Episode 171- Daniel Tyrkas and unlocking the secrets

by

Daniel Tyrkas is no stranger performing at a high level. He took a passion for gymnastics onto the slopes and soon after competed for Germany in snowboarding in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics after nearly qualifying for Nagano in 98′ (while going to engineering school!). He sends huge airs in kiteboarding, but his true passion for the last couple decades has been paragliding. He’s commonly ranked in the top 15 in the world, regularly represents Germany on their national team, and very often can be found at the top of XContest on big days in the Alps (in fact he just broke the site record from near his home in Kossen just after we had our talk). In this episode we dig into his comp success, going big in XC, the most critical maneuvers to have down to be safe, striking the right balance between attacking and control, how to fly the best lines, and doing it all while having a real job and real family! “The journey of becoming a better bird never ends.” Enjoy!

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • Daniel discusses his 2002 winter olympics in Salt Lake City and how his body awareness helped him learn to fly quickly
  • A non-standard progression
  • Learning SIV very early on
  • Getting into XC and putting things together
  • Optimizing. Is it engineering, flow, approach, training…or something else
  • Competitions- how to succeed
  • Monarca, Colombia, and the comp scene
  • Controlling the wing when the shit hits the fan
  • Fly the wing you are comfortable with
  • One job- angle of attack!
  • A lifetime accident free
  • Macready dictates bar use
  • Striking the right balance
  • You can only try to improve yourself
  • Becoming a better bird
  • Don’t be dumb- pretty easy!
  • The importance of having quick-outs
  • Passive safety- where it matters
  • Carry a hook knife!
  • Honorin- how?

Mentioned in this show:

Will Gadd, Aaron Durogati, Thomas Theirillat, Honorin Hamard, Luc Armont, Russ Ogden, Charles Cazaux, Ulrich Prinz

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:40 — 73.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Episode 170- Flying, Camping, and Cloudsurfing with Benjamin Kellett

by

I’m not sure if I introduce Benjamin with “film maker” or “pilot” as he does both in spades. Benjamin makes amazing films about his flying and bivvy adventures in New Zealand and takes the viewer directly into his cockpit, talking the audience through his decision making with some of the most infectious stoke on flying I’ve ever witnessed. Come along for the ride with Benjamin as he takes us into the clouds to surf the possibilities. Enjoy this super fun talk with Benjamin Kellett!

Prepare to get sucked in on Benjamin’s YouTube channel.

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:00 — 71.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Episode 169- Alex Schweig and not being a passenger to destiny

by

Professional chef Alex Schweig was born in Peru and didn’t grow up around sport. In his teens he became fascinated with watching the paragliders at the coast in Lima and started groundhandling. Not long after he got into acro, got bit by the flying bug and learned German so he could move to the Alps and become a full-time pilot. Flying in all its forms is now his full-time job and passion, but because he didn’t grow up taking much risk and being around risky activities Alex has a very methodical approach to learning and training which we dove into in this talk. Alex likes to say “flying bags around the sky with grace and tact” is important, style is important, and style isn’t just the physical movements we make under canopy but the holistic approach we take (or should take) to every aspect of flying and life in general. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too!

Alex is on instagram @airxperience_austria

Alex organizes and leads tours to South America. Check them out here.

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • Learning to fly in Peru
  • Acro and proximity flying
  • Groundhandling
  • “Grace and Tact” and style
  • Refining your style
  • The importance of having other passions when you fly
  • Maintaining the desire
  • Approaching the sport when you’re young
  • Ground suck
  • The importance of where you live if you fly
  • Upcoming dream gear…

Mentioned in this show:

Yassen Savoy, Will Gadd, Seb Ospina, Veso Ovcharov

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:15 — 71.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Episode 168- Learning by Simulation- Flightcoach!

by

Bas van Duijn has been flying for 27 years, has been a paragliding instructor for 10 and has a commercial aviation background. No stranger to simulator training he decided to bring the lessons from professional FlightSim usage to our world. He also specializes in coaching recreational pilots who have developed a fear of flying. I reached out to Bas after watching one of his simulator videos because it seemed like an incredible way to learn many aspects of our tricky sport with zero risk. We had a fascinating talk about where the future may be headed, increasing pilot retention, the importance of understanding aviation theory, dealing with fear, eliminating the common mistakes, “shortcutting” learning, and a lot more. Enjoy!

Find more information about the simulator: http://paraglidingsimulator.com, or visit Bas’ youtube channel for a visual introduction: https://youtu.be/RwcGN2ZNtO0

Flightcoach is currently taking orders for simulators, for more information contact info@flightcoach.nl

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • The early days on a hang glider and some very valuable lessons
  • Don’t skip the theory
  • What are you options?
  • Hang gliding vs paragliding
  • What is more dangerous? And why?
  • Groundhandling
  • Those who have and those who will
  • The Simulation experience
  • The huge benefit of VR over doing the real thing- getting a LOT of time
  • The “pure” experience
  • What the pilot does and what the outcome is
  • Technique, tactics and strategy
  • Targeting 80% of the world’s flying population
  • Success!!
  • Who does it suit?

Mentioned in this show:

Russ Ogden, Flightcoach, Red Rocks Wide Open, XRedRocks, AirTribune, Paul Guschlbauer, Patrick Von Kanel, Aaron Durogati, Tom De Dorlodot, Tanguy Renoud-Goud, Tim Rochas, UAE Hike and Fly Championships, Maxime Pinot, Nick Neynens, Bruce Marks, Mitch Riley, Stefan Bernhard

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:24 — 73.9MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Episode 167- Steve Bramfitt and Disco Dancing with risk

by

Steve Bramfitt was a rookie in the 2021 Red Bull X-Alps (GBR1) this year and had a phenomenal race, and like everyone this year- experienced plenty of harrowing and wonderful moments. In this episode we talk about his physical and mental preparation, dealing with the unknowns going into such a huge endeavor, how he assembled his team, some of the crazier (and hysterical) moments in the race, his scary accident in the UAE Hike and Fly championships and his rather nasty accident on the last full day of the X-Alps. We also discuss how Steve got into acro and the do’s and don’ts in the beginning stages, being a foreigner living in Switzerland, how to know if and when you’re ready for the X-Alps, what mental approaches work and don’t work during the race, wingsuit base jumping, how other sports help in paragliding, and a lot more. This was a really fun talk- enjoy!

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • The UAE Hike and Fly Championships
  • Taking the “Leap of Faith”
  • The accident in Dubai and take-aways
  • The importance of repatriation insurance
  • Getting into acro- what not to do
  • The X-Alps- the unknowns going it
  • What approaches worked, and didn’t work and refining as the race goes on
  • Steve’s accident top landing in the X-Alps on day 11
  • Funny stories from the race- the “hut” incident
  • The “Andermatt” incident
  • More crazy stories from the race
  • Gavin tells a story of a fun flight
  • What am I doing in the sky?
  • Getting in the zone
  • Living in the Alps
  • Best and worst moment in the Alps
  • What apps to use in the race
  • Wingsuit basejumping
  • Recent “aha” moment
  • Falling asleep in the sky

Mentioned in this show:

Tanguy Renoud-Goud, Paul Guschlbauer, Aaron Durogati, Patrick Von Kânel, Tim Rochas, XRedRocks, Salewa, Red Bull X-Alps, UAE Hike and Fly Championships, Eduardo Garza, Christoph Weber, Zooom, Red Bull, Tom Payne, Oliver Clothier, Mark Simpson, Manuel Nubel, Tom De Dorlodot, Yael Margelisch, Michel Lacher, Cody Mittanck, Jeff Shapiro, Antoine Girard, Aaron Durogati

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:19 — 78.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Episode 166- Going Big and dealing with Setback with Serena Ronchi

by

Swiss pilot Serena Ronchi started flying in 2018. By chasing it maybe harder than anyone I’ve ever heard of, this past season Serena won the female XContest and flew OVER 10,000 kilometers in a single season! She quit her job as a teacher and went on an 8 month sabbatical to fly and spent over 3 months in the Sertão of Brazil. Serena takes us back to her time in Brazil learning about flying in a lot of wind, towing, figuring out the flats and having it all come together. Serena takes us through her journey to become a pilot, the addiction that set in, her dreams and hopes with flying and then the accident that brought it all to a sudden halt and the extraordinary and difficult road she’s undertaken to recover. When your dreams collide with reality the mind can be friend or foe, and attitude is everything. Come along for this wild and at times heartbreaking and yet inspiring ride.

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • Flying the Sertao. For 3 months!
  • Flying in the wind, dealing with the stress
  • The Swiss League
  • The XContest win
  • SIV and Acro training
  • Figuring out the flats and overcoming stress
  • Assessing the risks
  • Goals post-accident
  • The accident- how it went down
  • Learning to walk
  • Flying again
  • Looking back at the accident- what caused it, what can we learn?
  • What Serena will change going forward
  • Getting confident again?
  • Advice to others who have had accidents- advice for the victim, advice for our community

Mentioned in this show:

Russ Ogden, Cross Country Magazine, Chrigel Maurer, XContest, Swiss League, AirDesign, Dominique Rohner

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:20 — 49.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

XCTracer Tone Settings

by

I get a LOT of emails from listeners asking for my XCTracer tone settings (to make your XCTracer more of an averager like a Flymaster or Flytec). Saving me some time here so I can just send people a link.

Just replace the last paragraph of your config file with this:


beepOnlyWhenFlying=yes
setVolume=2
dampingFactor=2.50
ClimbToneOnThreshold=0.10
ClimbToneOffThreshold=0.10
SinkToneOnThreshold=-4.00
SinkToneOffThreshold=-4.00
tone=-10.00,200,200,100
tone=-2.02,294,200,100
tone=-1.99,294,700,82
tone=-1.01,320,400,10
tone=-0.98,320,651,29
tone=0.00,374,300,5
tone=0.00,432,500,15
tone=0.40,505,399,35
tone=1.01,579,335,50
tone=1.99,652,275,50
tone=8.00,1517,241,66
tone=10.00,1800,150,70

Replace the last paragraph in your config file with this. You can play around with dampening factor- reduce to make it more immediate, increase to make it more ‘averaged’ and sink tone (I turn mine completely off!), but this is awfully close to a Flymaster/Flytec averager.

Bonus- Safety and Progression

by

I'm doing a 5 part YouTube series of deep dives on certain chapters of my new book "Advanced Paragliding" with Ari Delashmutt ("Ari in the Air"). This third one is on Safety and Progression. Hope you enjoy!

This content is only available to Members of the Cloudbase Mayhem. If you have subscribed to our newsletter or have supported us in the past through PayPal, Patreon or another way you should have an account all set up with us and you can login below (username is typically your email). If you aren't a member, all we've ever asked for is a buck a show so please if you can join now! Can't afford a buck a show? We want all our content to be available to the flying community regardless of your financial position, so just send us an email and we'll sort you out.

Bonus- Gliding!

by

I'm doing a 5 part YouTube series of deep dives on certain chapters of my new book "Advanced Paragliding" with Ari Delashmutt ("Ari in the Air"). This second one is on the dark art of Gliding. Hope you enjoy!

This content is only available to Members of the Cloudbase Mayhem. If you have subscribed to our newsletter or have supported us in the past through PayPal, Patreon or another way you should have an account all set up with us and you can login below (username is typically your email). If you aren't a member, all we've ever asked for is a buck a show so please if you can join now! Can't afford a buck a show? We want all our content to be available to the flying community regardless of your financial position, so just send us an email and we'll sort you out.

Episode 165- Ryan Leech and navigating the Risk / Reward Spectrum

by
Location: North Vancouver, BC Athlete: Ryan Leech

Ryan Leech has been a professional mountain biker for 25 years. Although he would never call himself this, in his sport he is a legend. He’s performed stunts in thousands of shows, including Cirque Du Soleil, IMBA World Summit, and Crankworx and has appeared in dozens of films. Ryan has been teaching mountain biking for over 24 years and is an avid explorer of human potential and is a certified Integral Master Coach. In this episode we explore the four types of Flow, the risk of entering flow through risk, developing the mind to increase performance, how a professional athlete has to ride the often very narrow line between risk and reward, making inexpensive mistakes, getting intimate with risk, maintaining a professional athletic career, accurately identifying risk (not inflating it and not ignoring real risk), being at peace with the dangers, and a lot more.

Ryan has an incredible website and online instructional presence. Learn more about his teaching and follow Ryan here:

website: https://learn.ryanleech.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanleechconnection

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanleechconnection/

Support the Podcast

A buck an episode, that's all we ask

If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a subscriber to ensure our high-quality content continues.

See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

Topics we discuss on the show:

  • Taking risk to get noticed/ sponsored
  • Successfully riding the line between success and failure
  • The four types of Flow: Forced Flow (it’s a gamble), Chance Flow (random), Vicarious Flow (transportational), Choice Flow (the gold standard)
  • Getting in and out of Flow and the developmental process of Flow
  • The risks of “Kodak courage”
  • The dangers of following a formula
  • Developing the ability to read risk
  • DO NOT DO THINGS for the accolades or sponsors, do things for the love of the sport
  • Developing a map for improvement and progression
  • Developing a deeper connection to nature
  • Red Bull Rampage
  • “The mind writes checks that the body can’t cover”
  • Why do we take risk?
  • Sacrificing well-being in the pursuit of progressing a sport
  • How risk changes when you have kids

Mentioned in this show:

AirNomads, Steve Kotler, Will Gadd

Ryan Leech

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:22 — 79.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More