How did you imagine Kortel Design?

To survive financially on the meager pay of military service in 1990, we produced and sold khaki and blue clothing to the ill-equipped officers!
I naturally took out the sewing machine in 1992 to contribute to the development of paragliders, then harnesses in 1997. From 1998 the brand Kortel Design is created. The production starts in the living room, then invades the dining room, the bedroom ... In short there is no more house. In 2004 Max joins me in the adventure, we move and we create AIR MKG which repurchases the name of the brand Kortel design in 2006.

What was your background before the creation of Kortel Design?

Sports teacher in climbing, mountain, ski and paragliding; member of the French paragliding group from 1995 to 2012, French champion in 1998, 2004, 2005.

What is your role in the team?

As co-manager of the company, I am mainly in charge of the management of the prototyping workshop and the production.

Do you fly?

Yes, since 1990.

What kind of flights do you prefer?

A little bit of everything, each season has its own practice...

What is your best memory of paragliding?

There are too many: Reunion Island, Mont Blanc, the Great Wall of China...

A favorite  model ?

The Kanibal Race II for its incomparable precision and comfort, and the Kliff II because it fits in an envelope and yet it is an ultra-comfortable harness!

Your other activities / passions ?

Competition sailing, and the desire to master the manufacturing processes of everyday products: gardening, wine, charcuterie, beer, cider etc...

How did you get to Kortel Design?

After  being fired at the end of 2004, Denis suggested that I join him in an attempt to develop the brand. I accepted easily, given the potential of the brand, and we joined forces in 2006 to create Air MKG, which manages the Kortel Design brand as well as the import of Mac Para and Naviter for France.

What was your background before you came to Kortel Design?

With an engineering background, I have always worked in the paragliding world. Just after my studies, I had the opportunity to work as a developer/salesman for Flying Planet/Aerodyne, from 2000 to the end of 2004.

What is your role in the team?

I am co-manager of the company with Denis. My role has changed a lot over the years, but it is more focused on commercial management and R&D.

Do you fly?

For ever... I started at 14, and the magic of being up in the air still amazes me. The competition came later, enrolled in the Lorraine league team at 18, which allowed me to accelerate my progression. First World Cup in 2000, I joined the High Level group in 2001, to stop the French team around 2007, not having the time to invest as much as before. Since then,  I still join in a few competitions from time to time, which allows me to discover new corners of the planet and to keep in touch and follow its evolution.

What kind of flights do you prefer?

I love cross country and soaring.
Cross-country because of the magic of moving around with this piece of cloth, flying over the mountains, spending the day in the air.
Soaring, because the fact of flying low to the ground, but still flying, brings a feeling of gliding incomparable to other sports.

What is your best memory of paragliding?

Wow. There are so many of them. My return to flying after a two-year break in 2009: 15 days of bivouac flying along the Himalayas, from Pakistan to Tibet.

A favorite  model ?

The two extremes of the current range: the Kanibal Race II for its unequalled comfort and precision of piloting, and the Kliff II for its amazing comfort/weight ratio.

Your other activities / passions ?

My other main activities are still related to the wind: sailing, kite-surfing.

How did you get to Kortel Design?

After 10 years in the industry, I needed a new  life challenge in my professional career. At the time, Denis and Max were looking for someone to complete the team, and here I am.

What was your background before you came to Kortel Design?

With a master's degree in mechanical engineering, I worked for 10 years as a project manager in a design office in the medical industry. I also worked as an assistant guardian at the Goûter refuge.

What is your role in the team?

I started as a sales assistant, and now I'm in charge of everything related to image: photo shooting, video, media, ... I also manage the relationship with the ambassador drivers who represent the brand around the world.

Do you fly?

Yes, since 2003.

What kind of flights do you prefer?

I love walking and flying, for its simplicity which makes it so enjoyable. I also love cross country, but unfortunately I don't have the time to devote to it fully.

What is your best memory of paragliding?

There are a number of them ... Maybe my first flight from Mt-Blanc in 2005: I realised at that time how paragliding could be a wonderful instrument to realise all kinds of dreams.

A favorite  model ?

I think it's the Kolibri EVO: it's ultra-versatile with a very reasonable weight for an exceptional comfort level. The Kliff II as well, because it's just amazing to think that 160 grs of fabric can carry you under a sail!

Your other activities / passions ?

I also work as a professional photographer. Photography has always been a passion, and I try to shoot whenever I have time. I am particularly attracted by action and sports photography. I am also a mountain guide, and practice many mountain sports (climbing, mountain biking, telemark, ski touring).

How did you get to Kortel Design?

After meeting Denis in 2015, he offered me a trial run. I have a background as a seamstress and he was looking to expand his team.

What was your background before you came to Kortel Design?

A career that started in the watch industry, then I did seasons in the sports sector and finally arrived at Kortel Design.

What is your role in the team?

I am mainly responsible for after-sales service and I also participate in product development.

Do you fly?

Unfortunately not ... I could have if the days had been 4 hours longer, but you can't do everything!

What kind of flights do you prefer?

Not flying, I enjoy sharing tandem flights with friends. I've done some very nice ones.

What is your best memory of paragliding?

A one and a half hour tandem flight at Moustier Ste-Marie. I understood why birds sing and are so happy to be in the air.

A favorite  model ?

The Kanibal Race II, for all the technical challenges we had to face in order to make this ultra comfortable and performing harness.

Your other activities / passions ?

All outdoor sports activities, cooking (both eating and cooking), sewing when I have time. I also have a professional sewing/retouching activity called "GRAIN FIN".

How did you get to Kortel Design?

An unsolicited application for a 6-month internship in early 2020 as part of my textile specialization. I had wanted to join the paragliding world for a while, this internship allowed me to join the team. The subject of my internship was the development of bags for walking and flying (K17 / K27 / K40).

What was your background before you came to Kortel Design?

I studied product engineering in Grenoble. I was lucky enough to do a 6-month internship at Rossignol. This experience reinforced my desire to work on sports products later on. After my studies, I did two years in a design office. To get a first experience, but above all to allow me to go on a one-year trip around the world, focusing on mountains and treks. When I came back, I specialised in technical textiles for the outdoors.

What is your role in the team?

I work mainly on the development of products such as the rucksacks, as well as on the mountain harnesses(Kliff II and Kruyer III).

Do you fly?

Of course, having grown up at the foot of St-Hilaire du Touvet it was only a matter of time before I started.
I was lucky enough to start at Pontcharra high school with the sports association between 2008 and 2010, and as it's so addictive I took it up again in 2014 when I was able to buy my first wing.

What kind of flights do you prefer?

Trekking, soaring and cross country flying. I don't necessarily have a favorite type of flying, I try to enjoy each style.
For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the landscapes, to walk in the mountains and find the exhilarating freedom of being in the air.

What is your best memory of paragliding?

A sunset at Val Pelouse, sat in the air when I only had 50 flights. The air mass was calm, rising everywhere and the sun passing behind the Granier creating an incredible luminosity. It was a moment out of time.

A favorite  model ?

The Karver II is great for playing with the sail. The absence of straps gives a feeling of freedom of movement quite disconcerting.

Your other activities / passions ?

I practice the mountain in a little bit all these forms. So I do a bit of everything but not necessarily very well. Apart from paragliding, I mostly do autonomous treks and cross-country skiing or telemark skiing in winter.
As far as other activities are concerned, I started brewing beer and I love cooking, with a weakness for atypical cakes.

How did you get to Kortel Design?

I knew the brand well before arriving, because I was already part of the "Team Pilot" competition. One day, while I was looking for a work-study program for my engineering school, I contacted Max who was immediately willing to hire me as a work-study student!

What was your background before you came to Kortel Design?

A technical degree in mechanical and production engineering, a bachelor's, and 1 year as a draftstsman. I am currently in engineering school.

What is your role in the team?

I am in charge of the development of the testing department: I work on improving the testing and control tools to facilitate product development. I also do research on the optimisation of technical solutions such as back protectors, working on performance, compactness, weight, etc.

Do you fly?

Yes, since 2017. My father had already been flying for a long time, and after doing tandem flights with him, I wanted to try it myself.

What kind of flights do you prefer?

Distance flying, where you try to fly as far as possible, faster and faster, longer and longer, without worrying about cold, fatigue or dehydration!

What is your best memory of paragliding?

An end of cross-country flight with Timo and Ludo, crossing the lake of Serre-Ponçon in beautiful golden lights!

A favorite  model ?

The Kanibal Race II of course, to accompany me in cross country and competitions. Its comfort and its details for piloting high performance wings are just exceptional.

Your other activities / passions ?

Climbing and mountaineering.