Author: Christoph Hoerner
http://www.redbullxalps.com/
http://www.zooom.at

The World Toughest Paragliding Race!

17 athletes launched themselves into the air from Austria’s Dachstein Massif to the world’s toughest paragliding competition: the Red Bull X-Alps. This race requires the pilots to cross the Alps from east to west without the help of any other means of transportation. Monaco, the destination, is 800 kilometers from Dachstein and must be reached in three weeks or less. The total prize money for the alpine air race is 35,000 euros.

“This is much more than just an Alpine crossing; it’s an adventure, an expedition and at the same time a competition,” says Red Bull X-Alps mastermind Hannes Arch. “What makes this event so extreme is that the individual race stages don’t end in the evening; there’s no camp where the athletes can kick back at the end of the day. The pilots will spend the nights on the mountain so they can fly off first thing the next morning.“

The teams can choose their own routes from Dachstein to Monaco. Each of the 17 paraglider pilots is backed up on the ground by one supporter, who provides his athlete with food, replacement parts, equipment and information such as the daily weather forecast.

If inclement weather makes flying impossible, the participants have to make up for lost time and distance in the Alps by covering as much ground as possible by foot: mobilized transportation of any kind is forbidden.

After 13 days of competition time and an incredible start to finish lead, the first athlete Kaspar Henny from Switzerland arrived in Monaco after. So many adventures, good and bad, blisters on the feet, and incredible experiences happened in between – things no one could have imagined before. Read through our diary and get captured on what happened during 13 days of torture and joy.

Monday, July 14th

Perfect weather conditions at the Dachstein. 17 pilots took off from the most north/eastern glacier of the Alps to their long journey to Monaco.

At the end of the first competition day we already had a clear leader: Kaspar Henny (Team CH I) made more than 100 kilometers. Some 25 km behind him the next pilots.

Tuesday, July 15th

Monday’s weather forecasts didn’t come true. The strong north-west winds destroyed the hopes of most teams to arrive in Zillertal. The only pilot to manage this masterpiece was Kaspar Henny. He started from Wildkogel, flying over the Gerlos right into Zillertal and then continued hiking until Jenbach.

Wednesday, July 16th

"The big flight day“. Walter Holzmüller, David Dagault, Krzysztof Ziolkowski and also the leader Kaspar Henny were able to cover more than 100 kilometers.

In the early evening hours the flights of many pilots were stopped by thunderstorms coming from the west. Kaspar Henny is only 20 k’s away from the Swiss boarder. 60 kilometers behind him Urs Loetscher, Thomas Friedrich and Holger Herfurth are fighting the heavy rain and for the second place.

Thursday, July 17th

The fourth competition day was a complete hiking day. A rain passing by front made flying impossible.

Friday, July 18th

After the tough rain test on Thursday, Friday was again a flying day for most of the pilots. Kaspar Henny is still in the clear lead. The Swiss launched near Scuol in the Unter Engadin, crossed the Fluelapass and had to take some vertical meters in Weissfluh to continue over Chur until Trin – This day brought him 70 kilometers closer to the first turning point in Verbier.

Saturday, July 19th

444 kilometers(!) Kaspar Henny (CH) passed the 50 percent-mark to Monaco on the sixth day of the Red Bull X-Alps. With an amazing flight the Swiss pilot covered 124 km in one piece on Saturday and now he’s got only about 50 k’s left to reach the first turning point in Verbier: His closest competitor is compatriot Urs Loetscher,. Will Gadd (USA/CAN) and David Dagault (FRA) were flying together for the second day and passed the German duo Holger Herfurth und Thomas Friedrich.

Sunday, July 20th

Day seven of the Red Bull X-Alps and the third day in a row with excellent flying conditions. A high cloud base and good thermal brought the teams closer to Monaco. Kaspar Henny was the first one to pass the turning point in Verbier. pilot of the day was Urs Loetscher, who got incredible 132 k’s closer to Monaco and was hiking until late that night – a record for Red Bull X-Alps. Behind the Swiss pilots a ‘fight’ in the Wallis valley between David Dagault (FRA), Stefan Bocks and Will Gadd took place.

Monday, July 21st

The ninth day of the Red Bull X-Alps was totally in the hands of the rain and didn’t allow the pilots to fly. Only the ones, who spent last night in the mountains managed to glide into the valley. The majority was fighting the heavy thunderstorms by feet; some used Monday as a relaxing day as nobody was able to cover long distances on that day. This days’ record was set by David Dagault (FRA) with almost 50 kilometers.

Tuesday, July 22nd

Under extremely changing conditions four pilots got 60 kilometers closer to Monaco: Kaspar Henny (CH I) made his way through the Po Valley south of Turin. He is only 138 kilometers away from Monaco, but the Po Valley is known as a very difficult paragliding area. Stefan Bocks (GER I) and David Dagault (FRA) also covered 60 k’s and got closer to the second ranked Urs Loetscher (CH II).

Wednesday, July 23th

On the tenth competition day the wind was strong that only some of the pilots were able to fly. But not only the heavy wind made it difficult for the teams to advance. In the East the athletes stood in the rain until midday. On the contrary, temperatures the West went up to 30 degrees. All along the route to Monaco the athletes are now feeling the tortures of the long hard hikes
from the last days. Kaspar Henny (CH I) only hiked in the morning and in the evening hours in the Po Valley, he wanted to avoid the heat during the day and approached Monaco by another 40 kilometers. Hundred kilometers behind him in the French Alps
Stefan Bocks (GER I), Urs Loetscher (CH II) and David Dagault (FRA) delivered an exciting match for the second rank. One thing was really hard for them: The weather didn’t allow any more long distance flight and … statement Urs Loetscher: “We are in an area where you are supposed to fly. If you hike you hike like crazy at the end only gaining one kilometer towards Monaco!”

Thursday, July 24th

The fourth day in a row with bad weather conditions and another day for the ‘hiking machines’ in the field. Thomas Friedrich (GERII), who covered 45 k’s on Wednesday, made a 35 kilometer step and overtook the double pack Holger Herfurth (GERIII) and Will Gadd (CAN/USA), who waited for more than 24 hours on the Croix de Coeur.

Friday, July 25th

Fighting with the winds: The 12th competition day of the Red Bull X-Alps was a good flying day, but the pilots had to fight against hard winds. The one who succeeded the most was David Dagault (FRA), who made some 80 kilometers towards Monaco.

Saturday, July 26th

The winner of the Red Bull X-Alps is Kaspar Henny. The 35year old Swiss touched down on the roof of the famous nightclub Jimmyz here in Monaco at 12.15 pm to win the world’s toughest paragliding race. It took Kaspar only 11 days and 22:55:30 hours to cover the distance Dachstein glacier to Monaco. How does he feel after all those tough competition days? Kaspar Henny: “Its great feeling, but not like an explosion. All the feeling and emotions have been going through my body within the last days.”

17.40 Uhr: David Dagault

After an amazing finish David Dagault (FRAU), 27, reached the finish at 17.40 pm. The French was visibly exhausted and has given everything. “I only wanted to walk, walk, walk. My body was like a machine.” Says David.

21.00 pm: Stefan Bocks

At 21.00 hours Stefan Bocks (GER I), 33, landed in Monaco. „Boxi” had an amazing flight day, covering the remaining 85 kilometers to Monaco with speeds up to 60 km/h. He could also overtake David, but he had the better local knowledge. Boxis statement at the first improvised celebration party:” A weired feeling to be among people again. I am looking forward to my family - my nine month year old baby and my wife.”

Monday, July 28th

48 hours after Kaspar Hennys arrival in Monaco the race is over. Up to this time the athletes had the chance to make as much km as possible towards Monaco. Price money is given out to all Athletes according to the amount of km they did towards Monaco until that moment. At the award ceremony Prince Albert of Monaco was present to congratulate the winners and all participants.

This was Red Bull X-Alps 2003! What a great success for all parties concerned. Good overall weather conditions, incredible achievements and amazing records make this event extraordinary in any respect.


See you again in 2004 for another exciting edition of the Red Bull X-Alps!