Soon Red Bull came knocking and Felix became a full-time sponsored athlete. Over the following years he racked up some of the most famous and extreme BASE jumps the sport has seen.  Who can forget the photos from his amazing Christ Redentor jump in Rio?  His Tapei 101 tower exploits, where he evaded security and made his way to the rooftop? Now, Felix is working on his next big thing.

Check out the exclusive interview with Felix below.

mountainfit: So Felix, what has kept you busy for the last year?

Felix: Currently we are working on one of our biggest projects ever being launched. It is meant to have his showdown in April 2009. Within the last two years we`ve been doing a lot of research, gathering together the right team was one of the biggest difficulties we had to face during this decade. We are dependent on an extraordinary team of scientists in order to achieve our goal. It was an immense effort regarding our usual business aside like foto shootings, interviews, B.A.S.E. jumps, lectures and presentations including of course a lot of travelling- fills your time schedule.

You have done so many jumps, do you have a favourite? Oman?  Rio?

Every jump that I have done so far captured something special for itself. But still, I would say the jump from the Christ Redentor statue was one of my biggest successes. It was the turning point of my career having pictures cursing around the world with me sitting on the top of this breathtaking Work of Art. This jump has transformed me from nobody into somebody, regarding media.

Your closest brush with heaven?

I am glad to be able to say that until this point of my career I´ve never had a very close brush with heaven. Of course you can have bad luck one day but if you take your profession serious you can avoid a lot of uncomfortable situations. I ´ve always spent a lot attention to good preparation, nature and it´s volatility. I reckon the biggest secret is to be able to call a jump off if it is necessary.

Are you a full-time professional athlete? What activities pay the rent for you?

Yes, since 1997 I am a full time professional athlete. I am lucky to be able t look back on a long time relationship with Red Bull being sponsored since 1988. I was member of the HSV skydivers club that was sponsored by Red Bull at that time. I happened to be sponsored personally since 1997 which turned out as the perfect fit and made me being able to make a living from my hobby.

Besides that I am running my own company, Aerial Stunts Worldwide, selling lots of footage media like print, TV, holding speeches, selling merchandise products, etc. – pays off!

Red Bull has been a sponsor for a while now. How is that relationship going?  What other partners would you like to mention?

I would like to mention GENERALI, a European Insurance Company, for whom I am doing commercials.

And also LAND ROVER, being a premium partner since two years supporting us with cars.

What sort of training do you do, in terms of physical conditioning?

For the last couple of years I`ve been working out in the gym in order to stay in shape. Since we are working on this huge project I´ve been referring to at the beginning, I have totally changed my trainings plan. I`ve changed from more or less Hypertrophy training to cardio, doing way more Resistance and Endurance Training as well as inter- and intramuscular training. We are working on my coordination not leaving mental training aside. It is a very intense training plan but definitely needed in order to avoid problems with external influences and physically difficult conditions.

What do you think of terrain-flying? Is it an area of BASE that you are interested in or would like to explore?

At this point I have already accomplished most of my ideas according B.A.S.E. Jumping. To be honest there are not so many things that can be done in order not to repeat the realised.

Who, of your fellow jumpers do you most admire or feel are helping develop the sport?

Patrick de Gayardon. He was famous for pushing the boundaries of skydiving. He was one of the first persons to develop the unique style of skysurfing, in which skydivers use a board to make aerobic maneuvers. He also made many famous stunts with his wing-suit referred to as. In 1998 Patrick died in Hawaii during a skydive using the wing-suit, while testing a new modification to his parachute container; his death is attributed to a rigging error which was part of the new modification.

Would you like to see BASE become more popular as a sport or are you happy that it is so niche?

I think it to be better if it doesn`t grow too big. It shouldn`t become a popular sport loosing it`s uniqueness and it`s special taste of calculable risk. Already a big scene has emerged since the beginning of this sport. My concern is more about safety. There are lots of people that don´t have the necessary respect for the danger that this sport bares. If it becomes too popular the number of accident will rise which will cast a bad light on the sport and people performing it.

I hear you have a big project coming up. Can you tell me anything about it at this point? Any hints or clues?

Well as already said in the beginning, we can look back on two years of consistent research. The project is still 100% confidential not having any topic releases until autumn/winter 2008. What might be interesting is the info that the big blast is planned for April 2009.

Anything else you would like to add Felix?

Finally, I want to express how thankful I am for the possibilities that the sport brings along. It´s about the total package- the people you meet, friends, family and many other things.

Once the principle of movement added, it endorses one thing without interruption to the next.

It is more than just a sport – it´s pure passion.

To keep up with Felix, head to his website here.

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More than 80 Aussies and over 200 internationals have contested the three mountain bike disciplines: downhill, cross country and four cross, in this, the final round of the UCI World Cup.

In the 4X it looks like Jared Graves of Australia has taken the elite men’s and in the women’s, Aussie rider, Caroline Buchanann took honours. In the Olympic cross country, Ralph Naef of Switzerland took gold in the men’s, while Russian Irina Kalentieva nailed it for the women. The downhill finals will take place on Sunday.

This is the first time Stromlo has staged a world cup round and it offered the Australian stars the chance to shine at home, at the venue which also hosts next year’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in September.

Go to the official UCI home page here to find out tomorrow’s results and check the final standings on the World Cup circuit or for all the background on this round go to the official event website.

For training programs that will give you the body armour necessary to take on the perils of downhill and cross country take a look at mountainfit custom-designed programs here.  Your body will thank you for it.

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This year sees the 20th running of the event which starts in Lienz, Austria and goes a little something like this:

Leading off, the mountain-runners have to cover an 1700 meters in steep altitude track, starting in Lienz on the main-square. The track leads to the Dolomites and some very tough trail.

Reaching over 2400 metres they will hand over to the paragliders who will hotfoot it 200 metres downhill to the take off area. Taking off they will pass some of the most breath taking peaks in the Dolomites before negotiating a tricky landing. A 500 meter run sees them to the next take off station, where they will head down into the town of Leisach and hand over to the kayakers.

Tough job this, with a 1000 metre slalom course against the raging current in the river Drau. Following a short portage, they are back onto the river Isel for a quick downwater run to the final changeover.

Que the mountainbikers. The final 12 kilometres and 1300 vertical metres are done at top speed on a roller-coaster style course. Tight woodland section will see them forced to shoulder their bikes and then rocket on the down-hills and tight switchbacks. Onto open fields and alpine paths that eventually give way to asphalt and into Lienz again for the finish.

Phew! What a rush! There is money up for grabs, but as with all the best multi-sport events it is likely barely enough to cover entry, transport and partying. Oh well, lucky we don’t do it for the money. Cough!

I really do love these events for the way they reflect the different physical attributes required in all the disciplines. Get the kayaker on the run and he may struggle. Get the paraglider on the bike and the same may occur. Discounting the skill sets involved, overall mountain conditioning means you possess all the requisite physical attributes to take on any of the single events which make up the Dolomitenmann.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to jump on a bike and it some down-hill, shoulder your trusty steed and head uphill. Follow this with some trails and then in the afternoon jump in your boat? Unless you have good reason not to want to do this (eg. you compete on a single-discipline pro tour etc.) there is no excuse for not being able to!

I am not the best kayaker, by a long way not the best trail runner and seem to come off a MTB far too often. But, condition wise I am able to take on all these single events and meet with success. Why? Because my training makes me mountain fit. It gives me the ability to hit the hard, muddy trails, stop for a refuel in the pouring rain, take a fall and keep going.

I know, I know, I am pushing my own product here but so what? I believe in it and it works! Who can deny that pure hard mental and physical training does not? Hitting the gym for an hour is good. Especially if you train hard. But doing something different, mixing it up with the pain and suffering of circuits, Olympic lifting, BJJ drills, sandbags and sprints is what makes you mountain fit.

There is no secret here. Just train hard. Go beyond what you can achieve in a wonderfully air-conditioned fitness centre. I am not saying a nice training facility does not have it’s place in your routine but it will not get you all the way there. Snacking on a chocolate bar, just below the summit of Pen Y Fan in driving rain, 5 metre visibility and gale force winds with a long way home reminds you of this.

If you fancy being a Dolomitenmann then definitely check out mountainfit conditioning.

The race website is here for more info on how to get there, who’s entered and the parties!

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However, back in civilisation, doing all your conditioning prep for the “big show” is not only super easy but, you would be crazy not to get it right. Nutrition expert, Dr. John Berardi considers it, “the most important aspect of exercise nutrition”.

So, what is the answer? What do YOU pack in your kit bag for post-training re-fuel? Regardless of your training type, it has been made clear that a meal high in carbohydrates is required to feed depleted muscles. Why carbs? In a nutshell, carbs initiate a realease of insulin. This is the hormone responsible for shifting carbohydrates and amino acids into the muscle. In doing so, carbohydrate resynthesis is accelerated and protein balance becomes positive, leading to rapid repair of the muscle tissue. You must therefore, by consume a large amount of carbohydrates, to promote a large insulin release, increase glycogen storage, and thereby increase protein repair. Phew! Sounds complex eh? Luckily, there is a viable answer, available in a supermarket near you!

Here in the UK, there has been a huge marketing push in the last month (superbly timed to coincide with the Beijing Olympics) for a product called, For Goodness Shakes - a post-event nutritional shake. The manufacturers boast of 3640 elite athletes over 46 sports using the shake and are the preferred provider of nutritional products to the English Institute of Sports. Something, that in the past would not have done a much to convince me of it’s worth, but the last week of the Olympics has seen the Brits shake things up a bit.

Straight-up I was skeptical and not just thanks to the naff name! How can something sold in a supermarket, alongside Lucozade, Ribena and other flavoured milk drinks be any good? Well, I was pleasantly surprised.

The company was founded by cyclist, Stuart Jeffreys after becoming a little sick and tired of mixing up endless potions and powders following training rides. Interestingly, he chose to target the big supermarkets instead of sports supplement retailers. Good move. Instead of distributing to a few hundred small shops he now supplies all the big stores. It seems the shake has become popular both as a serious tool for athletes and those who just love their shakes anytime of the day. Hence, my initial apprehension.

Checking out the shake’s nutritional breakdown is not surprising or revolutionary. What makes the shake worthy of a chance, in my opinion, is the combination of it’s availability (eg. pretty much any supermarket you walk in to) and it’s nutritional make-up, which is not too bad.

For Goodness Shakes Choc-Malt breaks down as follows per 500g:

Energy (kcal) - 353.4

Protein (g) - 16.7

Carbs (g) - 59.1

- of which sugars (g) - 55.1

Fat (g) - 8.2

- of which saturates (g) - 5.1

Like I said, not bad, but…could be better. Research has shown that post-event carbohydrate ingestion of 0.8 to 1.2 grams per 1 kilogram of body weight maximizes glycogen synthesis and accelerates protein repair. The upper end of this range is pushing things unless you’ve had a hella long and intense workout, so 0.8g of carbs per kilogram of bodyweight is better suited. For me personally, the amount of carbs supplied in 500g of the shake (1 bottle) are just about right.

It does lack a little in the addition of protein to the mix. Don’t get me wrong, it’s there, just not enough. Anywhere from 0.2g - 0.4g of protein per 1 kilogram of body weight is what you’re after. As opposed to shooting for the lower carb ingestion above, you should try and reach for the upper end of the protein range to maximise muscle rebuild.

Another requisite for a good post-exercise shake is no fat. Unfortunately, a bottle of For Goodness Shakes contains 8.2g, of which 5.1g are saturated. Not great. You should be aware, that essential fats at other times as part of your nutritional intake are much needed. However, in the post-exercise period, you do not want them! Ingesting fats actually slows down digestion, meaning that your desire to promote rapid delivery of carbs and protein to your muscles is thwarted.

That said, I reckon For Goodness Shakes is worth a look at. Best grab one before your workout so you can get it in during that all important post-exercise window. If you’re not getting this right, you are putting yourself through hell for limited returns.

To get the full story (from the blokes that sell the shake, so keep it in perspective!) go to the website here. You can even score a free bottle to test it out for yourself.  For Goodness Shakes are running a special promotion where you can redeem a voucher at a few of the major supermarkets.  To grab one please go here.  I really recommend you do!

For more info on post-event or post-workout nutrition you need only listen to the good word of Dr. John Berardi.

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Billabong.com/za - Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker rode what he says was the biggest wave he has ever ridden in Cape Town on Saturday when he and fellow Billabong team rider Greg Long towed each other into waves estimated to be over 70 foot (22 metres) in height.

The 35 year-old from Umhlanga, near Durban, and Long, 25, from San Clemente, California, started the day towing into waves at Dungeons, the notorious open ocean reef outside Hout Bay where Baker won the 10th anniversary edition of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa paddle-in event two weeks ago.

It’s a big call from Baker, but he does have the credentials to back it up. Grant is well respected on the ASP World Tour as well as having the balls to take on the biggest waves in the world. By all reports a top bloke as well.

To read the rest of the story you can head over to The Adventurist where Jason has reported more on this awesome ride.

At the Billabong South Africa site you can read up a bit more about Twiggy as well as exploring their totally sick website.

To find out how you can get fit for surfing paddle over to mountainfit conditioning. With a custom-designed program from mountainfit you’ll be taking on Dungeon’s in no time!

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Sure, you can quickly replace spent fuel after climbing, MTBing, trekking or paddling with the above mentioned, but it’s what you eat and drink the rest of the time that really affects your outdoor athletic performance. JB really knows what he is talking about.

Just a note on personal preference. I will pretty much eat anything (I don’t mean sweets etc., just anything - sprouts, brown rice, anything) but on my expedition down the Amazon I had one too many run-ins with Quinoa. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a brilliant food and I am getting close to giving it another chance. But, in the Andes of Peru and on the river in Brasil (see photo above), with limited choice and for that matter flavouring, raw Quinoa, day after day started to loose it’s appeal in a big way.

If you cannot source JB’s recommended supplement brands below, may I suggest Body Science products. I use and wholeheartedly trust BSc products. To check them out go here. Otherwise, do some digging and find a reputable brand. Quick tip - more than half the supplement brands you will find online or in the store are worthless! Trust me, I have been there.

What’s In My Kitchen Part 2: The Cupboards
by Dr John M Berardi, CSCS

If you’ve read my theoretical nutrition articles you’ve likely familiarized yourself with the macronutrients, when they should be eaten, etc. However, it’s easy to talk the nutritional talk — the question is, do you walk the nutritional walk?

By offering you a glimpse at the contents of my kitchen, I hope to give you the opportunity to check your own practical nutrition habits against my own, and see how nutrition theory is put into practice. So let’s go through a tour of my cupboard, covering both pantry items and supplements. By the end of this article, you should see that good nutrition practice involves limits and discipline, but not the austerity that most people assume it does.

Pantry Items:

Rolled Oats
Quantity: 3 lb. bag

Mixed Nuts
Quantity: 2 lb. bag

Mixed Beans
Quantity: 1 lb. bag

Dried Fruit Mix (no added sugar)
Quantity: 1 lb. bag

Legumes
Quantity: 2 x 2 lb. bags (1 bag lentils, 1 bag mixed beans)

Quinoa
Quantity: 1lb. bags

Whole Wheat Pasta
Quantity: 2 x 2 lb. bags

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Quantity: 1 bottle

Canned Tomatoes
Quantity: 3 cans

Canned Beans
Quantity: 3 cans

Flax Seeds
Quantity: ½ lb bag

Miscellaneous Grains
Including oat bran, wheat bran, oat flour

Green Tea
Quantity: 2 boxes of 20 packets each

Spices
Salt, pepper, fresh garlic, basil, oregano, chili powder, onion powder, and cinnamon are a good start. Seasoning mixes are also handy and take the guesswork out of flavoring. For example, right now I have Italian, Indian, Mexican, and Thai mixes in my cupboard.

*Note: the pantry is where the average kitchen goes horribly awry. Cookies, crackers, potato chips, baking supplies, and other hydrogenated and over-sweetened junk, all perched high above on a shelf, ready to snipe away at your hard-earned health and body composition.

If this is your kitchen, carefully position a large trash receptacle directly beneath said shelf. With a smooth sweeping motion, use your forearm to plow these enemies into the abyss below.

The items above are most likely the only ones you need since most of your nutrition should be coming from fresh, perishable foods – those listed in my previously published article discussing what’s in my fridge.

Supplements

Biotest Metabolic Drive (Protein Supplement)
Quantity: 2 x 2lb. containers

Biotest Surge Post-Workout Drink (Workout Drink)
Quantity: 2 x 1lb. containers

Prolab Creatine (Basic Creatine)
Quantity: 1 300g container

Concentrated Enteric-Coated Fish Oil (Fish Oil)
Quantity: 3 x 50 capsule bottles

Genuine Health Greens+ (Green Food Supplement)
Quantity: 1 x 2lb. container

Biotest ZMA (Zinc-Magnesium)
Quantity: 1 90 capsule bottle

*Supplementation should be determined by your training goals and your resources, both time and money. Other than your post-workout drinks, fish oil caps, the occasional scoop of protein or a MRP, and perhaps some necessary micronutrients, no supplement should be taken year-round. And while it should go without saying that supplements should supplement and not replace a solid training and nutrition program, this is one of the most common mistakes I see, even in intermediate trainees. This is an example of my list based on my goals.

In the end, if you wish to expedite the process of reaching your goals, you’ll do the following:

Perform an inventory of all the food in your house, excluding nothing. Everything goes on the list, even if you didn’t buy it and don’t intend to eat it. If it’s in the house, either you, someone you love, or someone you marginally tolerate will eventually eat it, so everything is fair game.

Compare your list to mine (both the items on this list and the items in my fridge article).

See how close you’ve come. If you’re close (on both the items to have and the items not to have), keep up the great work. If not, round up all the offending grub, and give it a warm send off as it pulls away in the back of a garbage truck.

For those who think it would be more charitable to drop it all off at a food bank, I have news for you: the poor don’t want your mother’s half-empty box of Ho-Ho’s either. If you really want to help, make a donation, drop off some good food, or volunteer your time.

Populate your kitchen with the foods above, and you will have built the foundation for nutritional success.

SEE ALSO:
For more great training and nutrition wisdom, check out Berardi’s complete system, Precision Nutrition. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want — guaranteed.

And what’s more, your online access allows you to talk exercise and nutrition 24/7 with thousands of fellow members and the Precision Nutrition coaches. Find out more about Precision Nutrition.


I’ll say it again. This system is where it’s at for no-nonsense nutritional strategy. It is able to be applied to the real-world. Your world. Whether you just want to get in shape or have a specific event in mind, Precision Nutrition is for you.

Of course, if you are reading this article from the Olympic village in Beijing or are gearing up for the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, then chances are, you already have it!

Order Precision Nutrition now and get $50 off!

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In the performance nutrition world, Dr. John M Berardi is the equivalent of Christiano Ronaldo. No, he does not get paid a hundred thousand quid a week or complain that he is a modern day slave. He is simply the best at what he does. For JB, that means nutrition.

I have long followed Berardi’s nutritional advice and it has formed a solid foundation for my own lifestyle as well as those that I have taught. Nutrition for the outdoor and adventure lifestyle is not just important, it can mean the difference between life and death. The proper nutrition in training and away from the mountain gives you an edge over competitors and shields you as much as possible from the unpredictable nature of the outdoors.

Check out the article by John below for an insight into what you could and should have in your own fridge. If the measurements or product names are not familiar simply substitute them for your country equivalent. Stick around for Part 2 to go up shortly.

What’s In My Kitchen Part 1: The Fridge by Dr John M Berardi, CSCS

Long ago, when I first began to pay serious attention to my training and nutrition, I learned of a general principle that has served me well and has since become the cornerstone of my body composition success.

If a food is in your possession or located in your residence, you will eventually eat it.

Simply put, if you wish to be healthy and lean, you must remove all foods not conducive to those goals from said residence and replace them with a variety of better, healthier choices.

If you know someone whose house is stocked only with optimal food choices and yet who is not healthy and lean, look under his bed.

The bottom line is that you must stock your house with all the ammo you need to fight the battle of the bulge. My body fat ranges from about 5% to about 8% throughout the year (without the use of thermogenics/fat burners) and the only way I’m able to maintain that level of leanness is by removing all temptation from my home, where I spend most of my time.

For years I’ve advised my clients and athletes to do the same. Now I bring the message to you. Your willpower and discipline will be tested enough at social events, at lunch meetings, and as you pass the six Krispy Kreme locations on the commute home from work. If you’re to have any chance of success, you need a safe home base. With that in mind, I’m going to give you a peak into my armory . . . er, kitchen.

In this week’s installment, I’ll open my stainless steel fridge to show you what and what not to stock. In doing so I hope to demonstrate that there are plenty of options available to the trainee interested in optimal health and body composition. Of course, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list in any way; rather, it’s a snapshot of the actual contents of my favorite appliance, and as such should serve as a practical example of the nutrition theory I expound elsewhere on my site.

Meat, Poultry and Fish

Extra Lean Ground Sirloin
Quantity: 3 x 1lb packages

Boneless Chicken Breasts
Quantity: 2 x 1lb packages

Mild Turkey Sausage
Quantity: 2 x 500g packages

Ostrich
Quantity: 2 lbs

Bison (Buffalo)
Quantity: 2 lbs

Elk
Quantity: 2 lbs

Salmon
Quantity: 2 large filets

Eggs

Omega-3 Eggs
Quantity: 2 dozen

Egg Whites
Quantity: 12 x 250mL cartons

Cheese

Aged White Cheddar
Quantity: 4-8 oz.

Baby Swiss
Quantity: 4-8 oz.

Havarti
Quantity: 4-8 oz.

Parmiggiano-Reggiano (Parmesan)
Quantity: 4-8 oz.

Feta Cheese
Quantity: 4-8 oz.

Fruit

Apples
Quantity: 12

Tangerines
Quantity: 6

Red Grapes
Quantity: Large bunch

Pineapple
Quantity: 2 cut and cored fresh pineapples

Strawberries
Quantity: 2 cartons

Blueberries
Quantity: 2 cartons

Vegetables

Spinach
Quantity: 4 bags, 6oz. each

Red, Yellow, and Green Peppers
Quantity: 8

Cucumbers
Quantity: 2

Tomatoes
Quantity: 2

Baby Carrots
Quantity: 2 large bags, 2lbs each

Sauces and Condiments

Pesto
Quantity: 3 jars, one of each flavor

Peanut Satay Sauce
Quantity: 1 bottle

Curry Sauce
Quantity: 1 bottle

Tomato Pasta Sauce
Quantity: 2 large jars

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Quantity: 1 bottle

Raspberry Vinegar
Quantity: 1 bottle

Red Wine Vinegar
Quantity: 1 bottle

Balsamic Vinegar
Quantity: 1 bottle

Flax Oil
Quantity: 1 bottle

Garlic-Chili Flax Oil
Quantity: 1 bottle

Beverages

Water
Quantity: 1 large Brita filtered jug

So, what isn’t in my fridge?

Soft drinks, fruit juices and milk
High fat and sugar salad dressings and other condiments
Processed breads
Highly processed, pre-packaged foods
Rotting leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner

Of course, there are other things that don’t make it into my fridge. But rather than enumerate what not to eat, it’s better to discuss what we should be eating.

In the end, this short article isn’t designed to share the whys – just the whats – as in what it takes to build a great body. I can say with confidence that if your fridge doesn’t contain many or most of the things I have in mine, or if it contains many things that mine doesn’t, you’ll have a difficult time maintaining a lean and healthy body. If it contains none of what I have in mine, tip your fridge over, dump the contents and begin anew.

SEE ALSO:
For more great training and nutrition wisdom, check out Berardi’s complete system, Precision Nutrition. Containing system manuals, gourmet cookbook, digital audio/video library, online membership, and more, Precision Nutrition will teach you everything you need to know to get the body you want — guaranteed.

I have the Precision Nutrition system and swear by it. It is simple and easy to follow. Best of all the recipes taste bloody good! You will not find a more realistic and achievable nutritional program anywhere. If you are serious about your health and fitness goals or sporting performance, Precision Nutrition is the only choice.

And what’s more, your online access allows you to talk exercise and nutrition 24/7 with thousands of fellow members and the Precision Nutrition coaches. Find out more about Precision Nutrition.

Order Precision Nutrition now and get $50 off!

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In that vein, my absence over the last week or so was due to escaping big ol’ London town and heading 4 hours south to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands off Africa. The Canary Islands are a group of islands that are a part of Spain. Most commonly thought of (and rightfully so from what I saw) as package tourist central for Brit, German and Spanish families. Hotels dot the coast (on most islands) along with “Genuine” English pubs showing the latest Big Brother and East Enders! Certainly a stoke killer!

The redeeming feature of the Canarys are it’s awesome kiting and surfing. Fuerteventura is recognised as one of the leading kiting centres in the world. For 5 days last week I got to check it out.

We headed over with Extreme Holidays for a week of all inclusive kiting and the weather did not disappoint! Our first day on the water was at a beach called Collito. A popular beach for both kiting and in winter, surfing. Unfortunately, the wind was charging just off the charts! Pushing over 30 knots at times. Just a little too much for our skill level, so after getting the kites up in the air, it was decided to call it a day. Chilling on the beach with a cool drink was not a bad consolation prize.

Over the next few days we managed a few good runs but it was a tough road back to find any of the sort of form that we had developed almost a year previous in Tunisia. A good reminder of the need that you must stay on the water to keep improving. Trying everything from 9m to 12m to combat the gusty winds just got us through.

While on the island up North, in the South a PKRA World Cup event took place. It would have been great to drive down and check it out, but can you believe, we did not bring our driver’s license! So, no car hire. I consoled myself by getting in a great surf on a little point break past Flag Beach. It’s like a total rehab for you soul. Just sitting out the back on a board puts a smile on my face, let alone getting some nice little waves.

I would definitely recommend Fuerteventura as a kite and surf destination. Nowhere near as developed as some of the other islands in the group. Massive stretches of pristine beach with clean breaks, others with top wind and small numbers on the water. The usual animosity between windsurfers and kiters is evident but not so bad.

Plenty of kite schools and gear shops mean you can turn up with a pair of boardies and a rashie and you’re away. If you bring your own kit, you really ought to get a car and hunt down the best wind or waves. The roads are smooth and straight, just keep your foot off the pedal as there are plenty of police about ready to pounce.

All sorts of accommodation abounds. Everything from budget self-catering (watch the cockroaches and live electrical wires!) to 5-star resorts. Plenty of places to eat, catering for picky tourists who might as well have stayed at home apart from getting some much needed sun on their pasty skin, as well as those a bit more open to new ideas.

The trick for us now is to actually get on the water and a kite in the air in the next few weeks or so. Otherwise all the time spent just getting back up to previous skills levels will be for nought!

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The reason? The new photography exhibition - Portraits of Adventure. Now, I headed to this exhibition with high hopes thanks to the lead photo on promotional material being Kingsley Holgate.

I was underwhelmed to say the least!

It started well. An amazing photo of the RGS 150th Anniversary Expedition to Northern Pakistan. There was the obligatory Ran Fiennes portrait. Even a bloke named Chris Richards who walked around Australia’s harsh interior with himself and 4 camels for company. Then it happened.

First it was that lovely old lady, the Queen, smiling out from a Land Rover. Ok. Next it was the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher showing a lot of leg getting into, you guessed it, a Land Rover. I was beginning to have my doubts. Then there was a Tintin print. If anyone epitomises adventure, then this young reporter does. Back on track. But then they lost me forever. A paparazzi shot of David Beckham driving away in, can you believe it…a Range Rover. WTF?

I am sorry. I appreciate adventure encompasses many spheres. I dug the shot of Winston Churchill (in front of a Land Rover!) and even got my head around the 10 metre high portrait of Claire Bertschinger (she became known world over during a BBC report of the 1984 Ethiopian famine as a young nurse having to play god and decide which children would receive food). But, come on, Outkast? Jonsi Birgisson from the Icelandic band Sigur Ros? It’s a definite no!

What is going on here? By what stretch of anyone’s definition can Beckham, Outkast, the Queen etc be considered to encapsulate the spirit of adventure? Then it all clicked. Every photo followed a common theme. Each photo either prominently displayed or had reference to…Land Rover! You are kidding right?

The whole exhibition to me was a disappointment. There were shining lights, including Bindi Irwin (yes, a stretch I know but her old man was adventure all over), Wong How Man, the Chinese explorer/adventurer and Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. But, these were overshadowed by the likes of Beckham et al.

The display was put on by can you believe, Land Rover? Land Rover provides support to the RGS through funding some of it’s grants as well a fronting up with some really nice 4WDs. I guess this is what they get in return, a marketing campaign disguised as a photographic exhibition. I do understand the position the RGS is in. They must make certain concessions in order to continue doing the great work they do.

I will admit, I am a bit of a snob when it comes to defining adventure, but I do keep my mind open to all interpretations of it. Whether that is a weekend in Wales or a first ascent in the Karakorum. The Portraits of Adventure photographic exhibition tries hard, but falls well short of the mark I am afraid.

Definitely check it out if you are in the area. As I mentioned there are some standouts. Particularly the 10-metre high portraits outside and the green area where you can chill out in the RGS grounds. To think, this is where some of the world’s greatest explorers lectured and came to chill out themselves.

Check out the RGS website at www.rgs.org.

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Dungeons saw the arrival of a whole bunch of the best in big wave surfers, along with clean 15-20 foot sets to help celebrate 10 years of BWA. The final saw RSA surfer Grant “Twiggy” Baker take top honours with the rest of the pack lined up as follows - Carlos Burle (BRZ) second, Greg Long (USA) third, James Taylor (RSA) fourth, Anthony Tashnick (USA) fifth and Mark Healy (HI) in sixth.

Baker dominated the 30 min final and humble as ever put his win down to luck with the winning waves coming his way.

Several riders were injured throughout the event, most notably - Jason Ribbink (concussion), Mike Schlebach (dislocated shoulder), and Charles Reitz (broken ribs). Check out the photos and footage and you will see why these guys are no doubt happy to walk away from any wipeout at Dungeons alive!

Go to the event site here to check out more photos and videos of the event.

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