Dean Potter, climber, line walker and human-body-flyer, has been chasing his dreams for the past three decades. Hard work, artistry and innovation have taken each of his disciplines beyond convention to the realm of art. His vision and drive have led to the creation of speed-solo ascents, as well as the invention of FreeBASE on the North Face, Eiger and BASEline: soloing without rope or tether and carrying only a small parachute as safety. The paradigm shift of FreeBASE and BASEline has turned, “dying to flying.”

Also known for his mind bending freesolos in Yosemite (Heaven 5.13a) and Argentina (California Roulette, first ascent, freesolo on Fitzroy, Patagonia), Dean has repeatedly set records in wingsuit-BASE-jumping and numerous others for climbing and highlining. While these achievements and records are what the media fixates on, Dean is misunderstood when his spirituality is considered sport. In his words: “These mountain arts bring me peace, and I play in the void and come closer to understanding interdependence. Death Consequence reduces lesser motivations to the necessity, breath.”

Fascinated with the lines between life and death, sanity and insanity, Dean is consumed with BASIC Safety – a calculated method of pursuing his 3-Arts, that attempts to eliminate human error and gear imperfection. Currently, Dean is studying avian aerodynamics and aerospace technology with hopes to reach his ultimate goal of safely flying and landing the unaided human body. Dean pushes himself at the highest level and fuels his creativity with filmmaking and writing about his unorthodox life.

He currently resides in Yosemite National Park, with his girlfriend Jen and the world’s first wingsuit BASE-jumping dog, Whisper.

Fly Free