Kinga Masztalerz gets after it. She picked up paragliding not too long ago, but has been pretty fierce about chasing it hard from the beginning. She’s tackled the Red Bull X-Alps twice, flown all over the world, runs her own hike and fly race in New Zealand, and instructs at home in New Zealand and in places like Bir, India. But her journey has had quite a few scary bumps on the way. We start off with her experience in the X-Alps. She shares her initial excitement and overwhelming feelings during her first race in 2019 and the disappointment of being eliminated and the emotional impact it had on her. Kinga also talks about her injury in 2021 and the challenges she faced in participating in the race. She reflects on the changing dynamics of the Red Bull X-Alps and how her approach to flying has evolved over time. She emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes, using her own rather scary ones early on as a catalyst towards building confidence as a pilot. Then we get into her coaching journey and the importance of understanding the mental and physical aspects of flying. She shares her experiences with overcoming fear and gaining confidence, and how she developed her coaching program to help other pilots navigate their own flying journeys. Kinga also talks about the balance between turning a passion into a business and how guiding and coaching actually adds to her love for flying. Lastly, she introduces the Wanaka Hike and Fly Race, a fun event that combines adventure, socializing, and flying in the beautiful Southern Alps of New Zealand. Enjoy! Find our more about Kinga here: Kinga’s website: https://kingamaszta.com/ Kinga’s coaching: https://kingamaszta.com/coaching/ Connect with Kinga on Social: Instagram: @kingamaszta https://www.instagram.com/kingamaszta Facebook: @KingaGoneWild https://www.facebook.com/KingaGoneWild Wanaka Hike & Fly race: https://wanakahikefly.nz/ Takeaways * Flying progression is not a linear path, but rather a bumpy journey that involves mental and physical challenges. * Coaching can provide valuable guidance and support for pilots as they navigate their own flying journeys. * Turning a passion into a business can add to the love for the sport, as it allows for sharing knowledge and helping others. * Mistakes and failures are essential for learning and improving in the sport of paragliding. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:19 Kinga’s Experience in the Red Bull X-Alps 07:25 The Changing Dynamics of Red Bull X-Alps 09:38 Emotional Moments in the Race 13:01 The Shift in Kinga’s Approach to Flying 16:20 Flying as a Reflection of Life 22:35 Learning from Mistakes and Building Confidence 36:15 Coaching and the Journey of Progression 41:30 Passion for Flying and Guiding Others 48:06 Learning from Mistakes and Cheap Mistakes 58:58 Wanaka Hike and Fly Race