Episode 107- Larry Bunner, the X-Flight and flying in the moment

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Glen Volk over the Okanagan

We’ve had a LOT of amazing talks on the Mayhem over the past bunch of years but this one is in a category of its own. Last summer Larry Bunner and three other very experienced Hang Gliding pilots (Glen Volk, Robin Hamilton, and Pete Lehmann) flew from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border in a series of tow and mountain launch flights over 21 days (1884 miles) and 11 States. They were supported by an amazing crew on the ground and allowed themselves lateral shifts, but all South to North travel was done in the air. This was an incredibly cool mission and it sounded like amazing fun was had by all, but in the course of the talk we also learn some terrific advice and hear some great stories from a pilot who’s been flying 45 years (accident free). Larry’s advice applies to everyone who flies (and there’s some life advice in this one that probably applies to everyone). What do all the best pilots have in common? How do you become “excellent”? How does flying change your life? How do we negotiate the inevitability of finishing projects? Do yourself a favor- DON’T MISS THIS ONE!

Please support the Foundation for Free Flight right now during their Matching Gift campaign!

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Show Notes:

  • Larry explains what the X-Flight mission was last summer
  • “To be excellent you’ve got to have an excellent plan”
  • What attribute do all of the best pilots share?
  • Larry gets into flying…45 years ago
  • How has flying changed Larry’s life?
  • How to balance life and flying
  • What the Hang Gliders know that paragliders don’t
  • The big negotiation
  • What happens when the big missions end?
  • Missions present, past and future
  • The 50 hour question…

Mentioned in this episode:

Robin Hamilton, Larry Bunner, Jayne Depanfilis, Foundation for Free flight, Rick Mullins, Glen Volk, Mike Degtoff, David Glover, Sasha Hamilton, John Enrietti, Bruce Goldsmith, AirTribune, Alistair Dickie, Patagonia, Matt Beechinor, Nate Scales, Willi Canell, Steven Kotler, Mick Howard, Greg Ludwig, Gary Osoba, X-Flight, Larry Tudor, Will Gadd, Christian Ciech, Jonny Durand, Jeff Shapiro, Dan Pointer, Wills Wing, Bowen Dwelle, Kevin Kristoferson, Ben Abruzzo, Aaron Beck, Jaro Krupa, Nick Greece, Antoine Laurens, Rafael Saladini, Marcelo Prieto, Dustin Martin, Bruce Weaver, Steve Pearson, Harry Martin

 

 

Robin Hamilton over King Mountain, Idaho

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Episode 106- Your Questions answered (Bruce Goldsmith, Max Jeanpierre, Reavis Sutphin-Gray…)

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Gavin McClurg flying near Denali during the Alaska paragliding traverse. Photo Jody MacDonald

This is another Ask Me Anything show that we typically release as bonus content but we got so many great questions that cover such a wide range of topics we’ve decided to release it as a regular show and for this one I went out to the experts to get the answers. Max Jeanpierre, a legendary comp pilot and designer at Kortel Designs answers several harness design questions (stability vs instability, seat board vs hammock, pod vs seat, lightweight gear and safety, etc.); Bruce Goldsmith (BGD) takes on the many disadvantages lighter pilots have and their attempts to solve it with the new “weightless” competitions and what they’ve learned trying to solve this ongoing issue. Bruce then answers a wide range of wing and line questions that came in:  EN certification and potential constraints to design; material science and what it means for keeping your wing in trim (some great tips here!) and what it all means for the longevity and performance of your wing; Reavis Sutphin-Gray takes on weather tips for newer pilots trying to fly in areas with limited weather resources; and we answer a question we get a lot- when am I ready to fly a higher performance wing?

This one is loaded with great information regardless of your ability. Please enjoy and keep sending your questions!

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Show Notes:

  • When is it time to move up to a hotter wing with more performance?
  • Max Jeanpierre talks trying to find the sweet spot in Harness Design between stability and instability
  • Bruce Goldsmith takes on weight and the disadvantage of being small
  • Bruce Goldsmith and the “weightless” competitions and what they’ve learned.
  • Bruce Goldsmith takes on wing design, fabrics and porosity, line shrinkage, rib strength, trimming tricks, when to trim…
  • Bruce Goldsmith and line stretch
  • Bruce Goldsmith takes on EN Testing and if certification is helping or holding back design
  • Reavis Sutphin-Gray takes on weather forecasting for achieving soaring (thermal) flying
  • Max Jeanpierre takes on the advantages/ disadvantages of flying a pod vs seat harness and the inherent potential risks of flying a pod (as well as some of the risks of flying a seat harness you might not have considered).
  • Max Jeanpierre and the compromise of light weight gear

Mentioned in this episode:

Max Jeanpierre, Kortel Designs, Paty Letona, Bruce Goldsmith, Aaron Beck, Blake Pelton, Global Rescue, Reavis Sutphin-Gray, Cross Country Magazine, Ken Hudonjorgensen, Niviuk, Bruce Goldsmith Designs, Josh Cohn, Isabella Messenger, Tom Payne, Chris Galli, XCSkies, Windy.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:21:37 — 74.8MB)

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Episode 105- Tyler G and the critical Phases of Flight

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Tyler G is on the board of the Canadian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and he’s taken on trying to solve a tough problem in our sport right now: To create a syllabus and model for learning to speed fly safely. Speed flying, especially in North America is still totally cowboy and there’s a vacuum for information. And it’s taking its toll. Accidents, often serious are plentiful and the YouTube culture is driving the desire for the thrill but pilots are skipping the necessary educational steps. Right now learning is 100% dependent on who you are learning from, and many “instructors” are unqualified. Many just learn on their own, often with disastrous results. But the culture also resists ratings and regulation. Bottom line, change is necessary and Tyler is trying to figure out the best way forward. In this episode we discuss how new pilots should learn; how to find a good instructor; if learning paragliding first is necessary; speed riding lift access in British Colombia; why speed pilots should fly with a reserve; the dangers that exist at all skill levels; the lack of margin in proximity flying, creating an ecosystem of safety, and a lot more. This one has a lot of great info regardless of what you fly and what level you are. Enjoy!

 

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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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Show Notes:

  • The critical phases of flight
  • Air density and safety
  • The lack of syllabus for speed flying
  • Speed flying vs Paragliding and accidents
  • Developing a system- ratings and regulation
  • How to find a good instructor
  • The dangers of being self-taught
  • Fly with a reserve!
  • Preventing accidents in the early stages
  • Maintaining a margin
  • Dealing with the Legal System
  • the ecosystem of flying
  • Attracting the youth

Mentioned in this episode:

Cade Palmer, Patrick Hennessy, Jamie Lee, Rich Kennedy, Chris Grantham, Bernhard Kalin, Andrew Dunning, Michael Dunning, Will Burks, Cross Country Magazine, USHPA, Asher and Chris Zalchendler

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:20 — 64.5MB)

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Episode 104- Maxime Bellemin and Performance and Preparation

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Maxime Bellemin is a name all veteran competition pilots know well. Not just because of his decades of experience and multiple wins at the national and international level but because of his performance coaching with the French team and his two incredible books dedicated to flying “Performance Paragliding.” The books are in two parts, the first one dedicated to preparation for flying competitions and cross country, the second an analytical approach to flying fast and far consistently. As an engineer Maxime likes to break down the many unknowns in our sport into numbers and his methods are ones you can grasp, practice and put into immediate use. What attitude do we need to win? How should we approach training? Gear? Speed bar? Thermalling? Gliding? Safety and risk? How do we balance our desire for flying and our families and jobs? I found his books invaluable and we had a blast with this conversation. Whether you are a newbie XC pilot seeking your first thermals or trying to win on the World Cup, there is gold here for every pilot. Enjoy!

Don’t have his books? Get them on Kindle RIGHT NOW!

 

DCIM100GOPRO

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:55 — 82.5MB)

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Episode 103- Chris Gursky and Don’t Let Go

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Hang On. That’s what Chris Gursky had to do for the longest 2 minutes and 14 seconds of his life on his first ever Hang Gliding flight. In what has been dubbed the “Swiss Mishap”, this American got a little more adventure than he was looking for in Interlaken when his pilot forgot to clip him in. This is his truly amazing story. You’re in for a doozy. Enjoy!

 

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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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Show Notes:

  • Laurent recounts his history of flying since 2001 and the genesis of the Vercofly
  • How the VercoFly works
  • How to get into hike and fly
  • Tips for being safe in hike and fly races
  • Minimum ability level to have to participate in the VercoFly
  • Laurent recommends some of the MANY hike and fly races in the Alps
  • What to know before you go fly in the Alps for your first time
  • 3 things newer pilots tend to screw up
  • Want to be safe? Fly a lot!
  • Listen to your inner self
  • Advice for staying safe
  • Laurent recounts his one accident

Mentioned in this episode:

Nick Greece, Wolfgang Seiss, Chris Gursky

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:15 — 74.5MB)

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Episode 102- Laurent Borella and the Vercofly

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Chrigel plays up in the Vercofly, 2019

Laurent Borella began flying in 2001 and very quickly afterwards changed his entire life to accomodate more free flight into his world. He is an instructor at Twistair in Switzerland and eleven years ago his passion for cross country and hike and fly lead him to create the VercoFly, an annual 4 day hike and fly race/adventure in the Wallis region of Switzerland that is simply brilliant. Using 8 mountain huts around Laurent’s home town of Vercorin the athletes hike and fly without a supporter and stay in the huts at night. There is no set course. The score is decided by the number of huts you reach combined with the number of kilometers you fly (scored on XContest). Each day the three longest flights accumulate so strategy becomes critically important. You have to reach all the huts, but you ALSO have to go big and try for FAI triangles for better scores! There are two categories- the Competition class for expert pilots and the Adventure class for lower hour pilots who want an awesome adventure with less pressure. At night you enjoy an excellent meal at a hut overlooking the wonders of the Swiss Alps and you get to enjoy the camaraderie of the other participants and the best of all- you don’t need to carry anything but a little water! This episode will inspire you to chase adventure but also has a ton of great information for newer pilots; how to fly safe and stay safe in the Alps; how to approach and minimize risk; listening to your inner voice and a lot more. Enjoy!

 

Laurent Borella

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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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Show Notes:

  • Laurent recounts his history of flying since 2001 and the genesis of the Vercofly
  • How the VercoFly works
  • How to get into hike and fly
  • Tips for being safe in hike and fly races
  • Minimum ability level to have to participate in the VercoFly
  • Laurent recommends some of the MANY hike and fly races in the Alps
  • What to know before you go fly in the Alps for your first time
  • 3 things newer pilots tend to screw up
  • Want to be safe? Fly a lot!
  • Listen to your inner self
  • Advice for staying safe
  • Laurent recounts his one accident

Mentioned in this episode:

Michael Witschi, Chrigel Maurer, Patrick Von Kanel, VercoFly, Laurent Borella, Jura Fly, Gruyere Fly, Millets Cup, Tom De Dorlodot, Honza Rejmanek, Pierre Carter

 

Watch Chrigel in the 2019 Vercofly- THIS IS AWESOME!!


Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:16 — 78.2MB)

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Episode 101- Primoz Susa and the art of the SEND

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Primoz flying the Hochkoenig, Austria. Photo Alex Robe

Primoz Susa is the pilot you will see year after year at the top of the rankings on XContest. He’s been sending huge, huge lines for years, competed in the 2009 Red Bull X-Alps, flies tandems commercially, guides, flies a LOT of competitions, and on most Hammertag days in the Alps the guy you’ll see (along with Alex Robe, who we listened to in episode 98) right at the top of the XContest top scores. We begin this talk hearing about Primoz’s 2009 X-Alps, where he was eliminated early but then carried on solo all the way to Monaco and had some really tenuous and spectacular moments. Then we dive into Primoz’s history of flying that started in 1996 and how he went from dreaming of flying as a child to flying some of the biggest triangles and flights that have ever been done in the history of the sport. We discuss the importance of goal setting; having a plan for the day; the importance of flying competitions and advice for pilots new to comps; how to climb faster; why it’s important not to care if you bomb out; the trap of chasing numbers; solving the mystery of gliding well and the importance of making adjustments; tricks of the XC trade and using Macready; speed bar best use; flying in the Sertau in Brazil; the rules of team flying; bivvy flying tactics; flying with enough margin (relative altitude) and having a backup plan; what to look for and where to find it with weather and identifying a big day, and a lot more. Enjoy- then get out and go BIG!

Alex Robe and Primoz Susa after a big day

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Show Notes:

  • Primoz recounts his 2009 Red Bull X-Alps campaign
  • The importance of setting goals
  • Finding the rhythm
  • Advice for flying competitions and how to approach them when you are new
  • How to climb and the biggest mistakes newer pilots make
  • Gliding well and making adjustments
  • Preparing for a big day
  • Speed bar use and Macready
  • How to team fly
  • Flying the sertau of Brazil
  • The importance of flying with good instruments
  • If you could rewind the clock and finding the balancing between risk and reward
  • Flying with enough margin and having a back up
  • Why? Who gives a shit?

Mentioned in this episode:

Alex Robe, Aaron Durogati, XContest, Honza Rejmanek, Toma Coconea, Red Bull X-Alps, Alex Hofer, Dave Turner, Chrigel Maurer, Rafael Saladini, Samuel Nascimento, Marcelo Prieto, Michael Sigel, Donizete Lemos, Matt Henzi, Mitch Riley, FlyWithAndy, Naviter

 

Photo Alex Robe

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:09 — 81.5MB)

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Episode 100- Live audience show with Jean Baptiste Chandelier!

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Jean Baptiste Chandelier makes films that transport millions and millions of viewers into an aerial world of fantasy and fun. In this episode we learn about JB’s creative process and how he turns his dreams and ideas into films that connect to audiences regardless of their interest in flying. How does it all come together? How much is shooting vs editing? How does the process change with time? How do you mesh the dream and business? How do the ideas come and how does he choose which ideas to pursue? We learn about his accident last year, how to approach wagga flying…and what’s next. Please enjoy our centennial and first live audience episode of the Cloudbase Mayhem with the legend Jean Baptiste Chandelier!

His latest films:

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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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Show Notes:

  • We learn about JB’s creative process
  • The financial side of the films
  • Transporting and connecting with the audience
  • From dream to film
  • JB’s accident last year
  • Sponsorship and commercial work
  • Why JB doesn’t compete in Acro and doesn’t fly XC
  • Why proximity flying?
  • We take questions from the audience

Mentioned in this episode:

Tristan Shu, Guillaume Galvani, JB Merendet, Cross Country Magazine, Clube Asas de Sao Miguel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:06 — 65.4MB)

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Episode 99- The 2019 Red Bull X-Alps (Installment 2)

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Photo Harald Tauderer

This is a special episode of the Cloudbase Mayhem to give all of the fans of the race a little insight into the greatest game on Earth directly from the perspective of the athletes. Live Tracking is amazing, but it misses a lot of the emotion and the background, and these interviews with the athletes take us behind the curtain. In this second of three installments we hear from Tom De Dorlodot (BEL 1), Patrick Von Kanel (SUI 2), Eduardo Garza (MEX 1), Cody Mittanck (USA 3) and the 6th time winner Chrigel Maurer (SUI 1).  Most of these interviews took place just a few days after the end of the race and if you dig the Red Bull X-Alps, or have aspirations for some day taking it on you’re going to love it. Enjoy.

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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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Show Notes:

For all the athletes we hear:

  • What did you most underestimate?
  • What was your best and worst day?
  • What was your biggest mistake?
  • Will you do it again?
  • What was the most critical support you got from your team?
  • What was the coolest fan experience you had

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Mitch Riley, Cody Mittanck, Tom De Dorlodot, Patrick Von Kanel, Chrigel Maurer, Niel Michaelis, Cedar Wright, Eduardo Garza, Ed Ewing, Hugh Miller, Nick Greece, Jeff Shapiro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:07:21 — 87.5MB)

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Episode 98- Learning it all from an XC Master, Alex Robe

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Alex Robe goes BIG

This is the most information-dense podcast than possibly any previous show we’ve ever done. Alex Robé and one of his main flying partners Primoz Susa are nearly always the two guys right at the top of XContest on the big days. Alex won the XContest in 2015 and 2017 and is currently in 3rd this season (his lowest value flight is over a 260KM FAI, and the two pilots ahead of him both went to Brazil last fall!). But Alex is extremely limited with his time and how much he can fly. In a typical year he’ll only fly 10-15 times! So for those of you who are restricted with time, prepare to be inspired! In this episode we cover a huge range of topics from a true master of flying huge distance. We discuss risk management; performance vs passive safety when it comes to wing choice; the keys to flying fast; how to identify the big days (and more importantly- choosing the right launch and the right route); ability, attitude and approach; 2 liners vs 3 liners and misconceptions; weather resources and forecasting; how to become a great pilot by flying huge hours on the big days rather than battling fear on the dicey days; how to build endurance for long flights; the recipe for flying big; the importance of post-flight analysis and a LOT, lot more. Get your pen and paper out folks, this one is packed!

Here are the weather resources Alex uses to identify the best days you hear about in the show (click to download):

Weather Decision Recipe by Lex Robé

Alex’s blog is truly amazing- check it out!

  • Paragliding Blog: http://lex.xalps.com

    • Many flight stories with loads of pictures and always all Lessons Learned at the end
    • Downloadable Lessons Learned compendium as a Google Spreadsheet; filterable by takeoff, season & conditions
    • Videos, built with a lot of passion
  • Participation as supporter in the very first Red Bull XAlps http://xalps.com/2003 – totally incredible, how everything evolved. They were walking with wired GPS-Antennas on their helmet back then!
  • Video Channel: https://vimeo.com/lexrobe – with the latest season trailer, that will give you goose-bumps 😉
  • On Alex’ facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lexrobe he always posts publicaly when he thinks there is a good day ahead and he plans to go flying. Follow him!

Here is the video of Alex’s 306km FAI-Triangle https://vimeo.com/254135867

 

Support the Podcast

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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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Show Notes:

  • 2 vs 3 liners and passive safety vs performance
  • Picking the big day and picking the right launch on that day
  • Reducing risk dramatically by only flying the really good days
  • Becoming a great pilot by flying huge hours on big days rather than flying dicey days and getting scared
  • The “recipe” for long distance and the importance of learning the weather and being fit
  • The importance of post-flight analysis
  • Preparation pre-flight
  • How to pick out the good lines
  • What gear and why
  • The importance of sharing information and sharing your thoughts on where and when to fly so good pilots show up
  • The Engineering connection and flying
  • What are the motivation, knowledge and XContest factors to going big
  • The importance of goals, and how to fly efficiently
  • Risk Management and dealing with uncertainty

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Matt Wilkes, XContest, XCSkies, MeteoParapente, MeteoBlue, Ayvri, XCMag, Hugh Miller, Ed Ewing, Verbier Summits, InReach, Garmin, Primoz Susa, Ozone Paragliders, Niviuk, Flow XC Racer, XCSKies, Windy, MeteoParapente, Meteoblue, Naviter, Flow Paragliders, Nick Neynens

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:32:52 — 74.5MB)

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