Leading Edge

Most acro pilots live for the free round. Joe Lohmuller. Moab Joe would happily skip it. The reigning US National Wingsuit Acro Champion (2026) says compulsories are the part he loves: fifteen set moves, a washing machine of docks, and no artistic decisions to make. "Just tell me what to do. All right, do this, got it, done." With 7,000 skydives, 1,000 BASE jumps and eleven years in the sport, he's also a rigger, AFF and IAD instructor, and PRO-rated and he's been training every day since 1st September 2025 to go back to back. In this episode of Leading Edge, Joe breaks down what wingsuit acro actually is, why he thinks it's the most precise form of wingsuit flying there is, how he found his way to Nationals after losing his original partner, and what competition teaches that fun jumping never will: a number, a baseline, and somewhere to go from it. He talks about switching from performer to camera flyer, coaching the teams he's competing against, recovering from mistakes in the air, and where the discipline might head next. The takeaway: "We don't rise to an occasion. We default to our lowest level of training."

Most pilots think a good start is measured by where you cross the 45-degree line. JJ Bruno thinks that number arrives about eight seconds too late. A wingsuit BASE jumper since 2018 and a software engineer by trade, JJ has spent this summer jumping by day and coding by night, building ExitEval — an app for evaluating exits, laser profiles and FlySight tracks in the field, and reviving the exit map the community lost when BASE Beta went offline. In this episode of Leading Edge, JJ explains why the cross-one-to-one is a lagging metric for modern suits, the earlier numbers he watches instead (first one-to-one and the "40X"), what energy management actually looks like on a FlySight time chart, and the biggest mistake he sees pilots make when reading their own data: ignoring conditions. We also get into cherry-picked tracks, the "worst starts" he keeps on his phone as a benchmark, preserving tribal knowledge in a more fragmented sport, and where to draw the line on documenting sensitive exits. The takeaway: "I kinda use the data to help push me in the right direction, but it doesn't always have the final say."

Sam Laming has been coaching wingsuiting since 2012, across drop zones on several continents. Ask him what makes a scene thrive and he barely mentions the flying, he talks about what happens between the jumps, and about the fact that the jump itself is closer to a cherry on top than the main event. In this episode of Leading Edge, Sam gets into why a coach's mood is quietly contagious and what that means for the people you're taking up; how the intermediate-suit flock has all but disappeared, and what we lost with it; how being mentored by Jarno handed him coaching on a plate, and why he now wants to coach coaches; and the tree strike in a Vampire 3 that scared him badly enough to redirect his entire approach to flying. Less about how to fly, more about who you become while you're learning to.

Patrick Kramer won the wingsuit acro world championship, drove away from the competition and thought: now what? Twenty years in the sport from an engineering office in Switzerland to full-time skydive instructor, wingsuit tunnel coach and world champion and the win itself felt like just another day of doing what he loves. That, he says, is the point. In this episode of Leading Edge, Patrick talks about the moment his hobby stopped being enough, what he underestimated about turning skydiving into a job, and why "there's no non-competitor in a competitive environment." We get into his radical reset, leaving it all to train Shaolin in China, eight months of being sore every day, coming back to teach at the new wingsuit tunnel in Slovenia, his idea for a three-way acro discipline that doesn't exist yet, and how keeping the next discipline in the back of your mind is what keeps twenty years in the sport from burning you out. The takeaway: romanticise things less, stay a student, and never look back saying you should have.

Tim Howell was never any good at maths at school. Now trigonometry saves his life on expedition. Ex-Royal Marine, 1,400 jumps across 60 countries, first wingsuit BASE descents in Vietnam, Kenya, Angola and the UK and a 6,000-metre exit from Aconcagua. In this episode of Leading Edge, Tim breaks down what opening a new line actually involves finding a cliff in a single photograph, sizing it against a cyclist on Google Street View, and running the start arcs, pull heights and glide ratios long before it's worth stepping out the door. We get into why the landing can be the real mission, what thin air does to a flight at 6,000 metres, and why, after six weeks of travelling and climbing, he still turned around on Lhotse twice. His takeaway: know your own ability, because "if there's any doubt, there's no doubt."

With over 37,000 skydives behind him, Pete Allum still calls himself a beginner and that's the whole point. For Pete, flying well was never about chasing bigger suits or rushing to the next milestone. It's about mastering the fundamentals and never letting experience get in the way of learning. In this episode of Leading Edge, Pete makes the case for canopy flight as wingsuiting's most overlooked skill, and explains why becoming a beginner again might be the most valuable thing any pilot can do. We get into first principles, honest fear, the discipline of slowing down, and what it takes to keep flying well across five decades in the sport.

For Devin “Mudcat” Kelly , wingsuiting isn’t about chasing adrenaline, it’s about pursuing a meaningful life. In this episode of Leading Edge , Devin challenges the stereotype of the reckless daredevil and explores the deeper questions that flight forces us to confront. We discuss mortality, community, risk, personal growth, and how committing to a path that feels true to yourself can shape everything that follows.

For Alexey Galda , performance flying is more than speed, distance, or time, it’s a quest to understand what’s truly possible. In this episode of Leading Edge , Alexey shares how physics, data, and relentless experimentation have shaped his journey from paraglider pilot to world-class wingsuit competitor and innovator. We explore performance training, wingtip development, in-flight technology, and why breaking complex problems into simple, measurable parts is the key to long-term progress.

For Andy Ford , wingsuiting isn’t just about the flight, it’s about how we see it. In this episode of Leading Edge , Andy shares lessons from 35 years in the sky and 25 years filming wingsuits around the world. We explore the craft behind aerial storytelling, why smooth flying matters more than aggressive movement, and how patience, awareness, and mastering the fundamentals shape both great pilots and great camera flyers.

For Alex Knaub , wingsuit flying starts with one thing, how you move your body. In this episode of Leading Edge , Alex breaks down the fundamentals of body awareness, from understanding subtle inputs to building real control in the air. We explore why most pilots misunderstand movement, how to train better without the tunnel, and why mastering your body, not just your suit is the key to progression.

For Sam Hardy , terrain flying isn’t about getting close, it’s about understanding. In this episode of Leading Edge , Sam breaks down how he turned terrain flying into a system, from analysing glide ratios to building repeatable lines through the mountains. We explore decision-making, energy management, and why slowing down, seeking mentorship, and flying with intent are what truly keep pilots progressing long term.

For Peter Salzmann , wingsuiting isn’t just about flying, it’s about reinventing it. In this episode of Leading Edge , Peter shares his journey from athlete to innovator, developing electric thrust systems and wingsuit foils to push the boundaries of human flight. We explore the mindset behind innovation, balancing vision with risk, and why progress comes from questioning what’s possible, and having the courage to build it.

For Luke Rogers , wingsuit performance isn’t guesswork, it’s engineered. In this episode of Leading Edge , Luke shares how discipline, data, and structured training shape elite performance flying. From analysing every jump to building systems for consistency, we explore why “practice makes permanent,” how to turn data into action, and what it really takes to stay calm and perform when it matters most.

For Arvid Endler , progression in wingsuiting comes from experimentation. In this episode of Leading Edge , Arvid shares how the wingsuit tunnel became a laboratory for understanding flight, from discovering subtle body inputs to intentionally pushing to the edge of control to learn what really happens in the air. We explore tunnel-driven learning, the mechanics of movement, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools a wingsuit pilot can have.

For Dan Darby , real progression in wingsuiting isn’t about jump numbers or bigger suits, it’s about foundations. In this episode of Leading Edge , Dan challenges common beliefs around flaring, suit upsizing, and readiness. We explore why mindset matters more than numbers, how honest self-reflection shapes better pilots, and why widening awareness, not chasing size is what truly builds long-term skill in flight.

For Espen Fadnes , risk isn’t about adrenaline, it’s about uncertainty. In this episode of Leading Edge , Espen breaks down his philosophy on preparation, planning, and personal responsibility in wingsuiting. From competition and high-stakes filming to walking away from perfect conditions, he explains why true freedom in flight comes from reducing uncertainty, respecting risk, and treating preparation as the ultimate safety system.

In this episode of Leading Edge , Fiona shares her journey from engineering and academia to becoming a senior flight master in the wingsuit tunnel. We explore daily discipline, tunnel-driven progression, breaking barriers as a female coach, and why slowing down, staying intentional, and trusting your passion can shape an extraordinary life in flight.

For Tomic Kluzniak , wingsuit progression isn’t about jump numbers or timelines it’s about skill, repetition, and patience. In this episode of Leading Edge , Tomic shares his philosophy on earning freedom in flight, the four quadrants of a complete wingsuit pilot, and why true progression comes from slowing down, not rushing ahead.

Welcome to Leading Edge , the podcast about human flight. Join Jack Peploe as he explores the people and ideas pushing the boundaries of wingsuiting, from the pioneers and coaches to the dreamers shaping the future of the sky, all sharing what it really means to live life on the leading edge.