Gavin McClurg’s interviews with pilots about flying, experience, decisions and competition.
Cross-country flying
Competitions
Safety
Weather
About their work
Cloudbase Mayhem is a podcast and video project hosted by Gavin McClurg. Interviews explore paragliding and other forms of flight, pilot experience, weather and managing risk. Public episodes are complemented by a paid membership with additional content.
Gavin talks with Alejandro Palmaz, a longtime Aspen paragliding pilot, tandem instructor, and school operator, about the mentors and characters who shaped his flying life back to the early 90's. Robbie Whittal, Dick Jackson, Chuck Smith, Will Gadd, Todd Bibler, Cherie Silvera, Dave Bridges...Alex recalls Aspen’s early paragliding scene, the sport’s technical evolution, the challenges of flying around busy airspace, and why experienced mentors matter for keeping new pilots safe.
Benny Abruzzo grew up inside one of the most remarkable aviation families in history. His father, Ben Sr., built the Sandia Peak Tramway, turned Albuquerque into a ballooning capital, and then — with co-pilot Max Anderson — set out to do something that had never been done: cross the Atlantic Ocean in a helium balloon. They failed on the first try, nearly dying in 50-foot seas off the coast of Iceland with no survival suits, frostbitten and beaten. A week later, Ben Sr. said: "let's try it again."
On August 10th, 2010 twenty-five-year-old Joe Stone went out to take a few laps on his speed wing, something he did nearly every day. But that day didn't go as planned. Joe woke up over a month later and nothing was, or would ever be- the same. This is Joe's incredible story of resilience, hope, inspiration and ultimately- gratitude. When your life goes upside down the little things become everything. This one isn't easy, but it will leave you with a profound awareness of what's possible, what's important, and what we all miss in the hidden joys of just being alive.
The Niviuk Red Rocks Wide Open in Southern Utah this year was all-time. 5 Amazing tasks from three different launches. Four tasks over 100 km in the amazing fall colors. Our weather guru Reavis Sutphin-Gray was on-hand to provide daily weather briefings and to advise the task committee on aligning good tasks with the weather we had to keep everyone safe and to send it as big as we could. Reavis is a weather expert and it's hard to achieve his level of knowledge, but he gave a talk during the comp on the tools he uses and why...which are tools you should familiarize yourself with if you want to become a complete pilot.
British Hang Gliding Pilot and designer/ owner of Avian Hang Gliders Tim Swait shares his long journey from aviation enthusiast to innovator in hang gliding, discussing the evolution of the sport, technical advancements, and his groundbreaking work on the seventh generation hang glider. Discover how new designs could revolutionize performance, accessibility, and the future of free flight. Hang gliders agree that the last major evolution in the sport came with the six generation topless wing in the late 90's. That's about to change.
Norwegian adventurer, mountaineer and pilot Thomas Lone doesn't do anything halfway. He's the youngest Norwegian to summit the Seven Summits — the highest peak on every continent — and now he's setting his sights on the 2027 Red Bull X-Alps. Meanwhile, he and his wife just welcomed their first child into the world, guide paragliding, backcountry skiing and snow kiting tours, and Thomas has quietly become one of the more formidable race-to-goal pilots on the circuit.
Cross-country flying
Competitions
Safety
Weather
Verified November 1, 2026
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