Episode 173- Exploring the possibilities in Brazil with Leandro Estevam Montoya

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Most pilots who think of flying in Brazil think of chasing records across the Sertão or racing in the land of the lost terrain in famous sites like Governador Valadares and Baixo Guandu. But Brazil is massive and the flying possibilities and potential is as big as the smiles that adorn the welcoming people. Leandro Estevam Montoya and a fast-growing group of pilots at all levels in Brazil have been exploring the countries’ vol-biv potential for the past few years and their discoveries are tantalizing. Come along for a fun ride and pack your bags for Brazil!

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Leandro’s website: https://hikeandfly.com.br

Can you imagine???

Mentioned in this show: Rafael Saladini

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:53 — 68.6MB)

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Episode 172- Andy Baumelt and the mistakes we make

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Andy Baumelt is a Swiss pilot who reached out to me because he loved the show and said that while he would probably never be one of the top ranked pilots or do something big and wild in the sport he loved to fly, was firmly in the throws of intermediate syndrome and had made some mistakes that many pilots make in their journey. Andy’s story is probably one that most pilots can relate to and we had a lot of fun just talking flying- and life. Andy was in quarantine with Covid when we spoke several months ago but is now on day 6 of his project “Transalps, flying for equality”, a bivy trip he was only dreaming of at the time to raise awareness of discrimination. Follow the project here, it looks like they are having a blast!:

https://www.transalps.net

https://www.facebook.com/Transalps.net/

And watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOBdV4R7OgKmBB0QVm_ZHFA

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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:30 — 69.4MB)

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Episode 171- Daniel Tyrkas and unlocking the secrets

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

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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)

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

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

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

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

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

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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)

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Episode 168- Learning by Simulation- Flightcoach!

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

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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)

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Episode 167- Steve Bramfitt and Disco Dancing with risk

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. 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)

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

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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. You can also help contribute to a healthier, greener planet through our partnership with Our Forest. See our donation and subscription options here.

Listen to the Podcast

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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)

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XCTracer Tone Settings

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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.