Paragliding
The science of speed
How athletes become masters of the mountains on foot, and the technology behind them.
When athletes tackle the world's toughest adventure race, every piece of gear and every strategic decision can mean the difference between victory and elimination. While the flying captures headlines, it’s often the performance on the ground that determines who reaches the goal in Zell am See.
Moving like a four-legged animal
Race reporter Tarquin Cooper puts it simply: "You are faster with four legs than two." That's why nearly every athlete in the 2025 field carries lightweight trekking poles – a lesson learned from watching how efficiently four-legged animals move across terrain.
You're faster with four legs than two
The benefits go far beyond speed. Poles act like shock absorbers on steep descents, reducing the punishing impact on knees and quads that can accumulate over 1,283km of racing. Telescopic poles can be extended for downhill sections, taking the load off athletes’ legs for the next uphill grind.
On flat terrain, poles help maintain rhythm and efficiency, especially when fatigue sets in after days of racing. "Even on the flat, they make life easier when you're in a good rhythm," Tarquin explained. For climbs, the poles become essential tools for distributing effort between legs and upper body, helping athletes maintain their target pace.
Patrick von Känel (SUI2) hiking during Red Bull X-Alps 2025
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
By comparison, the average person will do around 300-400m of vertical ascent per hour. Red Bull X-Alps athletes can achieve around 600-800m of ascent per hour when going steady to moderate – or up to 1,200m per hour when pushing hard like in the Prologue.
Modern poles made from lightweight carbon fiber or aluminum alloy barely add weight to an athlete's load, yet provide massive performance benefits. Many racers carry small wraps of tape on their poles for field repairs – because in an elimination-format race, gear failure isn't an option.
The rhythm of endurance
While spectators see athletes charging up mountainsides, the smartest competitors are constantly monitoring their effort through heart rate zones. Many wear heart rate monitors to stay within their endurance zone – typically 60-70% of maximum heart rate – where their bodies efficiently burn fat for fuel over long periods.
"Many do wear HRM to monitor pace and not push too hard," Tarquin said. This measured approach allows athletes to maintain steady breathing and sustainable power output for hours at a time, avoiding the early burnout.
The strategy pays off over the race's extreme distances. "It's extraordinary to think: Rémi Bourdelle (FRA5) doing an Ultra – 80km – at the end of an eight day adventure race. It's just an extraordinary physical achievement," Tarquin said.
Rémi Bourdelle (FRA5) hiked 80km on Day 8
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
Gear built for extremes
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The technical demands of Red Bull X-Alps have pushed equipment innovation to new levels. Athletes need gear that performs across massive temperature variations – from below zero on high Alpine peaks to over 30°C in the valleys – while remaining ultralight for the hiking segments.
The race's partnership with Salewa, now in its sixth edition, exemplifies this evolution. The South Tyrolean mountain sports brand has developed a specialized collection specifically for the unique challenges of Red Bull X-Alps, including ultra-light backpacks and technical clothing that offers maximum freedom of movement.
As athletes prepare for via ferratas, steep mountain trails, and glimmering snowfields, their clothing must transition seamlessly between intense uphill efforts and high-altitude exposure. The gear needs to perform whether they're speed-hiking to the next launch point in valley heat or flying over peaks in sub-zero conditions.
The mental game
Beyond the physical techniques lies the psychological element that separates finishers from those eliminated. Athletes must constantly balance pushing their limits with staying within sustainable zones, especially knowing that elimination awaits the last-place finisher every 48 hours after Day 2.
The combination of lightweight gear, smart pacing, and technical expertise creates a formula that allows the world's best adventure athletes to average over 100km per day across some of the most challenging terrain. Whether hiking with poles through Alpine valleys or monitoring heart rate on brutal ascents, every detail matters in the pursuit of reaching that floating raft in Zell am See.
For athletes carrying 6-7kg total including water – a fraction of the 25kg loads from early race editions – modern techniques and equipment have revolutionized what's possible in this ultimate test of body and mind across the Alps.
