Profile – Johann Thierriaz
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
JT: Thierriaz Johann or yoyo, pure product of Haute-Savoie side Mont-Blanc, impassioned by all that flies but mainly paragliding pilot in order to become an old pilot (the wingsuit haunts my dreams...). I am one of the joyful pilots, who never misses a chance to fly in disguise and who was the first to bring speakers and a CD player in competition, Patrick Bérod remembers.
My mom keeps telling me I'm an artist, but I'm not at all. I'm an eternal dreamer, with my head in the clouds every day, and paragliding has become my addiction.
When and how did you learn to paraglide?
JT: In 1990 my father André Thierriaz lent me a Glider to do some inflation while he was in flight and quickly realised the potential of the youngest (of the three brothers). One year of slope school and finally July 1991 my first flights in Varan and Passy. At that time the training courses were going on.
How often do you go paragliding?
JT: I teach and fly tandem for my school Aerofiz most of my time. The remaining time is divided between a few cross country flights but mostly afternoons of resting at take off and precision flying at landing.
Do you have a special memory of flight to share with us?
JT: My most beautiful memory in Flight is my first one-way trip from Vercors to Passy with the Pôle France, the first 200Km with my family with the performance of the gliders at the time. But above all land on the car park of Plaine-Joux in front of my father on the balcony, not at all aware of our arrival.
The title of French precision champion of landing in 2017 will also remain a great moment.
What are your plans for the future (paragliding and other activities)?
JT: Following strong results at the European and World Championships, I’m trying to improve my technique to close the gap between us and the Asian and Eastern European countries. My goal is to finish in the top 10 in Europe and the top 20 in the world.
Finally, we go quietly into the control of SUPAIR gliders!
