Episode 183- A walk (and fly) down memory lane with Honza Rejmanek

December 2, 2022 by Gavin McClurg

We’re continuing the theme of radical stories from radical people this week with Honza Rejmanek, who competed in 5 Red Bull X-Alps from 2007 to 2015. Honza begins the storytelling in 2007 with what has to the hardest start in the history of the race after eating some questionable food the night before the event even started, puking (and worse) all night, spending the night on the Dachstein because he could barely move, and then the long fight back. We learn about his podium in 2009 shared with Red Bull X-Alps legends Chrigel Maurer and Alex Hofer…

The 2021 Red Bull X-Alps is ON!

June 17, 2021 by Gavin McClurg

We had a terrific Prologue yesterday and after months of not knowing if it was actually going to happen the Red Bull X-Alps is ON! The Live Tracking this year promises to be the best yet, so tuck in and follow along as Team USA 1 tackles the toughest adventure race on Earth!

Thinking about competing in the Red Bull X-Alps? Read this first.

October 12, 2020 by Gavin McClurg

Tomorrow, October 14th the world finds out who’s going to compete in the 10th edition of the Red Bull X-Alps, which kicks off June 20th, 2021. We’ll find out which 33 athletes from around the globe get to spend most of their waking hours over the next 9 months getting physically and mentally prepared for what’s billed as the toughest adventure race on Earth.

Episode 115- Sky Camping with Martin (11 yrs) and Honza Rejmanek

March 26, 2020 by Gavin McClurg

Honza Rejmanek competed in the Red Bull X-Alps 5 times. His last was in 2015 but apparently nutty runs in the family and he and his son Martin have been doing incredible 8 day tandem vol-biv adventures for the past three years in the Alps. Their style is pure- no mechanical support is allowed (ie they fly or they walk), food is collected or carried, where they start and end is fixed so if they don’t make it one year they just come back the next! Honza says compared to the X-Alps they move at about one quarter of the speed but with four times the weight and no support crew!

Bonus Episode! Weather Series Episode 1 with Emi Carvalho

February 26, 2020 by Gavin McClurg

This is the first of three shows in a bonus series for our subscribers dedicated to building an understanding of the weather and forecasting. Emi Carvalho studied physics in school, but it wasn’t until he began paragliding that applied physics interested him. He talks about the basics of weather, focusing on island weather and the possibilities inherent in an island with mountains over 2,000m. Emi talks about where he turns to first for weather (Windy and any local knowledge), and what he usually looks for (wind intensity, direction, and temps at different altitudes.).

2017 Red Bull X-Alps: A Race of Extremes

July 24, 2017 by Gavin McClurg

The 2017 Red Bull X-Alps was the hardest yet- a very difficult course and extremely poor flying weather. 5 athletes were eliminated and 7 withdrew due to exhaustion or injury and only two made it to Monaco. The race ended after 11 days and 23 hours. Here are some clips from Day 8, 9, and 10 that highlight how amazing the journey can be, and some of the crazy situations you find yourself dealing with (like landing in a tree!).

Red Bull X-Alps and National Geographic Adventurers of the Year!

November 6, 2014 by Gavin McClurg

This may line up as one of the most exciting weeks of my life. The world premiere of our film, 500 Miles to Nowhere gets screened at the Banff Mountain Film Festival; Will Gadd and myself have been nominated as the National Geographic Adventurers of the Year for our Rocky Mountain Traverse; and last week the announcement that I’ve been waiting for months to hear finally came out. I’ve been chosen to compete in this year’s Red Bull X-Alps, lauded as the hardest adventure race on Earth.

Business Insider- This Photographer Brought Her Camera Paragliding, and the Images are Incredible

February 6, 2014 by Gavin McClurg

The Business Insider just posted a huge feature on Jody’s MacDonald’s paragliding photography, shots taken in Mozambique, Namibia, Madagascar, Maldives, Tonga, Himalayas, Scotland, Europe, Sierra Mountains of California and a LOT more. Check it out! A stunning trip around the world from a birds-eye view (click the photo to see the feature)

Chasing Chocolates Part I

May 27, 2013 by Gavin McClurg

Yesterday we finally got a chance. Bruce and I are about as hungry as you can get. And not for food, the Abazzia restaurant continues to blow our minds. Hungry for distance. It didn’t look like it would be a great day. Too much wind, too early over-development and rain. All of which were true, but maybe, just maybe we could squeak a chocolate (100 km flight).

Rain, Wind, Pizza and Dicey Landings

May 24, 2013 by Gavin McClurg

After one short flight in Fiesch and a continued blurry forecast we hit the road in the Niviuk mobile for the only place in Europe that held any promise- Bassano, Italy. Many people are saying this is the wettest (ie worst) spring in history. Whatever the case may be, it has been dismal. But the flying forecast was for two good, maybe even great cross country days.