Speedflying emerged as a sport in the early 2000s. It’s halfway between parachuting and paragliding and is definitely a “high action” action sport. The pilot uses a small glider that can move at high speed, following the contour of different slopes.
Twenty-three-year-old Joseph Innes is one of the world’s top speedflying pilots. Born in Gloucestershire, England, he’s spent the past two years flying in Chamonix, France.
How did you get into speedflying?
I started climbing at age 12. It has been my only other real obsession. Climbing led me to Chamonix, and Chamonix made me question why I was climbing. I didn’t want to put all of my energy and elevation I’d gained into heating up the belay device on the way down! Flying down is much better.
Southern Lines (Summer trip in south Alpes)
Who have been your heroes or mentors in the sport?
First, my friend David Shp. He is a master of speedflying and is a paragliding instructor. He also does acro… He’s a very skilled and practiced pilot, and super nice guy. Jamie Lee was always my biggest inspiration for style. Watching his videos a thousand times probably did something for my flying.
Any goals you’d like to share with us?
I would like to develop a glider and harness. Since beginning to tweak my own glider, I now understand a little more about finding the best handling for my style. I have some ideas to allow pilots to safely tune their glider (even in flight).
