XRedRocks & XLost Idaho · 2026 · Sponsored by Niviuk
Advanced Hike & Fly Workshop
Join elite hike-and-fly pilot and Cloudbase Mayhem host Gavin McClurg and trainer Ben Abruzzo for an intensive two-day hike and fly training program designed to sharpen your flying judgment, expand your race awareness, and refine your tactical decision-making — set in two of North America’s premier flying arenas.
Your Instructors
Gavin McClurg
Lead Instructor · Flying Strategy & Tactics
Host of the Cloudbase Mayhem podcast and author of Advanced Paragliding. A 4× X-Alps competitor, Gavin brings 22+ years of elite XC and hike-and-fly experience — including four Red Bull X-Alps campaigns and countless hours flying the world’s most technical mountain terrain — distilled into the curriculum for this workshop.
Ben Abruzzo
Special Guest · Fitness, Durability & Race Prep
Gavin’s longtime trainer and mountain athlete coach. Competed in X-Pyr 2024. Ben has trained mountain athletes for over two decades and leads modules on pilot-specific fitness, durability, and physical recovery strategy for race performance.
Special Guests TBA
Elite Athletes & Experts
Each workshop will feature additional special guests from the elite hike-and-fly world — athletes, coaches, and experts selected to complement the real-world conditions we encounter. Details announced closer to each event date.
📷 Ben Horton
Support & Photographer
National Geographic Explorer, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photographer, and official Niviuk US photographer. Ben will capture select workshop moments — participants receive a gallery of editorial-quality images when coverage allows. *Coverage varies by conditions.
Dates & Locations
Note: As these workshops run immediately before each race, there are no demanding physical activities. You will be in taper mode. All training sessions are designed not to impinge on your sleep or rest before race day.
9 Core Modules
MODULE 01
Risk, Reward & Decision Frameworks
Go/no-go decision trees, margin awareness, and cognitive bias recognition.
MODULE 02
Launch Tactics for Real Terrain
Side-hill and crosswind setups, angled layouts, safe aborts and restarts.
MODULE 03
Thermal Mapping & Energy Awareness
Read terrain, sunlight, and airflow to predict lift before you feel it.
MODULE 04
Gaggle & Buddy Flying
Use other pilots as information sources — teamwork without herd behavior.
MODULE 05
Descent, Glide & Landing Control
Big ears, spirals, glide estimation, and approach pattern discipline.
MODULE 06
Glass-Off & Late-Day Flying
Safely exploit evening lift and convergence cycles in mountain terrain.
MODULE 07
Strong Wind Confidence
Wing-kill methods, ground-handling nuance for high-wind launches.
MODULE 08
Hike-and-Fly Fundamentals
Ground navigation, packing and unpacking efficiently, apps and maps, micro-route practice, terrain decisions.
MODULE 09
The Mental Game
Recognize fear vs. intuition, pre-launch visualization, journaling for progression.
Who It’s For
Ideal Participants
- P3 to expert pilots (≈100–2,000+ hours)
- Pilots comfortable with thermaling and ridge soaring
- Those preparing for XRedRocks, XLost, or X-Alps
- Pilots seeking deeper consistency in mountain flying
What’s Included
- Printed workshop manual + worksheets
- Niviuk demo wings available on-site
- Curated Cloudbase Mayhem podcast list
- Professional photo gallery by Ben Horton*
- Field debriefs with Gavin & Ben
This Is NOT
- An SIV course — no stalls, spins, or spirals
- An acro or maneuver training
- A beginner flight school
- A physical endurance challenge (you’re in taper!)
A note on curriculum philosophy: This is not a flight school — it’s a refinement lab for pilots ready to evolve. No acro, no SIV — just honest, advanced flying education built on Gavin’s book Advanced Paragliding, his X-Alps campaigns, and hundreds of Cloudbase Mayhem episodes. The focus is entirely on real-world flying skills, risk assessment, and smart decision-making.
Ready to Evolve Your Flying?
Limited spots available · Early Sign-Up: $1,000 per session · Idaho & Utah 2026
