>>ski   >>base   >>fly   >>read   >>hello   >>thanks Mat Hoffman (click here if you don't know who he is) learned to paraglide a few years ago from our friend Mike, and loved it. As well as being the world's number one BMX hero and one of the main minds behind the X-Games, he also loves anything that flies. His enthusiasm for free flight and freefall inspired him to create 'Mat Hofman's Airborn Thrill Team', which may be coming to a town near you. Mike, Carson, Scotty and I all were paid to orchestrate and perform a 'test show' at Magic Mountain, involving powered paragliders, 'BASE' jumping (actually skydiving in this case) and speed flying. Not a bad way to spend a few evenings. All photos by Scotty. FAA regulations required that we wear these ridiculous chest mounted reserve parachutes, which served little purpose other than to make us look and feel fat. In this photo you can see the downwash from the helicopter blowing my smoke below me, even as I'm in freefall. We wingsuited in view of the crowd and, of course, deployed our parachutes at regulation altitude. Mike, me, Mat Hoffman, Carson, Scotty. Interesting sidenote: Mat is the only other Mat I've ever met. Our pilot, Ken, is a test pilot for Robinson Helicopters. His skill was a major asset. Heading into magic airspace. Carson, exiting the heli over the park for the wingsuit show. 'Backstage'... a gravel lot outside the park.