Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Helmut Cloth is a German engineer and entrepreneur whose groundbreaking contributions have forever changed skydiving safety. After taking up the sport in 1972, Helmut became an active participant in European relative work (RW) record attempts. But a tragic accident in 1986—when a close friend died without deploying either canopy—sparked a mission that would shape the future of parachuting.

Motivated to prevent similar losses, Helmut spent four and a half years researching and developing what would become the world’s most trusted Automatic Activation Device (AAD). After testing twelve prototypes, he introduced the first CYPRES (Cybernetic Parachute Release System) in 1991—a revolutionary tool that automatically deploys the reserve parachute under life-threatening conditions.

To bring this vision to life, Helmut founded Airtec GmbH & Co. KG Safety Systems in Bad Wünnenberg, Germany in 1990. His innovation set a new global standard in skydiving safety and has since been credited with saving thousands of lives. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, he was awarded the prestigious FAI Gold Medal in 1997.

Today, CYPRES remains a cornerstone of safety in the sport, and Helmut Cloth’s legacy continues to guide the evolution of parachuting equipment and protocols worldwide.

Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Alethia Austin is a skydiving coach whose influence reaches far beyond the dropzone. Known for her calm presence, thoughtful leadership, and global impact, Alethia is the founder of LSD—Level, Slot, Dock—a sold-out series of skill camps hosted around the world. Her approach to coaching blends technical precision with mindfulness, energy management, and personal growth.

Raised in a small town in southern Oregon, Alethia set out on her own at just 17, carving a life path that would span continents and careers—from the entertainment industry in Los Angeles to marketing roles across Europe. But skydiving was the throughline. After a tandem jump in 2002, she followed the pull of the sport, eventually shaping her professional journey around it.

A respected leader in angle flying and a Regional Captain for Project 19, Alethia is equally at home talking about safety procedures as she is about the deeper, emotional currents of the sport. Her travels—including a pivotal journey through India in 2020—have informed her philosophy, one that bridges movement in the air with inner awareness on the ground.

Plant-based for more than 20 years, a yoga teacher, and handpan musician, Alethia brings an intentionality to skydiving that has inspired countless students to not just fly better, but live more consciously.

This episode is a reflection of Alethia herself—honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.

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My guest today has truly lived a life that transcends even the wildest dreams of a successful career in skydiving. With over 500 BASE jumps and 17,000 skydives, Jon Devore is a highly respected camera flyer, BASE jumper, wingsuiter, world champion free flyer, and stunt performer. His work has been featured in major films such as 2015’s Point Break, Iron Man 3, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, and Ad Astra.

Jon also serves as the event coordinator for the world-renowned Red Bull Air Force, one of the most exciting and recognized demonstration teams globally. In 2023, he was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame.

Despite his incredible achievements, Jon remains as humble as he was when he first arrived at Skydive Arizona over 30 years ago, dreaming of completing 500 jumps to become a tandem instructor back in Alaska. Along the way, he encountered a few remarkable individuals who would forever change the course of his life.

MEDIA

• VIDEO: Jon on the Ellen Degeneres Show
• VIDEO: Jon landing in downtown Los Angeles
• VIDEO: Jon in the iconic wingsuit scene in Point Break
• VIDEO: Wingsuit Formation: Flying the Crack
• PODCAST: Red Bull Bulletin with Jon Devore

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With over 28,000 skydives to his name, Ian Bobo is one of the most accomplished and versatile skydivers in the history of the sport. A true multi-discipline athlete, Ian is one of the rare individuals to win world championships in both Formation Skydiving and Canopy Piloting—a testament to his precision, adaptability, and mastery of flight.

Ian is the co-founder of two pioneering initiatives in the skydiving world: the PD Factory Team and Flight-1, the global leader in canopy piloting education for both civilians and military jumpers. His competitive achievements include multiple world records and national titles, including the 4-Way FS World Record (45 points), the 16-Way FS World Record (19 points), and participation in the Largest Canopy Formation World Record (47-way).

An innovator at heart, Ian helped design and popularize key advancements in canopy flight, including the Removable Deployment System (RDS) and the Mutant supine harness. His high-performance canopy expeditions have taken him from the cliffs of the Grand Canyon to the breathtaking fjords of Norway.

Beyond competition and innovation, Ian is a passionate educator and mentor who has spent over two decades coaching thousands of skydivers to become safer, more skilled canopy pilots. His legacy in the sport was cemented with his induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2021.

Ian continues to jump, coach, and inspire—driven by a deep love for flight and a commitment to pushing the sport forward.

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Pancho Campo’s life story is one of global reach and bold reinvention. Born in Santiago, Chile, Pancho began his career in professional tennis, serving as the captain and manager of the Chilean Olympic Tennis Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He also held leadership roles in the Qatar Tennis and Squash Federation and coached on the ATP Tour.

After stepping away from tennis, Pancho transitioned into the world of international events. He founded Chrand Events, an agency responsible for organizing high-profile concerts, sporting events, and conferences around the world—working with major names including Sting, Pink Floyd, Enrique Iglesias, and the Gypsy Kings.

In 2003, his passion for wine led him to establish The Wine Academy of Spain. Just five years later, he became the first Spanish-speaking person to earn the prestigious title of Master of Wine.

In recent years, Pancho has become a respected voice in climate advocacy, using his expertise in event management to create meaningful platforms for dialogue. He has collaborated with global figures such as Al Gore and Kofi Annan to bring attention to climate change.

Pancho Campo’s career is a fascinating journey through sport, culture, and cause—driven by curiosity, passion, and a desire to make a difference.

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In this episode, we welcome Jay Stokes—a legendary figure in the skydiving world whose accomplishments have left a lasting mark on both military and civilian skydiving. Jay holds the Guinness World Record for the most parachute jumps in a 24-hour period, completing an incredible 640 jumps on September 8–9, 2006. This extraordinary feat took place at Greensburg Municipal Airport in Indiana and required precision, endurance, and a massive team effort, with Jay averaging a jump every 135 seconds.

A 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Jay played a key role in military free-fall training and brought that same commitment to excellence to the civilian sector. He has personally trained over 10,000 coaches, instructors, and examiners, becoming one of the sport’s most respected educators.

Jay also served on the U.S. Parachute Association’s Board of Directors from 2007 to 2018, including terms as President and Chairman, helping shape the direction of skydiving in the U.S.

In 2018, his decades of leadership and achievement were recognized with his induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame.

Join us as we hear from one of skydiving’s most accomplished and humble contributors—Jay Stokes.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Greg “Miff” Smith—a true pioneer in Australian skydiving. With nearly five decades in the sport and more than 12,000 jumps to his name, Miff has been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of skydiving in South Australia and beyond.

Since making his first jump in 1977, Greg has become one of the country’s most respected Chief Instructors. In 1986, alongside Gavin Northsworthy and Kevin Taylor, he helped introduce tandem skydiving to South Australia, making the sport more accessible to newcomers. Over the years, his leadership has helped advance safety protocols and raise equipment standards across the region.

At SA Skydiving—founded in 1989—Greg serves as Director, Senior Pilot, Drop Zone Safety Officer, Examiner, and Instructor for both Tandem and AFF. His contributions have helped shape SA Skydiving into one of Australia’s premier drop zones, offering breathtaking experiences and high-quality training.

Beyond his professional achievements, Greg has mentored generations of skydivers—including his own children—creating a tight-knit community rooted in passion and progression.

Join me as I speak with Greg “Miff” Smith about his journey, his impact on the sport, and the legacy he continues to build in Australian skydiving.