The Lunatic Fringe Podcast

Lunatic Fringe with Simon Colmer

It started with an accident onboard a commercial airliner over Austrailia, or at least the catalyst did.  In an event that will forever be a part of Simon Colmer, part of learning to get past it was a bucket list that happened to include skydiving; yet for someone scared of heights dealing with the after effects of a traumatic experience onboard an airplane, it was one that took a bit of time to get around to.  Now, splitting his life quite clearly between the "real" world of an IT job, and weekends as a freefly coach and up and coming canopy pilot, Simon takes time to tell us about his rough beginnings in the air, lessons learned through injury, experience and travel and a host of incredible characters and mentors, and how he keeps the passion going in a sport with changing trends and appearances as he balances between the regular world and the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Pablito Perazzoli

Back in the can for another virtual bonfire, Pablito Perazzoli, Master Rigger, Tandem Examiner, world traveler and a curator of one of the most spectacular handlebar mustaches this side of the 1800's sits down to talk a little about rigging, jumping, travel, loss and life. Join us for a fun catch up and informative chat with another wonderful life-long member of the Lunatic Fringe.

Lunatic Fringe with Kēbē 2

Kēbē Round 2!

It wasn't just skydiving that drew Kēbē in to the sport, it was skysurfing. He knew from the moment he saw a board strapped to another's feet while cruising through the sky that he was all about it. Admittedly having gone about things at an accelerated (and proper sketchy) rate, his return to life with the board after years of competition, drive and determination have led him to come up with a training program designed to help those with his same passion go about it in a well thought out and clearly defined way. Add to that a little Lunatic Fringe style creative writing and you've got Kēbē! 

Lunatic Fringe with Troy Hartman Pt. 2

it's kind of an unbelievable list of accomplishments and stunts. X-Games Skysurfing World Champion. Super Bowl Halftime winning Pepsi Commercial  pulling stunts with a goose. First ever to skydive from an exploding aircraft. First ever parachute on fire in flight... The list goes on and on.  Yet if you had asked a young Troy Hartman what he thought he was going to be when he grew up, there was only one answer. Pilot. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case over and over in life, the plan didn't exactly go the way he thought, so on to plan B...  Becoming not only a world champion skysurfer, but the ambassador for skydiving at a time when not only the US but the whole world seemed to be screaming for something extreme. Join us on this edition of Lunatic Fringe as we talk with Troy about more out of your mind tricks, stunts and lucky breaks than anyone could ever imagine, all of which have him forever linked with the Lunatic Fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe with Kēbē

It wasn't just skydiving that drew Kēbē in to the sport, it was skysurfing. He knew from the moment he saw a board strapped to another's feet while cruising through the sky that he was all about it. Admittedly having gone about things at an accelerated (and proper sketchy) rate, his return to life with the board after years of competition, drive and determination have led him to come up with a training program designed to help those with his same passion go about it in a well thought out and clearly defined way. Add to that a little Lunatic Fringe style creative writing and you've got Kēbē! 

Lunatic Fringe with Troy Hartman Pt. 1

It's kind of an unbelievable list of accomplishments and stunts. X-Games Skysurfing World Champion. Super Bowl Halftime winning Pepsi Commercial  pulling stunts with a goose. First ever to skydive from an exploding aircraft. First ever parachute on fire in flight... The list goes on and on.  Yet if you had asked a young Troy Hartman what he thought he was going to be when he grew up, there was only one answer. Pilot. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case over and over in life, the plan didn't exactly go the way he thought, so on to plan B...  Becoming not only a world champion skysurfer, but the ambassador for skydiving at a time when not only the US but the whole world seemed to be screaming for something extreme. Join us on this edition of Lunatic Fringe as we talk with Troy about more out of your mind tricks, stunts and lucky breaks than anyone could ever imagine, all of which have him forever linked with the Lunatic Fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe up Island Peak

Joined by Alberto, Emma, Olga and Victoria, this second remote Himalayan podcast is a bunch of skydivers most decidedly not skydiving! Recorded after more than two weeks on the mountain, having attempted scaling the 6,100 meter mountain known as Island Peak, situated a rocks throw from Mount Everest, the team recounts this most amazing adventure over a few drinks in the heart of the climbers and tourists district of Thamel, in Kathmandu. Lunatic Fringe with a twist...

Lunatic Fringe with Dani and Sebastian

Lunatic Fringe with Tracy Bohm

Personally I'm a hell of a fan of a good cliché, and I'm willing to bet Tracy Bohm is too. She met, jumped with, stalked, moved away with and eventually got married to her very first tandem instructor, Mr. Tom Bohm. He quickly instilled in her the same passion for skydiving that he had, and they went about making a hell of a life together both in the sky and on the ground. And then everything changed. Voted the number one Load Organizer by Blue Skies Magazine more times than most, take this time to listen closely to the advice, criticism and lessons she's learned along her wonderful, exciting and tragic journey into the lunatic fringe. 

Lunatic Fringe with Alberto Avails

Like so many before him, that first skydive was more on a whim than anything else. Ending up at an operation not too far from his grandparents home, Alberto Avalis may have seen parachutes in the sky before, but it wasn't until after that first jump that he knew. Working a construction job to pay for his new habit, it wasn't all that long before he knew that skydiving was the life for him. Now, after earning all the ratings and working as a professional skydiver and instructor for many years, he's set his sights on competition, and the coveted head down big way world record, of which he was able to earn a slot for this years attempt. Hoping to go back in 2025 to nail it, he plans on continuing on full power down his path with the Lunatic Fringe, competing, working, and loving every bit of it.