The Lightness of Steepness: “Climb and Fly” by Marlies & Andi
According to our Austrian team pilots, “Climb&Fly is more than just a sport – it’s a mindset, a way of approaching the mountains with a sense of lightness, freedom and adventure”. Here is a tale about lightness, verticality and some Samurai, by Marlies Czerny and Andreas Lattner.
„Our sweet little RONIN (apologies, you’re definitely a strong Samurai!) has taken that idea to the next level. This one kilo lightweight wing has opened up a new world of possibilities, allowing us to explore even more remote and rugged routes than with our UFO or SuSi. And sometimes, it’s as simple as spontaneously spotting a summit before approaching our climb and just saying: Hey, let’s take RONIN with us! Looks like there is a small take-off up there!
But let’s take a step back: There’s something magical about autumn in the Alps – golden light, crispy clear air and perfect flying weather. After a summer spent working on our wooden A-frame house and waiting for better winds, Andi (my husband!) and I were finally ready to get back into the air. Just in time, high pressure weather arrived in the Alps when we started a two weeks road trip through the Austrian Alps. Between some evenings filled with presentations about our mountain adventures, we had plenty of time during the day to enjoy the outdoors. With us in our camper van: our trusty AirDesign wing SuSi and our new ultralight addition, the RONIN.
Highlight of Lightness
The goal was clear: we wanted to explore the mountains through climbing and paragliding – the combination we love most. And what a streak we had this Rocktober and Movember! Twelve consecutive days of hiking or climbing – and always flying down. After climbing peaks like the Widderstein in the Allgäu, an alpine classic in the steep Schüsselkar in Tyrol and a multi-pitch around Hochkönig in Salzburg, we had one highlight of lightness: the joyful Tauerngold route in the Salzburger Tennengebirge.
On this golden October day, the conditions seemed perfect – calm winds, sunshine and a clear blue sky over the chalky gray rock. The route runs through solid rock and some tricky but well-equipped sections until just below the summit of the Tauernkogel (2247 m).
The climb itself was fantastic. We climbed steadily up the rock and enjoyed the breathtaking views. When we finally reached the summit, it was pure satisfaction – and the perfect moment to take out the RONIN.
Climbing, Flying and Taking-Off
Right next to the summit we found a small meadow to take-off. Two steps and we were airborne. The RONIN is incredibly easy to launch and stable, making launching a breeze especially in light winds. Once in the air, it felt like we were shedding the weight of gravity we just were fighting with. It was simply stunning to fly like Vinzenz the bearded vulture directly over our route just before. The perfect way to end a perfect day.
The RONIN: a Game Changer
So, why is the RONIN the ideal wing for this kind of adventures? It all comes down to weight. When you’re climbing, every gram counts. The RONIN is so light and compact that we barely feel it in our backpack. Packing down to the size of a lunch bag, this single surface glider is the ideal companion. Its weightlessness allows you to focus fully on the climb, not on carrying a heavy pack. It’s the true luxury of Climb&Fly.
The RONIN makes this freedom a reality. And when the descent ends with a breathtaking flight, it feels like you’ve experienced the best of both worlds: climbing and flying in perfect harmony. And if the winds aren’t as perfect as hoped? No worries! Walking down with the RONIN isn’t such a hard thing either… keeping our heads high, like true samurai 😉
