Tag Archives: stunts

The Paragliding Circus

The Paragliding Circus stunts paragliding acrobatics

In this amazing clip, acro paragliding pilot Gill Schneider teamed up with his father’s circus class to mix juggling, trapeze and other circus arts with paragliding. The whole video is fun to watch as you learn a bit about Sheneider’s love for flying and see some more ground-based interactions between himself and the class, but around 2:30 things suddenly escalate when he takes trapeze artist Roxane Giliand up in the sky above France for some nail-biting acrobatics. You can see more photos of the circus here. Video shot and directed by Shams Prod.

Light Wakeboarding Photographed by Patrick Rochon

Light Wakeboarding Photographed by Patrick Rochon wakeboarding stunts light

The folks over at Redbull (previously for cranberry bog wakeboarding) are currently holding a photography competition called Red Bull Illume which is billed as “the world’s premier international photography competition dedicated to the world of action and adventure sports.” One of the latest entries to the competition is this awesome set of photos captured by photographer and light painter Patrick Rochon in conjunction with Snap! Orlando who brought on a team of wakeboarders including Mike Dowdy, Adam Errington, and Dallas Friday. The trio rode special wakeboards affixed with LEDs designed by Snap! while Rochon shot from the shore. You can read more over on Redbull Illume, and for more illuminated hijinx check out L.E.D Wakeboarding by Jacob Sutton. (via we seek)

By Christopher on April 11, 2013 • light stunts wakeboarding

The 2012 Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain

The 2012 Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain stunts Spain castellers

You’ve probably seen photographs of the Concurs de Castells, the human tower competition held in the region of Catalonia, Spain, but photographer David Oliete got a pretty unique perspective in 2012, shooting the entire event at what appears to be a nearly aerial position. As the throngs of castellers—hundreds of men, women and even children—push forward in a claustrophobic mass to build their best human towers, biological shapes reminiscent of insects or even animal cells begin to form. Oliete shares with me via email about the competition:

The most important Human Tower Competition is called “Concurs de Castells” and it takes place in the city of Tarragona once every two years. Its XXIV edition took place during the 6th and 7th October 2012 with the participation of 32 teams from all around Catalonia and a live audience of more than 20,000 people. During the competition, the higher and difficult to build a tower is, the more points a team gets. Every human tower is usually between six and ten levels high. Teams are made of between 100 to 500 women and men. Young and light members form the top of the tower while heavier members form the base.

The “castells” have also been one of the most important cultural traditions in Catalonia for more than 200 years. “Strength, balance, courage and common sense” is their motto. In 2010, the castells were declared by UNESCO to be amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

You can see many more shots from Oliete’ shoot of the Concurs de Castells 2012 over on Flickr, and you can also catch up with him on Facebook. (via devid sketchbook)

By Christopher on April 4, 2013 • castellers Spain stunts

The Struggle to Right Oneself: Kerry Skarbakka Photographs Himself in Suspended Peril

The Struggle to Right Oneself: Kerry Skarbakka Photographs Himself in Suspended Peril stunts portraits flying

In his photographic self-portrait series Struggle to Right Oneself, artist Kerry Skarbakka captures himself in moments of suspended peril: falling from trees, tumbling head over heels in painfully precarious falls, slipping nude in the shower, or teetering on the edge of a fateful leap from a railway bridge. In his artist statement Skarbakka references philosopher Martin Heidegger’s description of human existence as a process of perpetual falling, and the responsibility of each person to catch ourselves from our own uncertainty. He continues:

This photographic work is in response to this delicate state. It comprises a culmination of thought and emotion, a tying together of the threads of everything I perceive life has come to represent. It is my understanding and my perspective, which relies on the shifting human conditions of the world that we inhabit. It’s exploration resides in the sublime metaphorical space from where balance has been disrupted to the definitive point of no return. It asks the question of what it means to resist the struggle, to simply let go. Or what are the consequences of holding on?

Skarbakka says that he utilizes special climbing gear and other rigging to achieve each shot, but the final images are truly convincing if somewhat ambiguous. This too is on purpose, as the images are meant to leave the viewer questioning. Do they suggest we can fly? Do we fall? What happens when we land? See many more shots from the series over on his website. All images courtesy the artist. (via not shaking in the grass)

By Christopher on January 9, 2013 • flying portraits stunts

Moonwalk: Free Climber Dean Potter Walks a Highline Across a Rising Full Moon at Yosemite National Park

Moonwalk: Free Climber Dean Potter Walks a Highline Across a Rising Full Moon at Yosemite National Park timelapse stunts moon

This is one of the more impressive full moon ~~time-lapses~~ films you’ll ever see. Directed by Mikey Schaefer and produced by adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith, this remarkable clip captures American free climber Dean Potter as he traverses a highline tied to Cathedral Peak in Yosemite National Park. To get the wild perspective Potter used a camera equipped with a Canon 800mm super telephoto lens positioned over a mile away. Beautiful.

Update: Several people have written to clarify that this is technically not a “time-lapse” film, as both the climber and moon are actually moving in real time, it’s only the magnification of the moon that seems to mimic similar films that capture it in motion. Fair enough.

By Christopher on January 8, 2013 • moon stunts timelapse

Cranberry Bog Wakeboarding

Cranberry Bog Wakeboarding surfing stunts sports fruit

The annual harvesting of cranberries has to be one of the most ingenius methods of fruit farming there is. Every fall after the berries ripen on the vine, instead of being picked by people or machine the fields are flooded with water from a nearby reservoir. Because the berries are filled with air, all it takes is a gentle nudge from a special tractor to knock them loose and float them to the surface where they are quickly and easily collected by the tasty, tart kabillions.

Lucky for us a film crew over at Redbull asked the important question: “What would happen if you pulled a wakeboarder through the ocean of cranberries and filmed with high speed HD film?” This glorious video is the result. The team assures us that no cranberries were injured during production. (via devour)

By Christopher on December 16, 2012 • fruit sports stunts surfing

‘Jetman’ Yvet Rossy Conquers the Sky Above the Swiss Alps

Jetman Yvet Rossy Conquers the Sky Above the Swiss Alps Switzerland stunts flight airplanes

In this unbelievable new video, Swiss pilot Yves Rossy (previously) is seen soaring above the Alps strapped to his one-of-a-kind jet-propelled wing craft. It’s incredible to me that after well over a century of manned flight, we continue to make technological advances like this. My son after seeing this: “Dad, next time is it our turn?” Rossy was filmed by aerial camera operator Evert Cloetens. (via devour)

By Christopher on April 18, 2012 • airplanes flight stunts Switzerland

The World’s Largest Rope Swing

The Worlds Largest Rope Swing swings stunts

Some insane footage out of Moab, Utah where a couple of folks strung up this death wish of a rope swing at the naturally formed Corona Arch. The film was shot over the course of two days by Devin Graham, and here’s the making of if you’re interested.