Adventure Racing
Red Bull X-Alps the world's toughest adventure race
Open to the world’s best paraglider pilots and adventure athletes, but uniquely it is a race where men and women compete equally.
01
Spirit of Adventure
Red Bull X-Alps is the world’s toughest adventure race. It’s a fiercely contested battle across the Alps lasting almost two weeks in which around 30 athletes run, hike and fly by paraglider up to 150km a day passing set Turnpoints positioned across iconic mountains and famous resorts. With athletes often hiking up to 4,000m of vertical ascent a day and running as much as 100km on foot, it’s not only an incredible test of physical endurance but it has become recognized as the supreme test for the world’s best hike-and-fly athletes.
Red Bull X-Alps is only open to the world’s best paraglider pilots and adventure athletes, but uniquely it is a race where men and women compete equally. The race was founded in 2003 by the late adventurer Hannes Arch and has taken place every two years since then. The 2023 edition therefore marked the 20th anniversary of the iconic race.
Aaron Durogati tackles a snowy slope in Bielerhöhe, Austria
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
Markus Anders lands in Lermoos during the race in 2023
© zooom / Adi Geisegger
02
The Concept: From dawn till dusk
Every edition of Red Bull X-Alps features a different route over the Alps that crosses remote mountain chains and valleys and passes famous resorts and peaks. Traditionally the race began in Salzburg, Austria and finished in Monaco. However, for the 10th edition of the race in 2021, organisers updated the format to create an out-and-back route from Salzburg to Mont Blanc and back to Zell am See, Austria via 12 Turnpoints in five countries. At 1,238km it was the longest route in the race’s history.
Athletes race from 05AM to 10PM but they can only fly during daylight hours between 06AM to 9PM. Overnight, a mandatory rest period is in place and athletes cannot move from their location. However, each athlete is equipped with a Night Pass, which allows them to break the curfew once. This can help to gain a strategic advantage, but it comes at the cost of additional fatigue. From day four and every 48 hours thereafter, the athlete in last place is eliminated.
Thomas Friedrich during the race in Bielerhöhe, Austria
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
Christian Maurer takes off in Ferden
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
03
Competitors: Champions and Challengers
The line-up of the Red Bull X-Alps is always a global mix of veterans and rookies and between male and female athletes. The last eight editions have been won by the Swiss athlete Christian Maurer or ‘Chrigel the Eagle’ as he has become known to the race’s legion of fans and followers. In the early years his victories were conclusive and unchallenged, but with every edition, the competition gets a bit closer. Maurer finds himself threatened as never before by a number of athletes capable of outperforming him in the air and on the ground – rookies and veterans alike.
With the sheer number of variables, from the weather to route decisions, Red Bull X-Alps is a race where anything can – and frequently does happen. Toma Coconea is the only athlete to have competed in every edition since 2003. Every athlete has an official supporter to provide strategic help, weather and route advice, and physical and psychological care, making this truly a team race.
Athletes during the start of Red Bull X-Alps 2023
© zooom / Christian Lorenz
04
Race Committee
Ever wondered where decisions are getting done? The Red Bull X-Alps Race Committee is where all the big calls are being made, from athlete selection to deciding the Route, from race rules to the day-to-day running of the event. Meet the people behind the world’s toughest adventure race.
05
3D Live Tracking
Red Bull X-Alps is a race tailor made for online followers. At the heart of the adventure lies Live Tracking, which allows fans to follow their favorite athletes in real time thanks to advanced GPS trackers – and even join them in the cockpit for a POV view.
Fans can watch the race unfold in real time and see whether an athlete is hiking or flying, explore their tracks and analyse other metrics such as speed, altitude, distance-to-go and more.
2 min
This is Red Bull X-Alps Live Tracking 2023
Everything you need to know about the Live Tracking
06
Rules
Red Bull X-Alps is a challenging race. To keep it as safe as possible there are certain rules every athlete has to follow. They also make sure that it’s a fair race and all athletes compete equally. Take an in-depth look at the rules.
07
FAQs
Is it really the world’s toughest adventure race? Can anyone take part? What sport disciplines are included? Check out our FAQs if you want to know more about Red Bull X-Alps and find the answers to your questions!
Tom de Dorlodot checking the weather forecast
© zooom / Vitek Ludvik
