The Cloudbase Mayhem podcast is where you will find fascinating and educational interviews with the best free-flight pilots in the world. If you fly a hanglider or paraglider, if you fly acro or cross country, the Cloudbase Mayhem podcast is where we glean how the great pilots of the world get there. Hosted by Red Bull X-Alps pilot, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and current holder of the North American foot launch record, Gavin McClurg. Follow me on Instagram @gavinmcclurg or on Facebook @ facebook.com/gavinnmcclurg or Twitter on @cloudbasemayhem.
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Episode 96- Christian Ciech and a life of Hang Gliding
Christian Ciech has been flying Hang Gliders for over 30 years. He remembers watching his Dad fly when he was just four years old. He has an arsenal of trophies that showcase his legendary competition skills, including 3 World Championship wins. Christian started flying for Icaro in 1991 and became a test pilot and designer for them in 2001, a position he still holds. In this episode we discuss competition strategies and the art of winning, how to read the sky and flying the conditions you find, how Manfred has dominated the sport for so long, what to study when you’re not in the air, finding order in the chaos, learning how to fly fast, the importance of physical preparation to stay in the air, instinctive versus logical flying, how certain very high level pilots should and shouldn’t change how you fly, the most important lessons learned in three decades of flight, tumbling and recovering the mind and a lot more. A fascinating talk with one of the pioneers. Please listen, please discuss with your pilot friends and then- GO FLY!
Show Notes:
* The passion begins and flying with Eagles
* The Hang gliding factories disappear
* Nearly 30 years with Icaro…
* Dad and son take to the skies
* How to win
* Tactics and strategies for competition flying
* The best place to fly, the best places to train
* King Mountain
* The Superfinal
* The Rabbit vs discipline
* What to study when you’re not in the air
* Finding the right headspace for flying fast in competitions
* The importance of physical training for flying
* Lessons from 3 decades of flying
* Hard lessons from two tumbles
* Choosing the right days to fly
* The approach to risk over time
Mentioned in this episode:
Manfred Ruhmer, Icaro, Red Bull X-Alps, Tobias Glossrubatscher, Gary Wirdham, Wills Wing, Russ Ogden, Wolfgang Siess, Alex Ploner