Gavin Mc CLURG
Team adventure
Gavin McClurg is no stranger to adventure and exploration. He is one of National Geographic's "Adventurer of the Year" in 2015 for his paragliding expedition without motor across the Canadian Rockies. He became the first person to travel the entire Alaskan mountain range on foot and by paragliding (unassisted) in 2016. He is the owner, founder and captain of "Offshore Odysseys", a worldwide kitesurfing, surfing and sailing expedition. He has sailed around the world twice, living at sea for 13 consecutive years, including on short-handed transats with the passage of the two famous capes (Horn and Good Hope). Gavin holds the current North American cross-country record, with a 387km flight in Montana from his hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho. Gavin became the first American to finish the "world's toughest adventure race", the Red Bull X-Alps in 2015 and competed again in 2017 and 2019.
How long have you been flying?
I started flying in 2006, but at the time we were travelling around the world for a kitesurfing trip, I didn't really have the opportunity to fly, except for short periods when I could get off the boat and go to the Alps, the Himalayas and elsewhere for short quick trips. At the end of 2011, after a second round-the-world trip, I settled in Sun Valley Idaho to enjoy flying in the mountains full time.
Your harness?
For travel and bivouac flying, I fly the Kolibri. For competition, the Kanibal Race 2. For walking training and ultralight flying: Kruyer II.
Why Kortel Design?
The most important equipment for long flights is the harness. An uncomfortable or poorly designed harness means that flights are cut short. I fly with Kortel because their harnesses are the best on the market. My expeditions tend to be incredibly physical - the Kolibri is literally a perfect flight-bivouac harness. Super lightweight, Cadillac comfort, and just enough space for a kit of several days in the remote mountains. For competitions, I want the best, and it's clearly the Kanibal Race II.
Your best flight?
Fly over Mount Hunter, Foraker and Denali in Alaska in 2016 during the "North of Known" project, after dreaming and planning this expedition for 6 years. It was only 90 km long, but it had taken so much work to get there, and the probability of reaching the end was so low, that it was like flying in a dream.
Any plans?
A lot...