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00:00The Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe and the impressive backdrop for the hardest
00:22paraglide and hiking adventure race in the world, the Red Bull X-Alps from Salzburg to Monaco.
00:30The Red Bull X-Alps sees athletes hike or fly 1,038 kilometers across the peaks and valleys
00:56from Salzburg to Monaco in the fastest time possible.
01:00It's known as the world's hardest adventure race and all have to pass 10 defined turn points
01:05which takes every bit of skill they have to navigate this mountainous region.
01:09The winner of the last three editions and a legend in this sport, Christian Kriegelmauer,
01:19is ready to go.
01:20It's very emotional moment to prepare a half a year seriously to this race and then to
01:28stay here and to know in one hour it's the start and I'm very happy to go out in the nature
01:34to be free to do my sport and to make hike and fly until Monaco.
01:41The line-up consists of some legendary characters and many familiar names like Paul Gushelbauer
01:46who's taking part for the third time, Erin Durogati from Italy, Frenchman Gaspar Pettiot and a lot
01:54of rookies like Sebastian Huber from Germany.
01:57There's also two women taking part this year.
01:59One of them is Dawn Westrom from the USA.
02:12And they're off from the historic Mozart Flats in Salzburg city centre.
02:17Their destination is the cooling waters of Monaco at the Mediterranean Sea, 1,038 kilometers
02:23and 10 checkpoints or turn points away.
02:25First, however, they have to reach turn point one in these blistering hot conditions,
02:29which has not made any easier running the tarmac and concrete streets of the historic city
02:34of Salzburg.
02:36The overall number of newcomers at the Red Bull Ex-Alps has never been higher.
02:3921 of the 32 athletes are competing for the very first time.
02:44Even though they're new to this competition, they are all experts in this sport.
02:48But to take part, they go through a rigorous selection process.
02:55The Geisberg peak above Salzburg, an idyllic location for turn point one.
03:07Running in these hot conditions is no walk in the park.
03:09It's hard work as athletes have to carry their equipment with them all the way.
03:12The first athlete to reach the summit is Sebastian Huber from Germany.
03:23The Bavarian sunny boy started paragliding in 2008 and is working as a paraglide instructor.
03:28Behind him is Aaron Durogati, a paragliding World Cup winner from Murano in Italy and a well-known
03:44and experienced ex-Alps athlete.
03:47Third to reach the Geisberg peak is Austrian athlete Paul Gushelbauer.
04:06Christian Kriegelmauer is one of the first athletes in the air.
04:09The flying conditions have never been this good to start a Red Bull Ex-Alps and the athletes
04:13take advantage.
04:36One in the field passes turn point two at the peak of the Dachstein.
04:42Austrian Stefan Gruber is in the lead but Kriegelmauer and Paul Gushelbauer are hot on his heels.
04:48In the afternoon, the leading pack of athletes are already heading quickly west to the next
04:52destination.
04:58It's turn point three, Ashao Kimse, the Kampenvand.
05:03Day one is coming to an end and the leading group is landing right behind turn point three
05:07where they will spend their first night.
05:17Flight conditions are not as favorable to start day two but some competitors take off from the Kampenvand
05:23anyway, struggling to find lift at first.
05:30The decision is if waiting out the bad weather will pay off or if it's better to push on and
05:36walk along the valley floor from turn point three.
05:40A second group, which includes Dorledo and Petiot, decide to wait and this tactic pays off.
05:45They keep a close eye on the weather and by midday they are airborne and riding the thermals.
05:50The pack of athletes on the ground realize their mistake as they are easily passed from above.
06:02Kriegelmauer and Paul Gushelbauer are now in the top spots with Stefan Gruber who took a
06:06flight path too far south and is relegated to third position.
06:13Kriegelmauer is the first Red Bull X-Alps athlete to reach turn point four at the Lermus Tyrolitzug Spitz Arena.
06:20After more than 80 kilometers in the air helped along by great weather conditions,
06:24he is able to sign in and continue on towards turn point five, extending his advantage.
06:29Paul Gushelbauer reaches turn point four shortly after Mauer.
06:34Gushelbauer however is forced to walk the last distance to sign in because he lands off target by a few kilometers.
06:40But the field of chasers is right behind them.
06:46One of them being French pilot Gaspar Pediot who has spent more than 200 hours in the air every year since 2006.
06:52Aaron Durogati who was seventh in the 2013 edition of the Red Bull X-Alps is part of the chase group as well.
07:00Durogati broke his leg in October but thanks to his fighting spirit he is back in the game having an incredible performance so far.
07:08Unfortunately Romanian pilot and ex-Alps veteran Tomo Kokonea receives bad news over the phone.
07:14Penalty 48 hours.
07:18It's crazy. Yesterday for fly a little bit high for altitude for the verboten zone.
07:25But after checking his tracking device for a second time the race officials decide that the flight path he took was just within the limit.
07:38So the Romanian athlete who has been part of every ex-Alps so far and therefore has his own following of fans is able to make it to turn point four on day two.
07:46But for one athlete the race has already come to an end.
07:53We wanted to fly far but the headwind was so strong that we couldn't fly so far as we hoped and now we are eliminated.
08:05The rules of the race eliminate the last place athlete every 48 hours.
08:10With the elimination of Yvonne Date that leaves Dawn Westrom as the sole remaining woman in the Red Bull X-Alps 2015 bringing the total field of athletes still competing to 31.
08:20The situation, my feet hurt a little bit but otherwise I feel really good.
08:29I think I've done a couple hundred kilometers and yeah I'm going.
08:35The weather changes the next day turning to a disadvantage and making flying conditions very hard in Italy and the Northern Alps.
08:42Testing both the athletes bodies and their minds.
08:45I have a little pain in my right leg okay two days ago but this morning one moment the little pain was a big pain and impossible working.
09:02For a takeoff athletes have to hike up as high as they can.
09:06The other side and then like that it should be possible.
09:09Run up just on the top.
09:12The deteriorating weather conditions make it very hard for the field of chasers to fly.
09:21Kriegel Mauer is in the lead and heading to Prenta Cimatosa in Italy on foot towards turn point five.
09:28Once more the favorite is signing in first but he has no time to lose.
09:42Flying conditions are good so he's heading off again to the next stop.
09:45The Piskorvac in Switzerland.
09:47But something he's not used to dealing with is having two athletes right on his heels.
09:51Every time it looks like Mauer is able to break away Paul Guschelbauer and Sebastian Huber are not that far behind.
09:58Even though the weather conditions are in Kriegel's favor the two of them are in a good mood and they sign in second and third.
10:08Time for a short break to escape the bad weather.
10:10We go up here to Prenta and we were very lucky to arrive here before the thunderstorm is coming because it was really big.
10:29After the storm has passed Sebastian Huber and Paul Guschelbauer are ready for another takeoff heading towards turn point six.
10:50Kriegel Mauer is heading off for a late last flight of the day as well trying to extend his advantage.
10:55The Swiss athlete won every single one of the last three Ex-Alps with a big lead.
10:59But this time it seems like it's not so easy for him to leave his chasers behind.
11:11While most athletes only have one Ledlenser night pass, Guschelbauer won a second in the power traveler prologue two days before the start of the Red Bull Ex-Alps.
11:19So he doesn't hesitate to use one of them to shake off Sebastian Huber and catch up with Kriegel Mauer.
11:26In the morning flying conditions are as good as they get and he's heading off once again.
11:32While Guschelbauer is in the air heading after Kriegel, the field of chasers arrives at turn point five led by rookie Stefan Gruber.
11:39The paragliding competition pilot from the Zillital Valley of Austria is putting his expert racing skills to good use in this event reaching turn point five in fourth place.
11:48He's so excited that he signs in under the wrong name, going for the gold standard I guess.
11:55The field of rookies is incredibly strong this year and challenging the experienced pilots.
11:59Step by step, more and more athletes are reaching turn point five, taking off shortly after heading towards turn point six, Piz Korvac in Switzerland.
12:07Meanwhile, Kriegel Mauer and his supporters are struggling with decisions.
12:24The mistake was that we did, I think, a quite good plan, but then we thought we can optimize it, avoid the passage where Kriegel has to walk down.
12:36But then the wind was wrong. The game, as we always say, is right place, right time.
12:41And I'm not so sure if this is right time, right place.
12:46There's no turning back now, though.
12:56While Kriegel Mauer is struggling, Paul Guschelbauer and Sebastian Huber are gaining ground thanks to great weather conditions.
13:02They are able to diminish the gap to Mauer. However, Kriegel stays in the lead, being the first one to reach Piz Korvac on day five.
13:11Approximately 80 kilometers behind the leading group is a field of chasers with French pilot Gaspard Petiot, who's successfully putting his knowledge as a mountain guide into practice in this competition.
13:32On day six, another highlight is in sight, the Matterhorn at 4,478 meters.
13:50This is the highest peak on the route to Monaco and definitely one of the scenic highlights.
13:55Sebastian Huber in third position is also pushing hard and continues chasing Mauer.
14:05Yeah, if everything is okay and weather conditions are fine, perhaps we can reach Kriegel.
14:12But it seems like nothing can stop Kriegel Mauer.
14:15While the other athletes are pushing forward on foot, he now seems to always be in the right place at the right time.
14:20He found the perfect spot for his next takeoff.
14:25Soon he's soaring at an incredible 3,600 meters, quickly approaching the route's highest peak, the Matterhorn.
14:43Just four hours behind Kriegel is Austrian Paul Gushelbauer.
14:48He reaches turn point seven in second position, followed by Sebastian Huber.
14:53Sebastian Huber.
14:54Just four hours behind Kriegel is Austrian Paul Gushelbauer.
15:03He reaches turn point seven in second position, followed by Sebastian Huber.
15:08As dusk settles, Paul Gushelbauer is still searching for a good takeoff point for the next day, hiking up as high as possible before the mandatory night break at 10.30pm.
15:27Another very cool day, making a good distance.
15:40Now I'm on 3,000 meters in the hut and tomorrow I will go on the south side around the Matterhorn and I hope I can fly another time.
15:52It will be cool.
15:53The next day, Gushelbauer is climbing up even higher.
15:58He's taking off in the early morning in difficult wind conditions.
16:02Meanwhile, Sebastian Huber is exercising his patience.
16:12He's taking a break, waiting for better weather conditions.
16:15With the late start at 9am, he proves that his decision was right as he passes Gushelbauer in flight.
16:21It's not only the risk of the 48 hour elimination rule that sees athletes out of the competition.
16:38The day started really well.
16:40It was really cool and we arrived on top.
16:42The takeoff was perfect.
16:43It was just, it looked like the perfect day.
16:45I was flying with Ferdi and we were laughing and joking in the air.
16:52We were searching for takeoff.
16:54The only thing we found was a very steep hill and Ferdi took off perfectly.
16:59Didor Ledeau crashed shortly after takeoff and injured his foot which is now massively swollen.
17:04Luckily, there are no broken bones and he will be back on his feet again in three to four weeks.
17:09All together is not so bad and I'm really happy I'm in one piece.
17:13You know, at the end that's what matters.
17:17Toma Kokonea was also lucky things didn't turn out worse for him.
17:20He had to be taken to the hospital after a hard landing in turbulent conditions.
17:28So I just spoke with Mr. Kokonea and he had a broken elbow and some soft tissues at the nose and lost one tooth.
17:42But the rest of him is in a good condition.
17:53I broke my harness today in the air.
17:55So I had to repair.
17:57And I'm very lucky that a friend of mine is here with a good atelier saving machine and everything.
18:03So it's a perfect preparation and for sure it's stronger than before.
18:08I'm quite tired.
18:10My fitness is okay but for the feet it gets hard.
18:15And also for tomorrow it looks windy and we will see what's happening.
18:19We've come now up to this point where a short night is not long enough to recover.
18:27And we know that the chance to make a mistake gets the bigger the more tired you are.
18:33There's a lot of challenges that athletes have to deal with during a race like this.
18:38But still Kriegel-Mauer has shown a lot of determination so far.
18:41And again he's heading off in first position.
18:43You want to keep on Bismarck off in first position.
19:13One week in and the length and hardships of the race are starting to take their toll.
19:20Newbie Sebastian Huber is getting ready for another hard race day.
19:28He's in third position at the moment trying to catch up with Paul Gushelbauer who is a mere 20 kilometers ahead of him.
19:34Now we are on the east side of Marbleau and the plan is to pass Marbleau on the north side and go to Annecy directly.
19:48It's a good day for Gushelbauer as he was able to extend his head start with a good flight reaching turn point 9, 50 kilometers ahead of Sebastian Huber.
20:10Is the podium already set?
20:18A moment of shock for Sebastian Huber as his glider collapses while he's trying to land at turn point 9.
20:28He's lucky to escape with no injuries.
20:33For eight days straight Christian Kriegelmauer has awed fellow competitors and fans alike with a virtuoso display of flying prowess and flawless tactics at this year's Red Bull X-Alps.
20:48Since setting off from Salzburg he has flown and hiked much more than 2,000 kilometers over the mountains of Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France through 10 turn points to Monaco.
21:06He reached his goal after eight days, four hours and 37 minutes.
21:10Meanwhile, a thrilling battle is taking place for second position.
21:18Gushelbauer is grounded by strong winds as Sebastian Huber, 20 kilometers behind him, searches for a spot to take off from.
21:25Soon he is high up in the air and by the time Gushelbauer is ready for another takeoff, Huber is already 80 kilometers ahead.
21:34Now on foot, Huber is heading towards the final turn point claiming second place and winning the Mazda rookie challenge.
21:49For him, the clock stops here.
21:51Now it's time for the fun part flying into Monaco.
21:56Kriegelmauer is the first one to celebrate his fourth consecutive win.
22:00I really like the adventure. I like the hiking fly sport and maybe it's exactly what I can do best.
22:24So to be here as a winner, it's a very special feeling and I'm very happy.
22:31A moment to remember for Sebastian Huber.
22:34He flies into second place in his first ever Red Bull X-Alps with an incredible time of eight days, 23 hours and 43 minutes.
22:42The goal was to take it as an adventure and it's a great feeling to be here, healthy and this is all.
23:03The fight for third place is not over yet.
23:06Gaspar Petiot and countryman Antoine Gerard along with Aaron Durogati are on Gushelbauer's heels in the hunt for the last spot on the podium.
23:13Gushelbauer is still struggling with the bad wind conditions.
23:29Exhausted and not landing very gracefully, Paul Gushelbauer is able to make it to third position.
23:34warmly welcomed by his fans and supporters.
23:46The endurance athlete and hot shot pilot ended up in ninth place in 2013 and is happy with his result in this year's race.
23:54It's great to reach Monaco again. Third place is also good. There was a chance to do better but now in the end I had to fight for the third place.
24:02But it's perfect. I mean, it's not a big difference to the first and the second still. And yeah, it's cool.
24:16The 2015 Red Bull X-Alps will be remembered as the most competitive and thrilling edition so far.
24:23The level is extremely high and it went higher and higher with every edition we made on it.
24:29And you make a little mistake and you see that the level is so high that the others pass by and they leave you behind making just a little mistake.
24:4119 of the 32 athletes reached the float in Monaco by the time the race clock stopped.
24:46Of the 21 rookies, an incredible 12 made it all the way to the finish line.
24:53This was the seventh edition of the world's toughest adventure race, the Red Bull X-Alps 2015.
25:09The participating athletes have endured extreme conditions from thunderstorms and rain to strong winds that made flying difficult.
25:16From the cold of high altitudes to searing hot temperatures on the ground.
25:20And you can bet they'll be back for the next edition and we hope to see you again in 2017 for the next Red Bull X-Alps.
25:33We're going to be right back.
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