Born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1969, Felix began skydiving at the age of 16 and extended his skills as part of the Austrian military’s demonstration and competition team. In 1988, he began performing skydiving exhibitions for Red bull. The company’s out-of-the-box thinking and Felix’s adventurous spirit clicked and they’ve collaborated ever since, becoming today the world’s most known Red bull athlete.
By the 1990’s, Felix felt that he’d gone as far as he could with traditional skydiving, so he extended his canopy skills with BASE jumping – parachuting from a fixed object or landform – one of the most extreme and dangerous sport. He finds that the lightning-fast reflexes and precise techniques required by such low-altitude feats also enhance his high-altitude skydiving technique.
Felix has made 14 world records with his BASE jumps all over the planet, being a pioneer who has opened the path for all the skydivers around the world, for whom he is a great inspiration. Besides BASE jumps, he was the first person in the world to cross the English Channel with a carbon fiber wing, the first to compete flying next to a plane… and the list of his daring and so dangerous activities remains open.
With Red Bull STRATOS project, on October, 14th, 2012, Felix has reached the ultimate goal, becoming the first human being to break the speed of sound in freefall, jumping from stratosphere – his outstanding achievement also provided important scientific data which hasn’t been available ever before, contributing to the “ NASA’s emergency escape from space project”.
After the huge success of STRATOS jump, Felix is gone around the world spreading the news and excitement of his record breaking supersonic freefall. He was invited to all the main TV shows around the world, from USA (including the Show of Jay Leno), to Australia, Asia, Europe, he is constantly invited as a global speaker who can inspire people on achieving their goals, he is keep being awarded not only for specific performances, but for the entire career (from Laureus Award, to Bambi Millennium, Guy Choice Award in Hollywood, NEA Extreme Sports Awards, Steiger Awards, National Geographic’s Adventurer of the year, CNN’s Man of the Year and many more.
He’s second big dream was to become a helicopter pilot. Starting almost 10 years ago, Felix has been flying as a commercial helicopter pilot in Europe, after taking his license in USA. He is licensed today for many kind of helicopters, he is doing extreme flights, but also charity flights and he is hardly training to become a rescue helicopter pilot, to save other people lives.
Felix is a prominent advocate for non profit Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation and he is currently developing his own personal humanitarian project, FLY 4 LIFE.
He is also taking very seriously another big passion, race car driving – he was participated in some famous races, from Nurgburgring, to Bathurst 24 hours race, in Australia and many more.
One thing is for sure – nobody can keep Felix away from the sky and from pushing his limits as far as he want. No wonder he was named the DAREDEVIL or… the FEARLESS Felix.
Related speakers
Fernando Torres
Former Spanish footballer, World Champion and two-time European Champion with the Spanish national team
Sean Fitzpatrick
Former Captain of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby Team and Expert in Leadership, Teamwork and Competitiveness
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