For two decades now, Christian “Chrigel” Maurer has been the high-flyer par excellence in the paragliding scene. Already fascinated by this sport as a child, the Swiss pilot was the youngest European champion aged 21. By now a father of two, he is eight-time winner of X-Alps – the world’s toughest hike & fly adventure. One of the world’s most proficient paraglider pilots, he has played a key role in the sport’s development. Striking a balance between his passion for flying and competing on one hand and family life on the other remains a challenge, especially in the run-up to the next X-Alps.