The team

Alain

After discovering paragliding on the Gréolières bars in 1988 and then at Menez Hom in 1989
I had the chance to learn at Club Airevasion in Polynesia in 1992.

A passion that quickly led me to distance flying, competition and of course teaching.

I was present on the competition circuit from 1993 to 2011, and I joined the French team from 2006 to 2010. And this international experience is an undeniable plus, which I can now share with my trainees.

After having worked in Signes at Envol de Provence, then Verdon Passion in Moustier sainte Marie, I am currently based in Annecy, an ideal region for free flight and its teaching.

Co-manager of Les Grands espaces and technical director of the school: "Les Grands espaces", I remain passionate about great flights, new discoveries, and contact with pilots who come from all over the world to join our courses.

A short Video

Robin

As a fan of many outdoor activities, and having fallen into paragliding in 2010, I never stop wanting to learn more and wanting to share this passion for paragliding.
Flying for a long time and covering our beautiful mountains after a climb on foot is what drives me the most! Amateur competitor, always in search of performance and pleasure.
To be able to make a living from my passion is an opportunity that I seized in 2016 by becoming an instructor. Since then I never tire of accompanying you on flights in the region, surrounded by a great team of passionate people!
We look forward to meeting and sharing an aerial moment together!

Sam

Sam has been part of the team for 10 years already!

He went through years of being a crossover pilot, then years of being an aerobatics pilot, with some bivouac flights. In short, he likes all aspects of paragliding. He has participated in the Roq'Acro, the Redbull Element, the Transdromoise and other cross country competitions.

Today in the Grands Espaces team, he is the one who supervises the "piloting" courses also called SIV. But you will also find him on other types of courses from initiation to thermals.

He is also well involved in the management of the shop and the school with Alain and Robin.

Mika

Always in a good mood!
As a snow sports enthusiast, I first devoted my professional life to helping people on skis and at sea.
This allows me to live from my passions, surfing and skiing.
Today, I thrive on sharing and teaching my newfound passion for the air,
and preferably upside down.
My motto: there is nothing stronger than shared emotions.

Olivier

I have been travelling since 2001 with my paraglider around the world, especially in winter, to satisfy my passion.
After having scoured Southern Europe and Morocco, I went several times to Nepal, South Africa, Colombia and Brazil... but it is now in Mexico that I spend the winter, where I accumulate flights (about 200 hours), to better dedicate myself to our students/passengers during the season in Annecy.

I am also the developer/webmaster of our new site, waiting for yours! 😉

Sylvain

This is normal for someone who is passionate about flying, mountains in all their forms and birds!
More than twenty years sharing the sky with the most beautiful birds of the area and elsewhere, including fifteen years teaching paragliding.
I hope it lasts, the desire to share is still strong!

Ahcène

I have dreamed of flying since I was a child. I started learning to paraglide in 1993 in the Vosges mountains. Beware, paragliding is an all-consuming passion...
After a first part of my career in the social and medico-social sector, as an educator, trainer and manager, today teaching paragliding is my main activity.

Flying a paraglider is an extraordinary privilege. It gives you access to many discoveries. The discovery of yourself, of nature and more generally of the world, if you let yourself be tempted by some trips.

A tarpaulin and some strings, human genius and .... you have a bike from the sky! Frankly, it's magical. What I enjoy most in my job is sharing my experience and sharing the emotions of the trainees.
After 30 years of practice my passion remains intact!

Leo

I am a mountain enthusiast and enjoy climbing, ski touring and of course paragliding.
What do I like about paragliding?
Everything: First the walk and fly, ultimate fun in my opinion, then a bit of cross country and a bit of acro depending on the mood and the conditions.
Otherwise, I like to do my gardening, but what takes up most of my time at the moment is my son Jim, born last September.
I hope to see you soon at Grands Espaces and maybe in the sky!

Cédric

Sportsman and all-rounder, I practice "OUTDOOR" as much as possible in this beautiful playground. I started paragliding in 2011, after having experienced a tandem flight, and it took only one month for me to decide to take an initiation course.

Year after year, progress and passion for this sport have led me to pass all the necessary qualifications to make it my profession; what could be more beautiful than to be able to pass on to others, while mixing personal passion and professional life!

If you like to share with others about fauna, flora, nature and of course paragliding, I will be there to accompany you in a dynamic and friendly atmosphere, without forgetting a touch of humour of course. See you soon!

Arnaud

For over 20 years... Trying it is adopting it!

Gaël

Paragliding instructor since 2007, at Grands Espaces since 2009.

I started to explore the joys of wind and sails on the water thanks to funboard, catamaran and habitable. As a young sailing instructor during the summer months, I discovered paragliding in 1993. The transfer from water to air came naturally!

I like to take advantage of the thermals and move through the air mass as soon as the conditions allow it.

If you are on a course with me, I will surely take you flying for a day in Les Saisies! A place I love and where I fly and work in winter.

I like to share my experience in tandem as well as in training courses and I will always be happy to meet you for a tandem flight around Lake Annecy or to help you progress.

See you in the air!

Benoît F

Born in the heart of the Tarentaise region, the mountains soon proved to be my greatest passion whether on snow, land or through the air.
The idea of making a living out of it was obvious, and it was through my experiences that becoming a paragliding instructor and first-aid attendant appeared to me as a solution to oscillate between winter and summer with panache!
Beyond these jobs, it is above all a thirst for adventure and endless itineraries that drives me.
By sea kayak, bicycle, paraglider, on foot or by hitchhiking, all means are good to explore the landscape that surrounds us.

It is therefore with great enthusiasm that I will share with you the dream of free flight in the mountains.

Maxime

Originally from the Vercors, I was lucky enough to grow up in the middle of the mountains in a very sporting environment.

I started out with a passion for alpine skiing, which I practised in competition and which I teach. I then turned to paragliding 7 years ago, first for distance flying and then for competition.

Currently a trainee instructor in the first year of the DEJEPS paragliding course, I am keen to share my skills and my passion for flying with you.

Rémi Lou

Thibaut C

I have been a pilot for 8 years and I am in the second year of the DEJEPS to become an instructor.

I mainly ride cross country and my favourite playground is the Northern Alps.

I have been lucky enough to travel a lot and to have been able to fly in Nepal.

I am keen to pass on my passion to future pilots or to people who want to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Annecy basin from the air.

Thibaut V

A lifelong mountain enthusiast, I started paragliding as a quick way to get down mountains, after a big climbing route, a hike, or a mountaineering race.

But soon this "means of transport" turned into a real passion and a main activity!

Today my practice is mainly based on cross-country flying in our beautiful Northern Alps, but all facets of paragliding attract me, from competition to cross-country flying!

In my first year of DEJEPS paragliding, I am happy to be able to start passing on my passion!

Yves

I have been a nature sports enthusiast for a long time, and I finally fell in love with paragliding, which immediately appeared to me as a wonderful tool for experiencing nature.

At the heart of my paragliding practice, the itinerant mountain flight takes a predominant place.

I have at heart to make you discover this passion of free flight and to accompany you in your progression.

Mika

Mika welcomes you to the shop and advises you on courses, flights and equipment.

He is passionate about paragliding like the rest of the team, he knows our range of equipment well, and he is also our "media-man".

You can find his great photos on this website as well as on our Facebook and Instagram pages. He covers our events such as the Go-Frète, and follows our instructors in flight or on training courses to take pictures.

Nadège

A warm welcome, unfailing availability and flawless skills to inform and provide you with the equipment of your dreams.

Virginie

Globe-trotter, paragliding enthusiast, and lover of skydiving, diving, kitesurfing and many other activities mixed with natural elements...

Virginie welcomes you with a smile and her little sunny accent... and she gives you information on baptisms and courses!