[Interview]
Mike Kung at Vertigo 2002: 
"ACRO IS THE FUTURE 
OF PARAGLIDING"
(Posted: May 16th, 2003)

'Mad' Mike Kung is one of the founders of the 'Acro' movement. Involved in paragliding since the 80's, he's worked as a test pilot for different paragliding factories, and as a DHV test pilot since 1998. He is an 'adrenaline junkie' who not only searches for perfect radical movements in flight, but also explores his own limits in any sport or activity he performs, from ground-handling his glider on top of a volcano, to jumping from a balloon at more than 9000 metres over ground level… and paragliding back to earth. In the past edition of the Acro-in-syncro competition, 'Vertigo', he did not participate since his partner could not attend, and also because he was not happy with some of the still forming rules for this new sport: paragliding aerobatics. Instead, he offered a neat exhibition of what he can do to a glider while still keeping total control of it. He expects to be back in the competition scene this year, if his busy agenda with the Adidas Adventure Team leaves him some time. He will find some more good pilots to fight against, but he believes that "we all have to go a step forward together" to make Acro work better, as this "is the future of paragliding!"

Mike, why do you like Acro?

I think is one of the only reasons to make paragliding. It's the movement, it's the feeling, it's the power, it's the aggressiveness you can put in, it's the motion..! If I fly straight-line I don't have this big emotions. Only when I make a really hard, rough manoeuvre and it works really as I like it, then I'm really happy about it.

Do you have a 'speciality'?

Not really. I train helicopters a lot, this is maybe my main figure, but I also like every maneuver that is not only impressive but also difficult to fly, so if I get a new maneuver that I can try to move, to learn how it works, this is always very interesting.

Do you think Acro is risky?

No, I don't think so. Pilots who are really experienced make a lot of training, a lot of flying, so they can make it really safe.

Can anybody do aerobatics?

Yes. It doesn't matter in which level you make acrobatics, a wingover can be Acro, but you should know that you have to train. Acro can start with a wingover or with a good handling on the ground, for example. Anybody who says "I want to learn" can be an acrobatic pilot.

Are Acro pilots different from normal pilots, or special in any way?

I think so, yes. Acro pilots have a special flare; special lifestyles, and they're of course adrenaline junkies, who really like emotions and strong feelings. And you feel this when you find a guy or a woman who does acrobatics, you feel that there's a special spirit. Yeah, you have to be a little bit crazy and you have to like movement!

What's the lifestyle of an Acro pilot like?

I think people from the south, like from Italy, Spain or even France, they have another way of thinking, sometimes they seem a little bit more open or happier than our people in Germany or Austria, who are always more strict, straight. Even Acro pilots. This is something you also see in flying, different styles. One is more show, relax and cool; the other one is more about perfection, straight line and training. We understand each other and this is an important thing.

How's your "style"?

My direction in acrobatics, since I've done it that long, it's more try to get perfect. I want to have an open wing, I want to have every figure when I make it that it's smooth, gentle, working with the other manoeuvre. For me it's not necessary to have a lot of movement in the glider, I really want to have it under control and maybe I try this way really hard to get in this 'perfect' direction.

What's your opinion of the people who are in the competition ('Vertigo' 2002)?

The level is amazingly good. But I think we should work more on the rules. The problem is the different mentalities. From the north of Europe to the south there are different ways of thinking, and we have to try to come together. (…) The right way is that we get more and more professional, and the problem is that many people who are not 'pro' come into the sport and they're not safe enough. We have to be careful that we don't have too many accidents, and that professionals really have the chance to earn a little more money, and have the chance to put the sport out in the world. I think this is very necessary for the future.

So you will not compete until the rules are clearer?

When I come back to competitions like this (Vertigo) I feel my roots; I feel "ah, this is it". It's my place and of course I'm definitely sure that next year I'll do some competitions again. I hope until then we get better rules, better directions for all of us. I think we all have to go a step forward together, and then it'll work.

Finally, would you say that Acro is a growing sport?

Of course! I think a lot of people now check that this is the direction in which we can use media for the public. This is the future of paragliding, I think. We must try to get more and more professional, combining with other adventure sports like biking, hiking or kayaking (with the adventure team of Adidas we do this already), get into the media, have good and professional shows… I think then, the future of paragliding Acro is really good!

You can find out more about Mike Kung by visiting his website: www.madmikekung.com

*Mike Kung will be the special guest of this year's edition of the International Air Cinema Festival of El Yelmo, in Spain (July 3-6th), where he will leave his foot-prints at the local 'promenade of the stars', built by the Festival organisers to honour some of the big names for the flying sports. More info:

www.elyelmofestival.com