Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast Gavin McClurg

Mike Vergalla, founder of the Free Flight Lab, discusses his journey into paragliding and his mission to explore the potential of paragliders beyond just a sport. He highlights three pillars of the Free Flight Lab: climate science, conservation, and safety. Mike shares his experiments with high-altitude paragliding and the potential for paragliders to be used in atmospheric research, weather forecasting, and environmental conservation. He also emphasizes the need for more data collection and research in these areas. The conversation touches on the environmental impact of paragliding and the responsibility of the community to protect the natural spaces they fly in. They explore the idea of using paragliders for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and community engagement. Mike shares his experiences with using paragliders to capture aerial images for scientific analysis and how this can contribute to understanding and preserving natural spaces. They also discuss the unique experiences and mindset that paragliding offers, including the ability to focus and be present in the moment. Mike also shares his insights on managing motion sickness while flying. Overall, the conversation highlights the potential of paragliding as a tool for exploration, research, and making a positive impact on the world.







Links from the talk:Climate Science – Project Monark (Free Flight Lab @  Airbus) Conservation – BBC Eagle DocumentarySafety – Free Flight Lab Line Trim TemplateSafety –  Motion Sickness LinkSafety – R07 Riser Safety Notice – Allegro X-alpsFree Flight Lab Shop: Leather Nose Cones, Shirts, Hats, Trim RigsInsta: @FreeflightlabFreeflightlab.orgSupport our work by making a donation @ the Free Flight Lab 







Want to take part in Jessica’s Fear Injury Study? Here’s the invitation letter.







Takeaways









* The Free Flight Lab focuses on three pillars: climate science, conservation, and safety.







* Paragliders have the potential to be used in atmospheric research, weather forecasting, and environmental conservation.







* More data collection and research are needed to better understand the impact of paragliding on the environment and to improve weather forecasting.







* The paragliding community has a responsibility to protect the natural spaces they fly in and be good stewards of the environment. Paragliding can be used for scientific research and environmental monitoring, providing a unique perspective and access to hard-to-reach areas.







* Aerial imaging from paragliders can contribute to understanding and preserving natural spaces,

Eight years ago Jeremy Wilstein discovered a very simple concept called breathwork when studying the “Ice Man” Wim Hof. In this episode we dive into the many benefits of proper breathing and how a quick few minutes of intentional breathing can hack your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system to increase your performance, increase your safety, increase mental stability, and decrease anxiety and depression. Jeremy has been offering his breath work courses to our community in the US during competitions the last few years (which always end in a cold plunge in the Colombia River!) to the profound delight of everyone who has taken part. It feels great, it’s easy, it helps you in the air and on the ground. Have a listen and give it a try!







Jeremy’s website to find out a lot more about guided breathwork







Recommended books, podcasts and youtube sources











A Deeper dive into how breath work works and how it helps:







BREATHWORK and PARAGLIDING







Breathwork has been a pivotal part of my life over the last 7 years and for awhile I have thought this could be an impactful topic for other pilots in our community. I have identified a few topics which I believe the majority of pilots will be able to relate to. These topics deal with safety, mindset, dealing with altitude, and performance recovery for hike and fly athletes. We can geek out on some science and then I would want to incorporate actionable breathwork exercises which people can begin to incorporate. 







DECISION MAKING AND SAFETY : This is a pivot topic for all pilots and often when we get stressed while flying, our focus narrows and our ability to take in more information decreases. The result is poor decisions and a potential accident, when there was a safer or better option. When we have a sympathetic nervous system response (ie Fight or Flight) we have a release of adrenaline and cortisol into our bloodstream, increase in heart rate, narrowing of focus, and often we stop breathing or our breathing becomes rapid and shallow. We begin to fixate on one option as opposed to taking in more information. If you are aware of changes in your breathing as a result of turbulence, rotor, or wind (which is often because we are scared) you can breathe in a certain way to calm the mind and downregulate your nervous system. As a result your vision widens to take in more information, your heart rate decreases and you become aware of far more options for a safe outcome to your fear. I recently got into a situation in Colombia where I went for a thermal, deep in the mountain, with no way to glide out. I didn’t get the lift and had one slim landing option on a ridgeline. I felt my breathing change and my fear response began to heightened. By shifting my breathing to deep nasal breathing I could feel my fear response decrease, vision broaden, and I was able to set it down on the slim ridgeline. We can get consumed in fear so bringing the awareness back to the breath will immediately decrease the fear we perceive.







PERFORMANCE + RECOVERY – This topic is especially re...

We continue our “legends” series with alpinist, pilot and entrepreneur Dick Jackson, founder of Aspen Expeditions (1977) and Aspen Paragliding (1989). Dick begins his amazing story with his journey into alpinism and paragliding, starting with his early expeditions to Denali and the Alps. He discusses the early days of paragliding in Aspen, where they used wings primarily as a descent tool. Dick talks about the lightweight gear and the evolution of paragliders, as well as the camaraderie and community that formed around the sport. He shares stories of flying off unclimbed peaks, hosting international trips, and even taking Maurice Herzog, the leader of the first Annapurna expedition, paragliding. Dick also reflects on the loss of his friend Dave Bridges and offers advice on dealing with grief and the pathway to compassion and impermanence because…what’s the alternative? Dick reflects on his experiences in the mountains and the impact they have had on his life. He discusses the thrill of flying and the incredible advancements in paragliding technology. He also shares a harrowing story of a dangerous gust front during a flying event in Aspen. Dick talks about selling his businesses and the changes in the paragliding industry. He mentions his daughter (Tashi Jangmo Sherpa) and her love for skiing. He also discusses a Buddhist ceremony he attended and the spiritual connection he feels to the mountains. Dick reflects on the fear factor in climbing and flying and the importance of living life to the fullest.











Takeaways







Paragliding started as a descent tool for alpinists in Aspen, but quickly evolved into a soaring sport.The early days of paragliding in Aspen were characterized by camaraderie and a close-knit community.Dick Jackson shares stories of flying off unclimbed peaks and hosting international trips.He reflects on the loss of his friend Dave Bridges and offers advice on dealing with grief. Advancements in paragliding technology have allowed for incredible flying experiencesThe paragliding industry has undergone significant changesThe mountains and the sport of paragliding have had a profound impact on Dick’s lifeThe importance of living life to the fullest and embracing adventureThe spiritual connection and sense of peace that can be found in the mountains







Sound Bites









* “These were the original speed wings, seven cells and two to one glide.”







* “We did the first tandem off Aspen with Chris Blatchley. We both remember running about a third of the way down Walsh’s.”







* “I had never done any hang gliding. My first exposure to it was when we went to Denali and some guys had just flown off Denali and landed at the airstrip.”







* “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And wow, when Chris told me that, it’s like, you know, I don’t know the guy or anything, but man, that is serious, serious flying.”







* “It was really serious. And I have to say that it’s just so fortunate that nobody was even hurt when you consider what the potential was for that one.

My neighbor and mentor Nate Scales has been flying paragliders at a high level for over 30 years. He competed in the 2007 Red Bull X-Alps. Owned the US foot launch record out of Idaho, where conditions can be about as rough as it can get. He has been flying 2 liners since their inception in 2009. But until this week had never done an SIV, and never stalled a glider. He finally decided the time was right and it was time to conquer his fears. This is his story. Let’s call it a PSA for those on the SIV fence. Nate has had a nearly accident-free flying career. Chalk it up to skill and making good decisions and a good dose of luck but we all know this sport can bite, and it’s never too late to mitigate some of the risk. Nate is one of the finest story tellers there is. Enjoy!

Martin Scheel was one of the best climbers in the world when he discovered paragliding and the sky crack immediately became his new passion. His images and videos have entertained and awed for several decades across the free-flight spectrum. In the mid 90’s he helped create the Swiss League and has headed it up since. His collaborative efforts with generations of pilots have helped create some of the most successful pilots on Earth, including Chrigel Maurer, Stephan Morganthaler, Dominik Breitinger, Tim Bollinger, Nanda Walliser and many, many others over the past three decades. Martin organized the Superfinal in Disentis in 2022 and more recently the PWC in Grindelwald last week. He was out flying with the lead gaggle capturing videos of the competition. I sat down with Martin during a weather day to find out about his passions, creating excellence, the past and future of competition flying and a lot more. Enjoy!

Dr. Bill Beninati has a lifelong love of flying that led him to a career in the Air Force. He served as a physician specializing in pulmonary/critical care medicine, sleep disorders and operational fatigue, and flight medicine focused on medical and physiologic fitness to fly. For 13 years he was physician leader for the Air Force critical care air transport teams, and deployed multiple times to interesting and unfriendly places to do this mission. His civilian career led him to Utah where he is the Intermountain Health chief medical officer for a virtual hospital that includes comprehensive telehealth, advanced clinical command, and patient transport programs. He has an active research partnership with the Stanford Program in AI-assisted Care developing computer vision for patient safety. The not-for-profit air medical team operates over 50 aircraft across the spectrum from wilderness lift-hoist rescue through international critical care transport. They have rescued over 100 free flight pilots! He brings this expertise to the Global Rescue XRedRocks where he helps look after the safety of the athletes. His recreational aviation has included flying sailplanes, paragliders, and speed wings as well as skydiving. Today he is most active flying paragliders and sailplanes in the mountains of Utah.







In this episode Bill takes us on a deep dive into the physiology of hypoxia, sleep and aging and what we can (and should) do to help combat the effects of each when it comes to flying. Hypoxia can greatly reduce our mental acuities, often without our knowledge. It can be sudden and can be radically different from day to day. The bottom line- when operating at altitude even the most prepared and acclimatized need to build in more margin. Come along as we explore three subjects which can really impact our safety and ability in the air.







If you want to take a deeper dive on sleep hygiene Bill gave a very comprehensive talk on the subject for the XRedRocks participants last year. It’s a fascinating talk: