Exit Point

Vincent ”Le Blond” Descols - Stories from a Wingsuit BASE pioneer, visualization for success, and world’s first tandem wingsuit operation Le Blond is a professional skydiver and BASE jumper who pioneered some of the longest terrain flights ever done.  Along with his buddies from the Vercor BASE team, Le Blond opened many new school wingsuit BASE jumping classic exit points in the French Alps - including Brevent and the Aiguille de Midi.   Vincent is a multi-time WWL Champion, and Wings for Love medalist.  He holds a degree in engineering at ENAC (Ecole Nationale Aviation Civile) and worked as an air traffic controller.  Le Blond now coaches wingsuit skydivers and runs the WORLD'S FIRST tandem wingsuit skydive operation. Links: https://skyvibration.com/en/ https://www.instagram.com/vincent_descols_le_blond/ https://www.instagram.com/skyvibration/  

Matthias Giraud or ”Super Frenchie” is a professional skier, mountaineer & BASE jumper, as well as a world record holder. Check out the Super Frenchie documentary here: www.superfrenchiemovie.com/watch-at-home https://superfrenchie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/superfrenchieofficial/ https://www.facebook.com/superfrenchieofficial/ photo credit: Orazio Guarnieri

In this episode, Matt Blank talks with Avery Badenhop, Dennis McGlynn, and Harry Parker, who were known during the 90s as the “three-headed dragon” of BASE and founders of the infamous Team Ill Vision. This team has been a timeless model for outlaw extreme sports gangs living an endless summer lifestyle. The leader of Team Ill Vision, Avery, is the quintessential counterculture athlete, creating a unique lifestyle that would inspire generations of jumpers to go all in and totally cut away from the mainstream. Dennis McGlynn, one of the first jumpers to perform BASE stunts for film and television, is also a pioneer of manufacturing BASE-specific gear. He was one of the original FJC instructors and the first to be prosecuted by the federal government for BASE jumping. Harry Parker, the man with the perspective, has been an active jumper and photographer for more than three decades, participating in and capturing some of our community’s historic moments. Harry helped put a face and voice to the BASE jumping lifestyle. Their team created a culture around the pursuit of BASE jumping, opening the first public events, competitions, and demonstrations. Their access efforts helped open jumps on BLM land, the Perrine Bridge, and recrafted Bridge Day in West Virginia, as well as forged paths to international BASE events, which have continued to grow over several decades. Please support this independent project by visiting: support Exit Point For more info visit exitpopintpodcast.com Producers: Laurent Frat, Matt Blank, Mark Stockwell  Host: Matt Blank Sound mixing: Mark Stockwell Music credit: Staccato Strings by Andreas Beats  Timestamps:  00:39 Avery Badenhop: The Counterculture Athlete 00:51 Dennis McGlynn: Pioneer of BASE Stunts and Gear 01:07 Harry Parker: The Man with the Perspective 01:22 Creating a Culture Around BASE Jumping 03:23 The Evolution of BASE Jumping Gear and Techniques 09:22 The Dark and Dangerous Early Days of BASE Jumping 24:55 The Transition to Legal and Sponsored BASE Jumping Events 28:52 The Art of BASE Jumping: Performance, Evolution, and Community 40:49 Cliff Camp '94: A Pivotal Moment in BASE Jumping History 44:14 The Legal Battle Over Aerial Delivery 46:47 The Cliff Camp Incident: A Tragic Turning Point 50:06 Learning from Mistakes: The Importance of Gear Awareness 54:07 From Legal Battles to Building a BASE Jumping Legacy 57:29 The Rise of Team Ill Vision and BASE Jumping Competitions 01:09:47 Navigating the World of Sponsorship and Event Organization 01:21:19 The Impact of Legal Troubles on Personal Life and the Sport 01:25:01 Surviving and Thriving in BASE Jumping: Lessons Learned 01:33:48 The Evolution of Safety and Community in BASE Jumping 01:34:00 The Shift in BASE Jumping Culture: From Tight Crews to Independence 01:34:30 Finding Community and Collaboration in a Solo Sport 01:36:13 The Challenges and Rewards of BASE Jumping Hiatus 01:38:24 Identity and Lifestyle: The Essence of Being a BASE Jumper 01:41:17 The Double-Edged Sword of Currency in BASE Jumping 01:54:03 The Impact of Gear and Training on BASE Jumping Sustainability 01:57:40 The Role of Community and Mentorship in BASE Jumping 02:08:26 Reflecting on Careers, Sacrifices, and Gifts in BASE Jumping

In this episode, Laurent welcomes Marshall Miller.  Marshall has inspired both jumpers and the public with his epic videos from his early days to his recent projects, including his appearance in Line of Sight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWMZq8-3wI), shout-out to the KAVU boys for producing what we believe is one of the most incredible wingsuit BASE jumping videos ever made.  Marshall, a pioneer in the world of professional BASE jumping, was one of GoPro's first sponsored athletes and has played a pivotal role in shaping the community. He candidly shares his experiences, including his brush with the law in Zion National Park and the absurdity of the National Park Services' enforcement. We delve into the crucial role of patience in high-risk sports, the potential pitfalls of group mentality, and the valuable lessons learned from walking down. Marshall's Zion episode with Outside Please support this independent project by visiting: support Exit Point For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com

In this episode, Matt Blank interviews John Cox, a mostly self-taught BASE jumper who recently shattered the world record for "Most BASE jumps in 24 hours". He surpassed the previous record holders (Miles Daisher and Danny Weiland) at the end of 2023 with an outstanding performance, completing more than 100 jumps off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho. We talk to him about his progression in BASE, his training for the world record attempt, and what it was like during the grueling 24-hour slog to accomplish his childhood dream of being in the Guinness Book of World Records. If you'd like to donate to either of John's causes mentioned in the episode, John has provided this link: https://venmo.com/u/baseworldrecord If you would like to support Exit Point, please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint                                For more information about the podcast visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com Music credit: Staccato Strings by Andreas Beats 

In this episode, the Exit Point team holds a round table discussion about how we've been doing and where we hope to go. This episode also celebrates a milestone in our podcast. Sometime last year, thanks to all of you out there, we passed 100,000 downloads and have since blown past that. Thank you all for listening and supporting us by sharing the podcast, leaving us reviews, and donating so that we can continue producing the show. _______ Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint                                 _____ For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com

In this episode, Matt and Laurent interview Dan Darby.  Dan has been skydiving and BASE jumping for over fifteen years. He's a competitive wingsuit skydiver, BASE jumper, and a member of the US parachute team for wingsuit performance flying. He's also a co-founder of Arcus Flight wingsuit school in DeLand, Florida, and a multidisciplinary skydiving and wind tunnel instructor. In this episode, Dan talks about wingsuit progression, survival tactics, training techniques for performance flying and the new wingsuit BASE race he created in Sass Pordoi, Italy. https://www.instagram.com/dandarbybase/ _______ Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint _____ For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent sits down with Matt Lajeunesse. Laj has been at the forefront of slider-down BASE jumping for nearly 20 years, along with his equally legendary wife, Katie Hansen. Not only have they been community leaders supporting local BASE jumping, but they also run a successful tandem BASE operation so that they can share their passion with non-jumpers from around the world. I’m looking forward to hearing his thoughts on how to prepare for jumping in Moab, how to do Turkey Boogie right, and what it’s like to run a successful BASE business, as well as some of the harder topics like love and loss. Matt is a thoughtful, empathetic person with a ton of experience, so this is bound to be a great conversation. https://tandembasemoab.com/ _______ Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint _____ For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent is joined by Scott Palmer.  Scott, also known as Plamer, is a 3rd generation aviator, was a forward air controller with the US Air Force and after serving in Iraq, he went on to pursue a career in skydiving.  With over 15 years in the sport and over 11,000 skydives, Scott traveled the world competing and became one of the world’s most sought-after tunnel coaches. He has multiple world records and championship titles and has been involved in a ton of amazing aerial stunts, including appearing on Nitro Circus.  After reaching what might be the pinnacle of skydiving, Plamer changed his focus from flying his body to flying airplanes.  He now is an aerial firefighter for the US federal government. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint - For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent sits down with Yuri Kuznetsov. Yuri made his first skydive when he was 13 years old, his first BASE jump in 1994 with skydiving gear, and has since made thousands of jumps.  He has been active in urban, terminal, wingsuiting, sliderdown, you name it - to say that he is experienced is a massive understatement. We're looking forward to hearing some of his stories from back in the day, how his motivations around BASE have changed over the years, and talk about how he has remained so resilient  - Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint For more info visit www.exitpopintpodcast.com 

In this episode, Matt Blank interviews Brian Germain. Brian is a career educator with a master's degree in sports psychology and a groundbreaking parachute engineer and test pilot. Brian has authored numerous critically acclaimed books, including The Parachute and Its Pilot. https://briangermain.company.site/ https://calendly.com/brian-germain-1 http://adventurewisdom.com  . Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint . https://www.exitpointpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Luke Rogers, a professional wingsuit pilot from Australia. He's won multiple national titles, podiumed at various world championships, and was the first person in the world to flare a wingsuit over 100 meters. Luke is constantly training, competing, and coaching at wingsuit events. He's incredibly generous with all his tips and tricks regarding flying wingsuits.  This conversation is packed with info about maximizing performance. . Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint . Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

In this episode, Matt Blank talks to Marta Empinotti, a BASE-jumping living legend. She’s not only a skilled and creative stuntperson, but also a pioneer in BASE education and rigging. She was one of the first to make BASE jumping a professional career and helped establish the industry standards. Marta is a respected leader in the BASE community, who inspires many of us with her excellence and ethics. She has guided and mentored countless BASE jumpers over the years. If you don’t know who she is, you should find out - chances are, your instructor learned from her or from someone who did. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

In this episode, Matt Blank sits down with John McEvoy. Blank and John take a deep dive into BASE jumping student progression and what it means to be on the path to mastery. John shares his incredible story of recovery, determination, and passion. He talks about how he got into BASE jumping, what he learned from his stroke, how he fixed his heart and faced his tumor, and how he continued to develop his business and teaching. He also reveals some of the challenges and rewards of being a BASE jumper, such as dealing with fear, injuries, and navigating ethics. He shares some of his insights and tips on how to progress safely and responsibly in the sport. John is not only an amazing athlete, but also an inspiring teacher who lives life to the fullest and encourages others to do the same. . McEvoy's links: @johnny_craic @basegear BASEgear.net Baseguiding.com  . Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint . https://www.exitpointpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Marine Descols. Marine is a hypnotherapist, wingsuit coach, and camera flyer. She did her first skydive at the young age of 12 and developed a passion for action adventure sports when she met her partner Vincent. Marine and Vincent founded Sky Vibration, the world's first commercial tandem wingsuit operation. Marine is fascinated with the mind-body connection and has pursued a career in physiotherapy and hypnotherapy, which led her to work with surgical patients—and later opened her own practice. I'm interested in sharing her experience and discovering how we can use hypnosis to improve performance in sports and life. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Fred Fugen, a pioneer of modern parachuting and one of the most talented and innovative skydivers, wingsuit pilots, and BASE jumpers on the planet. Fred has won multiple world championships in freeflying, set several world records in BASE jumping and wingsuit flying, and has executed some of the most incredible aerial stunts ever performed. Laurent talks with Fred about how it all started, what motivates him to push the boundaries of human flight, and how he copes with the risks and losses that come with his passion. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!     lau@nextlevel.ws  blank@nextlevel.ws Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

In this episode, Laurent speaks with Steph Davis. Steph is a world-class free solo climber and an avid BASE jumper. She has a unique background, including being a dedicated pianist and holding a master's degree in literature. While attending law school, she decided to drop out to pursue climbing full-time and has never looked back. Steph is an inspirational figure with her approach to risk management and how she dedicates herself to her passions. https://stephdavis.co/ - Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!     lau@nextlevel.ws  blank@nextlevel.ws Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com

In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Katelyn Compton Escott - a performance wingsuit pilot, BASE jumper and speedflyer. She was recommended by a few mutual friends as a potential guest. However, before we could invite her, she suffered a serious spinal injury while speedflying in Kamloops. Since her accident, she underwent a successful 10 hour surgery and has been making positive progress. Initially, we hesitated and considered waiting for her comeback story, but after seeing her social media feeds, we wanted to find out more about her resilience in the face of adversity.     -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!     lau@nextlevel.ws  blank@nextlevel.ws   Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint Thanks to everyone who has already supported us! Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

Tension knots might be the scariest and least understood malfunction in BASE. In 2019 and 2020, Squirrel conducted surveys in an attempt to get a better understanding of tension knots and their occurrence. In this episode, Blank and I sit down with Will and Matt from Squirrel to have them share what they learned, and some suggestions on how to train our emergency procedures. Read SQRL's paper on tension knots: link -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to hear your thoughts about the podcast!     lau@nextlevel.ws  blank@nextlevel.ws   Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. Please support this independent project by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint Thanks to everyone who has already supported us! Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love:  https://www.instagram.com/mtstockwell/  https://www.exitpointpodcast.com  

With us this week is Lonnie Bissonnette, a BASE jumping pioneer who after suffering a nearly fatal accident that left him paralyzed, became the first person to earn a BASE number as a paraplegic, jumping all four objects in the BASE acronym (Building, Antena, Span [bridge] and Earth). He has since traveled the globe BASE jumping and became a para-bobsleigh world champion representing his home country of Canada.  ________________________________________   If you have been listening to Exit Point and enjoy what you've heard, we want to hear from you!     lau@nextlevel.ws  blank@nextlevel.ws   Exit Point is completely self-funded and there are no ads. If you would like to support this independent project, you can visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/exitpoint Thanks to everyone who has already supported us! Mark Stockwell is the man that makes this podcast sound the way it does.  Please show him some love.   https://www.exitpointpodcast.com