Paragliding
Gripping sprint to goal
Four athletes fight for podium in nail-biting race to Zell am See.
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After seven days of hiking and flying more than 1,000km around the Alps, the final leg to Zell am See becomes a dramatic sprint to the finish line as four athletes fight for a place on the podium.
Never before in the race’s 22-year history has the fight for the winner’s prize been so close. Among them are the race’s eight-time champion Chrigel Maurer (SUI1), the two-time paragliding world cup champion Aaron Durogati (ITA1), the former 3rd placed athlete Simon Oberrauner (AUT1) and the 30-year-old Swiss rookie and former Maurer supporter Lars Meerstetter (SUI4).
They began the day having hiked and run 70km the previous day, when thunderstorms across the Alps forced athletes on the ground. But at 04:00 they hiked up to launch for the first flight of the day. By 09:30 they were back on top of the mountains at 2,700m near the Swiss village of Scuol in the Inn valley. Observers noted how relaxed they were, sharing jokes and enjoying the camaraderie as fellow adventure athletes, not as competitors trying to out manoeuvre each other.
Aaron, Simon and Chrigel launched together. Lars, in characteristic style, had chosen an alternate launch site – preferring all race to follow his own path. In perfect conditions they launched, gained altitude and set their course for the 75km to Turnpoint 14, Lermoos – Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. They arrived in almost exactly three hours, descending in spectacular spirals against the backdrop of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze.
“See you in Zell am See,” Aaron told the crowds. The biggest cheer was reserved for Chrigel, now in unfamiliar terrain trying to cling onto his hopes for a ninth consecutive win.
Aaron Durogati (ITA1) at Turnpoint 14, Lermoos – Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
© zooom / Sebastian Marko
In quick order the four athletes signed Turnpoint 14, Lermoos – Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, and began hiking the 1,000m to the top of Grubigstein behind Lermoos from where they could get into the air again. The fastest mountain athlete, Aaron, was first to the top – as he was on Day 1 on the first hike up Kitzbühel’s Hahnenkamm.
Things then got interesting as he chose a different line to the others. After tagging the next Turnpoint of Zugspitze, he chose to continue along the mountain’s ridge while the other three opted to fly south. Traditionally in paragliding the athletes are faster when they work together and the group of three had the advantage – but Aaron’s line was more direct.
If the athletes do not make Turnpoint 15, Schmittenhöhe, tonight, three of them could pull Night Passes to make the finishing float in beautiful Lake Zell during the night – but not Aaron, since he used his Night Pass yesterday.
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