Marek Veselý wins his seventh Czech aerobatics title: “Every title is different, but I value winning at home the most”

How does it feel to win the Czech title for the seventh time in eight years?

Great. I’m an athlete – I compete and I want to win. Nobody who does a sport, or anything competitive, wants to be last. I always do everything I can to get the best results, and when it works out I’m delighted and really grateful, because I know it’s never a given.

Which of your titles means the most to you, and why?

Good question. It depends whether we’re talking about Czech titles or World Championship titles. Each one is unique – different sequences, different levels of preparation and other variables every time. But I’ll never forget my first Czech title. All my life I’d wanted to be a pilot, and the best one possible, and suddenly I was national champion. I realised my dreams were real and that what I was doing wasn’t in vain.

This year’s title also means a lot because I won it at an international contest. It was a sort of unofficial European championship, and I won both the national and international categories.

From the World Championships, it’s definitely last year’s junior world title – if only because I’m the first person ever to win it.

How did this year’s competition compare to previous years?

Definitely bigger, because pilots from other countries took part. For many it was their first aerobatic contest, but there were also experienced pilots I know from the World Championships, so you really had to fight. My toughest rivals, though, were my Czech colleagues – the results show it, with Czech pilots taking the top five places.

How did you prepare – was anything different this time?

I originally wanted to switch fully to powered aerobatics this year, but between time constraints and preparing for my job it just didn’t happen, so at first I wasn’t planning to compete at all. The decision came about a week before the contest, so there was little room to train.

I flew the free known sequence – the only one we can practise in advance – a few times. For the rest I had to hope and trust that I’d flown everything a few times before. So this contest was mainly about experience, intense focus and ground preparation – a combination that was new to me in a way.

What’s the key to staying at the top for so long?

Training, of course – although this year there was less of it than ever. So I put the success down to momentum from previous years’ training, keeping my piloting habits sharp through other types of flying, physical preparation and mindset. That plays a huge role – along with a bit of luck.

You’ve had big international successes. Is a home title more a confirmation of form, or does it have special value?

I’ve always considered myself a patriot, so I never take home titles for granted or see them as lesser than world titles. I do feel a difference, but as I said, my toughest rivals are my Czech colleagues. The quality of our aerobatic pilots and aviators in general has shown worldwide in recent years – Czechs bring home a huge number of medals and titles compared with other sports.

What are your plans and goals for the coming seasons?

The same as for a few years now: to move to powered aerobatics. I’ve completed the training and there’s a prospect of converting to a new high-performance aircraft type, which I can’t do without. Hopefully it works out. If it does, I’d be starting many things from scratch, so we’ll see. Whether I go straight into powered aerobatics or keep competing in gliders for now… there are plenty of options and variables, especially financial ones.

What would you say to young pilots who want to follow in your footsteps?

If you want it, start! It’s a great time – juniors get a lot of support in sport. After that it’s training, training and training. Keep in mind that things won’t always come straight away; it takes time and patience. Flying has to be done with your heart and a smile. A true pilot is a happy one.

How do you balance a demanding sport with your personal life?

It can be pretty tough at times. You need the right people around you – people who won’t leave you on your own or turn their backs when you say you can’t make the barbecue because you’re training for a contest. I’m lucky to have a few of them. And aerobatics itself keeps me balanced: it gives me freedom and I simply feel good doing it. When I can’t fly for a long time I get restless, nervous and maybe even grumpy. But as soon as I feel the g-forces or bank the aircraft beyond 60 degrees, the world instantly brightens up.