New Addition to the SWING XC Team: Ulrich Scheller in Interview
We are thrilled to welcome Ulrich Scheller as a new member of the SWING XC Team! For the upcoming season, Ulrich will be flying our EN-C 2-liner LIBRA RS and will strengthen the team with his outstanding skills. Over the past seasons, Ulrich has impressively dominated:
🏆 2024 – 1st DHV XC Sport Class, 1st DHV XC Club Ranking, 1st DHV XC Bundesliga
🏆 2023 – 1st DHV XC Bundesliga, 3rd DHV XC Club Ranking
🏆 2022 – 3rd DHV XC Sport Class, 1st DHV XC Bundesliga
He seamlessly joins our high-performance XC competition team, where he will be flying alongside Dietmar Siglbauer and Tim Huber. Dietmar won the German XC Championship 2023/24 in the PG Standard category with his STELLAR RS, while Tim, flying the LIBRA RS, missed the podium by only 50 points last year – yet has proven to be a regular on the podium over the years.
Interview with Ulrich Scheller
About Ulrich and His Journey into XC Flying
Ulrich, how did you get into paragliding? Was there a particular moment that sparked your passion for the sport?
Over the past 15 years, there have been many moments that have kept my enthusiasm alive. However, there wasn’t a specific trigger at the beginning. During my military service, I was a paratrooper in the German Army and was already fascinated by the third dimension. Later, my daily commute took me past a flight school – at some point, I simply signed up and started my training.
You have already achieved impressive successes in XC flying, including the title of German Paragliding XC Champion. What were the key milestones on your journey?
The 2024 season had only a few truly good flying days. One of them was May 26 – unusually early in the year. I had seen the promising weather forecast but probably wouldn’t have gone to South Tyrol if Ramona Eckert hadn’t suggested trying from the Staller Sattel.
The flight went well overall, but I lost a lot of time at a difficult section. As a result, I was one of the last to reach Lüsen and had to struggle to climb back up. On the live tracking, I saw how other pilots were getting lower and lower on their way to the shaded Heiligkreuzkofel – many ended up landing.
This was my chance to deviate from the standard route and try an alternative line. This strategy brought me into the FAI sector and resulted in a 242 km FAI flight, which was crucial for the ranking.
The Fascination of XC Flying
What role does cross-country flying play in your life? Is it more about competition or personal challenge for you?
Above all, cross-country flying is just tremendous fun for me. It’s fascinating to see what’s possible with just a piece of fabric and some lines. Of course, competition plays a role due to the rankings. I try to take advantage of as many of the best flying days of the year as possible and make the most of them.
What qualities and skills do you think make a successful XC pilot?
An XC pilot must master their equipment perfectly and fly efficiently. Unlike classic competitions, it’s about optimizing the entire day. A long flight can last ten hours, often passing through various weather conditions. That’s why pilots need not only physical but also mental endurance. At the same time, maintaining enough altitude and safety is essential.
Ulrich and SWING – A New Partnership
What motivated you to fly as an XC team pilot for Swing? What excites you most about the brand?
Swing is a German manufacturer with high-performance wings and a unique feature with RAST. I also really liked the communication – straightforward, personal, and friendly.
You will be flying with Swing wings in the future. What are your expectations for the collaboration and the equipment?
It’s definitely an advantage to fly with a current, well-trimmed wing. I’ve already flown the Libra RS for over 80 hours in Colombia and feel very comfortable under it. I expect it to carry me safely and efficiently through the Alps as well.
Swing is known for innovative technologies like RAST. How do you see the importance of technical innovations for modern XC flying?
For years, people have said there are hardly any true innovations left in paragliding development – but advancements like the Sharknose, C-2 liners, or RAST show that the end is far from reached.
For XC flying, this means more possibilities. Whether it’s about higher performance for longer flights or greater safety for more relaxed flying – technological advancements make a real difference.
Looking Ahead
What advice would you give to aspiring XC pilots who want to get into cross-country flying?
- Find like-minded people and fly as a team!
- The learning effect is enormous – whether it’s about efficient centering, the best tactics, or simply motivating each other.
- Besides, it’s much more fun to celebrate successes together.
Ulrich Scheller – XC Team Pilot for Swing
- Country: Germany
- Born: 10.07.1982
- Pilot since: 2010
- Job: Software Developer
Welcome to the team, Ulrich! 🚀