World Class Speakers & Entertainers

Michael Bane

Over the Edge: A Regular Guy’s Odyssey in Extreme Sports

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Program Titles

  • Over the Edge: Principles
  • Diving on the Edge: A Unique Guide for New Divers
  • Trail Safe: Averting Threatening Human Behavior in the Outdoors

Michael Bane, years of professional journalism, to the executive boardrooms of some of the most successful companies in American and, most recently, to the ends of the earth in search of adventure.

My adventures climbing big mountains, scuba diving flooded cave systems and kayaking spectacular rivers around the world have been chronicled in such magazines as National Geographic Adventure, Men’s Journal, Men’s Fitness, Esquire and literally hundreds of other publications.

I’ve written 21 books; my Over The Edge: A Regular Guy’s Odyssey In Extreme Sports, prompted the Wall Street Journal to ask…

”How did Michael Bane become the George Plimpton from hell?”

I conceived and still manage the an Education Program, which has had a profound effect on the relationship between the firearms industry and the media. It also bought together the perhaps greatest group of firearms instructors of all stripes ever.

That “critical mass” of instructors has been redefining handgun instruction, and I’m proud to have had a small part in that. I was part of the 3-person team who handled national media during the Maryland sniper crisis, which as emerged as a textbook example for the industry in dealing with flash fires.

I’ve also handled crisis stuff for IPSC and USPSA. Working directly with major companies on setting up their own media events and training their people to deal with media crises.

Arranged the landmark deal between Kimber and USA Shooting, the Olympic team, which as resulted in Kimber becoming the largest contributor to Olympic shooting ever. I did the initial specification work on the Kimber USA Shooting commemorative 1911, and it’s still one of my favorite .45s.

I have shot USPSA, GSSF, Steel Challenge, NRA action, cowboy, 3-gun, bullseye, air pistol, sporting clays and a little rifle competition.

I have been involved in practical pistol since the old “combat shooting” days….

Created and named FRONT SIGHT magazine for USPSA.

I was in the very first “test class” of what would become the National Range Officer Institute, and I worked for years as a range officer, chief range officer, range master and match director in practical competitions. I was range master in charge of “hopeless cases” at the IPSC World Championships; match director for state championships; a range master at the SWAT Round-up and in other LEO competitions and the founder of 3 clubs.

I’m the graduate of numerous shooting schools and shooting seminars (the grueling Rogers Shooting School in Ellijay, Georgia; LFI I is MANDATORY for gun carriers) and have instructed both basic competition and basic self-defense classes. I’ve worked as a role-player in both civilian and LEO scenarios, most notably as a “guest terrorist” with the Ranger battalion, running scenarios against numerous top police special teams.

I co-wrote with world and national champion one of the first basic texts on practical shooting, YOU CAN’T MISS. I co-wrote, THE COMBAT .45 AUTO.

My own book laying out my concepts of decision making in potentially lethal situations, TRAIL SAFE, has been extremely successful.

I’ve been super lucky to “sit at the feet” (and own guns made by) of some of the greatest gunsmiths of our time, “dream gun” for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, which we then auctioned off with the proceeds going to Ross’ rehabilitation after his horrific injuries).

I have contributed to AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, HANDGUNS, COMBAT HANDGUNS, SHOOTING TIMES, GUNS & AMMO, SHOTGUN NEWS, GUN WORLD and pretty much every other firearms publication; I’ve also written commentaries on firearms issues for such people as the WALL STREET JOURNAL and the AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW.

I’m on the books as a consultant to NBC News on firearms and firearms issues and have been quoted extensively nationally on guns and RKBA issues. I’ve done special editions of magazines on firearms (evaluating weapons, techniques, tactics, etc.) for both civilian and law enforcement markets.

I have worked with major firearms companies on gun design and marketing and consulted with police departments on firearms choice.

I have had a CCW pretty much forever and carry concealed every day; Alessi IWB holster; 9mm +P Cor-Bon or Hornady 124-gr JHPs or the “summer gun,” a Colt .380 Mustang.

I have a black belt in Tang Soo Do and have studied half a dozen other arts; I was lucky enough to briefly learn knife work from legendary FMA sifu Dan Inosanto and have trained with master of the blade Mike Janich.

I have a life-long love affair with Bali-Songs, but my day-to-day knife is an old and tired Benchmade Emerson knock-off.

I still have the first handgun I ever owned (an S&W “Regulation Police” I-frame in .38 S&W, a gift from my father); my most recent handgun acquisition is an FNH Five-seveN.

I have never been a SEAL, an “operator,” a member of a special team, a stealthy ninja killer, or a secret agent–and I’ve never held myself out as one.

Books by Michael Bane

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Adventure – Journalist – Sports