In this conversation, Rou Chater and Brandon Scheid explore the transformative journey of recovery following a life-altering accident. Brandon shares his experiences with hydrofoiling, speed flying, and the addictive nature of the flow state in action sports. They discuss the emotional and physical challenges of brain injury recovery, the importance of support systems, and the journey back to passions like foiling and FPV drones.

The conversation highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the power of finding joy in new pursuits after trauma. In this conversation, Brandon shares his profound journey of recovery following a brain injury, detailing the physical and mental challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of support systems, particularly from loved ones, and how gratitude has played a crucial role in his healing process. The dialogue also explores the evolution of water sports, particularly foiling, and how it has transformed the way enthusiasts engage with the water. Brandon emphasises the significance of perseverance in overcoming obstacles and the joy of rediscovering passions post-injury.

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Watch Brandon Speed Flying

In this episode of the Intriguing Beings podcast, host Rou Chater speaks with Craig Sawyer, a filmmaker and endurance athlete, about his journey from kitesurfing to stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and his experiences with the challenging Yukon 1000 race. Craig shares insights into the mental and physical demands of endurance racing, the impact of COVID on his plans, and the camaraderie among competitors. The conversation culminates in Craig's return to the Yukon in 2023 to complete the race after a setback in 2022 due to illness. In this engaging conversation, Craig shares his incredible journey through the Yukon 1000, an endurance race that tests the limits of physical and mental strength covering 1000 miles from Canada into Alaska along the mighty Yukon River. He discusses the challenges of planning, the wildlife encounters along the way, and the humorous moments that arise in the wilderness. Craig also delves into the survival strategies he employed for food and hydration, the mental challenges faced during long hours of paddling, and the reflections on crossing the finish line. He concludes with insights into his future adventures and aspirations in the world of paddleboarding and endurance racing.

Push Past Impossible Documentary

SUP Coaching With Craig

SUP Focused Instagram

Craigs Film Company: Blue Juice

Dive into the world of big wave surfing, mental health, and the unexpected benefits of psychedelics for depression with Dom Moore. From tackling the ocean's mightiest waves to exploring the depths of the human mind, this episode certainly covers a lot of bases! Join us for a conversation that spans early humans hunting woolly mammoths to elephants kicking honey badgers. It's all here, as well as the modern challenges of mental wellness. Tune in for insights, laughter, and a great bit of storytelling!

I have added shortcuts to Dom's other episodes and some links to some of the topics we are talking about, too.

"This is a link to a 1000-word blog post I wrote on that idea for research into 'wave of your life' as therapy: " - Dom

https://www.naturalscientific.co.uk/post/beyond-psychedelics-surfing-s-mind-bending-effect-on-mental-health
"And this is the link to the TV series - it's excellent " - Dom
https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80229847

In this episode, I catch up with Ralf Grösel, the visionary behind Brainchild Production facility. Last time we spoke, he was launching his project in North Macedonia; now he's building kites for Harlem, F-ONE, Reeding and Juniqua. We explore how his cutting-edge technologies, from stitch-free ProWeld seams to ultra-light materials, are reshaping the kitesurfing industry. We talk innovation, sustainability, and the future of kite design, with plenty of insider stories along the way.

Leo Koenig, the founder of WOO Sports, shares his journey of getting into the water sports world and developing the WOO device. The small blue box that attaches to a kiteboard and measures the height of jumps. Leo discusses the challenges of manufacturing and finding reliable suppliers and the importance of trust and good relationships in business. He also talks about the decision to narrow the company's focus to kiteboarding and its impact on the sport. The journey of developing the WOO device was filled with challenges and setbacks, but the team persevered. They had to overcome waterproofing issues, component obsolescence, and manufacturing challenges. The WOO 4.0 is a significant improvement from the original device, with advancements in technology, motion sensors, and the device's sealing. The WOO community has grown to 45,000 members, and the device has invigorated the sport of kiteboarding by making it more fun. Safety is a priority for WOO, and they aim to promote responsible use of the device. The company also plans to formalise the world record chase and attract more spectators and sponsors to the sport. WOO uses rotation information from the board to accurately detect jumps. They have systems in place to detect and address any measurement errors or cheating attempts. Self-policing is encouraged within the community, and WOO has automated systems and a human referee to ensure fair competition. WOO's competition pushes them to improve and educate the market about the science and technology behind their product. They have joined forces with Boards and More to offload non-value-adding tasks and focus on delivering even more value to customers. WOO is constantly working on new developments and innovations.

I sit down with Philip Schinnagel from CORE, one of the world's largest watersports brands based out of Fehmarn in Germany.

I sit down in a rare opportunity to have both Raphael Salles and his son Julien in the room together. Raphael started F-ONE at the end of the 90's and it's grown to become one of the biggest watersports businesses in the world. Julien was never that keen to work at the family business but when the opportunity arose to head up Manera, their wetsuit and accessory brand he changed his tune and is now poised to become the CEO of the whole company when Raph eventually decides to retire. We talk business, sports and downwind SUP in this incredible conversation...

Back in January, I sat down with Kent Marinkovic, a long-time waterman and businessman who is currently the CEO of Cabrinha. One of the world's largest watersports companies, we talk about the old days, the new days and everything in between! Enjoy!