Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast

By Gavin McClurgSports Leisure Aviation

Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast episodes

September 12, 2015 Episode 5 Nate Scales and Staying in the Game
Nate “Papa” Scales got his first flight in 1991 on a glider that had 11 cells in Sun Valley, Idaho. The next day he moved to Utah to learn how to fly and hasn’t looked back since. I’ve never met anyone as passionate as Nate is about flying nylon and string and he’s even more psyched today to go big than ever. We cover a LOT of ground in this hysterical episode. Nate discusses the value of competitions; his only (and very wild) reserve toss; risk and safety; his recent decision to step down to an ENC glider after flying comp gliders for more than 15 years; his “dream” line; learning from failure; and we go way back in time and talk about the days of taking pictures of waypoints before there was GPS; his 2007 X-Alps campaign; all the mentors he’s had along the way, including Robbie Whittall, Honza Rejmanik, Bill Belcourt, Josh Cohn and many others. But we call Nate “Papa” because he’s been a mentor to all of us here in the Wood River Valley and way beyond. There’s a ton to digest in this podcast and Nate’s unique style and delivery will keep you giggling. Enjoy!
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Show Notes:

* Nate takes us back to the beginning. How he learned, flying in his first comps in Telluride, Aspen and around the world
* Can paragliding be safer? We dive into the incoherent risk and the rewards. Is it worth it?
* Nate talks about his recent decision to step down to an ENC glider, but that he’s still hungrier than ever to go BIG
* Nate’s 2007 X-Alps campaign and nearly getting in a fistfight in the Swiss Alps
* Advice for a 50 hour pilots
* Learning from mistakes and failure
* Comp gliders vs certified gliders. Making the right choice.

1 hr 9 min
August 21, 2015 Episode 4- Cedar Wright “Nothing Great Happens Without Risk”
The Cloudbase Mayhem is dedicated to dissecting excellence in flight. We interview the best pilots in the world and find out what makes them great. But in this episode we delve into the opposite end of the spectrum with world class climber, self-described goofball, North Face athlete, film director and producer Cedar Wright, who has recently caught the paragliding bug BADLY. His climbing partners include Alex Honnold, the late Dean Potter and Sean Leary, Tommy Caldwell, Will Gadd and a ton of the Yosemite Camp 4 Original Gangsters of the incredible "Valley Uprising" documentary like Peter Croft and Tommy Caldwell. His stoke and passion for flying is radical and his unique perspective on what makes human flight so special made for a stellar interview that was incredibly fun.
The post Episode 4- Cedar Wright “Nothing Great Happens Without Risk” first appeared on CLOUDBASE MAYHEM.
1 hr 15 min
August 21, 2015 Episode 4- Cedar Wright “Nothing Great Happens Without Risk”

The Cloudbase Mayhem is dedicated to dissecting excellence in flight. We interview the best pilots in the world and find out what makes them great. But in this episode we delve into the opposite end of the spectrum with world class climber, self-described goofball, North Face athlete, film director and producer Cedar Wright, who has recently caught the paragliding bug BADLY. His climbing partners include Alex Honnold, the late Dean Potter and Sean Leary, Tommy Caldwell, Will Gadd and a ton of the Yosemite Camp 4 Original Gangsters of the incredible “Valley Uprising” documentary like Peter Croft and Tommy Caldwell. Cedar and I met at last years Banff Mountain Film Festival where he happened across a paragliding film in Greenland called “Resounding Silence“. The movie inspired Cedar to find out what paragliding was all about and five months ago he dove in feet first and hasn’t looked back. His stoke and passion for flying is infectious and his unique perspective on what makes human flight so special made for a stellar interview that was incredibly fun. Cedar came to Sun Valley last week to get a taste for big mountain air and find out how to fly cross country. It’s been incredibly fun to take him under my wing a little bit and he’s reminded me of how special the learning phase is…and more importantly how that arc never really stops. You’ll enjoy this show, Cedar is an awesome character, his energy and passion for what he calls “sky crack” is truly inspiring.

A buck an episode, that’s all we ask.

Subscribe to the Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast on Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Tune In, or ITunes!

Show Notes:

* Cedar discusses his climbing career, films and growing up in a town of 86 people
* We discuss how he got into paragliding this last year. Learning in Santa Barbara with Eagle Paragliding and Matt Henzi.
* Cedar talks about risk, and the difference in risk between climbing and paragliding, and the importance of taking risk in life.
* We talk about the level of adventure that exists in paragliding. Is it possible to have a bigger adventure, is it the ultimate in freedom when it comes to adventure?
* What it’s like to be a beginner again
* The value of being audacious
* Being a sponsored athlete and some of Cedar’s mentors in the sport like Bill Belcourt.

1 hr 15 min
August 04, 2015 Episode 3 – Jeff Shapiro and the Dark Arts
Jeff Shapiro is a world class sponsored athlete and a world class human being. He's flown and competed on hangliders since he was 17 all over the world, he sends 5.14 big wall routes in climbing, he flies wingsuits, rides sport bikes, is a gifted Falconer, and is also a Dad and family man. But don't call him extreme and don't call him an adrenaline junky. Jeff is grounded, thoughtful, eternally grateful to be able to pursue his passions and his approach to risk and danger is something we all need to ponder. In this amazing episode we discuss the incredible numbers of losses in the wingsuiting community the last three years, including his close friends Sean Leary, Dean Potter, and Graham Hunt; an amazing close call flying at King Mountain Idaho a few years back on his Hanglider; how he has flown for more than twenty years without an accident; his own brush with death this year; and if it's possible to justify participating in a sport with such terrible odds, among many other things. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and prepare to be whisked away into a realm that very, very few people inhabit. It's a special place.
The post Episode 3 – Jeff Shapiro and the Dark Arts first appeared on CLOUDBASE MAYHEM.
1 hr 47 min
August 04, 2015 Episode 3 – Jeff Shapiro and the Dark Arts

Jeff Shapiro is a world class sponsored athlete and a world class human being. He’s flown and competed on hangliders since he was 17 all over the world, he sends 5.14 big wall routes in climbing, he flies wingsuits, rides sport bikes, is a gifted Falconer, and is also a Dad and family man. But don’t call him extreme and don’t call him an adrenaline junky. Jeff is grounded, thoughtful, eternally grateful to be able to pursue his passions and his approach to risk and danger is something we all need to ponder. In this amazing episode we discuss the incredible numbers of losses in the wingsuiting community the last three years, including his close friends Sean Leary, Dean Potter, and Graham Hunt; an amazing close call flying at King Mountain Idaho a few years back on his Hanglider; how he has flown for more than twenty years without an accident; his own brush with death this year; and if it’s possible to justify participating in a sport with such terrible odds, among many other things. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and prepare to be whisked away into a realm that very, very few people inhabit. It’s a special place.

A buck an episode, that’s all we ask.

Subscribe to the Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast on Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Tune In, or ITunes!

Show Notes:

* Jeff discusses growing up in the Pacific Northwest and watching birds soar the ferries, and becoming fascinated with flight
* Jeff talks about his history of hang gliding and learning the hard way
* How important gratitude and passion are in life, and how adventure sport and risk tie into every aspect of life.
* Jeff recounts a really scary flight at King Mountain, Idaho and the lessons that came out it.
* We talk about progression, the numbers game, and if it’s possible to pursue very dangerous activities and be safe. Is it possible to get the same reward from less dangerous activities?
* GRATITUDE
* We talk about losing his close friends Dean Potter, Graham Hunt and Sean Leary and others in wingsuit basejumping accident, and his own close call with death. Where to go from here? Where to draw the line? How is possible to justify something with such horrible odds?

1 hr 47 min
May 03, 2015 Episode 2- Matt Beechinor (the Glider Podcast)
Really excited about this second episode with one of my mentors in the big XC game, Matt Beechinor, aka "Farmer". When he flew 193 miles in 2012 from Mt Baldy in Sun Valley I decided my choice to move to the Wood River Valley later that summer was about the best decision I ever made. Matt has been flying for almost 20 years, is the best tandem pilot I know, is an amazing instructor, guide, and a Jedi in the air. In this episode we hear about a couple of amazing saves, what the "alien world" is, how Matt approaches risk, how to thermal better and how he has become one of the best gliders in the business. Enjoy!
The post Episode 2- Matt Beechinor (the Glider Podcast) first appeared on CLOUDBASE MAYHEM.
52 min
May 03, 2015 Episode 2- Matt Beechinor (the Glider Podcast)
Really excited about this second episode with one of my mentors in the big XC game, Matt Beechinor, aka “Farmer”. When he flew 193 miles in 2012 from Mt Baldy in Sun Valley I decided my choice to move to the Wood River Valley later that summer was about the best decision I ever made. Matt has been flying for almost 20 years, is the best tandem pilot I know, is an amazing instructor, guide, and a Jedi in the air. In this episode we hear about a couple of amazing saves, what the “alien world” is, how Matt approaches risk, how to thermal better and how he has become one of the best gliders in the business. Enjoy!
Show Notes:

* Matt discusses his history of paragliding, including some pretty hairy learning experiences in the Wood River Valley
* Matt discusses using an “ESP” maneuver to get out of a bad cravat in the Sierras
* Matt discusses thermalling techniques and the importance of nailing wing overs
* Matt discusses the US team, competition, and how to glide more efficiently

52 min
March 03, 2015 Episode 1- Bill Belcourt (the Yoda Podcast)
...with Bill to discuss among other things throwing a rescue, what it takes to fly big lines, modern glider development, the history of the sport, the concept of "bringing it", and a whole lot more. This episode is PACKED with incredible information. Whether you are a novice pilot getting a taste for your first XC, or an expert who flies vol biv or world cups, there is a lot to be learned here. Enjoy.
The post Episode 1- Bill Belcourt (the Yoda Podcast) first appeared on CLOUDBASE MAYHEM.
38 min
March 03, 2015 Episode 1- Bill Belcourt (the Yoda Podcast)
In this inaugural Cloudbase Mayhem podcast we hear from Bill Belcourt. When we were on the set of 500 Miles to Nowhere with Nate Scales, Matt Beechinor, Nick Greece and myself we had the opportunity to stop by Black Diamond Headquarters and sit down with Bill to discuss among other things throwing a rescue, what it takes to fly big lines, modern glider development, the history of the sport, the concept of “bringing it”, and a whole lot more. This episode is PACKED with incredible information. Whether you are a novice pilot getting a taste for your first XC, or an expert who flies vol biv or world cups, there is a lot to be learned here. Enjoy.
Like the podcast? A buck an episode, that’s all we ask.

Subscribe to the Cloudbase Mayhem Podcast on Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Tune In, or ITunes!

38 min