Cody TUTTLE
Team adventure
Cody Tuttle is a documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Owens Valley, California. He fell in love with paragliding flight at the beginning of 2015 after a photo shoot that led him to his first tandem flight in the mountains. Dreaming of the possibilities offered by the free flight, Cody quickly began his apprenticeship as a pilot. His work as a filmmaker has brought him to some of the most remote and beautiful places in the world, perfect for exploration through the sky. After learning the basics, he was tutored by some of the world's best paraglider pilots. This mentorship was the catalyst for what was to happen. As he approached his fifth year in the business, Cody saw what was possible as well as the deadly dangers. He has developed a deep respect for the mountains, the sky and the process necessary for a safe progression in sport. His dream is to carry out large flight-bivouacs in the great remote areas of the world.
To fly over the mountains, one has the habit of looking exclusively upwards.
How long have you been flying?
I started flying in 2015 after being introduced to this sport by photography. I lived in the Valley of Owens Valley in California as a climber and skier. I had no idea that my backyard was one of the most extreme flying sites in the world.
Your harness
I fly with the Kanibal Race 2 as my main harness . The comfort and stability are exactly what I was looking for to spend a summer flying XC in the Owens.
I use the Kolibri for bivouacking and traveling thanks to its compact and lightweight design. I love the separate leg geometry of the Kolibri; it feels different from a hammock, and even after long flights of more than 6 hours, you still feel good, not to mention the large amount of storage space, which makes it the harness for fly-bivouac adventures.
Kruyer II for my hiking and mountaineering flights.
Why Kortel Design?
Kortel design proved to be an excellent choice for me and for my equipment. Their attention to detail and functionality is incredible. The harnesses are well thought out and designed to be both comfortable and competitive.
Your best flight?
It's hard to pick a single memorable flight. Every moment in the mountains has the opportunity to change your life if you do not imagine the ways you could do it. My first trip to Bir India had a huge impact on me. It was my first flight-bivouac expedition and it really opened my mind to what was possible with a paraglider. I loaded my Kolibri with all my camping gear and I went to the Himalayas with my friends. We had no idea what we were getting into, except it would be a great adventure that we would never forget.
Any plans?
I have a few long-term projects that I would like to achieve over the next few years. One of them would be to fly over the Himalayan chain in the purest style of flight-bivouac.... But until we try, it's just a dream.
