the morning. Something like that brings me unexpectedly many kilometers forward. That lets me find new solutions and I learn things that I would never learn otherwise. For example, that a foehn can also be controllable and that the weather often does not adhere to the weather forecast.

Regaining focus quickly when all plans don't work out is probably the most important skill to have in order to win. Therefore, alongside flying performance, it is important to train resilience. I have to be able to make a new plan and, above all, be completely convinced that it is the best one. Sometimes it's good to fly in a group for a while and share tactics. If you fly with others you can go far, but you can't overtake just like that. Only if you also attack, can you fly first to the finish. Breaking away from the group and following through with your own plan is a mental skill that you have to acquire. And you absolutely can't have any self-doubt.

During the X-Alps, the spectators are literally glued to their live-tracking screens. From the outside, a lot of attention is paid to performance and who is currently in the lead. Sure, we are in a competition, but, on the whole, I'm looking for adventure because it's fun. I say on the whole because I can also imagine more fun than flying in an 8-meter thermal. Here, full concentration is required. Situations like that push me further, and without the X-Alps I certainly wouldn't have acquired the skills I have today. No one would fly for hours in the Alps in strong winds if it wasn't for making progress. The feelings of happiness come afterwards, when I realize that I have made it. That is my personal fuel.

I like the fact that the X-Alps has become more of a team sport in recent years. In the past, I was often on my own, but now we cover large parts of the race in groups. We help each other, hike and think together. That builds team spirit, and we are united in the competition. That's a nice development that is better for everyone in the end. Those who team up are more efficient than those who do not share their thoughts. Victory does not depend on a plan kept secret, but on how you implement the plan. Discussing strategies has never made a difference to whether I finish first or not.

You can either hate or love to step out of your comfort zone. For me, it's the latter. However, taking risks has not become normal for me even after all this time. There are two components that I always weigh up. First, nervousness still plays an essential role. It creates the focus required to function effectively. This makes tricky situations controllable. On the other hand, my gut feeling is the decisive factor. If it's not good, I risk less, or I think about what I can change to make the situation better. In my view, it only becomes really risky when you no longer weigh things up properly and become overconfident. If I get the feeling that I have everything under control, I take it as a red warning flag. I definitely don't put everything on the line, but I'm willing to take a risk that can be weighed up, if I know that it will pay off.

I sometimes wonder if adventure is addictive. Actually, it mostly makes me tired. But the physical activity, the thrill of uncertainty and the team spirit – that's what keeps me looking for adventure. You could almost say that it has become my comfort zone to leave it. That's why I'm already looking forward to the next edition of the world's most diverse adventure race.