In June 2019 FAI has received both World and European records claim of 232,68 km made by Stefan Lauth (Germany) on Bion 2  by Nova.  The claim is classified as Free Distance around a triangle course and the route runs across Grente (Italy) - Kals - Rinau - St Kassian - Grente (Italy).

We have contacted Stefan to learn more about this flight and his life.

How long have you been doing free flight sport?

I started paragliding in 2008 together with my wife Ulli, both on solo wings. In 2017 we started in addition tandem paragliding together, me as pilot and Ulli as co-pilot/navigator– not so much as a passenger.

What made you begin?

In 2000 my wife and I visited Queenstown on the South Island of NZ. A town known for a lot of adventure activities. She did a bungee jump and I went for a paragliding tandem flight that day. She came back resulting “not again”, while I was sureI made a discovery for lifetime. But it took another 8 years before paragliding became finally reality for both of us.

Who were the people that inspired you in your life and sport?

My relatives, my wife and friends for sure.

What are your achievements titles before breaking a record?

German vice-champion xc-paragliding standard class, German champion xc-paragliding tandem class, German record course around a triangle tandem class

Why did you decide to break that very record in that very place?

Actually, it was an attempt to break our ownGerman record, but finally, it turned out to be a continental and world record too.

What is the previous record and where?

The previous record was set by Julien Irilli with 223 km last year in France.

What flying conditions make your record different from the previous one?

Difficult to say, I was not onsite when Julien has flown his record. The day we have flown was an almost windless day with strong thermals. However, there was one pretty windy local area during the flight and large shadowed areas towards the end of that day.

How long did preparation take?

Well, nothing special needed to be prepared. We prepared equipment beginning of the XC season as normal. And the dreams/planning of big flights during long winter evenings happens with XC Planner “automatically” somehow.

Who helped you most to get prepared?

Certainly, my wife who was my “passenger” while the flight - but should be better considered as co-pilot and navigator. Ulli checks real-time wind speeds, rain radar i.e.

Who worked with you during preparation (any team)?

No team support, just my wife and myself.

What was the most tricky thing in breaking this record?

Managing the northerly wind around Sterling area and to stay calm meanwhile. As well to find a thermal for the final glide out of the Dolomites.

Tell us about those who supported you on the way (friends, NAC, trainer, local pilots etc)

There are a lot of people who supported without knowing it! This means mainly sharing knowledge directly or indirectly. As well I learned and was encouraged a lot from my NOVA team pilot colleagues. As well I like to thank my sponsor NOVA for the great support. 

Tell us how it was to break the record. What was the most difficult? Decisive? Unexpected?

We focused to break our own German record that day. After landing we started do realize it is a continental and world record too. So, it was kind of unexpected.

Any advice to pilots, interesting notice, some share of experience that you gained while breaking this record?

Stay calm, fly high, choose a good line and fly safely. On tandems, in particular, good and right communication with your “passenger” is a key success factor. Last but not least: sharing the fun with your partner will actually increase the overall pleasure.

Photo credits: Gottbrath / www.NOVA.eu