TFN Talks with Gabriel Lott
TFN Talks caught up with Gabriel Lott, a 2017 World Wingsuit League Gold Medal Champion wingsuit BASE flyer, skydiver and sniper for Rio De Janeiro’s CORE (Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais), to talk about his remarkable life and many achievements.
Gabriel, where were you born and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Niterói Rio de Janeiro. I was a very naughty boy.
How did you start in the world of skydiving and wingsuiting?
When I was 18 I had to join the army in Brazil and I chose to be army parachutist. There we jump in a round parachute with a static line method. As I liked it I did a Skydive course the same year. It was in 1997.
How did you start BASE jumping? I heard that our mutual acquaintance Rob Heron had something to do with it?
Since I started jumping I wanted to basejump but never had the opportunity “ money” to do it. In 2010 Rob Heron was here in Brazil doing some jumps, I had the opportunity of watching him jumping Gávea Stone in a Wingsuit and I got crazy. That time I was working doing tandem in Resende, close to a bridge people use to jump from. Rob got stuck there cause he ran out of fuel. He called me and asked if I could help him bringing some fuel to his car. I did it. When I arrived there at the bridge he was very happy and offered me a PCA jump. I said yes! So I did my first basejump. I loved the feeling so after this I borrowed I equipment with a friend and started jumping. With no instructions what is wrong and I don’t recommend at all. I had some close calls because of it that could have ended very badly.
Where was your very first wingsuit BASE jump and how did you feel when you landed it?
After 28 basejumps I did my first wingbase in Pedra da Onça – Brazil. When I landed I knew I wouldn’t want anything else for my life but Wingsuit.
You are a special forces police sniper in Rio DeJaneiro. Can you describe the challenges and the rewards of your job and how you discovered that this is something you would like to do?
Here in Rio we have a very uncommon War. There are drug dealer with rifles, grenades... Mixed with common citizens inside the Favelas. A lot of policemen die every year in Rio fighting against those thieves. Here the fight is real, for example I already lost some friends and got shot by an AK-47 and almost lost my life. This happened when I was patrolling on foot a Favela to try to find a captivity where three kidnapped girls were. At some point a thief put a rifle in a corner 4 meters from me, just the rifle out, and burst. One of the bullets entered out of my body armor and crossed my chest coming out on my back. My friends helped to extract me till our armored vehicle that could not go close to us because the streets inside the favelas are very narrow. I was lucky because there was a hospital 15 minutes away from us and the doctors there are used to receiving shot people. They saved me. Six months after I was patrolling again. This is my job, I love it.
Being a wingsuit BASE jumper and a police sniper are perhaps some of the most dangerous callings you can choose to devote yourself to. What is your relationship like with fear? Do you have a philosophy you live by?
I already tried to stop living in “the edge” but I realized that I can’t be fully happy without those risks. When I almost loose my life is when I give value to it. After a close call I always love more my life. Stop living my dream because of being afraid of loose my life would have no sense.
Do you think that your job as a sniper helps your sport as a wingsuit BASE jumper or vice versa? Both of these disciplines require na enormous amount of focus and precision.
Yes, both complete each other. When I’m working I have to put myself in a risky situation where I have to put all the technique I’ve trained in practice. I have to take decisions very quickly during a stressful situation where I can lose my life. When I’m jumping is the same. Everything happens very fast and the decision we take make all the difference.
What are some of your favorite exit points for Wingsuit BASE?
It changes every year. But now here in Brazil is Rampa Zorzi and Pedra da Fortaleza.
What are some of your proudest achievements in both your personal and professional lives and why?
In my professional live I can’t say or I shouldn’t say. In my “base life” I’m very proud of being part of the opening of some of the greatest jumps we have in Brazil.
Can you share with us some of the obstacles and challenges you have had to overcome on your path in life?
One of them was when I got shot. The second is the lack of support on our sport here in Brazil.
Do you have a training routine that you abide by? What tools do you use to give you physical and mental strength?
My profession helps in my sport, physically and mentally and my sport helps in my profession the same way. In my profession I have to hike mountains (Favelas) with all my gear, in my sport I have to hike mountains with all my gear, in this case parachute, Wingsuit...
What do you think is the secret to living a successful, fulfilling life?
Don’t be afraid of living your Dreams, don’t think about the consequences, go for it!