Episode 176- Hell Hath No Fury

by

This week we are diverting from free flight and just going to tell a good yarn. In 2009 your host was about half way through a second circumnavigation when he was suddenly confronted with a rather daunting task- sailing a large catamaran from Bali to Langkawi, Malaysia (1500 nautical miles) across the two busiest shipping lanes on Earth (the Java Sea and the Malacca Straits) solo. This is an area of the world that is not only like a freeway on the ocean with enormous ships and fishing vessels moving at high speed it’s also famous for the worst electrical storms on the planet. Imagine sailing for 10 days alone getting only minutes of sleep at a time, sick with a nasty staph infection, autopilot on the glitch, and wicked storms that batter the boat and an increasingly unstable mind. Not much flying in this one, but it’s a pretty wild (and 100% true!) story. Hope you enjoy. To read the blog (and see some pics) post in its original format from back in 2009 go 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.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

The calm before the storm
Humbling

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:03 — 41.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 175- Behind the scenes of the 22′ X-Pyr

by
Pierre reached goal in 3rd place in the X-Pyr 2022

Manu Bonte returns to the Mayhem to take us into the French team of Pierre Rémy. Pierre is of course one of the most accomplished competition pilots in the world (he’s currently ranked 6th in the WPRS) but this was his first foray into the craziness of hike and fly racing. The 2022 X-Pyr was substantially longer than any of the previous races with a big tweak to the route, and the weather this year was downright brutal. You had to be an animal on the ground, but it was in the air, and often in really scary air that we saw the true aviators make their moves. Manu was Pierre’s weather and route-strategy ace and not only did their team hold in up at the front for the entire race, Pierre was the only bird in the sky late on day 6 (when the forecast called for winds in excess of 70 km/hr) when he took a commanding lead. But once again Chrigel pulled his magic and nipped both Pierre and Maxime, who looked like he had the win in the bag right at the last moment. Manu’s description of that final day and what went down in the X-Pyr and how Chrigel continues to outflank the best in the world is absolutely gripping. 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:

Show Notes:

  • Manu recounts Pierre’s background
  • Manu discusses the extremes the top athletes are willing to fly in
  • We discuss Pierre’s “magic” move on day 6 to take the lead and one of Chrigel’s rare mistakes
  • Making your own decisions
  • The super-human ground game required
  • Manu discusses the team and the dynamics
  • Things they got right, things they got wrong
  • Luck vs skill
  • The gear- Niviuk Klimber 2P, Kortel Kolibri Pro
  • Are the X-Alps next?
  • The training required
  • Giving advice where you don’t pay the mistake yourself. The stress of the risk
  • Maintaining the position vs making risky moves. Strategy…
  • The Team’s philosophy.
  • The crazy last day where Chrigel won and how it went down

Mentioned in this episode:

Chrigel Maurer, Simon Oberauner, Maxime Pinot, XCSkies, Niviuk, Nick Neynens, Ben Abruzzo

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:28 — 70.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 174- Dreaming Big, Going Bigger in Pakistan with Aaron Durogati

by
Can you imagine???

Aaron Durogati is no stranger to thinking and doing big, but this time he pulled off what can only be described as outrageous. He and a few friends spent 40 days in the Himalaya in Pakistan to pursue mountaineering “combos”. They used their paragliders to take off from lower elevations, put their touring gear (ie skis) on in the air, stuff it in somewhere high, often above 5,000 meters and then ski and fly down. They spent many nights at altitude acclimatizing; they got stuck with heinous walks out on dangerous glaciers; Aaron had a frightening crash; he got so sick he thought he was going to die…and then he somehow managed to fly at 285 km FAI triangle across the biggest terrain in the world, and then two days later went even bigger and went 312 km! This is Aaron’s remarkable story. Hold on tight.

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:

Watch a short film of Aaron’s remarkable 312 km FAI flight and footage of one of his fly/ski “combos”:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17:46 — 71.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More

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

by

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!

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:

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)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More

Episode 172- Andy Baumelt and the mistakes we make

by

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.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to us on all the most popular podcast platforms:

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

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More

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. 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:

  • 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 | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | 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. 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:

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

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | 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. 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:

  • 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 | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | 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. 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 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 | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | 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. 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)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Email | TuneIn | Youtube Music | RSS | More