Simon
Oberrauner

2025 will be Simon Oberrauner’s fifth outing in the race. He's not only a great pilot in the air but also extremely strong on the ground – and fiercely competitive. He came third in 2021 but it could easily have been second. In the previous edition he was in the leading gaggle of pilots for much of the race and although he came sixth, he was only three hours behind third place finisher Maxime Pinot.

He’ll be 34 on the race start line and is still in peak form. In 2024 he won the X-Pyr hike and fly race across the Pyrenees, running the last 25km to goal. It taught him that when it counts, he can lead when out in front. When he’s not competing, Simon runs a paragliding school in Styria with fellow athlete Tommy Friedrich. Always smiling and laughing no matter the adversity, Simon is an athlete who always looks like he’s having the most fun.