Jean- Albert Loic 
Nicknamed the Flying Dude, Jean-Albert Loïc, the world champion skydiver, wingsuit flyer, BASE jumper and internet sensation is more comfortable flying through the sky than pounding pavements. Just six years-old when he first tried paragliding, Jean-Albert moved to France at 18 to join the French Skydiving Federation, and at 32 he has made a name for himself as one of the most successful and driven figures in extreme sports, top of the field in three of his sports as well as a licensed pilot, he is not a wallflower when it comes to a challenge. IDOL chats to the 'Flying Dude' about his accomplishments, knock-backs and what he’s working on now.


WHAT DOES SKY FLYING MEAN FOR YOU?
The closest you can get to birds.


WHEN YOU STARTED SKYDIVING YOUR PARENTS WERE YOUR FIRST INSTRUCTORS. WHAT WAS YOUR THEIR REACTION WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO PRO?
They were scared because it is hard to make a living out of it and I was leaving home at 17 but also happy because I was living my passion and doing good things.


SOMETHING YOU WOULD NEVER DARE TO DO
Take crazy risks without thinking about it.


IF THE SKY HAS NO LIMITS THEN WHAT ARE YOUR LIMITS?
The ground...


WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A BEGINNER IN WINGSUIT FLYING NEVER TO TRY?
Don't try and do what you see on videos without proper training. It took us years to get there.


HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH COMPLICATIONS WHEN YOU’RE UP IN THE AIR?
I'll do my best… It's a pretty natural survival reaction!


APART FROM BEING WINGSUIT FLYER YOU ARE ALSO A WINGSUIT DESIGNER, PHOTOGRAPHER AND CAMERAMAN. THIS YEAR YOU ALSO OBTAINED AN AIRLINE PILOT LICENSE. IS MOVING FORWARD PUTTING A STOP ON YOUR WINGSUIT FLYING?
I broke my back while parapenting and that put a stop to my professional wingsuit flying. Flying planes, helicopters is keeping me in the air.


YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION IN SKYDIVING. WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST COMPETITOR?
There are many in each discipline I practiced. USA and Russia are the two strong nations fighting against France. I don’t know a competitor who's been on world podiums in three disciplines like I did.


IF YOU WEREN’T SKYDIVER WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A bird!


WHO IS THE PERSON YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM THE MOST?
Not one person! You have to take a little bit of a lot of great minds to build your own knowledge. Using just one would be like a photocopy!


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE?
To live! Full and free!


WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR NICKNAME THE “FLYING DUDE”?
A guy posted his own edit of my Verbier flight on You Tube and called it that…it got a big audience!


YOU ARE TESTING A WINGSUIT TO LAND WITHOUT A PARACHUTE, HOW IS THAT GOING? ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO TRY IT?
Even though a lot of media are saying that, I am not really testing this type of wing suit. We are developing different models to get better performance out of it in different fields, including lowering flying speed.


WHO IS YOUR IDOL?
There are many people I like, because they are good technicians in their fields as well as good people. I do not like the idea of idols. We are just simple individuals, whatever we've accomplished!




Interview by Katre Laan

Pictures courtesy of Jean-Albert Loïc

Published in IDOL magazine online version:
http://idolmag.co.uk/art-culture-interview/jean-albert-loïc