TFN Talks with Rex Pemberton
This week TFN Talks sat down with Rex Pemberton, one of the world’s top adventurers, who has broken countless world records, including being the youngest Australian man to ever climb Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits. In the last decade Rex rose to the top of the wingsuit BASE world, competing in World Wingsuit League and other championships as well as pioneering projects like the X Wing, a jet powered carbon fiber wing and inspiring audiences around the globe as a leadership speaker.
Rex, where were you born and what inspired you to delve into the world of extreme sports?
I was born in Sydney, Australia. I grew up on the shores of Lake Macquarie near Newcastle. From a young age I was introduced to rock climbing and sailing, and fell in love with both sports, they gave me a sense of freedom, and allowed me to overcome fears, which I think directed my path.
You became the youngest Australian man to climb Mount Everest. There is a documentary film about your journey called ‘To Stand Above The Clouds’. I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of effort and perseverance both mental and physical, which must have gone into that? Can you tell us about how this climb came about, what was it like and and what you have taken away from it?
Climbing Everest was an amazing experience. Many have written books on it, filmed documentaries etc. For me climbing Everest was a coming of age thing, I was personally testing myself to see if I could actually do it. It took me from a young adult to being a man. It humbled me a bunch and I realized that I am not as good as what I thought I was.
While climbing from the outside may look like a selfish pursuit to conquer mountains, I believe it's the complete opposite, you never conquer a mountain, the mountain allows you to climb it, and that requires being respectful, humble and having an understanding of the true power of nature. The mountains can be extremely dangerous, and if you don't respect that, that's when people get into trouble. So for me Everest taught me to be humble and respect the environment I am in. The sherpa are a perfect example of people who have deep respect for nature and for each other.
Everest also taught me about teamwork, to be a successful, fun expedition all team members have to trust and rely on one another and that is what will put you on the summit. The summit with the world beneath your feet? What Can i say, incredible. I am forever grateful for my experience on Everest.
You are a skydiver, and a Wingsuit base jumper who has competed professionally in World Wingsuit League and other world championships, placing at the top of the sport. What drives your passion for Wingsuit BASE and what have been some of your favorite lines to fly?
Human flight is one of the most pure forms of living. At one point in your life, I am sure you have looked up at a bird and wondered what it would be like to simply spread your wings and fly. Wingsuit BASE gives you the experience in its purest form, you're a human bird that can glide down the side of the mountain. That is what I love about it.
I love large alpine mountain lines, flying my wingsuit from peaks I have climbed up, the Eiger in Switzerland is a perfect example of an amazing mountain to climb but also one of the best wingsuit base jumps in the world.
Can you tell us about the X-Wing project?
The Xwing Project is a pursuit of flight in one of its most simple forms. The human body, a wing that straps onto the back of the pilot and a couple of small turbofan engines that drives you forward through the sky. It's as close as you come to being a human bird. For me it's about Evolving human flight as we know it today. Maybe one day we will be flying jetpacks to the local store instead of driving the car!
The Xwing project has been a massive journey for me and a very SLOW one. I started out all fired up for it, pushing it hard, but now I have slowed down, to be honest I started questioning my intentions with the project, was it the intention? Is it for instagram and facebook likes or was it truly about me and my passion for flight.. Let's be honest, in the end it's really both. But I will continue with the project at my own pace, because I love flying and I love the concept of Evolving our sport. However I do not want to rush and lose my life because of a social media or sponsorship drive. It's a balance of risk vs reward. In the end I would like to focus on human flight in a way that changes this world for the good, not for social media fame. So we are now looking into jetpack technologies that could change the way we get around the neighborhood!
As a keynote speaker and facilitator you regularly use your experiences to inspire others. Can you share a little bit about what you do on the stage and your experiences working with business leaders worldwide?
Yes, I am passionate about helping others achieve their own dreams and goals and I help corporate teams all over the world. At Evolve Meetings we have a rad team of people, that focus on helping teams do three things:
1. Get people fired up and Inspire them - We explore the greater purpose of the business.
2. Align them behind shared Values and Behaviours which builds the team culture.
3. We Enable them with the skills needed to lead through competitive, changing and uncertain environments.
What have been the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your life and multiple careers?
My biggest challenges have not really been in the adventure world, but more in my personal life, one not many people really know about. I have lost countless friends from the sports that we do, and that is never easy and makes you question why. But in the end we know why, and we keep pushing forward. I went through a very difficult divorce, at the time it seemed like my world was ending, but that led me to finding the love of my life Emily and now I could not be happier. I now have a true teammate, someone that understands me for the silly guy that I am, and supports my goals and dreams. I am very lucky that way.
Recently I had to leave behind a lifelong mentor. It was super hard for me and very sad, but in life you have to make hard choices and I am now making an active choice to surround myself with fair, loving people who encourage me and don't hold me back. The people you surround yourself with are so very important. These days it's so easy to slip in a negative and toxic place.
Where does your thirst for adventure and pushing boundaries in multiple disciplines come from?
This may seem totally cheesy but it's 100% true.
Life is a gift we have been given, I make an active, everyday decision to live it to the best of my ability. With that I want to experience as many things as I can, see as many places this beautiful planet has to offer and push the boundaries of adventure because that is what fires up my heart and soul.
There is a video up online produced by Outside TV which shows you skydiving out of an airplane with a surfboard strapped to your body which you then successfully manage to mount in flight and surf your way to the beach on landing. It’s absolutely wild! How did this idea come about?
An idea to combine my two passions for the sky and for the water... I love surfing and I love skydiving so why not combine the two together. It took a while to work out the sequence, and then the shoot was not 100% successful because the camera boat got flipped over by a massive wave and we lost all the camera gear and footage of the day. I then put the surfboard through my face, and had 46 stitches into my mouth and jaw. I am ready to give that one another go!
What would surprise people about you?
I love prospecting for gold (panning) in our local rivers in Groveland California. There is nothing quite like finding bits of gold in nature!
What is the meaning of life according to Rex Pemberton?
As above. Live it which every way makes you happy, giving where you can. Just because someone tells you to do something does not mean it's the right thing for you. Follow your heart, your passion, but be smart about it along the way.
What advice would you give a young man or woman who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Visualization. Visualize what you would like to achieve, let that create emotion inside, then write it down, break the goal into priorities and targets, then simply kick them off. It's always going to be harder, take longer and cost you more money than you expect, but don't lose sight of the vision. Be driven by your passion and surround yourself with people that enable you, that don't hold you back. It's Ok to say ‘NO’ sometimes, and walk away from toxic relationships.
What would you like to accomplish in the next five to ten years that you haven’t done already?
I would like to sail around the world. I have had that dream since I was a kid, and after saving up for over 15 years I have finally purchased a boat to be able to live that dream. We will work from the boat and have a sailing home. Deniz you need to come join us!