How He Became National Geographic Adventurer of the Year…

2025-06-08

Gavin McClurg is a professional paraglider, the first American to finish the Red Bull X-Alps, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. He’s a two-time round-the-world sailor and record-holding foot-launch pilot. In this episode, we trace his path from ski racing in Tahoe to thirteen years at sea, where he built a global sailing and kitesurfing business. He survived hurricane-force winds off Cape Horn, shark-filled nights off Mozambique, and so much more. A chance paragliding lesson then led him to set the North American distance record and become the first to cross the Alaska Range unsupported. He went on to race four e...

In this episode, we trace his path from ski racing in Tahoe to thirteen years at sea, where he built a global sailing and kitesurfing business. He survived hurricane-force winds off Cape Horn, shark-filled nights off Mozambique, and so much more.

A chance paragliding lesson then led him to set the North American distance record and become the first to cross the Alaska Range unsupported. He went on to race four editions of the Red Bull X-Alps and earned his NatGeo honor for a seamless Canadian Rockies traverse. Let’s dive in!

Connect with Gavin:

Purchase His Book, Advanced Paragliding
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KEYWORDS: adventure, sailing, paragliding, resilience, travel, life lessons, exploration, kite surfing, Red Bull X Alps, personal growth, storytelling, sailing, friendships, paragliding, adventure, simplicity, storms, National Geographic, Red Bull X-Alps, life lessons

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