Overview
There are not many adventure races that cross over 1,000km of mountain terrain, journey through five countries and last for two weeks. But then, the Red Bull X-Alps is not your average race.
Description
Taking place every two years, it sees some of the world’s top adventure athletes hike, run and fly their way around the Alps. Every day, they climb into the mountains carrying a lightweight paraglider on their backs, then unpack their gliders and launch into the sky, hoping to cover as much distance as possible in the air.This year, the route travels in a wide circle from Salzburg, Austria to Mt Blanc France via Germany and Switzerland, before travelling back through the Italian Alps. It finishes up in the mountain resort of Zell am See, Austria.There are 33 athletes taking part in this year’s race (including three women) and every one has been vetted to ensure they have what it takes. On any typical day, athletes can find themselves covering 50k on the ground and anything from 2,000m to 5,000m of vertical ascent. Doing that day after day requires incredible powers of endurance but it’s the paragliding part that demands the highest skill-set. This race requires an ability to fly in the mountains, in turbulent rough conditions when most pilots wouldn’t dream of flying.The past six editions in a row have been won by the same athlete, Switzerland’s Chrigel ‘the Eagle’ Maurer. There’s a reason he got that nickname. Like a bird of prey, he can stand atop a mountain ledge and launch into the sky, using thermals or upward currents of warm air, to stay airborne for hours on end.The good news is that you don’t have hurl yourself off a mountain to enjoy this race. It’s actually a blast to follow in person or online via Live Tracking.