WINTER/SPRING2017
MLCM
21
BEHIND
THEPHOTO:
AUSTINROSS
“There are no tracks in the sky.”
Theworld is oversaturatedwithGoPro/POV shots and it takes creativity to stand
out, but a speed-flying rig is a good start. Born-and-raised inPemberton,Austin
Ross grewup exploring theCoastMountains as often as possible andby any
means necessary.His POV edits consistently rank among the best of the year, so
we connected to talk airtime, hang time, andgetting the shot.
MountainLife: This is a sweet angle, talk about howyou
differentiate yourselfwhen it comes toPOV shooting?
AustinRoss:
It’smostly trial and error, just trying things.When I first got a
GoPro, I went to the kitchen store andgot an egg timer anddid some cool
360-degree time lapses. I have anothermount that’s a fibreglass polewith
fins on it, almost like a lawndart that flies behindme on a string. It took some
gettingused to, toget the angle right and keep it fromhittingmy cords.This
one is another newmount – it’s just amagnet that youput on either side of the
wing and it holds the camera inplace.
ML: This is speed riding, how is it different from regular
paragliding?
Austin:
Basically it’s just a smallerwing. Paraglidinghas a bigwing that you
canuse to catch thermals andglide around. Fundamentally, a speedwing is
similar but it’s smaller, and as far as the launch and landing, everythinghappens
a lot faster and you are closer to the terrain andmakingquicker decisions.
Flying sports are all about spatial awareness and constant assessments based
on your surroundings. It’s amental workoutwithmath, science, instinct and fun
all rolled intoone sport.
ML: Howdidyouget into this sport?
Austin:
Gradually. I startedwithparagliding.Growingup inPemby, I would see
paragliders flying around.The landing zone is at the old community centre and
a fewof the local pilots are friendswithmy parents, ski bums fromback in the
day.One year I hadbeen tree planting and I had some extra cash. I called Jim
Orava andhe said,“Meetme at the community centre in 15minutes.”And that
was the start. I did some ground training andwas in the air that day.
ML:What’s the learning curve like?
Austin:
It takes practice. I did20 flights inPemby, thenwewent toMexico and
did a lot of training atValle deBravo,where themonarchbutterfliesmigrate to.
My first launchon skiswas offMount Currie, justwithmy regular paragliding
wing.And then I went toChamonix, that is themecca of speed riding, and just
watched some of the better guys. I wanted tobe experienced and ready before I
switched to a smallerwing– it’dbe like learning todrive in a hotrod.
ML:What do you lovemost about flying?
Austin:
As soon asmy feet leave the ground I’mbymyself. I feel likewith skiing
or biking, you are often either too slowor too fast for the people you’rewith, so
you’rewaitingor rushing to catchup.With flying, I’m inmy ownworldmaking
my owndecisions until I’mback on the ground. It’s unreal.
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Austinnails aPOVangle speed riding in Italy.
