SAFA Skysailor Magazine

31 AUTUMN 2026 | March-April-May SKY SAILOR Q&A with Stefanie Becker How did flying begin for you? I always knew I belonged in the air. As a kid in Germany, I used to watch hang gliders come over the house and the hill. It took me a long time to actually start flying, but during my studies I learned to fly sailplanes. I lived near one of Germany’s busiest airfields, so while I was at uni- versity, I’d duck over to the field and fly. When I moved to Australia in 2007, I found that airfields were hours away. I couldn’t combine work and flying the way I had, so I learned to paraglide, and honestly, I thought it was much cooler! You’re closer to nature. You feel the air. It’s simpler, more direct, and I completely fell for it. What does a good flying day look like to you? A good day is when I fly all day until sunset. The last hour, when the air turns smooth and buoyant and the light changes, is magic! You feel like an air creature. You land, but still feel like you’re floating. And of course it’s important to do a proper landing. Flying with others and with eagles is also a highlight. When you’ve been in the air for six or seven hours, sharing thermals, watching the day evolve is the reward. How do you handle fear or tricky conditions? Fortunately, when I get stressed, I go into hyper-focus. I don’t have time to feel fear. I focus on the problem at hand and the best solution. At the same time, I’m already thinking about alternatives. Plan A, B, C… The adrenaline usually hits after I land, especially if a storm front rolls in. That’s when I feel it. But I’m very honest with myself in the debrief. What could I have