por parapentenet
It is now just a matter of hours before the start gun fires on one of the world most incredible challenges, the Red Bull X-Alps and the 32 athletes can wait to begin the adventure.
At 11.30am on Sunday July 5 the first three athletes to finish Thursday one day Powertraveller Prologue will set off from Salzburg city historic Mozartplatz, followed five minutes later by the rest of the pack, chasing hard behind them. Their mission? To hike and fly 1,038km across the Alps to Monaco in the fastest time possible.
Athletes flying over Salzburg, Austria. / Felix Wölk
The route takes them via 10 set Turnpoints and involves crossing dozens of mountains, climbing thousands of vertical meters on foot and hiking as much as 100km in a day.
The Red Bull X-Alps is not just a physical challenge. It's about the body and the mind, says race mastermind Hannes Arch. Athletes have to race at an intense level for 18 hours a day and sustain that for 10 plus days. It's physically and mentally exhausting. If you make a wrong decision you don't just fall back in the rankings. This is serious adventure!
But for those who persevere, an experience that can be matched awaits. An event that pushes you past the limit both on the ground and in the air, the rewards are amazing, says Steve Nash (GBR), who is competing for the second time.
Right now, athletes are eager for the action to begin. Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1), who delighted fans by winning the Prologue, said: looking forward to the start and to the adventure that we will have together as a team as we run and fly through the Alps. I also looking forward to some real mountaineering along the way. We are ready now and fully prepared.
Athletes above the historic city center of Salzburg, Austria. / Markus Berger
Christian Maurer (SUI1) takes off for a practice flight. / Felix Wölk
Guschlbauer was one of a handful of athletes speaking of their hopes and fears at a packed press conference in Salzburg Hangar-7 ahead of the race. Also present was Gavin McClurg (USA2), a National Geographic adventurer of the year. He said: y life has been all about adventures like this, and I feel that I ready. It the adventure of the whole thing, he adds. A unique race, but it not the sort of race where you are racing against each other. You are racing against the mountains, yourself, and of course the clock.
Race Director Christoph Weber said weather conditions for the race tomorrow look good, and that he expects the lead athletes to pass the second Turnpoint at the Dachstein by evening.
It will be a hot run up to the summit of the Gaisberg. The hard part will then be flying into the high mountains. But once into the mountains we expect athletes to be able to fly long distances.
The top of the Dachstein is 2,995m, so pilots could fly over the top of the Turnpoint and then carry on towards the third Turnpoint at Aschau-Chiemsee (Kampenwand).
After that the athletes need to cross the spine of the Alps into Italy. There the conditions will change. This part will be tough, I think.
It is now just a matter of hours until the race starts at 11:30. Thanks to Red Bull MOBILE Live Tracking, fans can watch the action as it unfolds. Follow here and prepare for the adventure to begin!
The athletes in Hangar-7, Salzburg. /Harald Tauderer.
Gavin McClurg (USA2) at the press conference. /Harald Tauderer.
Ulrich Grill presents the mandatory equipment. /Harald Tauderer.
ABOUT THE RED BULL X-ALPS
The 2015 Red Bull X-Alps is the seventh edition of the world's toughest adventure race in which athletes must hike or fly 1,038km across the Alps from Salzburg to Monaco in the fastest time possible. The race starts on July 5, 2015. It's an epic undertaking that can involve hiking up to 100km of mountain terrain in a day or flying at altitudes in excess of 4,000m. The race demands not only a very high level of endurance fitness but expert paragliding experience. The 2013 edition was the fastest on record with 10 athletes reaching Monaco. It was won by Christian Maurer (SUI) in 6d 23hr 40m.
New in 2015 is the one-day Powertraveller Prologue on July 2 which was won by Paul Guschlbauer in 2h 21m. Stanislav Mayer (CZE) was 2nd in 2h 22m and Gavin McClurg (USA2) came 3rd in 2h 24m. Athletes started and finished in Fuschl am See, passing the Turnpoints of the Zwölferhorn and Schafberg peaks. The first three athletes each gained an additional Led Lenser Nightpass and a five-minute headstart on the main race start.
Ver ficha del evento »