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The Spanish adventure drama film, ‘To the Max,’ centers around a group of friends who have a shared passion for the thrilling extreme sport of BASE jumping. The story takes direct inspiration from the lives of real-life athletes Carlos Suárez, Armando del Rey, Darío Barrio, Manolo Chana, and Álvaro Bultó, a ragtag team of thrill-seekers. At the height of their camaraderie, they undertook new and daunting adrenaline-fuelled adventures that brought about a sense of joy and accomplishment. At the same time, the cost of pursuing such dangerous and risky endeavors also continued to catch up with Suárez and his friends in the form of a string of catastrophically fatal crashes. By 2026, del Rey remains the sole survivor after losing his friends in different accidents involving the perilous sport of BASE jumping.
Armando del Rey Gave Up Proximity Flying After Manolo Chana’s Death
During his career as a BASE jumper, Armando del Rey blazed an impressive path, conquering magnificent heights and falls alike. In 1996, he became the World BMX jumping champion and even worked with Red Bull at the height of his success. Around the same time, in the mid-1990s, he met Darío Barrio during a skydiving venture. From there, the duo went on to meet fellow extreme sport athletes, Carlos Suárez, Manolo Chana, and Álvaro Bultó, and became involved in the world of wingsuit flying. Thus, the group quickly became pioneers of a kind in the field. Yet, despite their expertise, the statistical danger of the sport eventually caught up to the group. Chana was the first one to meet his unfortunate demise in 2010, as a result of a parachute malfunction.
Shortly thereafter, in 2013, Bultó died in a skydiving accident in the Swiss Alps. No more than a year later, in 2014, Dario too met his end in Jaen, Spain, during a wingsuit jump at a commemorative event for Bultó. Naturally, these deaths took a notable toll on Del Rey, who had been with both of his fallen friends during their last jumps. In the aftermath of Dario’s death, he decided to take a year-long break from jumping. Even so, when he returned to wingsuit flying, he made the decision to sever his ties with proximity flying, a practice that involves flying wingsuits close to mountains and other structural surfaces. While del Rey continued wingsuit flying and extreme jumping for many years after, he eventually decided to take his departure from these sports as well.
Armando del Rey Reportedly Hasn’t Flown Since the Death of Carlos Suárez
In 2025, Armando del Rey was involved in the development and production of ‘To the Max,’ better known as ‘La Fiera,’ a Salvador Calvo directorial film about the group of BASE jumpers’ friendship and their adventures. He was joined in this endeavor by Carlos Suárez. During the filming for this project, the latter performed a wingsuit flying stunt on April 1, 2025. Tragically, the stunt resulted in a crash, leading to Suárez’s death at 52 years old. After years of losing friends to this dangerous hobby, this tragedy reinforced del Rey’s belief that senseless, unpredictable accidents are an unavoidable part of the sport.
A few years ago, del Rey would have never entertained the idea of giving up on his love for flying and jumping. However, in his 50s, after witnessing so many tragedies and the loss of his loved ones, the former BASE jumper has found himself at a stage in his life where he can embrace the possibility. As per his own account, del Rey hasn’t partaken in extreme BASE jumping since Suárez’s death. He may never return to it ever again. Still, his love and respect for the sport have never diminished. In fact, he remained a consultant and an adviser in the scriptwriting process for ‘To the Max,’ serving as an invaluable resource for the film’s writer, Alejandro Hernández.
Armando del Rey Continues Running the Family Business With His Brother
In the 1950s, Armando del Rey’s father founded Corral de la Morería, a Flamenco Tablao establishment in Madrid. Located in Calle de la Morería, 17, Centro, in Las Vistillas, the restaurant has earned a Michelin star for its gourmet haute cuisine, which remains world famous. Additionally, the Flamenco, carefully curated and renovated every week, remains a notable point of attraction for the family business. Over the years, the place has become a must-visit for celebrities, Hollywood stars, and others belonging to the upper echelons of society.
The establishment has hosted an eclectic array of guests, from John Lennon to the Shah of Persia. Del Rey is the co-owner of this fine establishment alongside his brother, Juan Manuel del Rey, who also serves as the sommelier of the family business. Additionally, their mother, Blanca del Rey, a flamenco dancer who received the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, is also part-owner and the artistic director of the place. Del Rey has always been involved in running this acclaimed family business. Since parting ways with the more dangerous parts of his professional life, he continues to put his heart and soul into the Corral.
Armando del Rey Still Enjoys Other Adrenaline-Heavy Sports
Even though Armando del Rey has quit the world of wingsuit flying and extreme BASE jumping for now, his love for thrilling sports and adventures still remains. Even today, he hasn’t entirely given up on BASE jumping and utilizing his wingsuit flying expertise as a coach. Additionally, he is also an AES snowboard instructor and a PADI scuba instructor. Likewise, he has remained an active surfer, chasing the waves as an antidote for the newfound lack of flying in his life. Still, despite continuing to undertake these great adventures, the athlete seems to prefer a relatively private life, as evidenced by minimal social media presence and a preference for remaining out of the limelight.
Read More: To the Max True Story, Explained
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