{"id":43643,"date":"2022-11-11T16:08:18","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T16:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=43643"},"modified":"2022-11-17T10:55:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T10:55:28","slug":"jesse-pulls-off-a-barrel-roll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/jesse-pulls-off-a-barrel-roll\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesse pulls off a BARREL ROLL"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We were amazed at this recent Instagram photo of Jesse Weyher doing a barrel roll, on his Peregrine 71<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Momentous stuff! We had to ask Jesse how he made this happen…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Selfie by Jesse Wehyer, touching down after a barrel roll on his Peregrine 71<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How long have you been dreaming of the barrel roll stunt and what made you think of it? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Jesse Weyher<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I began paragliding and speedflying about seven years ago. In that time I became naturally interested in barrel rolls \u2013 specifically, when speedflying. Several years went by of me doing barrel rolls regularly with a speedflying wing. But, it wasn\u2019t until I arrived in France, in the speedriding (speedflying with skis) arena, that I came to the sobering realization I was doing them incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of Mike Wittenberg amongst others, I learned the way of gaining altitude while doing barrel rolls, which gives you range and options, as well as a major safety margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One winter later I was doing flatland barrel rolls, which means you do a big turn, similar to skydiving, touch your skis on the ground, boost up and roll the wing. It\u2019s important to note that I spent every day for nearly two months practicing this with up to 30 repetitions a day. I recall seeing the PD Factory Team trying the barrel roll with a skydiving wing in Dubai over water, with some epic crashes ultimately shutting the project down. What better of a stunt for me to chase, given what I was doing on skis for the last couple of years?! So, to cut a long story short, I have been dreaming of it for a couple of years now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you make it happen between then and now?  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two long winters of Speedriding every day and getting nearly 30 reps a day, practicing on a Level Wings Fury 9 meter. In 2020 I acquired a UPT Mutant harness and, with the help of a Performance Designs Peregrine 71, I got to work. Every hop-and-pop I did for conventional CP training, I would do a practice turn up high, do the roll and debrief my Flysight Data. Eventually I felt comfortable with bringing the barrel roll to the water when I was regularly averaging 14-17 feet altitude gain before the roll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the ideal conditions you\u2019d want? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the speedriding environment, I want just a breath of a headwind. It significantly helps the altitude gain before the roll. I\u2019ve done them with a slight tailwind, but the margin of safety is thinner, it\u2019s hard to achieve as much \u201cup\u201d before the roll and the roll itself tends to lose altitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about the jump itself <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was a great day. I was working a military contract in North Carolina and a bunch of my work colleagues\/friends were in town. Greg Windmiller surprised me at work with a US Parachute Team slot\/patch for freestyle CP at the Mondial, so it was already a good day. I was monitoring the winds and noticed the slightest headwind out of the correct direction. I asked Greg Windmiller if he had his boat ready (safety boat\/recovery) and he said yes. All of the stars were aligning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sent the GPS pin of where I would be landing to my friends, and they headed that way. As I set up for the turn, I could see familiar cars waiting in the parking lot of the lake. When I rolled out of the turn, I thought \u2018this is going to be the only chance I get for a while so I absolutely need to touch water before the roll\u2019. I was hyper-fixated on that, so the water touch was a bit stiffer than I originally intended, but I was able to boost up and get the roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Images by Jesse Weyher, over a secret location \ud83d\ude09<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    How did it feel to pull it off?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    When Greg Windmiller and Aaron Stocum delivered me to shore where my friends awaited, I was on cloud nine. The support and excitement were absolutely unparalleled. This was a moment that I won\u2019t forget for some time to come, if ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How did it feel at the top of the roll? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s pretty wild looking up at the water while you\u2019re upside-down on a skydiving wing! It\u2019s strangely quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And.. what\u2019s next?!!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    I think the only reasonable thing to do is bring the barrel roll to the land and stand it up! I don\u2019t quite feel as though I have really accomplished this until it\u2019s actually landed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Back to work\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Jesse’s Barrel Roll<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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