Marina Olexina

The first time I saw a paraglider, I was participating in an auto-rally in Scotland. I was really interesting – “what is a paragliding?” In august 1999 I did my first paragliding flight by towing up near Moscow and I became obsessed with it. I forget all the sports I did before! I use to do many extreme sports: diving almost 15 years, horseback riding, snow and wakeboarding. Of course, I still participate in them butt not so often now days.

I never competed in any sports before and I did not expect to compete in paragliding either. I was a typical “week-end” pilot. In 2002 I went for a holidays to the same place where was the Russian Paragliding Championship. I agreed to participate in the competition just for fun and suddenly became Russian Female Champion! My second comp was the World Championship in Portugal in 2003. So, I studied cross-country flying and competition and I found what is now my passion!

In 2004 I decided to leave my permanent job at a popular Russian magazine to become a professional pilot and I participated in as many competitions as I could. In 2005 I got my first competition wing (Boomerang 4) and I had some nice results. I Also became a GIN Team pilot. 

For me a paragliding is not only a sport. It is a great possibility to travel a lot and to see the world. As I am a photographer and journalist, it is a great possibility for me twice!!!

Results:

1st World Cup Switzerland 2006

1st European Cup Morzine Female 2005

1st Russian Overall Ranking Woman 2005

1st Russian Open Cup Bulgaria Female 2005

1st Russian Open Championship Female 2005

2nd Nordic Open Female 2005

3rd World Cup Italy Female 2005

3rd Russian Overall Ranking 2005

4th Russian Open Championship Overall 2005

6th PWCA Overall Woman Ranking 2005

1st Russian Open Championship Female 2004

2nd Italian Open Cup Female 2004

3rd First Asian Championship Female 2004

3rd Pre-World Cup India Female 2004

4th Czech Open Championship Female 2004

5th World Cup Turkey Female 2004

8th European Championship Female 2004

1st Russian Open Championship Female 2002

Sponsors:

TEXHOPOC

Mountech