Profile – Eliot Hugues
Eliot Hugues
We are thrilled to introduce Eliot, who is joining the Supair family of pilots! Get to know him through a few key questions about his journey as a paraglider.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
Hi! My name is Eliot, and I’m 18 years old. I’m currently a senior at the Alpes Durance vocational high school in Embrun. I do a lot of sports: hiking, mountain biking, golf… I also competed at a high level in skiing for two years, until I discovered paragliding, which became a passion of mine right from my very first training session.
When and how did you learn to paraglide?
For my 15th birthday (March 2021), my mom gave me a beginner’s course at Pollen Parapente in Vallouise as a gift. At first, I was really scared, but by the end of the course, that fear had completely disappeared.
After that, I was lucky enough to join the youth paragliding team. That allowed me to practice for two years under supervision for two weeks each year.
Finally, on October 31, 2023, I was able to buy my first paraglider so I could finally fly on my own.
When I first started paragliding during the youth camp, we spent a lot of time teasing each other. I wasn’t as comfortable as the others, and I had a harder time learning. One day, before we took off, two of my friends made fun of me, saying I was a danger in the air and that no one should fly with me. At that point, I had never flown in thermals.
When we got to the takeoff site, everyone got ready, and those with a little more experience dressed warmly. But since I was still a beginner and didn’t think I’d be flying in thermals that day, I just wore a sweater and went without gloves. In the end, I was the one who made the first thermal climb of the day, even though my colleagues were laughing, thinking it wouldn’t work. Only a certain“Florian Molié,”with whom I flew that day, managed to climb higher than the takeoff point. But in the end, the cold caught up with me, and that’s what prompted me to land.
What are your upcoming plans, both in paragliding and outside of paragliding?
As for paragliding, my goal is to get into competitive paragliding, with the idea of participating in competitions, while also exploring distance flying competitions. I’d also like to become an instructor so I can share my passion with others. At the same time, I hope to continue teaching alpine skiing at the ESF in Puy Saint-Vincent, something I really enjoy.
Where can we follow your adventures?
See you on Instagram!
@Eliot.Hugues
