​Elias Schwärzler’s incredible stunt: The man who cycled from a hot-air balloon

Elias Schwärzler had it all planned out. For two years, the Vorarlberg native spent planning what was probably the craziest bike stunt of his career. BIKE spoke to him about a budget of 70,000 euros, burning balloons and why a failed first attempt ultimately turned out to be a stroke of luck.

"I was thinking like a mountain biker – not like a skydiver."

BIKE: Elias, congratulations on your balloon stunt. When the pictures went online, everyone thought: ‘That can’t be real.’

Elias Schwärzler: (laughs) Thanks! I was absolutely blown away afterwards. When I saw the photos, I thought: that’s exactly how I pictured it in my head. It was one of those rare moments when reality and imagination line up perfectly.

BIKE: The front flips were particularly impressive, as was how smoothly you came off the bike. And you’re not even a professional skydiver.

Schwärzler: I’ve now done around 250 skydives. Without them, the stunt would have been impossible.

BIKE: Even so, the first attempt didn’t go to plan.

Schwärzler: No. The camera drone broke down. That was frustrating, as the risk was enormous. In hindsight, though, it turned out to be a stroke of luck.

BIKE: Why?

Schwärzler: Because after the front flips, I ended up separated from the bike just like a mountain biker. I pushed the bike away to the side and tucked my knees in – just like you do after a botched jump on the ground. But in free fall, that immediately flips you onto your back. A skydiver stretches out their legs, gets air under their feet and glides forwards. That’s exactly what I did on my second attempt. Everything went perfectly then.

Bulgaria rather than bureaucracy

BIKE: You spent two years preparing for the stunt. What was the biggest challenge?

Schwärzler: Pretty much everything, really. Which balloon can withstand that? Will the envelope tear? Who approves something like that? Which pilot would even go along with it? Without official authorisation, the balloonist risks losing his licence.

BIKE: Of all places, you found what you were looking for in Bulgaria.

Schwärzler: (laughs) Yes. All they said was: ‘Just fly where there aren’t any houses below.’ That was much less complicated than elsewhere.

BIKE: How do you make that sort of contact?

Schwärzler: I did some research to find out who had ever performed stunts in a hot-air balloon. That’s how I came across Andy, a British stuntman. He knew the local people and organised everything.

BIKE: Even so, you were never able to practise the jump itself properly.

Schwärzler: No. The only thing I was able to practise was stabilising myself after the front flips – making sure I came away from the bike cleanly and entered free fall in a controlled manner.

“My biggest fear? That the balloon will catch fire.”

BIKE: What was the biggest risk?

Schwärzler: The altitude. We jumped from just under 900 metres. Skydivers usually leave the aeroplane at around 4,000 metres. That leaves plenty of time to correct any mistakes. I didn’t have that margin.

BIKE: Why so low?

Schwärzler: Flying any higher wouldn’t have been a problem – but our camera drone couldn’t go any higher. A helicopter would have been the alternative, but it would have blown the budget.

BIKE: As I was watching, I immediately thought of your chainring. What if it slashed the balloon’s envelope?

Schwärzler: The envelope is actually surprisingly thin. That’s why we’ve reinforced it in the launch area. Something else proved more difficult: the ventilation flap is located at the top of the balloon. During the test flights, my bike fell straight into that hole. If that had happened whilst I was in the air, I’d have been roasting over the burner like a chicken on a spit.

BIKE: Not exactly reassuring.

Schwärzler: That’s why we fitted some nets. We couldn’t close the opening completely, though, because otherwise the balloon wouldn’t have worked. So I had to be incredibly careful.

BIKE: What worst-case scenarios did you have in mind?

Schwärzler: Firstly: I fall into the ventilation shaft. Secondly: I get tangled up in the bike. Thirdly: The balloon catches fire.

BIKE: Fire?

Schwärzler: That actually happened in Brazil last year. The balloon fabric caught fire – and the balloon burnt up. That’s why everyone on board was carrying a parachute. Even the drone pilot had to be a skydiver. It’s no easy task finding a drone pilot with a skydiving licence!

70,000 euros for a dream

BIKE: By the way, your bike landed surprisingly gently.

Schwärzler: It had its own parachute for that purpose. It was deployed by an automatic emergency system – just like with skydivers. It worked perfectly.

BIKE: How big was your team?

Schwärzler: About 20 people.

BIKE: And how much does a stunt on this scale cost?

Schwärzler: Around 70,000 euros. The balloon, modifications and training alone account for a large part of that.

BIKE: What does your family think of ideas like that?

Schwärzler: My mum used to think it wasn’t funny at all. When I dropped out of university, she cried. Now she knows just how meticulously I prepare everything. That’s why she trusts me. The same goes for my girlfriend and the rest of the family.

"My next target: 300 km/h."

BIKE: What are you hoping to get out of a project like this?

Schwärzler: To be honest, I’m not really hoping for anything. For me, it’s about freedom – the freedom to actually put ideas like this into practice. I’m neither the most talented rider nor the best cyclist. But I want to show that what seems impossible can become possible if you’re prepared to put in the time, energy and effort.

BIKE: From a financial point of view, it also seems to be worth the effort.

Schwärzler: Absolutely. More than 200 TV channels worldwide have covered the story. The official media value is estimated at between three and five million euros. That, of course, goes a long way towards funding the next stunt.

BIKE: What are your plans?

Schwärzler: 300 km/h. On a bike. Behind a Formula 1 car.

BIKE: We’ll be back for the interview. Hopefully with both feet firmly on the ground.

Schwärzler: (laughs) I wouldn’t count on that.

Who is Elias Schwärzler?

Elias Schwärzlern (31) is a stuntman and bike adventurer; he runs a fashion label and the world’s largest riding technique school. The Vorarlberg native holds a world speed record, and millions of people watch his bike videos.