The Red Bulletin April 2020

UK EDITION
APRIL 2020, £3.50
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THE
QUADRIPLEGIC
CLIMBER
ED JACKSON
and the maverick
movement
to cure spinal
cord injury
Ben Stokes Afrobeats in Ghana Hollywood trick riders Disaster zone rescuers

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Editor’s letter
BREAKING
STEP
At a glance, our cover star Ed Jackson looks like
any able-bodied climber – yet just three years
ago an accident left him a quadriplegic. Together
with the other heroes of our story, Nathalie
McGloin and Ben Tansley (page 58), he’s seeking
progress, not only for himself but for all future
spinal cord injury sufferers. You too can join the
cause by taking part in the Wings for Life World
Run on May 3 (page 67). Adapting to change,
whether from within or without, is a theme that
runs deep in this issue. Take the Griffith family
(page 40), two generations of US trick riders
reinventing their age-old art for the modern
world. Or Team Rubicon (page 48), who apply
their military experience to a new system of
disaster relief, digitally locating those most in
need. In Ghana, Afrobeats music (page 28) is
transforming the country’s economy. And check
out our interview with Mavi Phoenix (page 26),
the transgender artist using his music to declare
his own identity and light the way for others.
Photographer Andrew Esiebo (left) and culture editor Florian
Obkircher pause for a picture at Afro Nation Ghana (page 28)
CONTRIBUTORS
THIS ISSUE
MARK BAILEY
The British writer of this
month’s cover story has
interviewed athletes, military
personnel and emergency
medics, but he was struck
by the resilience of people
battling spinal cord injuries.
“To close one chapter in
your life and write a new one,
full of fresh challenges and
perspectives, shows courage
and optimism we can all learn
from,” says Bailey. Page 58
HAL ESPEN
“Heading out to profile
a subject as ‘wow’ as this
– a legendary rodeo
trick-riding dynasty turned
A-list Hollywood stunt troupe
– is already too cool,” says
the US journalist and former
editor-in-chief of Outside
magazine, who this issue
dug deep into the lives of
the Griffith clan. “But then
immersion in the family
saga exceeded all my
expectations.” Page 40
RICK GUEST (COVER), ANDREW ESIEBO/PANOS
04 THE RED BULLETIN

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CONTENTS
April 2020
28
Smoking hot:
Afrobeats
phenomenon
Wizkid brings the
party at Afro
Nation Ghana
ANDREW ESIEBO/PANOS
08 Rock ’n’ ride: pulling off
spectacular BMX skills on
Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway
10 Moonlight manoeuvres:
night-time speedriding down
a Chamonix glacier
11 Suspended animation: bringing
a skater’s fears to cartoonish
life in Colombia
12 Prepping up: one man’s training
in Madagascar for an ambitious
round-the-world trek
15 Rollin’ not fallin’: award-winning
singer and activist Alicia Keys
shares her top tunes to skate to
16 Roots of learning: the Norwegian
forest that’s growing a library of
future literary classics
19 Beautiful contradiction: altering
the perception of Syria with
photography – and balloons
20 Clicks and mortar: 3D-printing
goes XL to help solve the world’s
housing shortage
22 Patrick Stewart
Boldly going back to one of his
best-loved roles: Captain Picard
24 Ben Stokes
Revisiting an incredible year for
the English cricket powerhouse
26 Mavi Phoenix
The Austrian musician putting
gender and identity centre stage
28 Afrobeats
Ghana, the UK, the world: inside
the African music invasion
40 Trick riders
Meet the family keeping an ageold
Wild West tradition alive
48 Team Rubicon
When disaster strikes, these
volunteers are already en route
58 Wings for Life
Transforming lives through
spinal cord injury research
69 Deeply impressive: explore the
world’s largest known cave,
Vietnam’s fantastical Hang So’n
Ðoòng, home to species long
extinct on the surface
74 Omega man: how the Seamaster
became James Bond’s watch
of choice, and how Daniel Craig
helped to shape its future
79 Track back: reimagining the
classic Land Rover Defender
80 Best of both worlds: the Suunto 7
= smart tech + outdoors nous
82 Head for heights: free your mind
and your ascent will follow, says
Austrian physio Klaus Isele
85 Hot thing: Odlo’s smart midlayer
86 Virtual perfection: VR gaming
levels up, plus track tips from
a sim-racing champion
94 Essential dates for your calendar
98 Extreme kayaking in Patagonia
THE RED BULLETIN 07

GIANT‘S CAUSEWAY,
NORTHERN IRELAND
Rolling
stones
No matter how spectacular his BMX
skills, Croatia-born Austrian rider
Senad Grosic would have struggled to
outshine the natural wonder known
as the Giant’s Causeway. “The story of
this image started around 60 million
years ago, when lava cooled down in
a very slow way, leaving a vast field of
hexagonal stones behind,” relates
German photographer Lorenz Holder,
who took the shot at the UNESCO World
Heritage Site at sunset. “There are only
a couple of places on earth where we
can see these formations nowadays.”
lorenzholder.com

09

CHAMONIX,
FRANCE
Chute
for the
moon
The art of sequential photography
requires a talent for both shooting
and post-editing. This magical
image from French photographer
Stef Candé’s Moonline project shows
speedrider Valentin Delluc descending
the Bossons glacier in Chamonix at
night. “Shooting video using the light
of the full moon and an LED-lighted
sail is tricky to balance,” explains
Candé. “My only choice was to use
a very fast lens, although it made the
subject very small in the frame.”
stefcande.com

SABANETA,
COLOMBIA
Slippery
ride
Skateboarder Felipe Marin’s ride
takes on cartoonish proportions in
this awesome artwork by Colombian
photographer David Jaramillo
Ramírez and graphic designer Camilo
Bustamante. “I came up with the idea
of showing how the athlete’s strength
could defeat their own fears,” says
Ramírez. “In this image, the illustrated
part represents the fears pursuing the
athlete as he performs his passion.”
davidjaraphoto.com
11

TSINGY DE BEMARAHA,
MADAGASCAR
Herculean
pursuits
An extraordinary undertaking requires
extraordinary training. Which is why Albert
Villarroya Farrarós chose to visit this
otherworldly spot in Madagascar to
prepare for his upcoming hike around
the world – an endeavour that will see the
Spaniard cross the most iconic mountain
ranges on the planet and is expected to
take 15 years to complete. With rocky
Mars-like terrain underfoot – including
hazardously sharp limestone needles
– concentration is key when hiking the
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve.
Away from the designated paths, the
limestone becomes more unstable and
unpredictable – a true test for any hiker
foolhardy enough to take it on. What better
mental and physical groundwork for a man
who’s about to walk the world…
TYRONE BRADLEY

13

FOR THE WORLD’S FASTEST RACERS
THE LEGACY CONTINUES

ALICIA KEYS
New York
skate of
mind
When the Grammy-winning
musician, actress and activist
needs time out, she puts on
her roller skates and a playlist
of upbeat tunes
Alicia Keys is a powerhouse in
the entertainment world. Since
breaking through in 2001 with
her single Fallin’, the New Yorker
has had numerous multi-platinum
records, won 15 Grammys, and
established herself as an actress
and film producer. As well as all
this, Keys is a political and social
activist, and the mother of two
boys, aged nine and five. During
promotion for her upcoming
seventh studio album, ALICIA,
the 39-year-old revealed that
roller skating helps clear her
head. “I do it with my family a
lot,” says Keys. “It’s a super-fun
thing. And uplifting music works
when you’re skating. You just
feel so good.” Here’s a selection
of what she listens to at the rink…
ALICIA is out on March 20;
aliciakeys.com
Post Malone
Circles (2019)
“Post Malone’s tunes work
really well at the rink. I’m a big
fan of Congratulations [the
New York-born rapper’s 2017
single], but I think Circles
might be even better. This
track [which gave Malone
his fourth number one in the
US Billboard Hot 100 chart]
is a good song for skating,
because it just makes you
want to move.”
Alicia Myers
I Want To Thank You (1981)
“I love to listen to this one
when I’m in my roller skates.
[Sings] ‘I wanna thank you,
Heavenly Father, for shining
your light on me… I know it
couldn’t have happened
without you.’ It has this great
rhythm – you’re skating and
you’re flying. It’s wonderful.
That’s such a good one –
don’t forget to look it up next
time you go roller skating.
Dr Dre feat Snoop Dogg
Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang (1992)
“G-funk puts you on fire at
the skate rink. Anything from
[classic hip-hop album] The
Chronic by Dr Dre and Snoop
Dogg would be a great choice.
I mean, I love all of that record,
but especially Nuthin’ But A
‘G’ Thang. Stuff that kind of
has a bounce, like you’re going
to want to move and vibe and
dance and have fun – that’s
what it’s all about.”
Alicia Keys
Time Machine (2019)
“Have I tried any of my own
stuff? Of course. Alicia
Keys works well when you’re
skating – definitely Time
Machine, and also No One
[2007]. When I was a kid,
there was a place in the Bronx
called the Skate Key that me
and my friends used to go to.
While everybody else was
skating, we would just stand
there and look cute. [Laughs.]”
SONY MUSIC MARCEL ANDERS
THE RED BULLETIN 15

FUTURE LIBRARY
Turning leaves
From this young forest in southern Norway, a future generation of book lovers
will harvest never-before-published works by award-winning authors
In the Norwegian forest of
Nordmarka, just 10km north
of Oslo, 1,000 young trees are
growing. These spruce saplings
have a very specific purpose: in
the year 2114 – 100 years after
they were planted – their wood
will be used to create 100
as-yet-unpublished books.
The Future Library is the
brainchild of Scottish-born
visual artist Katie Paterson.
“I had this idea of a visual
connection, imagining a tree’s
rings being like chapters in
a book,” she says. “I imagined
Come back in 94 years’
time – there’s not much
to read here right now
From left:
Margaret Atwood
and Katie
Patterson; the
Silent Room
these trees growing, but also
physically growing chapters
over time and becoming a
forest full of words.”
Each year of the project,
Paterson and her team will
collect a work of literature
from an iconic author, and
these will be held in a specially
designed chamber – the Silent
Room – at Oslo City Library
until the date of publishing.
Canadian author Margaret
Atwood was the first writer
to contribute to the Future
Library, donating her unread
novel Scribbler Moon in 2014.
“It was very clear that
Margaret Atwood would be
the most phenomenal author
to begin with, because of her
relationship to time, nature,
technology and the climate,
and the activism in her work,”
says Paterson. “We reached
out in a letter to invite her,
and she said yes very quickly,
which was phenomenal.”
Since the project’s launch,
five others have donated their
works: British author David
Mitchell; Icelandic writer,
poet and lyricist Sjón; Turkish
novelist, academic and
women’s rights activist Elif
Shafak; South Korean author
and poet Han Kang; and
Norwegian writer Karl Ove
Knausgård. “We don’t read the
manuscripts, of course,” says
Paterson, “but Margaret
Atwood’s and David Mitchell’s
were quite weighty, and Han
Kang’s felt a little bit like a
short story. Of course, this is
all speculation.” This year’s
contribution had not yet been
announced as we went to print.
Most people alive today,
however, won’t get the chance
to read the books in the Future
Library. “It’s not for us, it’s for
people who aren’t born yet;
we’re thinking ahead to that
generation,” says Paterson.
“It’s tempting to wonder what
has been written, but most of
us will never have those words.
For now, it’s only the authors
who have them in their minds.”
futurelibrary.no
BJØRVIKA UTVIKLING BY KRISTIN VON HIRSCH, GIORGIA POLIZZI, ATELIER OSLO, LUND HAGEM, KATIE PATERSON, 2017. FUTURE LIBRARY
16 THE RED BULLETIN

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Burst of colour: an
installation from
the Stereotype
Inversion project
ALÝA OLA ABBAS
Syria is a country with a rich
cultural history. From painting
and literature to music and
architecture, its artistic
contribution to the world
stretches back to 9,000 BC.
However, conflict in Syria –
particularly since the start of
the civil war in 2011 – has
overshadowed the country’s
cultural achievements, casting
the focus instead on warring
factions and bloodshed. Now,
young Syrian artists are trying
to change this, shining a light
on the abundance of new
creative talent in a nation
currently making headlines
for only negative reasons.
One such creative is Alýa
Ola Abbas of ALya Art Studio.
Through her innovative art
project Stereotype Inversion,
Abbas aims to represent Syria
as a place of creativity and
ALYA ART STUDIO
Floating
perspective
With her beautiful artwork, Syrian creative Alýa Ola
Abbas is challenging the world’s view of her country
hope. “As an artist who works
and lives in a country that has
suffered from war for around
10 years, the negative impact
had started to confuse me,”
she says. “I aimed to represent
those stereotypical scenes of
everyday life and then replace
them with scenes full of hope,
challenging the situation and
transforming those places.”
Abbas uses photography,
film and installations to
capture locations in Syria’s
cities. “The photography
series contains about seven
photographs with different
stories,” she says. “Balloons
represent the creative ideas
and advanced inventions made
by the people here; to give
them the self-confidence and
determination to reach the
quality of life they want.” Each
image comprises 50 layers of
photography, combining shots
of locations and balloons to
create a new narrative around
local spaces.
“Our life is our beliefs, so
we should make sure to think
positively and look for real
effective power,” says Abbas
of her project. “The final
pieces of Stereotype Inversion
conceptualise my thoughts and
artistic views of social issues.”
Instagram: @alya_art_studio
THE RED BULLETIN 19

Clockwise from
left: the Vulcan II
3D printer at work;
‘Lavacrete’, a
special concrete
mix, is piped out
by the machine;
the first permitted
3D-printed house,
built by Icon and
New Story in
Austin, Texas, at
a cost of $10,000
ICON BUILD
Concrete solution
We may not be able to solve homelessness by printing money,
but one charity believes printing houses might be the answer
In a rural corner of the Mexican
state of Tabasco sits two small
homes. These compact houses
may look like nothing out of the
ordinary, but they could change
the world. Instead of being
built in the traditional manner,
the homes were 3D-printed.
Putting roofs over the heads
of Tabasco’s poorest residents
is the first phase of a mission
by technology company Icon
and housing charity New Story
to end homelessness. It’s
estimated that around 150
million people worldwide are
homeless, with as many as 1.6
billion more living in inadequate
shelter. Icon and New Story
aim to provide secure, low-cost
housing for families for whom
rough sleeping seems the only
option. Fifty homes are planned
for the Tabasco community, in
association with Mexican social
housing organisation Échale.
The houses – each of which
measures 46m 2 and has two
bedrooms, a living room, an
office and a bathroom – are
co-designed with the families
who’ll live in them, then 3Dprinted
in mortar directly onto
the foundations. The roof,
doors, windows, plumbing and
electrics are fitted by humans.
Icon’s goal is to be able to
print a house in less than 24
hours, at a cost of just $4,000
(around £3,100). Families will
be able to buy one with a zerointerest
mortgage, making
repayments of around £4
a week over seven years.
“It’s important to remember
what makes this project
different: we’re not a research
and development company
just for the sake of innovation,”
explains Alexandria Lafci, cofounder
of New Story. “We’re
not here to turn a profit. These
homes are for real people with
real needs. Everything we do
includes them in the process.”
The 3D printer, Vulcan II,
is now on sale worldwide so
that other cities might benefit.
As Gretel Uribe, development
director for Échale, explains,
“This project is a lesson that
if we come together to work,
combine talent and resources,
and lead them to solve real
problems, the dream of
sustainability and social
fairness is achievable.”
iconbuild.com
ICONBUILD.COM
20 THE RED BULLETIN

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Patrick Stewart
O captain,
my captain
How revisiting a character from the
future made one of the world’s most
iconic actors reflect on the present
Words JESS HOLLAND
It’s rare in life to get the chance to
go back and have another go at our
most important moments. For most
of us, life goes on and our early
endeavours are left behind. Last
year, however, acclaimed actor
Sir Patrick Stewart was given the
opportunity to revisit his own
past life and career, as he reprised
one of his most celebrated roles,
Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the
USS Enterprise, in the Amazon
Prime series Star Trek: Picard.
For 15 years between 1987 and
2002, Stewart inhabited the role of
captain and leader in the series
Star Trek: The Next Generation and
four movies, inspiring viewers with
a message of fairness, diplomacy
and equality. “As our world goes
one step forward and two steps
back,” says Stewart of this new
iteration of the character, “I think
there is much of the man we knew
in Next Generation: his modesty,
his passion for humankind and
for the future of the solar system.”
The 79-year-old actor tells The
Red Bulletin how it feels to reprise
this iconic character after 18 years
away, and also to return to such
a hopeful show in the new alien
landscape of 2020…
the red bulletin: When the
offer came, did you immediately
know you wanted to return?
patrick stewart: Not at all. I had
never felt so strongly about not
doing something in my entire
career. When I met with the team
of directors and writers, it was just
to tell them in person why I wasn’t
going to come back. What they
pitched to me in that meeting,
however, was irresistible.
What can we expect from this
new chapter, and from your
character in particular?
We’re living and working in a
different world. Picard has walked
away from everything and is living
with his dog in his château, growing
grapes. He’s discontented, angry
and guilty; he feels that he failed.
After so many years away from
the character of Picard, did it
take time to find him again?
The man never left; he never left
inside me. We overlap in the things
we believe in and the way we see
leadership. It was an exhausting
and exhilarating experience, but I
didn’t find it remotely challenging.
What I did find challenging was
when my old cast-mates Jonathan
[Frakes, who plays Commander
Riker] and Brent [Spiner, who
plays Lieutenant Commander
Data] returned to the set. They
teased me quite a lot.
Many of the show’s political
themes feel more relevant than
ever in 2020. Do you feel that
subtext is more important now?
Definitely, being political is more
important now than ever. It was
actually suggested to me last year
that I should take American
citizenship and run for Senate.
That really was a serious proposal.
Have you always been so
politically engaged?
I’ve been a member of the Labour
Party for many, many years,
although I’m a somewhat doubting
one at present. My political history
began when I committed my first
act of civil disobedience in 1945,
however, when I was just five
years old. I was parading up and
down with my father, who was
the Regimental Sergeant Major
of the Parachute Regiment, with
a placard that read, ‘Vote for Mr
Palin’ [the Labour candidate for
Wentworth, South Yorkshire].
A policeman came and told me
to bugger off, because the police
could talk to you like that in the
working-class neighbourhood
I grew up in. But I said ‘No, I won’t,’
ignored him and carried on.
Star Trek has always championed
diplomacy and optimism. How
was it making this new chapter
while living in a time that, for
many, feels less hopeful?
I believe there is always hope to
be found. While things look very
dark right now, certainly as far as
Europe is concerned, we have to
believe in a better future. We must.
We reflect the present day in this
new series. It was one of the things
that we all believed in way back
when I first started on the show:
a fairer world, a kinder world,
a more modest world. That is also
what we’ve tried to bring to this
new chapter.
Star Trek: Picard is available to
stream on Amazon Prime Video now
SEBASTIAN KIM/AUGUST
22 THE RED BULLETIN

”Someone
suggested
to me that
I should run
for Senate”
THE RED BULLETIN 23

Ben Stokes
Test of
character
A year ago, the British cricket
star needed a change-up in his life.
A year can be a long time…
Words JESS HOLLAND
Photography TOM JENKINS
Carrying the expectations of a
nation is an onerous responsibility.
Some shrink at the prospect; others
carve their name into folklore.
Cricketer Ben Stokes’ intention at
the start of 2019 was neither. When
The Red Bulletin caught up with him
last April (for our Summer issue
cover story) during his spell with the
Rajasthan Royals in India, the flamehaired
all-rounder merely wanted
to remind everyone what he could
do on the field of play, following his
highly publicised behaviour off it.
Less than a year later, Stokes
has delivered England a World Cup
triumph, played one of the greatest
Test innings of all time, and been
named BBC Sports Personality of the
Year and, the day after this interview,
ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. He’s
something approaching a national
treasure. Not that Stokes would like
the description. “What we want to
do on the field is just inspire kids
to pick up a bat and a ball,” he says,
understatedly. He couldn’t have
done more to achieve that.
the red bulletin: Have you
taken a moment to consider your
achievements in 2019?
ben stokes: There’s no time when
you’re playing – that’s for when I’m
done. When you’re in the mindset
of thinking ahead, everything is
concentrated. It’s about what needs
to be done, not what’s already done.
At times, England’s World Cup
dream seemed doomed. What
turned things around?
Being in a tough situation while
playing in our own country was
a great opportunity to get together
and express certain emotions – we
discussed what could happen if
things didn’t go our way. Sometimes
you think you’re the only one who’s
nervous. Once we realised everyone
felt the same, it was a massive help.
Showing vulnerability in sport is
a brave thing…
Every professional sportsman will
have gone through a tough time and
not spoken about it because they
didn’t feel they could. We’re meant
to be invincible and not feel selfdoubt.
But anyone who says they’re
not nervous about the outcome is
telling a little white lie. You need
that anxiety or you’re not human.
Talking of nerves, how were yours
in the final over of the World Cup?
It was only the last ball when I
started thinking, “Oh God, what do
I do here?” The balls before it were
just a case of hitting for four, six or
two. Once I’d gathered my thoughts
about what to do, I felt a lot easier.
Would it have been worse
watching from the pavilion?
Too right. It’s so much worse not
being able to influence the result.
Did you know the result at the
end of that final over?
Before the final ball, I’d asked the
umpire what would happen if we got
a one. I thought I knew, but I wanted
to make sure. For it to go all the way
to the wire, at Lords, in a World Cup
final… you couldn’t have made it up.
Then came your match-winning
Ashes innings at Headingley. Did
you experience any doubt?
No, I just kept going. I had a rush of
nerves when I was waiting to bat –
I’ve no idea why. I came in with
220-odd to win, which isn’t a huge
amount, but when the Ashes are on
the line, that number becomes a lot
bigger. I’m not sure I was hitting that
cleanly – a couple of sixes barely
cleared the boundary rope and a few
more only just went over the fielders’
heads. I used the right club that day.
England didn’t win back the
Ashes, but the victory gave Test
cricket a massive boost…
A lot is said about the format
needing a change, but Test cricket is
the pinnacle and it needs to be five
days. The greatest Test matches go
all the way to the death on day five
– Cape Town showed that. You only
get that drama on the last day.
You played another supreme Test
while your father was hospitalised
in Johannesburg. Does adversity
bring out the best in you?
I can’t compare the pressure of
a regular game with playing while
my dad is in hospital – they’re too
different. But in terms of what
happens on the field, I just want to
influence the game as much as I can.
Did winning Sports Personality
of the Year crown your 2019?
Those awards aren’t what you play
for. I’m not palming it off – it’s a
huge honour – but the bigger thing
is that a cricketer won it for just the
fifth time [in 65 years]. After the
summer that England had, and the
new fans we brought to the sport,
I think me being Sports Personality
represented the whole of cricket.
After missing out on the Ashes in
2017/18, was there a motivation
to make up for lost time?
I don’t think now is the time to talk
about the past.
So, are you looking forward to the
Ashes Down Under in 2021/22?
I want to go to Australia and win
the Ashes. I don’t set personal goals,
but that’s probably the only one that
I would have: to go there and win.
24 THE RED BULLETIN

”Now I want
to go to
Australia and
win the next
Ashes”
THE RED BULLETIN 25

Mavi Phoenix
Changing
the tune
The Austrian musician and songwriter
tells us how his new album is a profound
declaration of identity and self
Words LOU BOYD Photography ELIZAVETA PORODINA
Pop artist, rapper, songwriter and
multi-instrumentalist Mavi Phoenix,
born Marlene Nader, has always
chosen the path less travelled.
Right from his debut EP, My Fault,
released in 2014 when Phoenix
was just 18, his music has defied
categorisation, moving between
pop, dance, punk and hip hop.
Phoenix’s new album, Boys Toys,
which follows his coming out as
transgender last July, is a declaration
of identity. The work explores the
themes of masculinity, femininity
and self, and adds a powerful new
voice to the conversation around
gender dysphoria.
Here, the 24-year-old from Linz,
Austria, discusses his hopes of
connecting with others through the
album and sharing his experiences…
the red bulletin: When did you
first discover your talent for music?
mavi phoenix: It started when my
dad gave me a MacBook and I found
the program GarageBand. I never
intended to pursue a musical career
– I was 11 and just making beats and
stuff. But I just kind of stuck with it.
Your early releases had a fresh,
DIY feel. Do you still have the
same level of creative control?
Yeah, I think so. Being hands-on is
important to me. I have producer
credits on almost every song – I can’t
imagine not being so involved.
How would you describe your
sound to those who have never
heard your music?
It’s difficult with this album,
because I tried some new genres.
For example, Choose Your Fighter is
almost punk. I’d probably say indie,
alternative, pop, rap? That sounds
about right.
Music videos are a huge part
of your work – has the visual
representation of your music
always been important to you?
Music videos are really important.
They have such power. If you know
what visuals you want, people
recognise your vision for the track.
I’m not there yet, though; my
videos are good, but I think there’s
potential to do so much more.
Boys Toys is a very personal work,
especially when talking about
your transition and gender
identity. Did you go into the
writing process knowing you
wanted to talk about it?
Yeah. For the first time in my career
I really have something to say;
something I haven’t heard other
artists talk about so much. I felt
like now was the right time to make
an album; to take my experience
and talk about it. Last year was the
first time I talked about being
transgender. I had older songs I was
so excited about, but they’re not
on the album, because it felt wrong
to put songs out that had been with
me for almost two years. I’m such
a different person now.
Were you more nervous releasing
this album, knowing it says so
much about your life?
Yeah, I’m way more nervous than
I’ve been before. When I’m doing a
photoshoot, there’s always a feeling
that people are looking at me and
thinking, “Are you really a man?”
I haven’t had hormone therapy or
surgery, so I’m nervous to put myself
out there in the weirdest phase of
my life. It’s a real transition – I’m in
this in-between place – and people
get to be a part of that. This might
be my last album with this voice,
because hormone therapy changes
it. It’s a weird time.
This record will provide comfort
to fans going through a similar
experience. Was that a conscious
reason to make it?
In a way, it’s a very selfish way of
creating a body of work – thinking
about myself and how I processed
these feelings. I’ve played a few
shows now, though, and people
really connect with the new songs.
It’s not just about being transgender,
it’s a question of “Who am I?”
The lyrics on Boys Toys are very
powerful. Was it easier to find
your own voice on this album?
Yes, I think it had a lot to do with
coming out as trans. So much has
happened. All of a sudden, it was
like, “Oh my God, I have so much
to talk about.”
You’ve spoken in the past about
how the music industry treats
women differently. Have you
noticed any change now that
you’re not presenting yourself
as a female artist?
I’ve only just started promoting
this album, but a few years ago
people would always talk about my
Auto-Tune, [whereas] now nobody
mentions it at all. I’ve found that
interesting. I think I’ll notice a lot
of differences, which is shitty.
What are your hopes going
forward? Any big goals?
My number one goal for 2020 is
that I really want the album to
connect with people, and my bigger
goal after that is to tour the world.
Also, one day, maybe a Grammy?
We’ll see…
Mavi Phoenix’s new album,
Boys Toys, is out on April 3;
Instagram: @maviphoenix
26 THE RED BULLETIN

”For the first
time in my
career, I have
something
to say”
THE RED BULLETIN 27

Last December, Ghana hosted
Afro Nation – Africa’s biggest
urban music beach festival
PANOS

Words FLORIAN OBKIRCHER
Photography ANDREW ESIEBO
West Africa’s
BOOMING
From Barack Obama to Beyoncé, Afrobeats
is the music on everybody’s lips. The Red
Bulletin travelled to Ghana to attend
West Africa’s biggest gathering of current
and future Afrobeats superstars – and
experience the scene at its source
29

Backstage, it’s comparatively quiet. The
muffled sounds coming from the main
stage blend with the gentle rumble of
the ocean just metres away. A few people
sit on wooden benches, sipping beer
and chatting about the live acts they’ve
just seen, while artists get ready in
green-room tents. The air smells of fried
chicken and jollof rice, prepared in a
food truck close by. Suddenly, there’s
shouting and around 30 young men and
women in flashy clothes, gold chains
and designer sneakers fall upon the area.
The excited group are drinking Hennessy
cognac and champagne straight from the
bottle, and they arrive accompanied by
men in military uniforms, with machine
guns. Bystanders with smartphones
surround them in the hope of catching
the man at the centre, who’s setting the
scene on fire. His name: Davido.
The 27-year-old Nigerian is tonight’s
headlining artist at Afro Nation in Ghana
– billed as Africa’s biggest urban music
beach festival. Last January, Davido sold
out London’s O2 Arena, where he was
introduced onto the stage by fan/friend
Idris Elba. The video for his 2017 hit Fall
recently surpassed 158 million views on
YouTube, and his critically acclaimed
new album, A Good Time, gained him the
His billionaire father
wanted him to study
business in the US, but
Davido moved back to
Nigeria in 2011 to focus
on his music career
30

Afrobeats
“When I lived in
America, being
African wasn’t
a cool thing.
Now everybody
wants to make
African music”
Davido

Afrobeats
title ‘King of Afrobeats’. Which seems
fitting – as the son of a billionaire
businessman, he loves to make a grand
entrance. Last night, when Davido arrived
in Accra, a presidential SUV motorcade
escorted him from the airport, and the
star waved to astonished passers-by from
the sunroof of his Range Rover Evoque.
We’re promised a brief interview before
his show, but it won’t be easy. Dozens of
fans, friends and journalists fight for the
king’s attention. There are elaborate
handshakes, “Yooooo!”s, clinking glasses.
When finally The Red Bulletin is granted
an audience in his tent, Davido excitedly
tells us about the success of Afrobeats, the
West African pop genre that has taken
over the world’s music charts in recent
years. “It’s our new oil,” he says of the
genre’s economic potential. “When I
lived in America, being African wasn’t
cool. The first thing you’d hear about
Africa is scam and poverty. Now people
talk about the culture, the food. Now
everybody wants to make African music.”
After only three minutes, Davido’s
sister is pulling him away – it’s time to
get on stage. But first she puts her hand
on his neck and summons a small group
to gather around him in a circle. “Praise
the lord,” she shouts, theatrically. “You,
David, are blessed, you are favoured, and
you are going to kill it. Amen.” There’s
applause, hugs, cheering. Supermodel
and Davido fan Naomi Campbell is part
of the prayer circle. Following the singer
and his entourage towards the main stage,
she tells us, “There’s such an appetite for
Africa. Finally, the world has woken up
and realised there’s a beautiful continent
it has ignored. But the best thing is,
[Africa] didn’t need us. Afrobeats doesn’t
need us. We need them.”
Afrobeats (not to be confused with
Afrobeat – a blend of jazz and funk
popularised by Nigerian musician
Fela Kuti in the 1970s) is an umbrella
term for contemporary pop music
from West Africa, predominantly Nigeria
and Ghana. Its artists mix rap and R&B
with syncopated dancehall rhythms and
local genres such as highlife and jùjú to
create sweet, lighthearted songs that
make it hard to stand still.
The wider world discovered the sound
in 2016 through Canadian superstar
Drake’s hit single One Dance, which had
elements of Afrobeats and featured one
of the scene’s biggest names, Nigerian
artist Wizkid. At the time, One Dance
became Spotify’s most played song ever,
with more than a billion individual
streams. Ever since, Afrobeats has been
on everybody’s lips. Numerous rap and
R&B artists, from Snoop Dogg to Chris
La Même Gang
32

“I’ve never
consciously tried
to incorporate
Afrobeats into
my music. It just
comes naturally”
Yxng Bane
Yxng Bane (centre)
recently visited his
father’s family in the
Congo to meet up with
local music legend
Adolphe Dominguez

A few years
ago, Wizkid
performed his
songs at a
300-capacity
venue in east
London. Now
he fills the O2
With the support of
Drake, Wizkid became
Afrobeats’ first global
star in 2016

Afrobeats
Brown, have experimented with the
sound and collaborated with the likes of
Davido, Burna Boy and Mr Eazi. In July
last year, Beyoncé predominantly picked
Afrobeats artists for her soundtrack
album The Lion King: The Gift, saying,
“I wanted it to be authentic to what is
beautiful about the music in Africa.”
It’s rumoured Bey and her husband
Jay-Z will be among the celebrities
visiting Accra for the Year of Return,
a governmental initiative encouraging
African diasporans to come to Ghana and
celebrate the continent, 400 years after
slavery began in America. There’s a buzz
as market stalls along busy Oxford Street
sell bootleg T-shirts reading “Welcome
to Accra, Bey”, and many open-air bars
blast her tunes alongside local anthems
such as Mr Eazi’s Tony Montana. (Sadly,
the rumours ultimately prove untrue.)
Afro Nation is the biggest event
planned for the Year of Return. Following
its debut in Portugal in July 2019, the
organisers are bringing the four-day
festival to Accra’s Laboma Beach Resort,
attracting 18,000 music fans and artists
from all across Africa and beyond. As
well as local dons such as Wizkid and
Davido, acts including Tanzanian rap
duo Navy Kenzo, Congolese powerhouse
Innoss’B and Moonchild Sanelly from
South Africa are united on the bill.
The festival’s pan-African orientation
is one of the things that makes Afro
Nation unique, explains Moonchild
Sanelly, who is not an Afrobeats artist by
definition – the 31-year-old singer with
the signature mop of blue curls fuses
electro-funk, rap and the South African
house genre gqom. Sanelly stresses the
importance of transglobal cooperation to
the worldwide success of African music.
“The spotlight is on West Africa right
now, which is a big chance for all of us,”
she says, referring to her collaboration
with Ghanaian artist Okuntakinte. What
pushed her career like nothing else,
though, was her feature on Beyoncé’s
Lion King soundtrack. “There’s no bigger
co-sign. My streaming numbers went
from thousands to millions within a few
weeks – and my pay cheques changed.”
The majority of non-African artists on
the bill come from the UK. London has
established itself as a home away from
home for Afrobeats. Second-generation
Africans such as Yxng Bane incorporate
the genre’s light mood and shuffling
beats into their rap tracks, creating
a sub-genre dubbed Afroswing.
London has
established itself as
a home away from
home for Afrobeats
The east London-born rapper – whose
track with fellow Brit Yungen, Bestie,
went top 10 in the UK in 2017 – looks
satisfied after his set (which, unusually,
saw a couple get engaged on stage). “I’ve
never consciously tried to incorporate
Afrobeats into my music,” he says. “It just
comes naturally. My parents are from
Congo and Angola, so I’m an African
boy.” Asked why Afrobeats is making
such huge waves abroad, the 23-year-old
points to artists from the diaspora.
“African music used to come from Africa,
but now a lot of it is made by secondgeneration
Africans born in Europe and
the US. When we’re doing Afrobeats, it’s
easier for people at home to consume.”
The Afrobeats craze started a bit
earlier in the UK than elsewhere –
Nigerian musician D’Banj’s dance
track Oliver Twist debuted at number
nine on the UK singles chart in 2012.
This was the tune that elevated African
pop music from the communities into a
broader urban space, explains radio and
TV presenter Adesope Olajide. Here at
Afro Nation, Olajide is better known
as ShopsyDoo, the Energy Gawd – a
nickname that is well-deserved. With his
equally agile colleague Eddie Kadi, the
entertainer introduces every act to the
stage, and he bridges the time between
live sets by dancing, joking, and getting
women from the audience on stage for
an impromptu twerking competition.
Back home in London, Olajide is
known for being one of Afrobeats’
earliest UK supporters. During a break,
the 43-year-old sits down to talk (or,
rather, hoarsely whisper – being on stage
for 10 hours a day has left its mark)
about the early days. Around 2008, he
and Afro Nation founder SMADE – real
name Adesegun Adeosun Jr – flew Wizkid
to London for the first time to perform at
a 300-capacity club in east London. After
the gig, the singer slept on SMADE’s sofa.
Today, Wizkid fills the O2 Arena.
When asked about the significance of
Afrobeats in the diaspora, Olajide refers
to a line by British-Nigerian grime star
Skepta in the 2015 remix of Wizkid’s song
Ojuelegba (“When I was in school, being
African was a diss. Sounds like you need
help saying my surname, miss”). “[In the
past] a lot of first- and second-generation
Africans didn’t want to identify themselves
as African,” he says. “Their surnames
were being slaughtered because people
couldn’t pronounce them. Even black
people with Caribbean heritage would
mock the African kids. But with the
advent of D’Banj and Wizkid, a lot of
‘King of Afrobeats’ Davido (centre) is joined by his elder sister Coco Adeleke and a (literal)
circle of friends for an impromptu prayer before his performance at Afro Nation Ghana
THE RED BULLETIN 35

Afrobeats
these kids saw celebrities who looked
like US rap stars, and they felt like, ‘Hold
on, these guys are not the African image
that has been sold to us.’ A lot of them
started to come out of their shells and
identify more with their heritage.”
Olajide raves about the sense of unity
and pride that Afrobeats instilled in kids
of the diaspora, citing his 13-year-old
daughter as an example. “I speak Yoruba
to her,” he says, “but her pronunciation
comes more from the Nigerian artists she
listens to. That’s why it’s gone beyond the
business element and become something
bigger. My daughter is growing up in a
world where, to her, Davido is as much
a superstar as Justin Bieber.”
As recent as 10 years ago, it was
unimaginable that songs in Yoruba
would be released by major labels and
appear on heavy rotation on mainstream
radio stations, or that the biggest artists
in Western music would not only sample
an African musician’s track but instigate
a collaboration to increase their coolness.
What has changed? Olajide and Kadi
point to the internet – the “ultimate
equaliser”, as they call it. On one hand,
social media made it possible to cut out
the gatekeepers at traditional radio
stations that kept Afrobeats off the air;
on the other, internet artists abroad have
discovered their similarities, says Olajide.
“Young artists like Drake and Skepta
realise that the only difference between
them and Burna Boy or Wizkid is their
location. They have the same lifestyle
36

“My daughter is growing
up in a world where, to her,
Davido is as much a
superstar as Justin Bieber”
Ade Olajide
Capturing the moment at Afro
Nation Ghana. Opposite: Ade Olajide
says Afrobeats has brought pride
and unity to Africans in the diaspora

and are into the same things. It’s only
natural they would collaborate.”
Another aspect is the economic
potential that comes with these teamups,
as BBC World Service journalist and
Afrobeats expert Hannah Ajala points
out. “American artists and record labels
realised the potential of combining two
huge world markets,” she says. “Nigeria
alone is peaking at 200 million in
population size.” On top of this, the local
entertainment business is booming.
According to a 2017 report by business
consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCooper,
the Nigerian music industry was
expected to experience an annual growth
rate of 13.4 per cent up until 2021, a rise
from £30m in 2016 to £56m.
If you want to find out how it all started
in Accra, we’re told, you must speak to
Ruddy Kwakye. This is easier said than
done – Kwakye is the event producer
of Afro Nation, which means he’s in
charge of almost everything. Barely does
a moment pass when his radio isn’t
demanding his attention or someone
isn’t tapping him on the shoulder and
asking, “Ruddy, do you have a second?”
We join the queue, and after 20 minutes
the former radio presenter and brand
representative for MTV Base Africa is
ready for us. He tells us about the crises
that befell the Ghanaian music industry
after the military coups of the ’60s/’70s.
“We used to have a vibrant scene with
professional recording studios built by
our first president [Kwame Nkrumah],
and we were about to set up a proper
music industry,” he says. “But by the time
I grew up, in the dark days, most of the
studios had closed, and former music
venues and cinemas had been converted
into churches. Music went underground.
It was only in the mid-’90s that radio was
liberalised and there was new demand
for local music, reviving the scene and
providing a viable means of distribution.”
Artists began to fuse traditional sounds
with R&B and rap influences, laying the
foundation for Afrobeats. Today, says
Kwakye, there are around 60 local radio
stations in Accra blasting out the genre
all day. When asked about the economic
potential of Afrobeats, the 39-year-old
references Afro Nation’s success and the
trickle-down effect on local tourism. “But
we need to start putting infrastructure in
place,” he says. “It’s nice when you invite
me to your house, but when you convert it
into a bar you make me come back every
“My streaming numbers
went from thousands
to millions within weeks
thanks to Beyoncé”
Moonchild Sanelly
day. Ghana’s selling point is the country’s
political and economic stability. We’re
still an easy country to enter and to stage
an event like this one, but we need to
move fast – other countries see our
achievements and they’re coming.”
Despite the stability that makes Accra
a haven for creatives from all over the
world – The New York Times dubbed it
“Africa’s capital of cool”, while Time Out
lists historic fishing district Jamestown
as one of the world’s most fashionable
neighbourhoods – it’s still a challenge
to carve out a living as a musician here.
Bootlegging – whether illegal downloads
or CDs sold in the street – is still a
problem, due to the unavailability in
West Africa of streaming services such
as Spotify. In addition to this, artists
complain that they are not receiving
royalties from radio airplay of their
music. In 2017, Ghanaian dancehall star
Shatta Wale called out the Ghana Music
Rights Organization on Facebook with
an angry post that read, “GHAMRO, are
you ready to pay my royalties or you
want me to go haywire!!”
KwakuBs, a member of Accra-based
music collective La Même Gang, can
empathise. “One time, I found out one of
my songs was used in a movie, but no one
ever asked me,” he says. “Anyone just
does anything over here, because even
the police wouldn’t do much about these
things.” At Afro Nation the previous night,
KwakuBs and his five bandmates set the
38 THE RED BULLETIN

Afrobeats
“[Drinking and
smoking] are the
old generation. I am
the future. I want
to be a role model”
Rema
Clockwise from above left: South Africa’s Moonchild Sannelly; local music scene expert
and Afro Nation Ghana’s event producer Ruddy Kwakye; 19-year-old sensation Rema
stage on fire with their bass-laden tracks.
Today, the boys, all in their early twenties
and heavily tattooed, are chilling in
producer Nxwrth’s bedroom studio. Some
of them are on a Nintendo Switch, others
play with Nxwrth’s dog Astro (named
after Travis Scott’s album Astroworld),
while KwakuBs records vocals.
When the group formed in 2017,
Afrobeats was on the cusp of becoming
a global phenomenon, which made them
want to do something different. When
Nxwrth, a 23-year-old sporting pink
mini-dreads, boldly states, “I’m trying to
change the soundscape in Ghana,” you
can see where he’s coming from. With
kick drums layered in heavy sub bass,
tunes such as Know Me and Stone Island
are closer in sound to trap than to classic
Afrobeats, and their songs celebrate an
individualist lifestyle. “Ghanaians have
very strong opinions, especially in terms
of morals,” KwakuBs says. “You can’t look
a certain way, can’t just give a brother a
hug. We have tattoos and dyed hair, which
went against everything and was met
with negativity at first. But recently there
was a shift. We’re part of a new wave.”
This new wave also includes local
fashion labels like Free the Youth and
design collectives such as The Weird Cult
– like-minded artists who motivate each
other and, through collaboration, give
one another a platform away from the
mainstream. As the local Afrobeats radio
stations refuse to play La Même Gang’s
tunes, these artistic synergies help them
gain the attention of international music
and fashion publications. “We wear our
friends’ clothes in our videos – they make
merchandise for us,” says La Même Gang
member Darkovibes. “We believe that
if you want to move far, move together.
You want to move fast, you go alone.”
Also part of this new wave is 19-yearold
Rema from Benin City, Nigeria, whose
track Iron Man made it onto Barack
Obama’s favourite songs list for 2019,
and who topped the Apple Music Nigeria
chart last year with his eponymous debut
EP. This happened, Rema says, not
because but in spite of the international
success of Afrobeats. When he started
out, people around Rema advised him to
make music within the genre, but instead
he decided to rap and use Arabic melodies,
which infused his melodic pop songs with
spirituality. These choices are a result of
his upbringing: Rema’s father and brother
died when he was a child, and rapping in
church gave him hope and motivation.
Initially, Rema struggled to get his
music heard, but when he was signed by
Don Jazzy – co-writer of Oliver Twist and
owner of Nigeria’s biggest independent
record company, Mavin Records – his
career took off. In stark contrast to his
idols, such as Wizkid and Davido, Rema
renounces the glamorous lifestyle. He
doesn’t drink or smoke, doesn’t show off
expensive clothes. When quizzed on the
subject, the quiet, thoughtful young man
smiles. “You see,” he says, “they are the
old generation. I am the future. I want to
be a role model for kids.”
Minutes later, he steps out on stage in
a black tie-dye T-shirt and jogging pants
to rapturous applause. “I am Rema,” he
declares. “Every country I go to, they tell
me I am the future.” A sea of smartphones
captures the moment to transmit to the
world. The ascendency of pop music
from West Africa has only just begun.
afronation.com
THE RED BULLETIN 39

BLAZING
SADDLES
When you marvel at a horse-riding stunt in a film,
chances are it’s the Griffiths. For more than
a century, this family has flouted the laws of physics
and common sense in live spectacles and on
the silver screen. But the death-defying dynasty’s
greatest trick may be surviving and thriving together
Words HAL ESPEN
Photography JIM KRANTZ

Gattlin Griffith, 21, is
keeping trick riding alive
and, along with his
father and three brothers,
helping to advance
this long-practised art
into the future
41

Trick riders
THE CELLULOID IMAGE
OF THE COWBOY – an agile
horseback rider galloping across a
widescreen Western landscape – ripples
across our collective consciousness. But
it’s the art of trick riding that heightens
this shared dream to something thrilling
and tangible. Hollywood stuntman and
horse master Tad Griffith defines it thus:
“Horses running at breakneck speed while
men or women perform impossible things
on them.” It’s a gymnastic choreography
of twists, swings, drags, stands, leaps and
remounts that transform the airspace
around a horse into a balletic playground.
It looks dangerous, and it is: Tad’s
mother and performing partner Connie
was killed when her horse Winnie fell
on her during a rodeo exhibition. She
was 56, the age her only son is today.
The heyday of competitive trick riding
was the early to mid-20th century, and
today it mostly survives as a ‘specialty
act’ to entertain crowds at rodeos. But
at their ranch in Agua Dulce, California,
Tad and his sons – Gattlin, Callder,
Arrden and Garrison – have retooled the
sport into something beyond nostalgia.
If you saw the Coen brothers’ 2016
film Hail, Caesar!, that’s Gattlin executing
a shoulder stand and somersaulting
dismount as actor Alden Ehrenreich’s
stunt double. For the gunfight-onhorseback
scene in John Wick: Chapter 3,
Keanu Reeves spent weeks training in
Agua Dulce, and Tad designed a rig that
kept Reeves and the horses safe amid the
mayhem. On YouTube, you can watch
the four young Griffith brothers execute
a jaw-dropping, high-velocity routine on
America’s Got Talent.
The Griffiths’ pedigree goes back to
the dawn of professional rodeo and their
Oklahoman great-grandparents Curley
and Toots Griffith. Curley could wrestle
a steer to the ground after leaping onto
it from a speeding automobile, and the
diminutive Toots was a daring Roman
rider (standing atop two horses running
side by side). Trick riding is a hybrid of
the Wild West show and the acrobatics
of Russian Cossacks. By the 1920s, the
vogue for Stetson-wearing tricksters was
peaking when Curley and Toots’ son Dick
became a champion at the age of nine.
He remained a force in rodeo until his
retirement in 1954. A few years later,
Dick married his star pupil, Connie
Rosenberger, and became her manager.
Their son arrived in 1962 and turned pro
aged five. Under his father’s tutelage,
Tad became a master trick-rider, rodeo
champion, and half of a mother-and-son
act that performed for three decades.
STUNT CENTRAL
Rolling up the driveway of the Griffith
compound, you enter a wonderland of
corrals and paddocks. There’s a big rig,
motorboat, dirt bikes and stunt cars, the
skeleton of a tepee, and an Old West
Below: Arrden, 16, star of stunts
and sitcoms. Right: Callder,
18, finds time for a selfie while
nailing a hippodrome stand
42 THE RED BULLETIN

“Every single stride, for an instant
you’re weightless – that’s where
you make your transitions”
THE RED BULLETIN 43

“We can only use horses
that want to do it. I know my
horses enjoy performing”
stagecoach leaning drunkenly on the
hillside. Scattered about are trampolines,
the mounted torso of a battered dummy,
and a platform for practising stunt falls.
There are also 50 horses, 10 goats, eight
donkeys, four cows, four dogs, two cats,
one fish, and a restless herd of Griffiths.
The place was nothing but weeds
when Tad arrived in 1998 with his new
wife Wendy, who was expecting their
first child, Gattlin. For the preceding
eight years, Tad and Connie had blazed
through almost 6,000 performances at
King Arthur’s Tournament, a medieval
dinner-and-jousting show at Las Vegas’
Excalibur Hotel. Tad was making his
name in Hollywood; his breakthrough
was a Roman-riding scene in that year’s
The Mask of Zorro. When the Vegas gig
ended, Connie refused to retire. On a
Saturday night in August 1998, while
Tad was shooting a scene in New Mexico
for the Will Smith movie Wild Wild West,
she travelled alone to a small rodeo in
Utah – her final performance.
RESPECT THE HORSE
Sitting at the dining table, next to a
cabinet crammed with trophies, Tad
offers a crash course on the family
business: a training philosophy based on
the principle that only animals who love
to perform can succeed in trick riding.
“We can only use horses that want to
do it,” he says. “I know my horses enjoy
performing – they love the audience, the

Trick riders
energy. As riders, we literally have to lay
the reins down – we’re backward or
upside down – and they have to do their
part on their own. Horses are characters;
they need praise. We only talk about
positive things in front of them. They
learn how to brace, much like an adagio.”
(In acrobatics, an adagio pair has one
person as a base, the other as a flier.)
Tad credits his father Dick with
revolutionising trick riding via force,
direction and timing. “The horse leads
the dance, they control the cadence.
You’re either working with it or against
it. My dad discovered that when you’re
vaulting, if you think about going up
instead of getting on, the horse can throw
you to places you couldn’t get to any
other way. Use the power of the horse to
send you up and getting back on takes
care of itself. He also showed how to use
the timing of the horse. Every stride, for
an instant, you’re weightless – that’s
where you make your transitions.”
During Dick Griffith’s long career,
he mastered more tricks than any other
rider before or since, but the grind took
its toll. He performed through the pain
of repeated injuries to his wrists, ankles
and feet, and would apply frozen ether
as a numbing agent. Towards the end of
Dick’s life, Tad says, “he started having
major seizures and headaches from all
the concussions and hellacious crashes,
and back then they didn’t have pain pills,
so alcohol was the painkiller”. When his
The Griffith brothers perform
a repertoire of spins, swings
and stands at Vasquez Rocks
in Agua Dulce, California.
Opposite: a poster showing
their grandfather Dick as
a nine-year-old prodigy
45

“The horse leads
the dance; you’re
dancing with them,
but they control
the cadence”
Leader and spokesbrother Gattlin
makes a stand – a shoulder stand,
to be pedantic
46 THE RED BULLETIN

Trick riders
father died in 1984, at the age of 71,
Tad took note. “My kids were trained
completely differently,” he says, quietly.
BORN TO RIDE
Gattlin, a 21-year-old with a heartfelt
demeanour and a wide DiCaprio-esque
face, is the leader and spokesman for the
brothers. Three years younger is Callder,
a young man with an intense gaze and
a wry smile, who is currently rooming
with his older brother at Santa Monica
College, and who returned from a recent
rodeo-scouting expedition in Canada
with reports of Calgary’s hard-charging
cowgirl trick riders. Arrden, 16, who
sports a swooping wing of cinnamon hair,
became the first to break a bone (his
ankle) during a trick-riding run last year.
And blue-eyed Garrison – 11, with a spray
of freckles across his face – proved an
expert prankster in a series of Subaru ads.
Gattlin and Callder conduct a tour of
the Griffith menagerie. The ranch’s
The trick being performed here by Arrden is known,
for obvious reasons, as the back breaker
affectionate animal-naming convention
centres on pairs: Jesse and James, Clash
and Titan, Dallas and Cowboy, Bert and
Ernie, and the cows Ben and Jerry – they
treat their beasts with a tenderness more
akin to family than livestock.
For the brothers, trick riding runs
parallel with acting in film, TV and
adverts. Gattlin has made his mark in
major roles, from a kidnapped child in
Clint Eastwood’s 2008 film Changeling
to a 12-year-old demon in the TV series
Supernatural. Callder’s CV includes stunt
work for the show American Horror Story
and a role in the 2016 Western Boonville
Redemption, while Arrden has appeared
in the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. Most
recently, Garrison – together with Gattlin
– performed in Safety, a short film about
a school shooting. The siblings appear
unjaded by their exposure to star power,
even oblivious to the sketchier side of
Hollywood. This seems to have been part
of Tad’s second-act master plan once he
knew he’d offer his sons the chance to
take on the dangers of trick riding.
Tad’s ethical quandaries were not only
confined to putting his own boys at risk.
Alongside being a versatile stuntman –
from flipping a semi-truck for the Fast &
Furious franchise to being burned alive in
2001’s The Last Castle – he is a livestock
coordinator and stunt-horse trainer. Tad
knew he was joining an industry with a
chequered past regarding the treatment
of animals. Horror stories abound from
the old Western days, and as recently as
2012 the TV series Luck was cancelled
after three horses died during filming.
Keeping the impact of live action while
eliminating downside risk became Tad’s
crusade. “I’d been on many projects that
were a long way from well thought out,”
he says. “I was inspired to find a way that
was safer, quicker and more humane.”
For 2003’s Seabiscuit (2003), Tad
coordinated a sequence that illustrates
this challenge. A jockey, played by Tobey
Maguire, is seriously injured when thrown
from a panicked horse and dragged for
an excruciating distance with his foot
caught in the stirrup. Tad rehearsed with
a hundred slow drags before he felt the
horse was ready to perform at speed.
For the mounted chase in John Wick 3,
a 120m rubber runway was constructed
beneath an elevated subway track, and
the horse shod with rubber shoes. Tad’s
team drove the horse via lines from
above and in front, while a safety harness
created an invisible protective box in the
event of a stumble. Lately, he has been
testing a system designed to let a camera
operator shoot while on horseback. “I
can chase actors and horses down creeks
and up through trees where an ordinary
camera rig can’t follow.” Engineering
solutions like this are Tad’s answer to the
CGI takeover of physical action sequences
– a conviction born from a thousand live
shows where nothing can be faked.
Tad is pleased by his sons’ bridging
of old and modern. There’s pride when
he talks about the Wild West Express at
the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo five
years ago – 30 performances in 17 days.
“It’s the biggest, most prestigious show in
the world, and we’re only there because
of our name. The kids are feeling the
pressure of all that, and the fact they
could die. That show is the quintessence
of my life: anticipation, struggle, relief.
They’ve shared the experience of
learning how to do it; they know where
they came from.” And they survived it.
THE RED BULLETIN 47

Team Rubicon
Canada member
Kyle Kotowick aids
the relief effort
in Mozambique
following Cyclone
Idai last March
They’re one
of the world’s
foremost
disaster relief
organisations,
dropping into
danger zones
to help society’s
most vulnerable.
Here’s how a
team of military
veterans formed
TEAM RUBICON
48 THE RED BULLETIN

The disaster
ARTISTS
TEAM RUBICON
Words
TOM WARD
THE RED BULLETIN 49

Team Rubicon
JANUARY 12, 2010.
IT WAS 4.53PM WHEN THE
EARTHQUAKE HIT THE
ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA
In the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince –
25km to the north-east of the epicentre –
people were going about their business.
Suddenly the ground shook, buildings
cracked to their foundations, and the
entire world was turned inside out. By
the time the 7.0 magnitude earthquake
had subsided, almost 300,000 buildings
had collapsed or been severely damaged.
It was a disaster that, according to
various government estimates, claimed
between 230,000 and 316,000 lives.
Alongside the many thousands dead
were embassy staff, the Archbishop of
Port-au-Prince, and 32 members of the
Haitian Football Federation. A further
1.5 million people were made homeless,
among them then-President René Préval,
who found himself dispossessed after
both his home and the presidential palace
were destroyed. In the nights following
the quake, many Haitians slept in cars,
doorways and makeshift shanty towns.
By January 14, the city’s morgues were
full, meaning that many bodies were left
in the streets as crews trucked thousands
more to mass graves. Meanwhile, the
thousands of unrecovered bodies buried
in rubble began to decompose in the heat
and humidity. With five hospitals in Portau-Prince
destroyed or damaged, and
roads blocked by debris, the situation in
this, the poorest country in the Western
Hemisphere, was desperate.
While the international community
organised relief operations, former US
Marine Jake Wood watched events unfold
on the news. With a four-year tour in the
Middle East under his belt, including
counter-insurgency missions in Iraq’s
bloody Anbar Province and eight months
on a sniper team in Afghanistan, he felt
compelled to help. Just 60 days out of
the military, Wood was fit, experienced
at operating in destabilised countries,
and had many transferable skills.
Wood, then 27, called a local disaster
relief organisation to offer his services,
but was turned down. Determined to get
to Haiti under his own steam, he posted
on Facebook, asking if anyone wanted
to join him. Former Marine intelligence
officer William McNulty, a 33-year-old
friend of a friend, answered the call.
The pair flew to the Dominican Republic
– Haiti’s neighbour on Hispaniola –
meeting up with another marine, and
a mate of Wood’s who happened to be a
firefighter. En route, they met a former
special forces medic and two doctors,
one of whom was a Vietnam veteran.
The motley group touched down in the
Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, and
were transferred to the Haitian border,
arriving four days after the quake.
“It was total chaos,” remembers
Wood. “There was this dust cloud in
the air from all the rubble. People were
digging for survivors. There weren’t
enough aid workers on the planet to
adequately address the needs there.”
Determined to prove themselves and
help as many people as possible, Wood’s
team set out to transport doctors and
nurses to hard-hit areas, establish mobile
triage clinics, and get critical patients to
hospital. “Organisations usually focus
on hospitals and setting up static clinics,”
ALAMY
50 THE RED BULLETIN

Torn apart: the 2010
earthquake in Haiti
flattened thousands
of buildings, killed
as many as 316,000
people, and made
many more homeless
THE RED BULLETIN 51

Team Rubicon
Clockwise from top left: former British soldier Matt Fisher assists rebuilding in Nepal; the organisation’s warehouse of supplies; a Team Rubicon medic
in Mozambique last March for Operation Macuti Light; planning relief in the typhoon-hit Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific in 2018
52 THE RED BULLETIN

TEAM RUBICON (3), GETTY IMAGES (1)
TEAM RUBICON
RESPONDED TO
310 DISASTERS
ACROSS THE
GLOBE – FROM
THE BAHAMAS
TO YORKSHIRE
– IN 2019 ALONE
Wood says, “but often people’s
vehicles are destroyed, or they’ll be
hesitant to leave their home because
of looters. Half the people we were
treating had horrific crush injuries
and couldn’t walk to a hospital. We
were pushing out into these parts of
the city and treating people on sight.”
On January 23, just 11 days after
the quake, the Haitian government
declared the end of the search-andrescue
phase of the relief operation.
But Wood’s team would stay 20 days,
only leaving when it became clear that
other agencies were better equipped
to deal with the longer-term fallout.
KICKING DISASTERS IN THE TEETH
Wood and McNulty’s experiences had
instilled in them a determination to
keep helping the vulnerable, so Team
Rubicon was formed then and there.
If the relief operation had taught them
one thing, it was that as military
veterans they had much to offer.
In the decade since Haiti, Team
Rubicon has gone from strength to
strength. The organisation responded
to 310 disasters across the globe –
from the Bahamas to Mozambique,
Indonesia to Yorkshire – in 2019 alone.
Today, its staff, whom Team Rubicon
jokingly urges to “Sign up. Get trained.
Kick disasters in the teeth”, has grown
to an estimated 105,000 volunteers;
75 per cent of these are either military
veterans or still in active duty, and
20 per cent are fire, medical or law
enforcement professionals.
Growing the organisation and proving
it was worthy of investment – those
onboard now include Carhartt, Bank
of America and Microsoft – was a long,
slow process. Instrumental to Team
Rubicon’s journey was Hurricane
Sandy, the 2012 disaster that cost 223
lives and caused more than $70 billion
in damage across the Bahamas,
Greater Antilles, US and Canada. The
team set to work clearing houses in
one of the hardest-hit areas, New York
City – an affluent metropolis that was
a stark contrast to Haiti. “We slept in
a warehouse in Brooklyn,” Wood says.
“We could walk up the street, covered
in mud, get an ice-cold beer, and it was
like the hurricane had never hit.”
Despite the home comforts, Team
Rubicon was focused on assisting the
city’s more exposed citizens. “There
was a high population of firefighters
and police officers [in the area we
were working in],” says Wood. “People
who had to put on the uniform every
day and go help someone else while
their home was rotting.” By mucking
out their homes, Wood’s team was
paying back some of this service.
Team Rubicon’s desire to help those
most in need is innate. “We always
direct our aid to the most vulnerable
people, and that doesn’t necessarily
mean where the most damage is,”
says Wood. “We go street by street,
documenting the destruction. This is
then mapped and combined with data
sets like the social vulnerability index,
flood plain levels, crime levels – any
demographic information we can get.
From that, we see who the most
vulnerable people are.”
If Sandy was the event that put
Team Rubicon on the map, 2017’s
Hurricane Harvey tested its abilities.
When Harvey hit Houston, the team
deployed more than 2,000 volunteers
from nine forward operating bases
covering almost 200 miles. As part of
its response, Team Rubicon bought its
own boats and sent them down to fish
survivors from the water. As a result of
the rescue and clear-up operation, it
was responsible for putting more than
1,000 families back in their homes.
Then, in 2019, Hurricane Dorian
hit the Bahamas, becoming one of the
most powerful recorded in the Atlantic
Ocean, with winds peaking at 300kph.
Team Rubicon deployed to the islands
the day after the storm hit.
THE RED BULLETIN 53

Top: a ‘greyshirt’ surveys the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas last September. Above: volunteers rescue a survivor of Hurricane Harvey,
which caused catastrophic flooding in Texas and Louisiana in August 2017. Opposite: providing support and reassurance in the Northern Mariana Islands
54 THE RED BULLETIN

Team Rubicon
TEAM RUBICON
“ALL THE
GRATITUDE
YOU RECEIVE
FROM THE
SURVIVORS
IS JUST SO
POWERFUL”
“It looked like a nuclear wasteland,”
Wood says. “All the trees were snapped
off 8ft [around 2.4m] above the ground
and bent back in one direction, like a
nuclear blast had hit them. Every power
line was down, every building destroyed.”
REBUILDING HOMES AND LIVES
In the reception area of Team Rubicon’s
national operations centre in Grand
Prairie, Texas, is a cartoon mural of
former US President Theodore Roosevelt
in boxing attire, leaning against the ropes
after a tough round in the ring. Alongside
are headshots of the company’s hardest
working employees of the last quarter,
and a quote from Roosevelt’s 1910
speech The Man in the Arena: “It is not
the critic who counts; not the man who
points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have
done them better. The credit belongs to
the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat
and blood; who strives valiantly…”
“Our CEO thinks the man in the arena
is the one who should get the press and
recognition,” explains William ’TJ’
Porter, deputy director of operational
support, whose own picture is among
those hanging on the wall. After a
13-year career in the military and then
as a law enforcement officer, Porter
joined Team Rubicon in 2012 and has
since been deployed to the aftermaths of
multiple tornadoes, wildfires, and more.
“Team Rubicon sets itself apart [from
other relief organisations] in two ways,”
he explains. “We can either be part of the
response, doing everything from searchand-rescue
to felling trees and opening
up roads, or we can provide direct
assistance to survivors.”
The latter usually involves helping
those with no or little insurance to return
to their home. Team Rubicon will gut the
entire house, then refit new flooring and
dry wall – an initiative that has sparked
a long-term rebuilding programme in
Houston. Assisting in this way is, Porter
says, one of the most gratifying parts of
the job. “When something like [Hurricane
Harvey] happens, people don’t know
where to turn. We get them to a point
where they have a stable house to live
in. All the gratitude you receive from
the survivors is so overwhelming. To see
someone go from being in shock, with
a 20,000-yard stare, to realising ‘Hey,
at least I have something now, and I can
build from there’ is really intoxicating.”
The team’s Texas office is one of three
in the US, housing a total of 150 full-time
staff. Just a short car ride from Dallas, the
base was chosen for its central location
and for its proximity to two international
airports. Team Rubicon moved here in
early 2016 and now has 29 staff working
in the office. There are no fancy
flourishes here; it looks like they turned
up one day four years ago, dumped their
stuff and got to work. It is from this
office that all operations are organised,
including transportation, logistics, field
leadership and mobilisation.
Team Rubicon operates domestically
and internationally, with operations
planning associates Adam Martin,
Lauren Vatier and Jacqueline Pherigo
scrubbing news sources daily to track
developing situations. Should a disaster
occur, the question is whether Team
Rubicon has the capabilities and
resources to support another operation
alongside those already in progress.
“Any time we have volunteers in the
field already, our priority is taking care
of them, whether it’s smaller localised
operations, or volunteers heading to an
international response,” explains Martin.
“What do we need to do to support them?
What do they need today?”
Part of this involves liaising with
other organisations to see what response
is being arranged elsewhere and how
Team Rubicon can best support this,
Vatier explains. Occasionally, the request
for help comes from outside agencies
such as the World Health Organisation
(WHO). It’s a point of pride that,
following a rigorous 18-month process,
Team Rubicon was the first NGO in
North America to be WHO-certified as
a mobile emergency medical team –
“a tough credential to get,” says Porter.
This means that it meets exacting
standards for deploying units to remote
or austere environments and remaining
self-sufficient for up to seven days.
In the back of the office space is
a large warehouse area – essentially
a survivalist’s wet dream – filled with
everything from chainsaws and foldable
cots to tech boxes. Each of the latter
contains three laptops, five iPhones, a
connector, a router and more, ensuring
that each team remains connected in
THE RED BULLETIN 55

Team Rubicon
Top: Operation Hard Hustle clears the debris left behind by Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017. Above: a token of gratitude for the medical emergency team
saving lives and rebuilding communities. Opposite: Dr Erin Noste, Team Rubicon’s deputy medical director, treats a patient in Mozambique
XX EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR
56 THE RED BULLETIN

TEAM XX RUBICON EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR
even the most remote environments.
With this equipment, the team is also
able to consult a remote doctor who
can step in and advise when medical
staff on the ground are sparse.
Naturally, there is a plentiful supply
of medication catering to pre-hospital
care including cuts, fractures and
tetanus, as well as plastic containers
full of medical packs with everything
from tents to water purification
systems. “The reality of the situation
is that the majority of times we go out,
we encounter people with a lack of
access to healthcare,” explains Porter.
“We’ve had to deal with infected
lacerations. We need to be prepared to
temporarily set a broken bone. There
can be malnourishment or no access
to clean drinking water, so we carry
antibiotics, too.”
The operations centre also houses
an impressive gym with TRX (bodyweight
resistance training) equipment,
workout benches and pull-up bars; it’s
essential that the team is able to hold
its own in remote locations. “Physical
fitness is important to us,” Porter says.
“The areas we work in are typically
very hot and humid. Frequently, you’ll
have to hike between seven and 10
miles with one of these rucksacks.
You have to be able to operate without
bringing the team down.”
Porter says illnesses among the
teams themselves are rare – which is
not to say operations are risk-free.
“We went to Nepal after the 2015
earthquake,” he recalls. “We had
a team of 45 on the ground when
the second earthquake occurred.
They removed themselves from the
building, did accountability, let us
know that they were safe, then
pressed on. In general, we’ve either
been pretty safe or pretty lucky.”
A CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
When The Red Bulletin visits in early
December 2019, Team Rubicon has
just deployed a unit to the Marshall
Islands in the central Pacific to assist
with the ongoing dengue fever
epidemic, and is also searching its
volunteer base for medical providers
who can fly out to Samoa at the
behest of the WHO to help tackle
a measles outbreak.
The organisation has also been
on the front line of the Australian
wildfires, a crisis that has – at the
“PEOPLE NEED
SOMETHING TO
RALLY AROUND
WHEN THINGS
GET CHAOTIC”
time of this magazine going to print
– seen more than 17 million hectares
of bushland razed, around 6,000
buildings destroyed, and as many
as 32 people (including volunteer
firefighters) killed. In 2019, the
Australian wildfire season began in
late August/early September – a full
three months earlier than usual. Since
then, the fire threat has been nearconstant,
with Team Rubicon Australia
(TRA) first invited by the Office for
Emergency Management to respond
to fires in Rappville in northern New
South Wales back in October. Its work
is primarily focused on debris and tree
removal at locations across NSW.
“In the last four months, we’ve
conducted more operations than
in the preceding three years,” says
TRA CEO Geoff Evans.
The team is now awaiting the
go-ahead to deploy to Victoria and
southern NSW, where fires still
rage. “The authorities in Victoria
and New South Wales are delaying our
deployment to these areas due to the
ongoing risk, and, more importantly,
so that they may vector us on to the
hardest-hit areas, some of which may
yet be to come,” says Evans.
In Australia, the challenge will be
maintaining on-the-ground support
across three areas of operation, as
well as managing the psychological
toll endured by homeowners, many of
whom, Evans says, have “lost all hope”.
Despite this, from Australia to
Dallas, the company’s ethos is one
of optimism, of finding hope in the
chaos. Porter recalls being dispatched
to Moore, Oklahoma, in the aftermath
of the 2013 tornado: “In one of the
neighbourhoods, there was a tree at
the end of a cul-de-sac. The tornado
came through and ripped all of the
leaves off, so all that was left were the
trunk and the branches; everything
else around it was flattened. But then
somebody took an American flag and
nailed it to the tree, and that became
a central [focus] point. People need
something to rally around when things
are so chaotic.”
For Porter, it’s moments like this
that make Team Rubicon’s work so
important. “Where there’s a need, we
try to fill it. The best thing about the
job for me is knowing we’re making
a difference,” he says. “One hundred
years from now, people will be writing
books on the things we’ve done.”
teamrubiconglobal.org
THE RED BULLETIN 57

“Life is a constant adaptation
– you can do what you
want, but in a different way”
Ben Tansley

SMALL
STEPS,
GIANT
STRIDES
The human spinal cord, just 13mm
thick and protected by the backbone,
contains a billion nerve cells, transmitting
vital signals between the brain and body.
When it’s damaged, the results are
devastating and, until recently, considered
largely irreversible. But revolutionary
science has shown remarkable recovery in
patients. We speak to three people with
severe spinal cord injuries about how
this research is transforming lives and
could one day deliver a cure
Words MARK BAILEY
Photography RICK GUEST
THE RED BULLETIN 59

“The doctor told me,
‘You didn’t break your back,
you exploded it’”
Ben Tansley

Wings for Life
“I just want to surprise people
and show what you can
do with a positive mindset”
Ben Tansley
On a sunny day in 2017, Ed Jackson – a 6ft 4in
pro rugby player – was at a barbecue at a
family friend’s house and took a dive into their
pool. Only when his skull smashed against the
bottom did he realise it was the shallow end.
“I tried to reach for my head to check for blood,”
he says, “but I couldn’t move. I panicked.”
Jackson was drowning. His dad, realising something was
wrong, raised him up. The ambulance journey to hospital
took more than two hours because Jackson had to be
resuscitated three times. He needed emergency surgery to
stabilise his spine. “My dad never looks worried, but he was
concerned. I knew this was a life-changing incident.”
Jackson had dislocated his C6-C7 vertebrae and shattered
the disc, sending shards through his spinal cord and leaving
just 4mm still connected. He was told he’d never walk again.
“This is something that happens to other people, never you,”
he says. Distraught, Jackson kept apologising to his partner,
Lois. At night, he’d imagine his toe wiggling. Then, on day
six… it did. The impossible was happening. “Before this,
winning championships would make me happy; suddenly
a wiggling toe meant so much more.”
The former Newport Gwent Dragons and England youth
number eight underwent rehab and hydrotherapy, treasuring
every millimetre of new movement. A year later, he stood
weeping on the 1,085m-high summit of Snowdon after a
gritty eight-hour hike. “To think where I was... it was a ‘pinch
me’ moment. That feeling became addictive.”
The 31-year-old from Bath has since climbed Meru Peak
(6,600m) in the Himalayas and co-founded the M2M
(Millimetres to Mountains) Group, which arranges hikes and
events for those with disabilities. Still lacking power down his
left side, he walks with a brace and a heavy limp. “Because of
my inefficient mechanics, I use 50 per cent more energy. In
Nepal, I burnt 11,000 calories a day.” This year, he will climb
Mont Blanc (4,808m) in the Alps, Gran Paradiso (4,061m)
THE RED BULLETIN 61

Wings for Life
in Italy, and Himlung Himal (7,140m) in Nepal. He hopes to
become the first quadriplegic to summit Everest (8,848m).
Jackson is one of more than 2.5 million people worldwide
to have suffered a devastating spinal cord injury (SCI) – a
uniquely complex condition for which no known cure exists.
SCIs are usually caused by road accidents (50 per cent), falls
(24 per cent), violence (17 per cent) or sports (nine per cent).
Men are most at risk in their twenties and women in their
teens – when they are most active – as well as in older age.
The prognosis is bleak. Typically, 53 per cent become
paraplegic (paralysis of the legs and trunk) and 47 per cent
quadriplegic (all four limbs and trunk). With ‘incomplete’
injuries (partial loss), studies suggest anywhere from 20 to
75 per cent might regain basic walking capacity. But with
‘complete’ injuries (full loss of movement and/or sensation),
only 10 to 20 per cent regain any sensory function within
a year, and restoring movement is rare. As a recovering
quadriplegic, Jackson’s progress is astonishing.
But some are proving they can enjoy life despite the
limitations of their current circumstances. The
Paralympic and Invictus Games have showcased
the power of disability sport, and others are now
chasing adventure and adrenalin instead.
Ben Tansley, a tattooed gym owner from Norfolk, broke his
T4 vertebra and suffered paralysis below the chest when a
fellow biker hit his motorbike in 2017. “The doctor said, ‘You
didn’t break your back, you exploded it,’” recalls Tansley, 34.
But his wheelchair doesn’t stop him kayaking, lifting weights
or planning epic challenges. “After reading that [Ross Edgley]
did a triathlon carrying a 45kg log, I dreamt I did a wheelchair
marathon with one,” he laughs. “I’m impulsive, so at 2am I
started looking for a charity marathon. I’ve now got the log.”
Tansley – ‘Tano’ to his friends – has already tackled the
Berlin wheelchair marathon (in 2018). For another charity
challenge, he plans to hand-climb (wheelbarrow style) the
2,744 steps of the Manitou Incline – an abandoned funicular
”I’ve noticed how people’s
perceptions of me have changed
after seeing what I’ve achieved”
Nathalie McGloin
62 THE RED BULLETIN

“It would be naive to think
everyone will become fully
able-bodied again, but if
we can improve our lives on
any level, we’re all for it”
Nathalie McGloin

Wings for Life
“Unlike most government institutions,
we can fund highly original
projects and think outside the box”
Dr Verena May, Wings for Life
railway near Colorado Springs – with a mate holding his
legs. “I just want to surprise people and show what you can
do with a positive mindset.”
Nathalie McGloin was just 16 when, as a passenger in
a car crash, she broke the C6-C7 vertebrae in her neck,
leaving her paralysed from the waist down. She is now
the world’s only female quadriplegic racing driver,
piloting an adapted, hand-controlled Cayman S in the
Porsche Club Championship. “The adrenalin is part of the
appeal, but I also get to race alongside able-bodied people,”
she says. “I’d never had that parity since my injury. But all
that matters here is your skill and bravery.”
During her traumatic time in hospital, McGloin focused on
“surviving each day” and “just dealing with being a teenager
while coping with my new ‘broken body’”. Some days, she
wanted to die. But now the Northampton racer talks excitedly
about her first win at Silverstone – “I’d never taken the flag,
so I didn’t know what to do” – the joy of racing in the rain,
and hitting that perfect sweet spot between speed and
control: “I call it ‘driving on the edge’.”
Arriving at our photoshoot, these three pioneers share a
natural athletic presence: Jackson is tall and chiselled with
a military bearing; Tansley has a tanned, muscular torso; and
McGloin radiates the sparkle of a self-confessed “adrenalin
junkie”. She talks about the thrill of testing rally cars. Jackson
discusses his new ‘Walk The Spine’ challenge – a 431km hike
along the Pennine Way, over the ‘backbone’ of England. And
Tansley, who can now take tentative steps with crutches, is
happy to do wheelchair pull-ups for the camera.
Together, they’ve demonstrated how people with SCIs
can enjoy extraordinary new experiences. But what if a lifechanging
cure could be found? Could outliers like Jackson
become the new normal? Only 75 years ago, those lucky
enough to survive an SCI would succumb to fatal infections or
complications. But although medical advances have extended
life expectancy, until recently a cure was deemed impossible.
One reason for this pessimism was biological. The spinal
cord contains a billion nerve cells (neurons) with ear-like
dendrites and tongue-like axons that ‘listen’ and ‘talk’ to
each other, constantly firing signals between your brain and
your body. They control movement, but also regulate your
temperature, blood pressure, and bladder, bowel and sexual
functions. But whereas most cells regenerate naturally,
neurons in your spine do not, suggesting the rampant cell
death triggered by an SCI must be irreversible.
The other reason was financial. SCIs represent a tiny
market for drug companies and medical bodies in comparison
with the rewards of curing more widespread issues such as
cancer. As a result, funding has been low and hope even
lower. A shocking 1994 survey found that only 18 per cent of
medics would be glad to be alive with a severe SCI, compared
with 92 per cent of people actually living with one.
But progress was made through the activism of Christopher
Reeve – the Superman actor who became quadriplegic after
falling from a horse in 1995. Along with his wife, he launched
the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to fund innovative
research. Critics branded him a pedlar of false hopes, and
some claimed talk of a ‘cure’ undermined injured people’s
struggles to accept reality. But Reeve’s hope was founded in
fact. Back in 1981, Canadian neurologist Dr Albert Aguayo
and neuroscientist Dr Sam David had discovered that by
transferring the leg nerves of paralysed rats into the animals’
spinal cords, axons began to regrow. Human application was
a distant dream, but the dogma-shattering revelation that
axons could regenerate gave Reeve hope. Although he died in
2004, his charity has now funded $136m (£105m) of research.
Today’s game-changing research is still driven by grassroots
campaigns. Wings for Life is a non-profit SCI research
foundation set up in 2004 by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz
and his friend, former motocross champion Heinz Kinigadner,
whose son Hannes was paralysed in a motocross accident in
2003. It has already funded 211 research projects in 19
countries. Events such as the Wings for Life World Run, which
takes place on May 3 (see page 67), help to fund its work.
“To find a cure for spinal cord injury is one of the last
huge riddles in medical research, but everyone is now
certain that the goal can be achieved,” insists CEO Anita
Gerhardter. “The question is not if, but when.” Scientific
Coordinator Dr Verena May agrees: “Those who research
such a complex area know it’s not easy, but you can feel that
determination now.”
But what does a ‘cure’ actually mean? “Foremost, we are
looking for an actual biological cure,” says Gerhardter.
“But the way to get to that cure is to restore functions
like arm movement or bowel and bladder function. It
is about much more than being able to walk.”
Some Wings for Life researchers are working to restore
movement. Professor Grégoire Courtine of the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology Lausanne and Professor Jocelyne
Bloch at the Lausanne University Hospital are conducting a
clinical trial, ‘Stimulation Movement Overground’ (STIMO),
which combines two treatments: precise epidural electrical
stimulation of the spinal cord and intensive robot-assisted
movement training. The former places an electrode over the
‘dura’, or protective coating, of the spine during rehabilitation
to stimulate dormant neurons, enabling subjects to voluntarily
flex their legs. The latter is a robotic system supporting their
bodyweight as they move. Within a week, participants began
to walk around the room with the support, and eventually
cover 1km on a treadmill, even though some had shown
64 THE RED BULLETIN

ED JACKSON
dislocated his C6-C7
vertebrae, shattering
the disc and severing
his spinal cord
BEN TANSLEY’s
T4 vertebrae
exploded, sending
shrapnel into his
spinal cord
Lumbar nerves
L1-L5
Communicate
between the brain
and legs
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8
T9
T10
T11
T12
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
Cervical nerves
C1-C8
Control the head
and neck
NATHALIE McGLOIN
shattered her
C6-C7 vertebrae
Thoracic nerves
T1-T12
Control the upper
back, chest
and abdomen
Coccyx
Sacrum
Sacral nerves
S1-S5
Extensive functions
throughout the
pelvis and legs
Spinal map
no previous neurological recovery in over four years of
rehabilitation. “It’s an amazing feeling,” says one patient,
David Mzee. He was told in 2010 he’d never walk again. Last
year, he walked 390m of the Wings for Life World Run.
Others are trying to help regrow axons. Professor Martin
Schwab of the University of Zurich discovered that axon
regrowth was being blocked by unhelpful growth inhibitors
dubbed ‘Nogo proteins’. When he deactivated them with the
help of antibodies – effectively turning the traffic lights from
red to green – new axons sprouted. Wings for Life is now
funding his research, as well as that of Yale’s Dr Stephen
Strittmatter, who has developed an injectable interceptor
molecule – dubbed the ‘Nogo trap’ – which masks these
inhibitors, leaving axons free to grow.
Full human trials take years to complete, but each new project
represents progress. Nevertheless, red herrings abound, so
it’s handy that Wings for Life researcher Professor Michael
Sofroniew of UCLA is a fan of detective fiction. He has restored
the reputation of glial cells – tiny ‘bodyguards’ that protect
neurons – which for decades were regarded as problematic.
Although they help form a healing scar after an SCI, this was
believed to hamper regrowth, but Professor Sofroniew found
that, by adding a hydrogel of growth-promoting factors, the
scar actually supports it. “Scientists, just like detectives, look
for clues and go against the most obvious answers,” he
explains. Wings for Life will always encourage novel thinking,
says Dr May: “Unlike most government institutions, we can
fund highly original projects and think outside the box.”
THE RED BULLETIN 65

“Before this, winning
championships would make me
happy; suddenly a wiggling
toe meant so much more”
Ed Jackson

Wings for Life
“We’re just telling people,
‘Don’t give up’”
Ed Jackson
STYLING: TONY COOK @ONE REPRESENTS; STYLING ASSISTANT: KAYLA GARNER-JONES; GROOMING: KATIE BEVERIDGE;
PHOTO ASSISTANT: FRANKIE LODGE, NICK RICHARDS, MARK TOWNSEND
With the help of foundations like Wings for Life, breakthroughs
are frequent. One project showcased how nanoparticles,
which can courier drugs to specific cells, could be used to
reduce inflammation at the injury site. Another showed how an
injection of 20 million stem cells, which can turn into almost
any body cell, can help rewire damaged neural circuits. And
one study is exploring how implants could stimulate the brain’s
mesencephalic locomotor region, responsible for mobility.
“It’s amazing,” says McGloin. “It would be naive to think
everyone will become completely able-bodied again, but if we
can improve our lives on any level, we’re all for it. If I could
have full hand function back, [as a driver] that would be
better than walking.” Tansley says any treatments that
researchers can deliver will have life-changing effects. “When
I used to see guys in wheelchairs, I never thought, ‘How do
they go to the toilet? What about sexual function?’” From
moving into a bungalow to getting “caked in mud” when
wheeling across a field to watch his son play football, he says,
“life is a constant adaptation – you can do what you want, but
in a different way. I try to do everything I did before”.
The mental challenge is often the hardest. An estimated 20 to
30 per cent of those with an SCI suffer from clinical depression.
McGloin believes setting new life goals is key: “Taking up
wheelchair rugby at university was the turning point. I stopped
being defined by my injury and began being defined by my
strengths.” She went on to represent Great Britain. After signing
up for a track day and getting hooked on racing, she was ready
for any obstacle. “To get my licence, I had to show I could exit
the car unaided in seven seconds – but I did it. When driving,
I just have more force through my arms than my legs, but the
physicality is the same. I’m just like every other driver.”
Different injuries require different goals. Jackson cites
former England rugby player Matt Hampson, who remains
paralysed after a scrummaging accident in 2005; his charity
has raised more than £1 million for injured young athletes.
“He hasn’t made a physical recovery, but he’s made a mental
recovery. He’s got a new purpose. To succeed isn’t just to
be walking again, but to be happy.”
Social prejudices may have faded, but awkwardness
lingers. “It’s always that elephant in the room,” says
Jackson. That’s why he relishes the “savage banter”
of his rugby friends. “It’s nice to be treated normally.”
McGloin believes London 2012 was a watershed: “The campaign
that Paralympians were superheroes was so positive. But I’ve
also noticed how people’s perceptions of me have changed
after seeing what I’ve achieved and how I present myself.”
Jackson, McGloin and Tansley are now proud Wings for
Life ambassadors, and their adventures, talks, blogs and socialmedia
work help raise funds – and hope. “Our ambassadors
are a reminder of why we’re doing this,” says Dr May. “We see
our work could lead to something, so they are a big motivator.”
Intriguingly, their adventures could trigger new medical
insights. Jackson has noticed that after extreme experiences
– like terrifying ridge walks in the Himalayas – his movements
are sharper. “In intense situations, your neurology is firing at
its absolute highest. You are really alert, so I think it stretches
your neurology in a positive way. Scientists at Bath University
are measuring my gait with infrared cameras before and after
a climb to get data on it.”
Many with an SCI can’t walk or scale mountains, but
Jackson encourages everyone to push their bodies and minds
in whatever ways their injury allows. “Doctors always give
you a guarded prognosis to avoid litigation, and the NHS can’t
fund your rehab for ever, so they always say you might not
recover. I’m determined to change that, because people shut
down. I’m still seeing recovery now. Two and a half years on,
Tano is standing. So we’re just telling people, ‘Don’t give up.’”
Research suggests that thanks to general medical advances
the number of paraplegics with ‘complete’ injuries who regain
motor function has risen from up to three per cent in the mid-
1990s to up to 15.4 per cent in the mid-2010s. But the most
profound changes are taking place within the minds of those
with SCIs. “If I failed at something before, it would eat me
up, but now I come back bigger and stronger,” says McGloin.
Jackson says he’s now annoyingly positive: “Life is too short to
say no to things.” And with 37,000 Instagram followers, Tansley
believes he has a vital new role in life. “Before, I might have
given 300 people gym advice and maybe two would make
a positive change. Now, my journey is inspiring so many.
When I was lying on the road that day, I said, ‘Something
good will come of this.’ It has. And I’m just getting started.”
Ed Jackson features in Red Bull’s new ‘How to Be Superhuman’
podcast. To donate to Wings for Life, text WINGS to 70800 (£5
donation; texts charged at normal rate) or go to wingsforlife.com.
Every penny goes towards spinal cord research.
JOIN THE WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD RUN
At 12 noon on Sunday, May 3, the Wings for Life
World Run begins, simultaneously launching around
the world. In this unique race, there’s no finish line:
30 minutes after the start, a Catcher Car sets off, chasing runners
along the course until they’re caught. The last person running is
named the worldwide winner. With no set distance, runners of all
abilities, from wheelchair user to ultrarunner, can take part. The
race has so far attracted 500,000 participants and raised more
than £21.5m for SCI research. “When we first started World Run
in 2014, the number of funding applications from neuroscientists
doubled,” says CEO Anita Gerhardter. “That was very cool. The
more smart people who get involved, the bigger the chance of
finding a cure.” To take part, go to wingsforlifeworldrun.com
THE RED BULLETIN 67

RUN FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T
MAY 3, 2020
CAMBRIDGE
JOIN
US
THE ONLY RACE WHERE THE FINISH LINE CATCHES YOU
WINGSFORLIFEWORLDRUN.COM/CAMBRIDGE

VENTURE
Enhance, equip, and experience your best life
CAVE
EXPLORING
Hang So’n
Ðoòng,
Vietnam
OXALIS ADVENTURE JOSHUA ZUKAS
69

VENTURE
Travel
Hang So’n Ðoòng remains an
unspoilt wonder, reached
only by those fit enough to
undertake a gruelling hike
a view,” quips my guide,
Hieu, as I gingerly traverse
along a 50m-long razorsharp
ridge jutting up from “What
a gaping crater carved into the depths of
the Earth. I assume he’s joking, because
when I peer down, there’s nothing but
pitch blackness in the cosmic abyss. If
I fell, the void would swallow me whole,
but I’m more concerned about slipping
and slicing my leg open on the edge.
It’s day three of an expedition to
Vietnam’s Hang So’n Ðoòng, the world’s
largest known cave. Estimated to date
back as many as five million years, the
cave is more than 5km long, 200m high
and 150m wide – large enough to house
a whole New York City block, complete
with skyscrapers. And for something so
big, it’s surprisingly hard to find. It wasn’t
until 1991 that a local logger, Hô Khanh,
stumbled upon the entrance in central
Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bàng National
Park – an area smaller than Hong Kong –
while sheltering from a storm, only to lose
it again for almost two decades. In 2009,
as word of his discovery spread, he joined
an expedition recruited by the British
Caving Association, who spent months
retracing his steps. To get here today,
our 10-person team has bushwhacked
through jungles, waded underground
rivers, and camped within vast chambers.
When I finally arrive at the end of
the ridge, Hieu unclips my harness,
giving me the opportunity to take in my
surroundings. It quickly becomes
apparent my guide wasn’t joking about
the view, only he was referring to the
spectacle above us, not what lies below.
I was so focused on my feet that I hadn’t
noticed the chasmal hole in the cave roof.
This ceiling collapse – otherwise known
as a doline – is the result of a seismic
shift that took place around half a million
years ago. Through the jungle-rimmed
aperture, a sunbeam plunges into the
cave like a gargantuan laser, illuminating
the most outlandish sight of all: the final
resting place of that collapsed ceiling is
a thriving underground rainforest.
Here in Hang So’n Ðoòng, there are plant
species that went extinct on the surface
hundreds of thousands of years ago.
The cave is cooler than outside, but also
more humid, birthing a unique ecosystem
not found anywhere else on the planet.
It’s a challenging environment for a
human: this morning, I awoke soaking
wet after spending the night in a tent
here. “Foot rot can set in if your feet
don’t dry,” I had been warned before
setting off on the expedition.
At Hieu’s heels, I climb up from the
abyss towards the light until I’m engulfed
by the subterranean jungle. A gigantic,
otherworldly stalagmite coated in green
moss rises from the foliage. “We call that
the wedding cake,” announces Hieu, even
though it looks more like an enormous
clump of mould. “You can climb to the top
if you like.” Cresting it, I absorb the 360°
vistas and can hear birds chirping on the
surface, just a few hundred metres above.
So untouched is this place that it’s easy
to put yourself in the shoes of Hô Khanh,
discovering the cave for the first time.
Today, more people have summited
Everest than have penetrated Hang So’n
Ðoòng, but that could soon change.
Once its status as the world’s largest
cave was confirmed, Hang So’n Ðoòng
Trekking Phong Nha-Ke
Bàng National Park
70 THE RED BULLETIN

The 90m-high ‘Great
Wall of Vietnam’
awaits cavers at the
end of their journey
Hanoi
RYAN DEBOODT, OXALIS ADVENTURE GETTY IMAGES
was immediately added to many
adventurers’ bucket lists. To cater for this
increased increase, in 2014 a Vietnamese
real-estate developer proposed the
construction of a 10km-long cable car
to ferry visitors from Phong Nha-Ke
Bàng National Park to the cave; this plan
was rejected by local officials, however,
following widespread opposition from
environmental activists. In 2016, even
President Obama joined the debate,
declaring during his final address to the
Vietnamese people, “Natural wonders like
So’n Ðoòng cave have to be preserved
for our children and our grandchildren.”
Phong Nha-Ke Bàng
National Park
Dong Hoi
Vietnam
Join the
expedition
PRICE: $3,000 (£2,300)
DURATION: Four full days
of exploration, with three
nights of camping and two
nights in a hotel
AVAILABILITY: January to August
GROUP SIZE: Six to 10 people
GETTING THERE: Fly from Hanoi
or Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi
Airport, from where you’ll be driven
to your hotel in Phong Nha for
a briefing. oxalisadventure.com
THE RED BULLETIN 71

VENTURE
Travel
There are plant
species here that
went extinct on the
surface hundreds
of thousands of
years ago
Scratch the
surface
More than just Hang So’n Ðoòng,
Phong Nha-Ke Bàng National
Park is a caver’s paradise
For now at least, Hang So’n Ðoòng
remains an unspoilt wonder, reached
only by those fit enough to undertake a
gruelling hike in extreme humidity, and
who are prepared for what awaits at the
end: the 90m-high calcite barrier known
as the ‘Great Wall of Vietnam’. Traversed
both by ladder and by rope, it forced
back the first survey team in 2009 when
they encountered it unprepared.
As an adventure travel writer living
in Vietnam, I’ve cultivated a healthy
addiction to caves, and the gargantuan
chambers of Hang So’n Ðoòng are
a great fix. But, for me, it’s the giant
dolines – there are two – that are most
awe-inspiring, even more so at night.
At 280m wide – more than twice the
length of a professional football pitch
– the largest offers a teardrop-shaped
window to an inky-black sky with a
splattering of twinkling stars. Where
else on the planet can you stargaze
from a campsite hundreds of metres
beneath the surface?
Deep impact: inside
Vietnam’s awe-inspiring
Hang So’n Ðoòng
Sizing up Hang So’n Ðoòng
The cave’s tallest chambers (200m high) would tower
over the Great Pyramid of Giza (146m). Some of
its stalagmites (80m high) would dwarf Paris’ Arc de
Triomphe (50m), and the world’s biggest church,
St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (220m wide), could pass
through the hole in the cave’s collapsed ceiling (280m).
200m
Stalagmites
Great Pyramid
of Giza
St Peter’s
Basilica
Arc de
Triomphe
146m
50m
175m
150m
125m
100m
75m
50m
25m
HANG PYGMY
Hang So’n Ðoòng in miniature,
although size is a relative concept.
The expedition involves a steamy
jungle trek, a gigantic cave entrance
with an underground garden, and
hair-raising, rope-assisted climbs.
HANG VA
Just a few kilometres from Hang So’n
Ðoòng and possibly connected to it.
Photographers descend on Hang
Va to snap symmetrical cone-shaped
stalagmites emerging from the
green-watered rock pools.
THIEN ÐOÒNG
A beginner’s introduction to the
region’s subterranean dominions,
‘Paradise Cave’ offers a wooden
walkway and professional lighting
systems, and, incredibly, you can
almost drive right up to the entrance.
Packing list
What to take with you
EAR PLUGS
You may have escaped humanity,
but not the crowds. The campsite is
home to thousands of chirping swifts.
Avoid being woken up at 5am when
they exit the cave to hunt.
BUG SPRAY
Never pull off a leech once it has
started sucking your blood – its teeth
will get stuck in your skin and the
wound will bleed like crazy. Apply bug
spray and the leech will roll right off.
TALCUM POWDER
The only way to avoid foot rot is to
dry out your feet at least once a day.
Don’t bother with a damp towel –
do the sensible thing instead and
pack some talc.
RYAN DEBOODT GETTY IMAGES, KEVIN GOLL
72 THE RED BULLETIN

This is Wales.
Check in.
Stwlan Dam, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Snowdonia #FindYourEpic visitwales.com

VENTURE
Equipment
Craig was given his first
Omega watch by his
dad on his 18th birthday.
It took 34 years – and
him becoming 007 –
before he got the chance
to design his own
There’s a moment in Daniel Craig’s first
outing as James Bond – the 2006 movie
Casino Royale – when British Treasury
agent Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green,
attempts to get a read on 007. “Rolex?”
she enquires of the inscrutable secret
agent’s taste in watches. “Omega,” he
corrects her. This is a defining moment
that sets apart Craig’s fresh take on
the famous spy from earlier, stuffier
incarnations. In truth, 007 has worn
an Omega ever since Pierce Brosnan’s
Bond debut in 1995’s GoldenEye, though
his connection with the Swiss watch
Craig in 2006’s Casino
Royale, sporting an
Omega Seamaster
Planet Ocean 600m
WEAR
Timepiece to die for
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m ‘007 Edition’
manufacturer – and specifically the
Seamaster line – goes back further.
When author Ian Fleming created the
suave secret agent, he drew inspiration
from real commandos he’d met during
his WWII posting with the British Naval
Intelligence Division, making Bond
a Royal Naval Reserve Commander. In
1957, when Omega released the first
Seamaster 300, it was based on the
waterproof wristwatches worn by the
British military in WWII; the rubber O-ring
gasket was even inspired by submarines
of the time. The timepiece proved a hit
with British naval divers, and by 1967 the
Ministry of Defence had commissioned
Omega to produce a ‘mil-spec’ (military
specification) version, engraved ‘0552’
on the back to designate it the property
of the Navy. Come 1995, when 007
costume designer Lindy Hemming
was kitting out Brosnan for GoldenEye,
she decided that “Commander Bond,
a naval man, diver and a discreet
gentleman of the world, would wear
the Seamaster with the blue dial”.
There has been a Seamaster 300 on
Bond’s wrist ever since.
To mark Craig’s final outing as
the stylish spy – this year’s No Time
To Die – Omega created this 42mm
Seamaster Diver 300 ‘007 Edition’,
constructed from Grade 2 titanium,
in collaboration with the actor himself.
“I had some suggestions and they ran
with it,” says Craig. “When Omega
showed me titanium watches in the
past, I always thought, ‘Wow, it’s like
you’re not even wearing a watch.’ They
said, ‘Let’s make it.’ We’re talking about
a difference of grams, but it’s incredibly
comfortable.” Craig’s influence also
extended to its alternative NATO strap –
“I’ve been doing that for years, sticking
them on NATO straps” – and ensuring
military authenticity: “You have that
heritage with Omega and the British
army watches of the Second World War,”
he says. “All those things I wanted to
connect through, they’ve done it.”
Most telling is the serial number
on the caseback, which features an ‘A’
(denoting a screw-in crown); the selfexplanatory
‘007’; ’62’ (the year of
the first Bond film, Dr No); ‘923 7697’
(which identifies it as a diver’s watch);
and ‘0552’, the mark of a true naval
commander’s timepiece.
omegawatches.com
TIM KENT, OMEGA TOM GUISE
74 THE RED BULLETIN

VENTURE
Equipment
XX EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR
Omega created
the new watch to
mark Craig’s final
outing as Bond
THE RED BULLETIN 75

THE
POWER
OF
CHANGE
15 years, one hike,
the whole planet.
Albert Villaroya
Farrarós is in
training for the
trip of a lifetime
76 THE RED BULLETIN

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
Albert Villarroya
Farrarós trains for his
‘world walking tour’
Many of us want to see more
of the world when we enter
adulthood. Some may
travel for a year, others
just visit new places with
friends at the weekends. Not many
can say they’re as committed to
exploring the planet as Albert
Villarroya Farrarós. The Chamonixbased
adventure junkie is looking to
set out on a mammoth task – to hike
the whole world over 15 years.
Having travelled around the
Pyrenees on his bike after leaving
school at the age of 18, Farrarós
decided that the only way to truly
experience the freedom of being out
in nature was to undertake a much
bigger solo journey. In collaboration
with outdoor footwear brand
Merrell, Farrarós is currently in
training for this ambitious goal.
“There are two very important
aspects in training: the physical and
the mental,” he says. “I wake up
every morning and solo-climb easy
routes, or I go bouldering and then
go to work. In the afternoon, I run
uphill [vertical kilometres, sprint
series and long runs] so I can be fit
for long journeys uphill.” But what
motivates someone to set off on one
of the world’s most ambitious hikes?
If you don’t like something,
change it
“It might be the thing itself that
needs to change or just your
perspective, but the only person in
power to make any change is you,”
says Farrarós of his ethos. “It could
be as simple as speaking to someone
THE RED BULLETIN 77

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
THE MQM FLEX
2.0 GTX
Whatever the weather
- summer showers or
winter sleet and snow
- the MQM Flex 2.0
GTX has got what it
takes to keep you dry
Tough, breathable and waterproof, Merrell’s MQM Flex 2.0 GTX is the perfect shoe for Farrarós’ challenge
you don’t know and making a real
human connection, or walking to
work instead of going on the bus.
It can also be exploring a forest,
climbing a new mountain, or hiking
across the whole world. Coming from
the small village of Sant Cugat, next
to Barcelona, I had everything: a
house, lots of friends and family, a
girlfriend that loved me; everything
someone would dream of at that age.
However, I felt like I had no time to
enjoy my life. I was talking to the
same people and not making any
new connections, not doing anything
more than what was expected of me.
Something needed to be done.
“At 18, I decided to go travelling;
to get out into nature and feel free.
After working the whole summer, I’d
earned two weeks of vacation and
decided to cross the Pyrenees with
my bicycle. I set my goal on covering
as much distance as my body and
mind would allow. Later that year,
however, I felt I’d already forgotten
about my two-week trip. I felt empty.
I made a decision then that was to
change my life for ever.
“I boarded a plane to South
America with the idea of returning
home on foot. As the distance was
too big to count in kilometres, I
focused on the things that interested
me the most – people. My goal then
became very simple: live a life that
allows me to know as many people as
possible and learn from their lifestyle,
cultures and interests, to adapt to
myself as a person and develop a
healthier way of living. I decided to
hike the world in a ‘walking world
tour’; to unchain all the big ranges
by running, hiking, scrambling and,
if the conditions of the mountain
allowed it, going up and climbing.
“My idea inspired outdoor
footwear brand Merrell and we
started a collaboration. We’d travel
together to a country with tough
conditions for me to train in.
Madagascar is known for the heat,
jungles and remote mountains. To
my delight, the locals were amazing
and gave me the real connections
I hoped for. It’s not about walking to
the moon, and it’s not about changing
everything. It’s about taking that first
step and keeping it up.”
Having so many shoes for
different outdoor pursuits can
be overwhelming. It seems like
if you want to speed hike or
scramble, there is a different
shoe for each activity. With this
in mind, Merrell has designed
a shoe to cover all outdoor
pursuits, no matter how wet the
hills and mountains may be.
Merrell’s new MQM Flex 2 shoe
is made for both serious trail
runners and casual hikers alike.
The second generation of
Merrell’s popular MQM Flex, it
features tear-resistant athletic
uppers, a flexible cushioned
midsole and our mountaingrade
outsole, combining all
the best features of a trail
runner and a hiker into one fast,
protective shoe. GORE-TEX
invisible-fit footwear offers the
fit, feel and style you love, as
well as the promise of dry feet.
The best fit
The unique, flexible construction
reduces weight and creates
fewer pressure points, with an
extremely comfortable fit and
feel, so you can just keep going.
Waterproof durability
Reliable waterproof protection
means your feet stay dry, from
summer showers to icy winter
puddles. Perfect for short jogs
or long-distance races.
Highly breathable
Moisture vapour from sweat
escapes easily, so you stay
comfortable – even when
you’re going hard.
Fast-drying
This proven action means you
are ready to go again quicker,
and your footwear stays fresher.
TYRONE BRADLEY
78 THE RED BULLETIN

VENTURE
Equipment
DRIVE
Tough
love
Twisted Land Rover IIA
On January 29, 2016, the last
original lineage Land Rover
Defender – the second oldest
4x4 after the US Army’s
WWII Jeep – rolled off the
production line, ending an
unbroken manufacturing run
of 68 years. Fans – of which
there were many – wept. One
of them was Charles Fawcett.
The Yorkshireman grew
up with Land Rovers. In the
1970s, his father sold and
repaired them, and Charles
owned his first at the age of 11.
In 2001, he launched Twisted
Automotive to tune up old
Rovers, and business blew up.
But when Fawcett learnt no
new vehicles were to be
produced, he had to act, buying
240 of the last Land Rover
Defenders ever made.
“I could have sold them
the moment they arrived,” he
says. Instead, he stored them
for the right moment: now.
Twisted doesn’t just modify
Land Rovers, it re-engineers
them, transforming factorymileage
Defenders into luxury
beasts honouring the original
1948 to 1983 models.
This reimagined 1961 Series
IIA is built from a Defender 110
– one of only 10 from that final
2016 batch. Each takes around
800 hours to complete, and –
with prices starting at £98,500
plus VAT – three have already
been sold.
“Some learnt to drive in
them, may have even served
in them,” says Fawcett. “It’s
the send-off that the original
manufacturer should have
given them in the first place.”
twistedautomotive.com
The limestonecoloured
roof
matches the
wheels. The
interior is heavily
upstyled, with
black grain
leather upholstery
and gunmetal
grey seatbelts
The restyled
bodywork pays
homage to early
’60s models,
as do the 18in
Rostyle wheels.
There’s a 2200cc
diesel engine
beneath the
bonnet
TOM GUISE
THE RED BULLETIN 79

VENTURE
Equipment
WEAR
The golden
compass
Suunto 7 smartwatch
First, a quick lesson in speaking Finnish: the
word Suunto means ‘direction’ or ‘bearing’.
The name was adopted by the Nordic sports
manufacturer in reference to its founder
Tuomas Vohlonen’s 1936-patented liquidfilled
M-311 wrist compass, but it could
equally apply to the company’s drive over
the past 84 years to seek out inventive
portable solutions to sporting and adventure
needs. The 1998 Suunto Vector is the
perfect example of this: the first outdoor
watch with a built-in altimeter, barometer
and compass, it was arguably a ‘smart’
watch before the term even existed.
With the Suunto 7, the brand has now
fully embraced the modern smartwatch era,
incorporating tried-and-trusted expertise
in sports and instrument watches into a
timepiece that can also order you an Uber.
Suunto’s watch combines the functionality
of Google’s widely used Wear OS software
– which gives access to millions of apps –
with 70 sports modes (from running and
cycling to surfing and skiing) and GPS,
Glonass and Galileo tracking. All this is
housed inside a reinforced polyamide
‘adventure-proof’ case that’s water resistant
to 50m, with a toughened Gorilla Glass
touchscreen. And there’s a compass in
there, too, keeping Vohlonen’s original ethos
on the right track. suunto.com
With the Suunto 7, the
brand has embraced the
modern smartwatch era
2
TIM KENT TOM GUISE
5
80 THE RED BULLETIN

VENTURE
Equipment
1
4
3
The many faces
of the Suunto 7:
1. The Suunto app
has more than
70 sports modes
2. Access Google’s
Wear OS apps
3. Heat maps show
other Suunto users’
favoured routes
4. Custom your
watch face
5. Download maps
of your surrounding
area whenever you
plug it in to charge
THE RED BULLETIN 81

VENTURE
Fitness
Climber Michi
Wohlleben reaps
the benefits of the
Isele Technique
“When you
visualise, you
need the perfect
interplay of
body and mind”
Physiotherapist
Klaus Isele
Scaling
new
heights
How to master
the Isele
Technique
VISUALISE
Mind
climbing
Physio Klaus Isele has
developed a training
method that improves
a climber’s ascent before
they have even set off
Practising a dry run is an
essential component of
any competitive climber’s
preparation, but Austrian
physiotherapist and climb
trainer Klaus Isele (pictured
above) advocates a more
advanced approach. While
working as a physio to the
Austrian national climbing
team from 2009 to 2019,
Isele found the need for a
system that would keep the
athletes fit and sharp during
bouts of injury, preventing
loss of muscle mass and
maintaining their familiarity
with movement patterns.
To address this, he developed
an intense visualisation
technique that requires
climbers to fully experience
the ascent – mentally and
physically – while lying on
their back. Top German
alpinist Michi Wohlleben
swears by the Isele Technique,
claiming it makes him more
mobile as he internalises
hundreds of automatic
movements and details of
the route while exposing his
body to less stress. Adhering
to the system has paid off:
recently, Wohlleben scaled
the 9a-rated Speed ​Intégrale
in Voralpsee, Switzerland –
the hardest sport climb
of his career.
physioandclimb.com
PREPARATION
Find a quiet place, one
that helps you visualise
the mountain. Close
your eyes.
PROCESSING
Imagine you’re starting
a climb and imitate
every move. Use your
muscles as if this
were real.
PRECISION
Focus on the tiniest
details – this imprints
the movement patterns
in your mind. It’s
difficult to correct
routines once they’re
habitual.
PASSION
Work yourself up
emotionally. You have
to put body and soul
into it to achieve the
perfect flow.
MORITZ ATTENBERGER TOM MACKINGER FLORIAN STURM
82 THE RED BULLETIN

1 YEAR
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BEYOND THE ORDINARY
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Read more at theredbulletin.com
RICARDO NASCIMENTO / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
“Everybody who works
at Marin bought into the
concept of making a
better bike; something
they could go out and
have fun on,” says Marin
CEO Matt VanEnkevort
MADE IN THE MOUNTAINS
Named after the birthplace of mountain biking,
Marin stays true to the roots of the sport
Selling globally and riding locally –
it’s a mindset that runs deep at Marin
Bikes, a company that has seen great
success across the world, and that
retains a small but dedicated staff
who love nothing more than making
and riding bicycles.
The brand was born in Marin
County, a sun-kissed area north of
San Francisco where rolling hills of
golden-yellow grasslands are flanked
by green mountains. It’s a place full of
Californian promise, and something
of a pilgrimage for mountain bikers.
Mountain biking was invented
here in the 1970s by long-haired freethinkers
who loved nothing more than
to push a bicycle to the top of the
iconic Mount Tamalpais and rattle
back down it. By the early ’80s,
a number of folk began to produce
and sell bikes, and what began in
various garages around Marin County
soon spawned a worldwide craze
and eventually an Olympic sport that
is practised around the world.
Marin, the bike company, was a
product of the movement, and since
its founding in 1986 it has sold
millions of bikes globally, won racing
titles at the highest level, and enjoyed
moments at the top of the sport. And
since 2013, under new leadership and
with a reinvigorated staff, Marin has
seen its reputation at the forefront of
mountain biking grow again.
At its HQ in Petaluma, on the edge
of Marin County, the walls tell the
brand’s story: there are the Madrone
Trail, the first bike Marin produced;
the Team Titanium, the model that
brought affordable titanium to the
mainstream and was piloted by
National Champion Joe Murray; the
Titanium FRS (it stands for ‘Front
Rear Suspension’ – a revolutionary
development); some of Marin’s first
city bikes; and a modern-era Wolf
Ridge – a bike that made a big
statement upon launch thanks
to its distinctive suspension system.
There’s a bike for everyone – that
more or less sums up Marin Bikes.
www.marinbikes.com
LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS JAMES MCKNIGHT
84 THE RED BULLETIN

VENTURE
Equipment
INSULATE
Central
heating
Odlo I-Thermic
As the Scandinavians say:
“There is no bad weather,
just bad clothes.” It’s a
wisdom that Norwegian
sports brand Odlo applies
to its garments. Every
outdoor type knows that
the clever use of layers
is key, and things don’t
get smarter than Odlo’s
I-Thermic midlayer.
Within the fibres of the
garment are thermal
sensors mapped to the
bodily regions most
susceptible to the cold:
the abdomen and kidneys.
Using a smartphone app,
the wearer tunes the
sensors to their personal
requirements, meaning
the fabric warms up when
the temperature drops
below their comfort zone.
And when the battery
(located in the pocket) is
removed, the shirt can be
machine-washed at 30°C.
odlo.com
The fabric warms up
when the temperature
drops below the
wearer’s comfort zone
The Odlo I-Thermic midlayer
is controlled via smartphone
TOM GUISE
THE RED BULLETIN 85

VENTURE
Gaming
Six cameras –
two on the front,
one above, one
below, and one
on each side –
allow for 310°
tracking of
the real world
Connected by
a single hinge to
the headband,
the display can
be flipped
upwards like a
motorbike visor
EXPERIENCE
Sensory overlord
HTC Vive Cosmos
The earphones
flip down and
vertically slide
to adjust to your
ears. They can also
be easily replaced
by your own cans
The notion of ‘virtual reality’ was first mooted in Stanley G
Weinbaum’s 1935 sci-fi story Pygmalion’s Spectacles, but it
has taken a long time for the technology to catch up. The
HTC Vive Cosmos is the latest step in that evolution. Making
convincing VR is not only a matter of building digital worlds
but also marrying them to our perception of our environment.
To achieve this, the flip-front visor features six ‘inside-out’
tracking cameras that accurately position the wearer in the
real world without the need for room-mounted (outside-in)
sensors. This can warn the user when external objects are
close, or allow interaction with them. There’s also a wireless
accessory (purchased separately) that untethers the
headset from a PC. The clever handheld motion controllers
sport geometric light patterns that allow the headset
cameras to track them. We’re not in the Matrix quite yet
(or are we?), but the dream is edging ever closer. vive.com
86 THE RED BULLETIN

VENTURE
Gaming
HONE
The art
of driving
without
driving
James Baldwin won glory
as the World’s Fastest
Gamer after sharpening
his skills with sim racing.
Here’s how you can, too
VIVE, WORLD’S FASTEST GAMER TOM GUISE, MATT RAY
Simulated racing is rapidly
becoming more realistic:
video games such as iRacing
and Assetto Corsa feature
laser-scanned recreations
of famous tracks and cars,
creating an experience ever
closer to the thrill of the
tarmac without the danger
of crashing an expensive
combustible racing machine.
Blurring the boundaries
further is World’s Fastest
Gamer, a tournament that
challenges the stars of
esports to race real cars.
Last October, 22-year-old
James Baldwin became
its second-ever winner,
earning a million-dollar
real-world racing contract.
The Brit’s triumph came six
years after he abandoned
a career racing go-karts and
Formula Ford cars because
of rising costs and the
realisation that he simply
wasn’t good enough. Here’s
how gaming got him there…
Fine-tuning reactions
A 2010 study by cognitive
scientists at the University of
Rochester found that action
gamers were 25 per cent
quicker at reaching a correct
decision when analysing a
situation. “My reaction time
has improved from playing
games,” says Baldwin, “and
also my understanding of how
to be fast – elements such as
tyre saving, and extracting the
lap when it matters.”
“I pressed the throttle halfway
and I’ve never been so scared”
James Baldwin on real-life racing
Baldwin began sim racing
in 2017; two years later,
he was handed the World’s
Fastest Gamer trophy by
his very first motor-racing
hero, Juan Pablo Montoya
Reality bites: Baldwin tears up California’s Laguna Seca circuit
Clocking the hours
When Baldwin plateaued as a
real-world racer, it was a hard
truth: “As a kid, you think,
‘Wow, I’ve got enough to get
to F1.’ Then you reach pro
level, get beaten, and it’s like,
‘I’m not as good as I thought.’”
But today’s sims educate
drivers on everything down
to how tyres degrade under
specific braking. “You learn
without costing thousands
of pounds of damage, and
you put in more hours than
on a track.”
Acquiring confidence
Racing sims can’t teach one
thing: the psychological
barrier of climbing into a real
vehicle. “A dirt car doesn’t
look that scary, but it’s 650kg
with 850hp – a better power
ratio than an F1 car. I pressed
the throttle halfway and I’ve
never been so scared.” He
then did 70 per cent of the lap
on full throttle. “Forget you’re
going fast. Pretend it’s a sim.”
Going with the flow
Repetitive video games bring
on an immersive ‘flow state’
where highly skilled activity
feels effortless, but Baldwin
experienced the opposite
during a race at Laguna Seca
in California. “There was an
issue with my car. I could’ve
got round that if I was in the
present, but in my head it was
like, ‘Keep doing what you’re
doing, you’re going to lose.’
I spun and ended up in the
middle of the track, pointing
the wrong way.” It was the
wake-up call he needed to
find his flow and take the win.
THE RED BULLETIN 87

The sunken 3m-tall
Statue of Christ off
the coast at Qawra.
Opposite: the Blue
Lagoon in Comino
88 THE RED BULLETIN

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
DIVE INTO
MALTA
Discover the hidden depths of
this stunning, historic
Mediterranean island nation, by
day and by night, both on
land and beneath the sea…
The Mediterranean archipelago of Malta delivers
a wealth of activities for the adventurous traveller,
far beyond what you’d expect of the world’s 10th
smallest country. There’s top-of-the-world-class
climbing, hiking, quad biking, trail running, and
– thanks to Malta’s 300 days of sunshine – a summer festival
circuit that will have you retiring your wellies for good.
But dive deeper and it gets better still.
The Maltese islands are regularly voted by Diver magazine
readers as one of the top two diving destinations in the world,
and the best in Europe. More than 100 dive sites, including
THE RED BULLETIN 89

wrecks, reefs and cave systems, line
the calm, crystal-clear waters of its
coastlines, making it perfect for scuba
veterans and first-timers alike. More
than 30 dive schools call these islands
home and offer exceptional value for
money, so an action-packed itinerary
won’t cost you the earth.
With warm waters, unrivalled
visibility and few strong currents,
Malta offers the perfect marine
environment to crack that first
qualification course. The largest two
islands – Malta and Gozo, connected
by a 25-minute ferry ride – host
a breadth of English-speaking dive
centres, where professional PADI and
BSAC staff are ready to introduce the
archipelago’s scuba sites to divers.
Students as young as 10 can earn
a PADI Open Water Diver certificate
after a four-day course.
For those with more experience,
jump into a car (electric rentals and
200 charging points are available
for the eco-conscious traveller) and
explore north Malta’s Qawra Reef,
where lobsters, colourful inveterate
nudibranchs and spider crabs fill the
40m drop-off reef and gaping caves;
head to West Malta’s Sliema Coral
Gardens for a shore dive that’s
packed with canyons, valleys, reefs
and tunnels; and then visit Gozo’s
Cathedral Cave, where light shimmers
celestially through its arch-like
entrance. Reqqa Reef is where
experienced divers drop down a 60m
wall, past overhangs, caves, and the
island’s larger marine residents, such
as morays and groupers.
After a day of adventure beneath
the sea, it’s time for some quality R&R.
The promenade of the idyllic resort
Bugibba is lined with bars and
restaurants, while self-catering early
risers should consider accommodation
in diving paradise Gozo, where you
can view the pristine waters from
the peace and quiet of your own
traditional Gozitan farmhouse.
Spot barracuda in the reefs
of uninhabited islet Filfla
Historic sites
include WWI
battleships and
a 2,700-year
old Phoenician
shipwreck
90 THE RED BULLETIN

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
The minesweeper
HMD Trusty Star is
one of many WWII
wreck sites in the
waters around Malta
Dive into history with
Heritage Malta
These archaeological parks
protect the past
Enabling the next generation to witness
the fascinating sights beneath the waves
is a priority in Malta. With a range of
historic and ancient sunken landmarks
to explore, from WWI battleships to a
2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck –
the oldest in the central Mediterranean
– the Underwater Cultural Heritage
Unit (UCHU) and Heritage Malta have
established underwater archaeological
parks to responsibly conserve the
region’s precious sites. But there’s no
need to strike them from your bucket
list: a visit can be arranged through
UCHU’s dive centres for technical divers.
Thanks to its position in the
Mediterranean, Malta has long been
an important strategic base. Now, the
sheer number of historic wreck sites
around its coastline make it one of the
best places in the world for deep-water
wreck diving. Divers with the necessary
technical ability are spoilt for choice
when it comes to exploring sites of
historic importance, but whether you
have a couple of days or a few weeks,
an unforgettable underwater
adventure is all but guaranteed.
Five protected wrecks
Unmissable sights at unique sites
Fairey Swordfish
Around 5km off the coast of Sliema,
northeast Malta, at a depth of 65m, lie
the remains of the Fairey Swordfish,
a British biplane from the 1930s. After
engine failure back in 1934, the pilot
was rescued by off-duty RAF personnel,
but the plane sank. The wreck was
discovered in 2017 and is now a
welcome home to plant and marine life.
HMD Trusty Star
This British minesweeper met her end
in 1942, during WWII, after being hit
by a mine herself. Now, trimix divers
with the required permit are able to
explore the mostly intact 26m-long
wreck, 3km off Fort St Elmo in Valletta.
JU88
Shot down during the Second Siege of
Malta in 1943, this Junkers 88 bomber
rests north of St Paul’s Bay, at a depth
of 55m. Though the tail has broken off,
the plane is in pretty good condition,
and varied marine life can be seen here.
SS Polynesien
At 152.5m long, this 19th-century
passenger ship – sunk by a German
U-boat in WWI – is one of Malta’s most
substantial wrecks. Divers possessing
the necessary permit will be rewarded
with an up-close look at the ship, which
retains a significant number of artefacts.
Schnellboot S-31
Located near Valletta’s Grand Harbour,
at a depth of around 65m, this WWII
motor torpedo boat sank in 1942 after
hitting a mine, but the frame remains
fully intact. Divers can see the original
engines, propellers, and even the
torpedoes the vessel carried on board.
For information on more sites and
permit requests, visit: heritagemalta.
org/underwater-cultural-heritage-unit
The SS Polynesien
– near Marsaskala,
eastern Malta – is a
godsend for divers,
still housing many
original artefacts
BUCKET-LIST
DIVES
Stunning undersea
views for scuba fans
Blue Hole, Gozo
This is one of Malta’s most
famous and popular dive sites
– for good reason. Descend
through a gigantic underwater
rock arch, explore a natural
limestone sinkhole, and
encounter a reef that’s filled
with all manner of fantastic
marine life, from tuna and
parrotfish to lobster, octopus
and moray eels.
Statue of Christ,
Qawra
In search of a miracle? Bear
witness to Alfred Camilleri
Cauchi’s 3m-tall statue of
Jesus Christ – named Kristu
tal-Bahhara, or Christ of the
Sailors – on the Maltese seabed
off Qawra Point.
Azure Reef, Gozo
This site was created from the
remains of a limestone archway
known as the Azure Window,
which collapsed in 2017. With
movement in the rock, the reef
is still evolving and marine life
multiplying. The honey-coloured
rock formations look striking
against an azure backdrop.
Filfla
Once used by the Royal Navy
for target practice, the drop-off
reefs on this uninhabited islet
offer an encounter with one
of the archipelago’s largest
predators: the barracuda.
Inland Sea and
Tunnel, Gozo
Leave behind the limestone
cliffs of the Inland Sea natural
lagoon for an adventure inside
this 80m tunnel filled with
cardinal fish, John Dory,
Spotted Doris and more.
THE RED BULLETIN 91

The only way is
up: there are
climbs on Gozo
to suit all levels
of ability – from
beginner to
experienced
Malta delivers a wealth
of activities for the
adventurous traveller,
far beyond what you’d
expect of the world’s
10th smallest country
92 THE RED BULLETIN

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
ISLANDS OF
ADVENTURE
Activities to get the
heart pumping
G
O
5
8
7
Z O
11
3
The Maltese
archipelago sits 93km
south of Sicily and
288km north of Africa
1. Clip in
Ascend one of Malta and Gozo’s
1,300 multi-ability climbing routes.
Seasoned senders should aim for
the underworld: at 50m, it’s one
of the world’s longest roof climbs.
2
2. Paddle out
The same idyllic waters that make
diving so phenomenal are equally
as awesome for kayaking. Escape
the tourist trail for a unique view
of the islands.
10
M A
L
T
6
9
A
3. Sail away
Charter a sailing boat and explore the
islands of Comino and Cominotto
by sea, or dive overboard at any of
Gozo’s quiet anchorage points.
1
4
4. Lace up
Throw walking boots into your
luggage. Minor roads, footpaths and
trails link historic villages to rugged
cliffs and stunning beaches by way
of beautiful flora and fauna.
5. Ride off
Get over to Gozo, hire a quad bike
and make fresh tracks. Group quad
tours are also available to those
who don’t fancy going solo.
MALTA’S
MUST-SEES
Take a day trip to these
epic attractions
6. Valletta
The thriving capital city is rich in
Maltese heritage, with waterfront
alfresco dining options rounding
off a day of soaking up historic
Baroque landmarks.
7. Ramla Bay
The beach’s full name, Ramla il-
Hamra, translates from Maltese
as ‘Red Sands’. You’ll quickly see
why at one of the world’s most
beautiful beaches.
8. Ġgantija Temples
Gozitans once believed these
structures had been built by giants.
Predating the pyramids by 1,000
years, they’re the world’s oldest
freestanding structures.
@BEAUTIFULDESTINATIONS CHRIS SAYER
Clockwise from
left: yachting
off the coast of
Silema; horse
riding by Gnejna
Tower in northern
Malta; the caves
of Comino;
inside St John’s
Co-Cathedral
in Valletta
9. The Three Cities
Views of Malta’s capital city don’t
come more Instagrammable than at
this trio of ancient outposts, which
once offered shelter and protection
to the islands’ original settlers.
10. Mdina
Malta’s medieval capital – which
served as a filming location for
Game of Thrones – is full of
narrow winding streets that date
back to 700 BC.
11. Blue Lagoon
The turquoise water of this beautiful
cove on the small island of Comino
attracts snorkellers, swimmers and
photographers alike
THE RED BULLETIN 93

CALENDAR
March/April
4
21
to 22 March
RED BULL NEPTUNE STEPS
An outdoor winter swimming event where competitors tackle a 420m stretch of freezing Glaswegian
canal water and clamber up seven locks with a total height of 10.5m – who’d do that? A lot of people,
apparently, as this year the field of entrants has been doubled to more than 1,000. Among the
swimmers, surfers and rock climbers, there’s now a pairs event for those who want to share their
pain. Or just head along and watch for free (bring a coat). Maryhill Locks, Glasgow; redbull.com
11
March to 11 June
UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS
This multisensory project draws
from gastrophysical research to
demonstrate how sound can enhance
taste and mouthfeel. Audience
members experience a menu
including popping candy, coffee and
seaweed, accompanied by live music
played at specific frequencies. If you
miss the March 11 London opening,
you can buy the box set (a 14-track
vinyl album, plus test tubes and
petri dishes of food) or head to the
Birmingham (May 14) or York (June
11) sessions. unusualingredients.co
to 5 April
SUPER
FORMULA 2020
LIVE Super Formula
is the fastest formula
car series outside F1,
and Red Bull TV will
be bringing you the
excitement live from
Japan in 2020. The
season has seven stops,
and here’s where it all
starts: at the popular
Suzuka International
Racing Course.
31
March to 2 April
FLAWES
Four years ago, London
trio Flawes released their
debut EP Unspkn – four
tracks of atmospheric,
anthemic indie-pop that
were picked up by Radio 1
and earned enthusiastic
magazine reviews. But
it wasn’t till this January
that their first album,
Highlights, arrived,
delivering a recalibrated
dancefloor and festivalready
sound that they’re
now taking on the road.
The tour kicks off at
London club Omeara
(March 31), before
heading to Manchester’s
The Castle (April 1) and
Poetry Club in Glasgow
(April 2). flawes.com
JEFF HOLMES/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, ANGUS MCDONALD, DUTCH PHOTO AGENCY/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, ALAMY
94 THE RED BULLETIN

CALENDAR
March/April
20
to 29 March
TATE LIVE
‘The Tanks’ beneath Tate
Modern were oil stores
when the building was
Bankside Power Station.
Now a live art and video
gallery, this month they’re
home to three artists
examining links between
history and memory.
Okwui Okpokwasili
explores protest by
Nigerian women, Faustin
Linyekula uses dance
and theatre to express
sociopolitical tensions in
the Democratic Republic
of Congo, and the poetry
and installations of
Tanya Lukin Linklater
are informed by
relationships within
her indigenous Alaskan
family. Tate Modern,
London; tate.org.uk
13
to 14 March
25 YEARS OF
BUGGED OUT
One of the UK’s longest
running club nights,
Bugged Out hosted the
likes of Daft Punk and
The Chemical Brothers
when they were just
starting out. In 1996,
Chicago house legend
Green Velvet made his
UK debut at the club
– originally based at
Manchester venue
Sankeys Soap – and he
returns to headline an
anniversary celebration
at this recently opened
10,000-capacity venue
in the former Mayfield
railway station. An
industrial blast from the
past on all counts. Depot
Mayfield, Manchester;
buggedout.net
3to 4 April
TREVOR NOAH
It was the South African
comic’s stand-up work
that got him hired by
Comedy Central’s The
Daily Show in 2014 (only
to succeed John Stewart
as its host less than a
year later). See why as
the man who made Time
magazine’s ‘100 Most
Influential People of
2018’ list takes his tour
on the road. 02 Arena,
London; theO2.co.uk
28
March to 4 April
FREERIDE
WORLD TOUR
LIVE The jagged face
of the Bec des Rosses
in Verbier, Switzerland,
is legendary among
freeriders, which makes
it perfect for the finale of
the Freeride World Tour.
Always a highlight, here’s
a course that separates
the best from the rest.
Last year, Switzerland’s
Elisabeth Gerritzen and
France’s Wadeck Gorak
won the skiing category,
and Marion Haerty (FR)
and Jonathan Penfield
(US) took snowboarding
gold. Will they repeat
that success in 2020?
26
March to 6 April
LONDON GAMES
FESTIVAL
21
Like some real-world
MMORPG, more than
100,000 gamers will
descend on the capital
for a 12-day celebration
boasting more games
than any other
entertainment event.
Among the attractions of
the festival, which opens
with a PC and indie game
expo at Tobacco Dock,
are a showcase of BAME
games developers;
seminars on the cultural
and economic impact of
gaming; the industry’s
BAFTAs; a two-day party
in Trafalgar Square; and
a lot of cosplay. Across
London; games.london
to 22 March
UCI MTB WORLD
CUP DOWNHILL
LIVE For 2020, the
World Cup for downhill
riders has a brand-new
opening venue. Used in
the past by teams and
suspension firms for
testing, Lousã in Portugal
is sure to be a popular
first stop among the
competitors. Don’t miss
a second on Red Bull TV.
THE RED BULLETIN 95

Imprint
GLOBAL TEAM
THE RED
BULLETIN
WORLDWIDE
The Red
Bulletin is
published in six
countries. This is the
cover of April’s Swiss
edition, featuring
shark conservationist
Madison Stewart…
For more stories
beyond the ordinary,
go to: redbulletin.com
The Red Bulletin UK.
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154,346 (Jan-Dec 2018)
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THE RED BULLETIN
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96 THE RED BULLETIN

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
FREEDOM
IN MOTION
With a design created
specifically for sport,
Urbanista’s next-level
wireless earphones
will help you smash your
workouts this year
LOU BOYD
All fitness junkies know that good
music can power a workout. That
last three miles of a run, the final
few circuits of your gym routine, or
the painful hill climb on a long bike
ride can be made infinitely more
manageable with amazing tunes to
spark your imagination and keep
your heart beating fast. It’s for this
reason that Urbanista has put so
much work into creating Athens,
the ultimate sports earphones for
a lifestyle made of movement.
Athens is an in-ear bud designed for
comfort and total sound isolation.
With various different wing and tip
sizes, the design ensures a fit that’s
comfortable and completely secure
for every owner, while the wireless
IP67-rated waterproof technology
allows you to listen to music in rain
and storms, or even in the swimming
pool. For safe exercising on roads
and in cities, Athens’ 5.0 Bluetooth
connection allows you to voicecontrol
play and volume, as well as
enabling you to use the left or right
earbud independently. You can
also make and receive calls through
a built-in microphone in both.
Whether you’re trying to smash a
personal record or just getting back
into a workout routine, Urbanista
Athens’ 32 hours of total playtime and
exceptional sound quality provide
the ultimate musical companion to
take a workout to the next level.
Visit urbanista.com for more information
THE RED BULLETIN 97

Action highlight
Rapids response
Riding the world’s wildest rivers is what extreme kayak world champion
Nouria Newman (pictured) is all about. So, last year, the French multiple
medal winner joined fellow kayakers Erik Boomer and Ben Stookesberry
on a trip to Chilean Patagonia to tackle the region’s three most notoriously
fierce waterways – a challenge known as Patagonia’s ‘triple crown’. To
watch Newman and her team face the surge and spray, go to redbull.com
The next
issue of
THE RED BULLETIN
is out on
April 14
ERIK BOOMER/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
98 THE RED BULLETIN

GIVES YOU
WIIINGS.
ALSO WITH THE TASTE OF COCONUT & BERRY.
NEW

IN CINEMAS APRIL 2
SEAMASTER DIVER 300M
007 EDITION
JAMES BOND’S
CHOICE
SHOP AT OMEGAWATCHES.COM