We’re pleased to have officially kicked off the 2026 season in Spain, marking the start of our 22nd consecutive year! This year’s team in Spain brings a strong mix of experience and fresh energy. Zebur Mercan returns for his 14th year with SkySchool. Ted Drinkall is now in his 4th season with us, and we’re excited to welcome our newest team member, Marcus Lloyd. I drove down from the UK to Spain with Ted and Marcus, stopping off to fly en route, before picking up Zebur in Seville, after which we all flew together at Algodonales at sunset. Experiences like that never get boring and are what SkySchool is all about!
Marcus’s story is a great example of how quickly things can change when opportunity presents itself. His father, Mike, a long-standing client, had booked onto SkyWeek Namibia last year. However, when his paramotor was impounded in Frankfurt, Marcus was flown out to try to retrieve it and bring it to Namibia. In the end, that didn’t work out, and Mike used one of our paramotors instead. But the situation meant Marcus was able to join us for the entire trip. One day, on the coast north of Swakopmund, after a great XC flight, I noticed that the conditions were ideal for ground handling and some paragliding on the sand dunes. I took Marcus along, and within a short space of time, he picked up the fundamentals. By the end of the session, he had completed half a dozen top-to-bottom flights. That was enough. He was hooked. From there, things moved quickly. Marcus went on to complete a course and later joined SkyWeek France. Seeing how naturally he took to flying, and how much he clearly enjoyed it, I offered him a role as a trainee instructor.
As always, the winter saw the team scatter in different directions. Ted returned to Wales before spending time in the Alps working with his family’s charity, helping disabled people access skiing. He also headed out to Namibia for a paragliding road trip, along with Jef, who has also worked as an Instructor. Zebur returned to the Philippines to run his kitesurfing school. Unfortunately, during an expedition, a fire broke out after a client left a battery pack charging in his room, destroying the entire centre. Despite the setback, he’s already focused on rebuilding and is determined to return next year.
I spent the winter in Chamonix, continuing my usual routine of ski touring, paragliding and a combination of both. Alongside that, I’m pleased to say that, together with my friend Jake Holland, we’ve completed the first draft of our book, Summits of War, which has taken us more than two and a half years. Based on true events, it follows two of Europe’s greatest mountain athletes who found themselves on opposing sides in the highest battle of the Second World War, which took place in the Mont Blanc massif. While it has nothing to do with flying, the project is driven by our shared passion for adventure and exploration, combined with our interest in military history and storytelling. To discover more or to pre-order a copy, visit: https://www.summitsofwar.com/
