Ryōyū Kobayashi was used to jumping far, but even for him, the prospect of hanging in the air for 300m and more than eight seconds was a daunting one.

In this behind the scenes conversation hosted by adventurer Robert Chursinoff, Ryōyū discussed the emotional and physical preparation he went through leading up to the record-breaking jump in April 2024.

Key figures in the wider project team on the ground also revealed the weather challenges behind such an audacious attempt, and why the ramp was engineered in Iceland to give Ryōyū the best chance of a successful outcome.

Breaking the world record was the culmination of years of hard work from the boy who grew up in a rural Japanese town — and he wasn’t stopping there. As we heard, Ryōyū wanted to push his limits even further.

How far do you think Ryōyū could jump if he attempted it again? Let us know at [email protected] 

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Japanese ski jumping sensation Ryōyū Kobayashi made history with a gravity-defying 291m leap. Breaking the ski jump and ski flying world records required a hill bigger than standard competition jumps, so Ryōyū and his team headed to Akureyri in northern Iceland to carve out the special kicker.

The Olympic medallist and FIS World Cup ski jump champion flew through the air longer than anyone before and landed perfectly, elevating his sport to new heights and pushing the boundaries of human flight.

In the next episode of this series, go behind the scenes with Ryōyū and his team as they reveal how they made it happen.

How far do you think Ryōyū could jump if he attempted it again?

Let us know at [email protected]

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In March 2023, Łukasz Czepiela achieved the seemingly impossible task of landing a plane on a tiny helipad atop the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. Measuring just 27m in diameter, it was the shortest helipad in the world, and landing on it took far more than just nerve and talent.

In this behind the scenes conversation, Łukasz explained the rigorous training he undertook and the engineering challenges he faced when making this pioneering project a reality. The aerobatic pilot also discussed his early passion for flying growing up in Poland and the inspiring story of how, through perseverance and never giving up, he made his dreams come true.

What would you like to see Łukasz attempt with his plane next? Let us know at [email protected] 

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You need a runway to land a plane, right? Not if your pilot was Łukasz Czepiela. The aerobatic aviator flew into the record books by landing on the world-famous helipad on top of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. To land on the helipad and stun experts around the world, Łukasz had to bring his plane to a halt in under 27m.

The Polish pilot and his experienced team completed over 650 practice landings and made a number of modifications to his aircraft, reducing the total weight to only 425 kilograms, before the daring attempt on top of the 56-story building.

In the next episode of this series, go behind the scenes with Łukasz as he revealed how he made it happen.

What would you like to see Łukasz attempt with his plane next? Let us know at [email protected] 

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In May 2024, Austrian wingsuit pilots Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel executed a daring jump through London’s iconic Tower Bridge. Wearing the world’s fastest wingsuit, the duo stood on the edge of their helicopter half a mile up in the sky and simply said to each other, “let’s do it.”

In this behind the scenes conversation, the two Marcos explained how they prepared for the groundbreaking project and the impact of their achievement. The human aviation pioneers also discussed their backgrounds, the evolution of wingsuit technology, and the emotional highs and lows of extreme sports.

Where would you like to see the two Marcos fly next? Let us know at [email protected] 

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Skydivers Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel swooped to a world-first and became the first people to wingsuit fly through London’s iconic Tower Bridge. The Austrian duo reached a top speed of 246 km/h in their dive over the River Thames before performing a complex aerial maneuver known as a ‘flare’ to fly upwards again in close proximity to Tower Bridge and safely open their parachutes. It was a wingsuit flight that pushed the boundaries of human aviation and was only made possible due to the incredible teamwork and collaboration between the athletes.

In the next episode of this series, go behind the scenes with the two athletes as they revealed how they made it happen.

Where would you like to see the two Marcos fly next? Let us know at [email protected] 

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Beyond The Ordinary is the podcast introducing the visionaries who don’t just ask “What if…?” – they go on to make it happen. 

Combining video content with previously unheard insights from behind the scenes, the series reveals how these athletes are able to turn ideas that sound impossible into history-making feats.

From wingsuit flying through Tower Bridge to landing a plane on a helipad, to smashing the ski jumping world record – Beyond The Ordinary is your feed for serious inspiration.

If you love stories about going to the very edge of human endurance, then you’re in for a treat. We’ve just launched Season 3 of our adventure podcast How to Be Superhuman, with 12 new jaw-dropping stories. This episode features cyclist Abdullah Zeinab – an ultra-endurance machine who took on the Rhino Race, a brutal 2,700-kilometre slog across South Africa and Namibia. Think endless miles, punishing terrain, and the kind of challenge that tests every ounce of physical and mental resilience. Come find and follow How to Be Superhuman on all podcast platforms.