Representing Peak Performance in the X-alps is 28 year old Michael Gebert from Obertsdorf, Germany.
Follow Michael on his journey from Salzburg to Monaco here:
Reports
Marital status:
Single
Profession:
Hang-gliding and paragliding instructor
Glider:
Gradient Avax XC
Helmet:
Salewa
Other sponsors:
Peak Performance
Website:
www.michaelgebert.de
When did you begin paragliding?
I started my "flying life" with hang-gliding 14 years ago and then later with paragliding.
What does paragliding mean to you and your life?
Flying is the main part and the centre of my life, and as well my work.
Where are your favorite paragliding spots and why?
Quixada in Brasil - excellent place for cross-country with really strong conditions.
Nebelhorn, Oberstdorf, Germany - it’s five minutes away from my house and a perfect spot all around the year.
A unknown soaring mountain in Iceland – incredibly nice countryside, ocean, black sand, glacier and a green mountain!
Dandy Mountain, Ethiopia. I took a flight at 5000m over the landscape, over the inversion and without any clouds.
What are your best and worst paragliding memories?
There are so many memories and stories... One really cool flight we had last year on the coast in Brasil. It was a small one hour, 20km cross country flight at night with full moon! A bad moment is if you have to say after a landing: " oh, f...., that was only good luck!" But it’s also good luck, that not every day is like this...!
What is your biggest sporting success?
In flying: Two times winner of the Junior Challenge with the hang-glider. Second at the Bavarian Open. Winner of the Para- Bavaria. Fifth place in the Red Bull X-Alps 2005.
Why does the Red Bull X-Alps interest you?
The fascination for me is the idea of the competition; that means the route, the combination of paragliding and hiking, making your own decisions and finding out your own limits.
Have you competed in the Red Bull X-Alps before and if so, when?
2005 and 2007.
What will be your strategy during the race?
The important thing is to find the right decision at the right time and never give up after one bad day, because the race is not over after two days!
What do you think will be your weaknesses?
Perhaps I don’t have as much flying competition experience as "the Swiss gang", but I have the time to change that and I will do my best.
The Red Bull X-Alps is no picnic; how will you cope with two weeks of pain and exhaustion?
I took part in the last two Red Bull X-Alps, so I know what happens and I saw that it is possible to do it. And for sure I will do everything to reach Monaco in 2009!
Supporter: Florian Schellheimer
Age:
29
Lives:
Wildpoldsried, Germany
Marital status:
In love
Profession:
Light and sound technician
How long have you known each other?
I’ve known him since the first class in school - that means more than 20 years!
Why will he make a good supporter?
We know each other very well. He is a perfect man for all and he was my supporter in 2005, so he knows what happens.
