Helmut 'Heli' Eichholzer
Do you have a nickname that you go by?
Heli
Where do you live?
Kuchl-Salzburg-Austria
What do you do for work?
Quality manager
What year, and how old were you when you started flying?
I started paragliding in 1992, I was 16 years old. I got my license in 1995.
Did a family member introduce you to paragliding? Does anyone else in your family fly?
Not really, me and my friends were too lazy to walk down the mountains after climbing. My brother is also a pilot and mountain guide.
What other passions do you have, or activities do you enjoy?
As a child, i started with wrestling and skiing. My passion in the winter month are backcountry skiing. I love to have some adventures in the nature.
Why is flying important to you, and what does flying mean to you?
Flying is like: take a break from normal life. I feel so free and get out so many nice experiences. More and more I am able to see flying as a way to dream and life in a creative way. To have friends all over the world, to interact, get news and learn things from them is a good way to create the future…?!
Flying Accomplishments
- 6-time Austrian champion
- 5-time Austrian league winner
- Some World Cup task wins
- World Cup winner and some podiums
- Winner Crossalps and Bordairline
- Top 3 Red Bull Dolomitenmann
- 5th place World Championships Portugal 2003
- 4th place Red Bull X Alps 2005
- Red Bull X-Alps 2009
- 2011 world record triangle (270km)
- Red Bull X Alps 2011
- 1st WPRS 2015
- Projects: Fly to ski, climb to fly, Pierra Menta
- 15th place World Championships Macedonia 2019
Do you have any goals, dreams or plans for the next 1-2 years that you want to share?
I'd love to do some comps in the summertime and plan a volbivvy trip next year 😉
