Get to know us

The Swiss Paraglide Team

Swiss Paraglide Zermatt was founded by the Swiss/American pilot Chris Banford.

  • Chris Banford - Pilot Portrait

    Chris Banford

    Pilot & Founder of Swiss Paraglide Zermatt.
    Chris has been flying since 2007 and a full-time tandem pilot since 2013. He loves the challenge of flying long distance (XC - Cross-country) and racing in paragliding competitions around the world. After 10 years as a Partner at FlyZermatt, he's now starting his own flying business here in Zermatt.
    Having lived most of his life in Zermatt, he knows the area extremely well.
    Nationalities: 🇨🇭 Swiss (Zermatt)
    🇺🇸 USA (Storrs, Connecticut)
    Languages: English. German.

  • Mirjiam (Mirji) Büchler

    Mirjam (Mirji) Büchler

    Customer Support. Office & Administration.
    Mirjam is a Swiss native fluent in Englisch, French, German and Italien. I have a background in tourism and extensive experience in hospitality. Passionate about animals, I love spending time with dogs and horses. Meeting people and helping to make their experience unforgettable is something I truly enjoy.
    Nationalities: 🇨🇭 Swiss (Lausanne)
    🇩🇪 German
    Languages: French. German. English. Italian.

  • Pilot Plamen Todorov

    Plamen Todorov

    Tandem Pilot
    Description text on its way! Plamen is a highly experienced tandem and acro pilot, who moved to Zermatt in 2024 and obtained his Swiss Tandem Pilot license (to go with his Bulgarian Tandem and Instructor licenses).
    He has been flying paragliders since 2015 and has flown in many different countries around the world, including Bulgaria, France, Spain, and Switzerland. He is passionate about flying and loves to share his passion with others.
    Nationalities: 🇧🇬 Bulgarian
    Languages: English. Bulgarian. Russian. (learning German!)

  • Pilot Alex Ribeiro

    Alex Ribeiro

    Tandem Pilot
    Alex is from Portugal and has made Zermatt his home since 2000. He started flying paragliders in 2010 and has been a Swiss Tandem Pilot since 2014.
    Nationalities: 🇵🇹 Portuguese
    🇨🇭 Swiss (Zermatt)
    Languages: Portuguese. German. English.