Profile – Benjamin Pröbster
BEN PRÖBSTER
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
BP: Hey! I’m 33 years old and I live and work in Munich, Germany. Fortunately, it’s close enough to the Bavarian Alps and Austria, so I can quickly get out of the city and spend some time in the mountains. That said, I was quite the couch potato for most of my life and only discovered my love for the outdoors in recent years.
When and how did you learn to paraglide?
BP: I got a two-day trial course for my30th birthday three years ago and have been hooked ever since. I earned my basic free flight license that same summer in Bavaria and Austria, and I've been trying to get as much flight time as possible ever since.
What kind of paragliding do you enjoy?
BP: I really enjoy pretty much every aspect of flying. If the conditions are right for cross-country flying, going XC is still the ultimate adventure for me. Nothing quite beats exploring these beautiful Alps from above (and sometimes from below :D). When conditions aren’t that good, I try to improve my acro flying and hone my technical skills. Just like in XC, there’s still an endless amount I can learn, and for me, the progress and the step-by-step achievement of something I’ve never done before is what makes paragliding such a special and rewarding sport. Last year I finally got my tandem license, so now I often go on hike-and-fly trips with my wife and friends to show them what all the fuss is about—or just to make them scream a little when I do wingovers.
Could you share an interesting paragliding memory with us?
BP: My most memorable flight was from Brauneck, the mountain right behind Munich, to the Theresienwiese (where Oktoberfest takes place), which is just a short walk from our apartment. It’s not a long distance (~65 km), but you have to be lucky enough to catch a good day when you can fly north along the plains and navigate through the airspace surrounding the airports.
What are your upcoming projects?
BP: Nothing too exciting—just following the natural progression (100 km+ FAI, helicopter flights, tumbling). This year I started trail running and doing a lot more hike-and-fly, so I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the new Savage soon. On that note, crossing the Alps from Lake Tegernsee to Lake Garda on a multi-day tour is still on my bucket list, so stay tuned.
You can find me on Instagram @benproebster or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BenProebster
