Jeff Shapiro

Do you have a nickname that you go by?
Bat

Where do you live?
I live in Grenoble for my studies, but I spend most of my free time in Annecy.

What do you do for work?
I study math in order to become a math teacher at the university.

What year, and how old were you when you started flying?
I started groundhandling and soaring when I was 10  and really started thermal flying in 2008 when I was 12 years old.

Did a family member introduce you to paragliding? Does anyone else in your family fly?
Both of my parents introduced me to paragliding. They took me in the air (tandem) when I was 4 or 5 years old, we made hundreds of such flights. When I became old enouth, they taught me to groundhanle and soar for two years, before I was allowed to realy fly in thermals. Now we participte to competitions together.
My grandfather is also flying (he is 79) !

What other passions do you have, or activities do you enjoy?
I also do a lot of kitesurf and recently kite-foil.

Why is flying important to you, and what does flying mean to you?
Flying is one of the best feelings in life ! Often when I’m at school, I look at the clouds through the window and wish to be there, carving an epic +4, and enjoying the best view in the world with some friends and birds…

Flying accomplishment
5th  2019 French Open
1st 2019 PWC China
1st 2019 PWC Brasil
1st 2019 French XC Contest
Having a lot of fun during my trainings and compétitions !

Do you have any goals, dreams or plans for the next 1-2 years that you want to share?
I’d like to participate to the Europeans and World Championchips in the French team. I also would like to break some XC world record, and why not, starting hike & fly !