With countless Australian titles and world records already to his name, the only thing that drives Jon now is bettering his previous personal bests and smashing his rivals’ records in the process.
Chris Sutton interviews Jon Durand ahead of the release of his episode for Red Bull’s series 2 of FOCUS, premiering February 20th exclusively on Red Bull TV.
You’ve performed some world record breaking glides in recent times. Which one stands out as the most challenging to complete?
There are a few world records that stand out for me. The flight where I broke the world record by flying 760kms was an achievement I had been attempting for a very long time. Unfortunately, since then a friend of mine landed just a little further than me and currently holds the new world record. The two world records I achieved last year in the great Australian Bite were quite challenging and scary. These two flights where I got to fly at speeds of over 100kph for hundreds of kilometers along some of the most breath taking coastline will always stand out in my memory.
How do you feel minutes before a world record attempt? Is there a ritual you go through prior to flight?
I’m nervous before attempting a new world record because it is not very often you get the chance to break a world record. In hang gliding we only get one chance on any given day and those days can be few and far between.
In one of your videos you tackle a Morning Glory, which you’ve described as a big wave. To those unaware, what is a Morning Glory and why is it so appealing? Is this the most impressive view you’ve seen?
The Morning Glory cloud is a cloud formation which rolls through the sky similar to a tsunami. It can reach lengths of 1000 kms long and speeds of 60 kph. This was by far one of the most intense things I have done in my hang glider. The view up there was something I will never forget. It made me feel so small flying alongside what could be considered the biggest wave in the world.
In the boomerang world record attempt you talk about unbuckling your safety belts, preparing to fall into the water. Were you calm at the time, or is the situation more frightening than viewers realise?
I was actually quite scared as it was my worst nightmare thinking about landing in the water. Once I realized I was in a situation where that could happen I started to prepare for the worst. I undid my safety buckles to give myself the best chance of survival once I landed in the ocean. This allowed me to concentrate on staying up and focusing on achieving what I set out to do – which I did in the end.
You’ve recently starred in a documentary series produced by Red Bull Media House. Could you explain what this is all about?
FOCUS Series 2 takes viewers in to the mindset of some of the most successful international athletes on the planet, delving deep into their conscious, everyday battles, rituals, crises and torments. Each episode features two unique athletes from two different sports bound by a common theme. My FOCUS Series 2 episode ‘Personal Best’, will be released this Friday 20 February on Red Bull TV. I am paired up with a young American rock-climber, Sasha DiGiulan, and the episode takes a look at how we manage our solo sports – because when in competitions or tackling world records in our sports, there is no co-pilot.
You’ve been called the world’s best hang glider in various reviews. How does this title sit with you?
There are a lot of great pilots out there. I would consider myself to be one of dozen who are at the top of our game. I am lucky to have great sponsors like Red Bull which means I can travel and compete more than most other pilots. This has allowed me to stay in the top few on the world rankings. I am currently ranked number one in the world after a great season in 2014.
What advice would you give to people planning to hang glide and follow your lead? Is freedom the ultimate appeal?
Hang gliding is not for everyone. I would first recommend people to go for a tandem flight and see if they like it. After that you will know if the sport is for you or not. The freedom is great – the views and the experiences you get from the sport is like no other. I have blown my mind 100 times over with this sport and the best thing for me is you can never learn enough. Every day I become a better athlete and I am constantly having new experiences.
Watch FOCUS Series 2 episode ‘Personal Best’ exclusively on Red Bull TV from Friday 20th February. Click here and check out the trailer!
