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images/stories/content/2009-01-21_Staying-Grounded/2009-01-21_2.jpg Sustaining up to eight hours in flight, and with speeds of up to 60 kilomtres per hour, covering 800 kilometres in concept seems simple. Add the inconsistency of Mother Nature and the regulation that each paraglider must climb each mountain under their own power and the simple concept becomes a delicate interplay of athletic prowess and a superior understanding of regional weather patterns.
The Red Bull X-Alps was the brainchild of Hannes Arch, former professional paraglider, and now the Red Bull Air Race Champion. Started in 2003, the initial race spanned from Austria’s Dachstein glacier to Monaco. Out of 17 brave souls keen for a new challenge, only three completed the journey.
Arch’s motto, “Respect, accept, and always stay grounded,” is somewhat more figurative than literal, given that the Austrian-born athlete has made his career by climbing the world’s highest mountains, jumping off the tallest buildings, and performing gravity defying aerobatic manoeuvres hundreds of feet above the ground.
 The X-Alps requires athletes to carry flying gear at all times (averaging 20kg) and athletes can set their own course but must hit each turning point. This year seven turning points have been set, each in Gaisburg (Austria), Watzmann (Germany), Grossglockner (Austria)
Marmolada (Italy), Matterhorn (Switzerland), Mont Blanc (France) and Mont Gross (France).
Each turning point is a challenge of its own. Marmolada, Italy is the highest mountain of the Dolomites. Towards the south sheer cliffs, forming a rock face several kilometres long that defines its commanding appearance. The ridge itself is composed of several summits with the smallest, Pizzo Serauta, being no less than 3,035 m. The Matterhorn, the iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps, stands no less than 4777m tall. Mont Blanc, the mountain familiar for the recent 2008 Salomon Mountain X Race, is the highest mountain in the alps.
As always, the challenge with paragliding is the weather, hence the 20 day allocation for completion of the race. If weather grounds the competitor, then the race is by foot. The winning strategy is then awarded to the competitor that has the best understanding of regional weather patterns and can set himself up for the next thermal at the moment that it presents itself.
This year’s X-Alps has drawn an international cluster of competitors from 30 Countries. First launch will take place July 19, 2009.
www.redbullxalps.com
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