In this moving conversation, Swiss pilot Serena Ronchi shares her inspiring journey of recovery after a life-changing paragliding accident and her incredible ascension once again to the top of XContest in the Sport class this year. She discusses the challenges she faced during rehabilitation, her mental battles with fear, and the strategies she employed to regain her confidence in flying. Serena reflects on her experiences in Brazil’s Sertão, her participation in races, and her passion for teaching others about paragliding. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the importance of addressing fear and finding joy in flying, while also contemplating the lessons learned from her accident.

This is Serena’s second visit to the podcast, we had her on the show back in March of 2022 just months after the accident.

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Takeaways

Serena experienced a severe paragliding accident in 2021 that led to significant physical injuries.
She underwent extensive rehabilitation, learning to walk and regain sensitivity in her legs.
Flying is a source of joy and freedom for Serena, motivating her to return to the sport.
Fear became a major challenge for Serena after her accident, particularly in turbulent conditions.
Ground handling and visualization techniques helped Serena regain confidence in the air.
Serena enjoys participating in hike and fly races, finding them less stressful than cross-country competitions. Her experiences in Brazil’s Sertão have been transformative, allowing her to fly long distances.
Serena emphasizes the importance of community and support in her flying journey.
She balances her passion for flying with her career as a part-time school teacher.
Serena encourages others facing fear in sports to seek professional help and take gradual steps towards recovery.

Sound Bites

“I knew I wanted to fly again.”
“I did a lot of ground handling.”
“I still struggle with fear.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
02:21 The Accident: A Life-Changing Experience
07:53 Rehabilitation and the Road to Recovery
09:52 Facing Fear: The Mental Battle
18:09 Building Confidence: Strategies and Techniques
21:57 Racing and Adventure: Embracing the Challenge
23:36 Flying in Brazil: The Sertão Experience
30:19 Reflections on Flight: Memorable Experiences
33:10 Goals and Community: The Future Ahead
36:25 Teaching and Sharing Passion
40:07 Advice for Overcoming Fear
44:28 Lessons Learned: Reflections on the Accident

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:06 — 47.7MB)