por parapentenet
In scorching temperatures, 32 athletes from around the world descended upon the picturesque lakeside village of Fuschl am See in Austria today, for the prelude to the world toughest adventure race the Red Bull X-Alps.
Inside the race, things got pretty heated too as the athletes battled for a prized podium position. For much of the race it looked like the Italian flying ace Aaron Durogati would win he led through much of the day.
Athletes on their way to Schafberg, Austria.
The flight was crazy! It was so cool, he said afterwards. the running up, I didn push too hard. I was just going fast, enjoying myself. But it was local adventure athlete Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) who crossed the line first, in 2h 21m.
Thirty-two athletes set off from Fuschl at a racing pace at 10am. The first athletes arrived at the summit of the Zwlferhorn about 1h 10m later. Conditions on the summit were good for flying and athletes quickly started to launch. The 38km Prologue course took athletes from the lakeside resort of Fuschl am See into the Salzburgerland region mountains. They had to tag two Turnpoints, which included the summits of the Zwlferhorn and Schafberg.
To cover distance in the air, athletes need to find thermals, rising currents of air, that let them stay airborne. It was tricky due to hot and stable weather conditions, but they were soon on track to the second Turnpoint, above the Schafberg. Although he was first to round the peak Aaron Durogati (ITA) made a tactical error towards the end that forced him to land early.
He was philosophical about finishing up fourth. took a bad line in the final glide, he said. was at the Schafberg TP first and was taking it pretty easy but I got a big sink in altitude and ended up 2km short.
Off they go!
Aaron Durogati (ITA) arrives at the summit of the Zwlferhorn.
Aaron Durogati (ITA) is the first to take flight.
Guschlbauer saw his chance and took it racing over the head of Durogati to take the win, amid cheers and applause from the crowd.
Second across the line was Stanislav Mayer (CZE), followed closely by Gavin McClurg (USA2) who was ecstatic to come in third. It was a blast, it was so much fun, he said.
All three athletes win an extra Led Lenser Night Pass to use during the Red Bull X-Alps, which starts on Sunday in Salzburg. The Night Pass allows athletes to walk through the night while other athletes are resting, helping them to steal a march on the other competitors. They also get a five minute headstart on all the other athletes in the Red Bull X-Alps.
The main race starts 11.30 on Sunday in Salzburg and the weather is looking hot. High pressure and very high temperatures are expected to continue until the beginning of the next week, says Clemens Teutsch, from official Red Bull X-Alps meteo partner wetter.tv, part of UBIMET.
Top 3 finishers: Red Bull X-Alps Powertraveller Prologue winner Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) with runner-up Stanislav Mayer (CZE) on his left and 3rd place finisher Gavin McClurg (USA2) on his right.
Smiles all around as Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) is embraced by fans after landing in Fuschl am See. Guschlbauer snuck past Aaron Durogati (ITA) close to the finish to win the race.
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. It was won by Paul Guschlbauer (AUT) in 2h 21m. Second was Stanislav Mayer (CZE) and Gavin McClurg (USA2) was third. They each win an additional Led Lenser Nightpass and a five-minute headstart on the main race start.
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