History

Part of this story

Red Bull X-Alps

Only the strongest, most skilled athletes are able to take on the race across the Alps by foot and paraglider.

01

1999 - The birth and essence

The concept for Red Bull X-Alps was inspired by Toni Bender’s north to south crossing of the Alps in 1999. His hiking and paragliding adventure became the subject of a documentary that caught the eye of renowned Austrian pilot and adventurer Hannes Arch. This inspired Arch and his good friend Ulrich Grill to ask themselves if such an incredible feat could be made into a competition for the world's best adventure athletes – but across the length of the Alps.

I thought it would be cool to base a paragliding competition on this format and build a basic concept for it – that’s how the idea was born!
Hannes Arch

"I thought it would be cool to base a paragliding competition on this format and build a basic concept for it – that’s how the idea was born!” Arch once explained. “Together with Red Bull, we developed the idea until it became what it is today; an unparalleled test of human endurance in the form of an adventure race.” adds Grill.

Since then, the race has gone from strength to strength. Today, competitors cover over 1,100km of alpine terrain, sometimes racing through the night to gain an advantage. Although each year only a handful of the 30 or so competitors make the finish, the race only gets more competitive as the international athletes go head to head in the battle for glory. Tragically Hannes Arch died in a helicopter crash in 2016.

Ulrich Grill and Hannes Arch
© Red Bull X-Alps

02

2003 - From the drawing board to the skies

2003 saw the first edition of Red Bull X-Alps come to life. In its inaugural event, the race format was simple. A total of 17 top athletes set out from the Dachstein Glacier in the south of Salzburg, Austria and raced their way down to Monaco on the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way, they checked in at two mandatory Turnpoints; Verbier in Switzerland and Mont Gros in France.

Of the 17 athletes who took part, only three crossed the finishing line; proving that Red Bull X-Alps was shaping up to be a race like no other. Completing the journey in just 11 day, 22 hours and 55 minutes, first place went to Kaspar Henny, who, back then was the three-time paragliding world champion for the Swiss national team.

1

SUI

17:31:51

6d 6h 1m 51s

2

FRA

14:50:00

12d 3h 20m

3

GER1

19:30:00

12d 8h

DNF

GER2

128km

DNF

SUI2

132km

DNF

SLO

143km

DNF

CAN

144km

DNF

GER3

152km

DNF

ROM

182km

DNF

AUT2

246km

DNF

TUR

275km

DNF

POL

278km

DNF

ITA

289km

DNF

AUT1

314km

DNF

MEX

338km

DNF

BUL

443km

DNF

GBR

537km

Kaspar Henny flying over Monaco
© Red Bull X-Alps

Kaspar Henny after reaching the goal in Monaco
© Red Bull X-Alps

03

2005 - Red Bull X-Alps returns

In its second installment, a few key changes were made to the Route. The Zugspitze mountain peak in Germany stepped in to replace Verbier in Switzerland as the first Turnpoint of the race. The other major adjustment was the addition of Mont Blanc; Europe’s tallest mountain which would appear as the third and final Turnpoint before Monaco.

As an exciting new development, 2005 also marked the first time that female competitors joined the race, Niki Hamilton of Ireland and Kari Castle from the USA. Three teams withdrew from the exhausting route, but it was Swiss athlete Alex Hofer who took the title from defending champion and fellow countryman Kaspar Henry with a time of 12 days, 1 hour and 20 minutes.

1

SUI3

12d 1h 20m

2

SUI2

13d 3h

3

SUI1

4

AUT1

DNF

GER1

DNF

GER2

DNF

GBR

DNF

ROM

DNF

MEX

DNF

ITA

DNF

ESP

DNF

AUS

OUT

TUR

OUT

USA

OUT

IRL

OUT

GRE

OUT

Amon

Alex Hofer wins the second edition of Red Bull X-Alps
© Red Bull X-Alps

04

2007 - The world’s thoughest adventure race gets tougher

In its third edition, Red Bull X-Alps ramped up the Route with a total of five Turnpoints. In this race, Germany was dropped from the course and two new locations were added; Marmolada in Italy and the Eiger in Switzerland. 2007 proved to be the toughest yet. Of the 30 teams who participated, 12 were forced to withdraw due to injury and fatigue.

Alex Hofer once again took the podium after taking the lead in the last stage of the event. Hofer’s first class piloting skills allowed him to fly for 61% of the course, much further than anyone else had ever managed before. His victory time clocked in at just over 14 days, some 4 hours and 35 minutes.

1

SUI1