He completed the Ironman in SA and Russia, ran 300km over the Caucasus mountain range, is training to compete in an ultra-triathlon and recently bought his own plane with which he plans to fly around the world.
But before he can do that, Russian businessman Dmitry Demchuk still needs to complete his pilot’s licence at the Madiba Bay School of Flight — and is studying next door at the Helicopter Pilot Training Centre.
He plans to get both licences at the same time.
“I like to challenge myself,” Demchuk said, laughing as he ran through his impressive resume.
The 35-year-old Moscow native started his own company in his early 20s, manufacturing prop shafts for car makers in Russia.
The company has since grown to 10 franchises across the country.
Having achieved success in the business world, he set his sights on more physical challenges and took up endurance racing.
After participating in several half-Ironman events, he took on the longer format and completed the race in his home country and in SA.
“One of my toughest challenges was the Caucasus Ultra Trail, where we ran a total of 309km over a section of the Caucasus Mountains.
“But I want to challenge myself more. In June they are adding another mountain to the trail, making it 400km.
“That sounds exciting,” Demchuk said.
He is also preparing to take on the Siberman Ultra Triathlon — an event held over three days and comprising a 10km swim, 421km cycle and 84km run.
In the midst of his training, he decided to relocate his wife and two young children to Gqeberha in late 2021, while he completes his training to become a licensed fixed-wing and helicopter pilot.
“Being able to fly is something that has always fascinated me. I read about Sir Francis Chichester, a British businessman who attempted a solo flight around the world, and I felt inspired.
“I did some research and found several flight schools in SA, and we settled on Gqeberha.
“We came here because I prefer the 25°C weather in SA to the -25°C in Moscow.
“Now my kids are building sand castles instead of snowmen like their cousins,” he laughed.
Last week Demchuk completed the purchase of his own plane, a Czech-built two-seater Skyleader 150, which he plans to fly across Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Greenland, the US and Canada, before making his way home to Moscow once his training is complete.
“The whole journey can take up to three months and I’m hoping to amass enough flight miles in the process to complete my commercial licence as well.”
Demchuk’s journey will also benefit a worthy cause.
His father is a psychologist specialising in children with autism and he hopes to raise funds for the charity organisations his father works with.
“Besides raising awareness we will also be taking in donations. One initiative we are looking at is picking up a new passenger every 1,500km and having them donate funds to the cause.
“At each stop they will hand over a baton to the next passenger, like a relay race, and afterwards we will look to sell the baton on auction, with the proceeds also going to charity,” Demchuk said.
The baton, he said, would be a miniature prop shaft, specially manufactured by his company in Russia.
And when this journey is done?
“Maybe I will try again, but in an amphibian plane that I can land on water.
“That could help me stop at some pretty interesting destinations the second time around,” he said.
HeraldLIVE
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