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 152- Torsten Siegel and Playing the Ultimate Game
Veteran Gin test pilot, designer, European champion, and multiple-time German team member Torsten Siegel has been racing paragliders for nearly 30 years. He designed for UP Paragliders and then Swing before moving to Gin over a decade ago and has left an indelible mark on the sport since the early 90’s. I spoke with Torsten immediately after this years Superfinal in Disentis, Switzerland to get his thoughts on the first superfinal that’s been held in the mountains and to get his thoughts on all things racing- the risk, the tactics, the equipment and how to be consistent in the ultimate game- racing fabric and string in the sky. We cover a lot of ground- what kind of pilot makes a good test pilot; how have the CCC regulations worked out from the design standpoint; how paragliding can improve our habits and attitudes; why pilots almost always move up to a hotter wing too soon; having doubts and making sure you maintain awareness in a game that sometimes bites hard, and a lot more. Enjoy!
Show Notes:
* Working at UP and SWING and then over a decade at Gin
* The Superfinal- it was beautiful, it was amazing, and it was scary!
* What does a test pilot do? And how are wings designed?
* Performance vs control for high end paragliders, and matching wings with the ability of the pilot
* Torsten’s favorite wing
* The outcome of the CCC class and where we’re headed
* Making a living in this sport
* Having doubts and maintaining awareness
* How paragliding (can) improve your life
* How to toss the mistakes and move on
* Don’t get grumpy- laugh!
* Pimping vs leading and consistency
* How even the best often screw it up
* What kind of head space to find for comp flying?
* Be mentally prepared for the task before you fly- find the balance of relaxed vs serious
* Weather during a comp- how important is it?
* Identify certain people in comps?
* What advice to new world cup pilots? #1- Don’t jump to a hot glider too early! #2- have fun!
* FTV and strategy for a good result
* Don’t move up on a wing until you’re pushing your wing to 110% with full confidence and without hesitation
* Flying an entire task backwards!
Mentioned in this show:
Tim Bollinger, Michael Sigel, Superfinal, World Cup, Gin Paragliders, Charles Cazaux, Aaron Durogati, Stephen Morganthaler, Chrigel Maurer, Pierre Remy, Luc Armont, Martin Scheel, Yassen Savov, Josh Cohn, Manuel Quintanilla, Colin Rathbun, Play Gravity