“This is Brendan Weinstein, a 29 year old wingsuit pilot, the mountain Brendan is flying down is Le Pleureur, located in Switzerland, and the dam is called Mauvoisin Dam . Brendan said , he has been making this jump for 2 years with one goal, to build up enough speed, to buzz the lake and fly over the wall of the dam at the end, and it took him 28 flights to figure it all out.”
Incredible footage of wingsuiter Brendan Weinstein skimming the water of Mauvoisin Dam in the Swiss Alps before gaining altitude to climb up and over the retaining wall. It took Brendan 2 years to master the skills needed to pull this off successfully. The follow footage was shot by Nicholas Scalabrino, who trusted Brendan with his life while filming:
“He flies the same arc that I do. When someone flies camera they are bestowing a great deal of trust. If the lead guy makes a mistake, it often in turn has fatal consequences for the person following.”
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Wingsuiting is an adrenaline-fueled extreme sport that allows humans to emulate bird-like flight. The origins of wingsuiting can be traced back to the early 20th century when aviation pioneers experimented with wearable wingsuits for parachuting purposes.
In the 1930s, a German named Clem Sohn developed an early wingsuit design, which he called the “birdman suit.” However, it was not until the 1990s that wingsuiting began to gain significant popularity as an independent extreme sport. American skydivers Patrick de Gayardon and Robert Pecnik made groundbreaking advancements in wingsuit technology and safety, contributing significantly to the sport’s growth.
Wingsuiting’s real surge came in the 21st century with increased media exposure and improvements in suit design and aerodynamics. This allowed wingsuiters to achieve longer glides and more complex maneuvers, pushing the boundaries of human flight.
While the sport’s history is relatively short, wingsuiting has captured the imagination of adventurers worldwide, offering a thrilling and awe-inspiring way to experience the sensation of human flight. However, it’s essential to note that wingsuiting is an inherently dangerous activity, and participants must undergo rigorous training and adhere to strict safety protocols to minimize risks.