Jean de Biolley (BEL2)
Jean de Biolley (BEL2) Red Bull X-Alps Profile picture
Jean
de Biolley
BelgiumBelgium
·Adventure Racing
Jean de Biolley is a super strong emerging talent who has what it takes to rise to the top of the sport.
As a supporter to Tom de Dorlodot in 2023, Jean de Biolley won the veteran Belgian athlete’s respect and friendship with his ability, fitness and humor when times got tough. Those are all vital skills to have in Red Bull X-Alps.
Interestingly, Jean came to paragliding via an unusual route. For a long time he was into kitesurfing, then snowkiting and discovered paragliding after wanting to spend more time in the air. He’s been hooked ever since.
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I want to participate in this race because the preparation process excites me
Jean de Biolley (BEL2) Red Bull X-Alps Profile picture
Jean de Biolley
Achievements
  1. 6th place in X-Pyr2024 · Spain
  2. Completed Patrouille des Glaciers ski race2022 · Switzerland
  3. Flew his first 100km in Bornes to Fly2022 · France

How many years have you been paragliding?

Jean de Biolley: Seven years.

Tell us how you got into paragliding

Jean de Biolley: I started with kitesurfing and then snowkiting. I participated in the Red Bull Ragnarok (extreme snowkite race in Norway). Then I started snowkiting in the Alps. After some small slope jumps, I wanted to fly more and longer so one day I decided to take a paragliding course in The Vosges, France and I've been hooked ever since.

What was your best cross-country flight in the Alps or a comparable region (location, distance, triangle/flat/one way, year)?

Jean de Biolley: Except during my hike and fly races, I haven't had the opportunity to plan a bigger cross-country flight in the Alps, but my latest flights during the X-Pyr are proof that I can fly efficiently in challenging conditions.

What has been your best paragliding moment?

Jean de Biolley: Bornes to Fly 2022, arriving for the first time in goal after two days and even gaining three spots on the last flight! When I saw the lake of Annecy I was crying and since then that's the emotion I'm looking for when I'm pushing in a race.

And your worst moment?

Jean de Biolley: My first cross-country competition in Piedrahíta in 2022. I really learned to lose in this sport. I came there with a lot of motivation, but I realized even more why I love hike and fly. When you bomb out, you can't just put all your energy into running. It was a good lesson, and it teaches you to fight even more to stay in the air. Second worst moment was when we landed in a cactus with my girlfriend in Tenerife.

Summarize the paragliding experience which you think qualifies you for the race?

Jean de Biolley: The last year has been marked by two major experiences and I think the combination of both qualify me for this race. I supported Tom de Dorlodot in Red Bull X-Alps 2023. Living the race from the inside allowed me to see what key points I had to improve on in order to be a good hike and fly athlete, but I also learned a lot about the race itself and the Alps. Then, I was able to put this into practice in the X-Pyr. Over the past four years of hike and fly racing, I feel I have been able to identify what works for me, and what I have to focus on to get better. My full focus goes into this sport and I'm confident I deserve a spot in the line-up.

What is your adventure racing / endurance events experience (mountain marathons, ultras etc.)?

Jean de Biolley: Skimo races: Patrouille des Glaciers finisher in 2022 in 15h, Défi des Faverges: Gruyère Trail Charmey 51km and +4,000m in 10h, two times Sierre-Zinal in 4h05.

Best adventure moment?

Jean de Biolley: There are so many, but for sure an emotional one was during the Patrouille des Glaciers. We had pushed through the night, and it was really hard in the morning. But then there was this amazing sunrise above Arolla and it was so intense. Physically I was dead, but I was so happy and emotional at the same time! Another highlight recently was the climb of the Grand Combin together with my wife.

What’s your training philosophy? Do you follow a regular plan?

Jean de Biolley: It's been three years since I've had an endurance coach and physio and it has helped me a lot to prevent injuries, but also to be at least as fast as the Alpine guys, but by training on our small hills in Belgium. I follow a weekly plan that combines trail running, running on flats, biking and strength training. Additionally, I train in the winter for my skimo races by doing a lot of vertical meters whenever I can. Overall, the challenge is to combine my full-time job with this intensive training plan.

Why do you want to take part in Red Bull X-Alps?

Jean de Biolley: I want to participate in this race because the preparation process excites me. I've really enjoyed these last years of training and preparing my body and mind. Everytime I'm surprised by how much I'm able to push. So, it's kind of a quest to the limit. Finally, I want to have the same tears of joy that I had in 2022 at the Bornes to Fly, when I land on the raft in Zell am See.

What does the Red Bull X-Alps mean to you?

Jean de Biolley: It's what drives me to train, to get out there and push myself. Red Bull X-Alps is a unique opportunity for me to progress in the sport. Some skills you can only learn there and nowhere else.

Why do you think you have what it takes?

Jean de Biolley: Because I can visualize myself participating in this race. I have been able to test my team, my body and my flying on longer race formats and it has given me the proof that I'm on the right path regarding preparation. Mentally I feel very good, my team has always been surprised how positive and happy I am even when nothing goes as planned. Lastly, I think I'm a good candidate because I love to share my adventures, together with Oscar Knoops.

What is your race goal?

Jean de Biolley: Discover new mountains in the Alps, have amazing flights and land on the raft in Zell am See with epic memories.

What will be your race strategy?

Jean de Biolley: Follow my intuition, never stop (on foot), stay in the air as long as possible and always keep the smile, no matter what happens!

Who makes the ideal supporter?

Jean de Biolley: For me it's more about a complementary team rather than an ideal supporter. I need a good router who can guide me on the ground and in the air. He's a good hike and fly pilot for sure and is good with all the necessary tools. I need a strong supporter who can run with me and push me to the top of the mountains.

What is your approach to risk and safety? What are your rules for staying safe?

Jean de Biolley: Trust my instinct. In some hike and fly races in the past, I have gone over my limit. Though it did not result in an accident, I have learned from these experiences, and I can now better identify my limits and the amount of risk I'm willing to take. At the end, the most important thing for me is to stay healthy and be able to participate in this race multiple times. Additionally, I want to be clear-minded and focused before I get in the air, my supporters are there to help me with that. I give them every right to prevent me from flying.

List your partners

Jean de Biolley: Niviuk, SportZot, Scott, WildUp, Team X1X Paragliding, Abragaperf, Victus

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