Aaron
Durogati

The mountains of the Alps have been Aaron Durogati’s playground for 20 years, especially the Dolomites near his base in Merano, Italy. Few athletes are as at home as he is among the jagged spires – whether climbing, skiing, paragliding and speed riding, often all the same day. As a pilot he is one of the best, a two-time paragliding world champion.

In Red Bull X-Alps he likes to follow his own race, flying on instinct and feeling rather than by instruments and instructions. His best performance is sixth in 2015, but last edition he came eighth. That he takes part at all is a small miracle – a few years ago doctors told him the state of his knees was so bad he should retire – an unthinkable prospect for someone as active as Aaron.