First speedflight of the Zugspitze!

First speedflight off Germany's highest mountain

On 31 December, 2006 Peter Geg of Obermaiselstein, owner of the paragliding school Oase and Uli Wiesmeier of Murnau, paragliding Worldcup champion '92 succeeded in being the first to speedfly down the Zugspitze. For the 1,800 meter altitiude difference from the takeoff spot Schneefernerkopf down to the landing area Ehrwald, it took them less than two minutes with their 13 sqm measuring GIN NANOs.

Geg: "Tow time passes by...... just about 20 years ago I was standing at this very same takeoff spot ontop Germany's highest mountain. Back then it was already exciting and new grounds for us as paragliding pioneers. Today, with ski and the small NANO wings it's a completely new experience, and the strong winds doesn't make it any less thrilling. Right after Uli, I kick off, with 60 km/h down the new world. The touch and goes are very athletic, the fast-rope site whooshes by. Two unbelievable short minutes and a few wingovers later, a young downhill racer who rides right next to me down the valley slope asks me "Is that cool?". We afterwards stand there with a huge grin in our faces in Ehrwald underneath the Zugspitze's gigantic rock chump."

Wiesmeier: "In the spring of 1986 I desperately wanted to be the first who flyes down the Zugspitze by paraglider. I still like to think back to that historic flight. For the speed-premiere this time there were only 13 sqm of fabrics left lying in the snow. The toy changed. The virus speedflying has striken. An amazing feeling riding on skiis without ropes in the backpack into the "new world".
My old flying fellow Peter Geg, fast runner of the first hour, i didn't have to persuade for long, he was enthusiastic about the maiden flight from the beginning."

03/13/2007