I did some acro training back in May this year in the lead-up to the X-Alps with SIV and acro maestro Dilan Benedeti who runs LetFlyParagliding.com. The training probably literally saved my life just two weeks later when things went sideways with less than 100′ of clearance on a solo bivvy mission in Sun Valley (I discuss this incident in the episode with Maxime Pinot). My training took place during one of his SIV clinics with a bunch of very new students so I got to watch his team and his methods in action and came away super, duper impressed. In this episode Dilan shares why we don’t have any kind of standardized training in the US and much of the world and why that needs to change; why so many pilots quit the sport too soon; why so many pilots choose the wrong wing during their progression; the dangers of “risk homeostasis”, especially in free flight; why having a school AND selling gear creates so much conflict of interest (and why this isn’t allowed in many countries); why the US instructor system is so flawed; and why having a basic understanding of psychology is so critical when you leave the ground.
Show Notes:

* Dilan talks about why the US and many places don’t have standardized training like APPI and why that often leads to such poor instructors and instruction
* Dilan theorizes why so many pilots leave the sport after a short period
* Glider choice- and why we often get it wrong
* What is “risk homeostasis” and why is it important?
* Why there is so much conflict of interest when schools also sell gear, and why this ultimately hurts our students
* Why having a basic understanding of how our brains work is important for progression and staying safe