Profile – Florian Molié
FLORIAN MOLIÉ
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
Hi! My name is Florian, and I'm 16 years old. I'm currently a 11th grader at the high school in Briançon.
Mountain biking, snowboarding, handball, hiking… Most of my hobbies are related to sports. For me, paragliding is much more than just a hobby. From my very first training course, I immediately felt that free flight was a passion—and I’d even go so far as to say it’s a way of life!
When and how did you learn to paraglide?
Like many of us, I discovered paraglider through Jean-Baptiste Chandelier's videos. All I had to do was look out of my window to see gliders coloring the sky.
So I signed up for a beginner’s course at Pollen Parapente in Vallouise in August 2021. A few months after I started, I had the opportunity to join the first class of the Vauban Middle School Paragliding Club in Briançon.
How often do you go paragliding?
As soon as I can fly, I'm off! Cross-country flying is what appeals to me the most: being able to travel from valley to valley and admire ever-changing landscapes is a dream come true.
The bivouac flying I’m also drawn to the idea, after all, of spending a night or two with friends in the middle of the mountains after a great flight—it just feels magical.
Do you have a special memory of flight to share with us?
The memory that stands out the most for me is when I first experienced the sensation of a thermal. It was at Prorel on February 12, 2023—a little less than four months after I bought my first paraglider. That day, I went with François, my science teacher. The conditions were calm, just like a typical winter day.
Once in the air, I could see the other, more experienced pilots circling the thermal. Far too curious to discover this new aspect of paragliding, I went to join them. Once inside the thermal, I started circling along with the other gliders. In the end, it was the cold that prompted me to land.
What are your plans for the future (paragliding and other activities)?
As for paragliding, I'd really like to get into competition and join the Pôle Espoir Vol Libre.
Otherwise, I’d really like to become a paragliding instructor so I can share the joy of flying with others. But I’m also drawn to the profession of Senior Guidance Counselor!
Where can we follow your adventures?
See you on Instagram! @florien_mle
