Vail Resorts Commits To Zero Net Operating Footprint By 2030

Vail Resorts announced that the Company will aggressively pursue a comprehensive sustainability commitment, called "Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint". This ambitious undertaking, announced to employees at a companywide event today, commits to zero net emissions by 2030, zero waste to landfill by 2030 and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat.
"Everything we do at Vail Resorts is driven by the spectacular natural surroundings where our employees, guests, and communities live, work and play. The environment is our business, and we have a special obligation to protect it", said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "As a growing global company so deeply connected to the outdoors, we are making a commitment to address our most pressing global environmental challenge and protect our local communities and natural resources. Through improved business practices, capital investment and continued innovation and environmental stewardship, we are setting a goal of achieving a zero net operating footprint by 2030. With our ‘Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint’, Vail Resorts is both doing the right thing for the environment and for our business".
"It’s the leadership of companies like Vail Resorts that recognize that this is good business and good for the environment that will truly make a difference in the world", said Carl Pope, co-author of Climate of Hope and former head of the Sierra Club. "We will combat climate change through commitments such as this and others from cities, municipalities, and companies across the country".
Inspired by Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental commitment, the Company intends to go beyond setting a partial emissions reduction target by executing on a more expansive and ambitious plan. "Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint" comprises three pillars: emissions, waste, and forests and habitats, with a thoughtful approach to each that was developed in consultation with leading sustainability experts in the industry.

30 Days To Go To UTMB 2017

The UTMB® is a trail-running event for trail-runners from all over the world. Each year, the elite of the trail-running world find themselves in Chamonix to participate in one of the event's 5 races.
To participate or assist with the UTMB®, is to vibrate to the rhythm of the trail-running planet and to share an extraordinary festival at the heart of a territory which has been mobilised for the occasion. 2 000 volunteers from 15 different countries, 19 French, Italian and Swiss communes within the Mont-Blanc country all working for the success of the event and supporting the UTMB® runners. 16 000 supporters who are coming to encourage their nearest and dearest and more than 50 000 spectators who will visit the salon and participate in the animations in all the villages of the Mont-Blanc country.


UTMB® 2017 - We are waiting for you! por UltraTrailMontBlanc

200 Days To Go Until PyeongChang 2018

200 days until the kick-off. In 200 days PyeongChang will host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.The Games’ opening on 9 February 2018 will bring to an end the 101-day Olympic Torch Relay, which will kick off on 1 November and cover the length and breadth of the country, giving as many people as possible the chance to be part of the Olympic celebrations.
A special “G-200 Fireworks Festival was held on 22 July in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province, with more than 200,000 onlookers, including dignitaries, athletes, the media, local residents and visitors to the area highly enjoying the entertainment! While fireworks lit up the sky with multi-colored stars, the Chuncheon Children’s Choir and a host of other activities, including a dance performance by the Gangwon Provincial Dance Company, amazed the public throughout the evening. Speed skaters Kim Chul-min, an Olympic silver medallist, and Kim Bo-reum, the world record holder in the 3000m and 5000m, gave congratulatory messages to the delighted crowd.
The firework festival will now be a legacy celebration to be held each year in the province to engage the nation and retain the Olympic spirit that is building ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the Games on 9 February. "After years of planning and preparation, we are now just 200 days away from the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. We are putting the final touches on what will be the biggest Winter Games ever", said Lee Hee-beom, President of the Organising Committee. "It will also be a Winter Games that will open up new horizons for the Gangwon Province as a tourist destination, and Asia as a winter sports hub for us all to enjoy for many years to come. Now is the time to share the passion and plan your Olympic journey with us. We are ready to showcase the best of winter sports and welcome the world class athletes that will come to PyeongChang to go for gold".

The PyeongChang 2018 Games, which will take place from 9-25 February 2018, will be the third to be staged in Asia, and the first ever in the Republic of Korea, following Nagano (JPN) in 1998 and Sapporo (JPN) in 1972.
The PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee’s (POCOG’s) ‘New Horizons’ vision aims to expand winter sports in Asia and transform the local Gangwon province into a new winter sports and tourism destination.
From a logistical point of view, the concept for the 2018 Winter Games is one of the most compact ever seen.The vision for PyeongChang is based on a compact geographical area, split between a coastal and a mountain cluster.
The coastal cluster, centred around the town of Gangneung on the Republic of Korea’s eastern seaboard, will provide the setting for the events on ice (speed skating, figure skating, short track, ice hockey and curling), with the main Olympic Village complex and mountain cluster (comprising the skiing and snowboarding courses and the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track) located only a 30 minute car journey away.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Highlights

Here are the highlights from the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:



Christian Maurer (SUI1) won the Red Bull X-Alps 2017 in 10 days 23 hours 23 minutes 18 seconds. He spent 96.8 hours hiking and covered a total distance of 535.3km on foot. He spent 45 hours in the air and covered 1,736.2km flying. The straight-line distance of the course was 1,138km, but the total distance covered by Maurer was 2,271.5km.
Benoit Outters (FRA4) was the only other pilot to reach the final Turnpoint at Peille in the allotted time. He made it in 11 days 1 hour 12 minutes. He spent 131.8 hours hiking and covered 768.9km on foot. He spent 37.5 hours in the air and covered 1,340.6km. The total distance covered by Outters was 2,109.5km.

Saas-Fee Ski Season Opening Weekend 2017

On July 15 and 16, the Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee opens its summer ski resort featuring 20 km of expertly groomed slopes and one of the best summer Freestyle Parks in Europe.

Skiing in Saas-Fee in summer is an amazing experience and not just because of the pleasant temperatures and the glacier pistes. You might also spot national and international
sports teams training at the summer skiing area.

Saas-Fee is the perfect training playground for professional skiers and snowboarders. Every year National Teams and pros come to Saas-Fee to enjoy the perfect conditions of the glacier.

Saas-Fee offers ideal summer skiing and snowboarding conditions. Up on the glaciers there are 20 km of slopes to suit all levels. The Allalin Glacier is accessed via the underground funicular and is open from mid-July to late October. The glacier is particularly popular with freestylers and race teams. Swiss and international ski teams come here for their summer training sessions every year.
The snowpark has a half-pipe, kickers, rails, boxes and transitions in all shapes and sizes to suit all skill levels.

In 2012 the results of a questionnaire for "Best ski resort" with over 40‘000 guests were presented. Saas-Fee / Saastal was voted best Swiss ski Resort. Internationally it was even voted to second rank out of 55 top ski destinations in Austria, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland. In terms of snow reliability, slope preparation and coziness, Saas-Fee/Saastal hit top status.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Days 11 - 12

Christian Maurer Wins The Red Bull X-Alps 2017 And Makes It Five In A Row

Christian Maurer (SUI, picture attached) has won the Red Bull X-Alps 2017, the world’s toughest adventure race, for the fifth consecutive time. He arrived Turnpoint 7 a little after 11 am this morning, amid the cheers of die-hard fans who had gathered to welcome his arrival. With his arms aloft, he conquered the final few metres to the Turnpoint sign where the clock officially stops, after setting off from Salzburg just over 11 days and 23 hours ago.
He said: "I felt a lot of pressure this time. To win the first time was important. It was not so important with the others. But this time it was even more important to do well, so there was a lot of pressure. It's a great thing to win, but it's an adventure first and foremost, not a competition (...) It started badly. And with the wind, rain and thunderstorms, I've never faced such bad weather in the Red Bull X-Alps before. That made it much harder to plan. I'm happy to be here. For my knees, it's good to be over. They never had to work so hard. This is the first time I've hiked over 500km, normally it's more like 300km".
As is tradition, Maurer’s race is not over until he makes the ceremonial – and untimed – flight to Rocquebrune, which will take place after 7pm due to city regulations that restrict the flights to set times of the day.
Race director Christoph Weber said: "It’s an outstanding achievement. Tell me another athlete who’s dominated his sport for eight years like Maurer has. This year was also a much more punishing course and the weather made it harder for him. He excels in the air, but had to hike much of the last 200km, so it was not easy for him at all".
Maurer won the 2009 edition and was so quick he beat the organisers to Monaco. He subsequently won in 2011, 2013 and 2015. His success is all the more extraordinary since he started the race with a nasty cold that prevented him from competing in the one-day Leatherman Prologue.
In this race, he has covered a total distance of 2,268Km, of which 1,736km were flown in the air and 531km were hiked on the ground.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Winner Profile: Christian Maurer

Name: Christian ("Chrigel") Maurer
Nationality: Switzerland
Date of birth: 27/27/1982
City: Interlaken
Country: Switzerland
Profession: Paraglider Pilot
Supporter: Tobias Dimmler
Glider: Skywalk X-Alps 3S
Website: www.chrigelmaurer.ch
Sponsors: LOWA, TeamWork, You Count, SHV, Taktil, Dermaplast, Salewa, Skywalk, Adelboden, Bächli Bergsport, Luftikus, Saij, X-Bionic, X-Socks, Leki, Gloryfy

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 11

Here are the highlights from day 11 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

After eleven days the end is finally in sight for race leader Chrigel Maurer. He landed in the Italian town Latte yesterday afternoon and was just 15km short of the Turnpoint of Peille last night. When he turns up is anyone’s guess however. He’s said to be hurting bad. He could take his time to rest and turn up in the morning. He’ll then most likely fly down into Monaco to complete his ‘victory lap’ descent in the evening.
As soon as he arrives at Peille, the countdown then begins on the rest of the chaser pack, who’ll have 24 hours to make goal before time is called on the 2017 Red Bull X-Alps. Outters who is 51km behind should safely make 2nd place, while Guschlbauer also looks in a strong position to claim his third 3rd place finish.
But who among the chaser pack will also make Monaco? The rest of the pack, made up of Stanislav Mayer, Pascal Purin, Ferdinand van Schelven and Simon Oberrauner, is clearly determined to put in one last push. Everyone who can has pulled a Ledlenser Night Pass – everyone except Nick Neynens that is, but then he’s always gone his own way this race.
Stanislav Mayer and Ferdinand van Schelven have both had outstanding races. But one of the chaser group will no longer be flying wing-to-wing with them. Today, Manuel Nübel called time on his race. He’s simply exhausted and doesn’t want to injure himself by continuing.
Meanwhile, rookie Simon Oberrauner pulled his Night Pass a day early, and has been flipflopping within the Top 10, making it as high as third for a while.
At the back, with 548km still to go, Jesse Williams and Tom de Dorlodot are currently bringing up the rear, but Mitch Riley just ahead, with Evgenii Griaznov a few kilometres up the road.
They are all currently hiking for their place in the race, and even though the Russian is leading the pack, he is the only one that doesn't have a Night Pass, and looks most likely to go.
It’s been an exhausting battle for the athletes, but the next 36 hours could be the most exciting of the race as they all put in a heroic effort to make goal. It’s going to be a long night.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 10

Here are the highlights from day 10 of The Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

They say you fly faster in a gaggle, where athletes can watch each other and observe the thermals more easily. But there’s one man this race who’s gone his own way and still managed to stay up front. And that’s Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1).
He’s yo-yo’d in the rankings, keeping the heart-rates of his team and supporters on edge, but since Lake Garda he’s put in a storming performance.
Yesterday was another big day for the Austrian, putting in 156.6km on the clock, flying over 120km from the Matterhorn to the edge of Turin. No one is doing these kinds of distances in the air in these conditions.

"He’s flying a blinder", says Race Organiser Ulrich Grill. "I’m really impressed. He took a very bold and difficult line across the Italian lakes. He’s flown past the gaggle and is currently third. And he seems to be having fun while doing it".
His day began with a flight that climbed up to 3,560m in the high mountains near Turnpoint 6, included 36km on foot and ended with a glide off the shoulder of Rosa dei Banchi (3,164m) to finish the day near the town of Cuorgne. He can be pleased with that, but will still need to fight hard to maintain his lead.
Just 20km to the north lie several threats Chiefly from Stanislav Mayer (CZE) - also enjoying an outstanding performance - and Austrian rookie Simon Oberaunner (AUT4).
The pair provided a thrilling spectacle as they flew south neck-and-neck but along different lines this afternoon. It looked as though Mayer had got the better of the 26-year-old Austrian by the close of play, finishing 9km ahead.
Ahead in second place, Frenchman Benoït Outters (FRA4) ploughed away along the baking hot road skirting Turin, his face showing the strain, even if his body kept up a relentless 6km/h pace. By the end of the day he’d clocked another 92km, 67km of which were on foot. When asked what he was most looking forward to in Monaco, he just said: ‘The finish’.
No doubt that’s a sentiment shared by Chrigel Maurer (SUI1), 56km ahead but still 95km from goal. He told us earlier that he reckoned he still had 12 hours of hiking before getting to a decent launch point to strike for Monaco. That puts a realistic finish time on Thursday and will most likely be his longest ever race – over 11 days.
His body is not used to this. He’s nursing a knee injury, which is not such an issue for someone who normally spends most of his time in the air, but this afternoon Maurer had to take drastic action to avoid a thunderstorm and has finished up back on the flats – just the kind of territory that aggravates the knee. It must have been an exciting ride – his Flymaster flight instrument recorded a top speed of 104km/h.
After covering 20km in 12 hours he said it had been ‘the most inefficient day’ in the history of his five Red Bull X-Alps editions. But he too had settled in for the slog. By the end of the day he’d managed to inch a total of 96km towards goal. Kilometer by kilometer, the slow march to Monaco continues.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 9

Here are the highlights from day 9 of The Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Everyone now is feeling the pain of this race. From Chrigel Maurer up front to Jose Ignacio Arevalo Guede at the back, every athlete is battling the blisters, bad knees, sore joints, sunburn or just plain exhaustion. Everyone except Tom de Dorlodot that is, who is raring to go after 48 hours in the sin bin.
Maurer’s got a bad knee making hiking on the flat extremely painful, as well as preventing him from using full speed bar as he can only push it with his left leg. It seems this race is too brutal even for him.
Normally that should be the green light for superhuman ultrarunner Benoït Outters, currently 70km back, to take advantage. But it turns out that he is human after all. After pulling his Ledlenser Night Pass last night he confesses to feeling ‘very tired’. He now doubts that he can catch Chrigel – although that was said before news of Chrigel’s knee became public.
Maurer is closest to Monaco with 140km to go, but if you can’t fly and walking hurts, that’s still an awful long way to go – especially on the notoriously evil switchback roads in the south of France.
"With good conditions, I might make it on Wednesday and with bad luck, Friday. I think probably Thursday", he said.
The battle for 3rd place continues. Paul Guschlbauer currently holds the bronze crown and was just 20km to the east of the Matterhorn yesterday evening. But rookie Simon Oberrauner is only 2km behind and he’s hiking through the night.
And yet the crown could still go to Purin, Nübel, Mayer or van Schelven who are all within a few kilometers of each other. Nübel at least seems to be back in the game after requiring medical treatment last night suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration after yesterday’s yomp along the flat.
Thirty one athletes began this race just over a week ago.Yesterday evening only 23 remain in the field – down to 22 tomorrow when the axeman’s chop comes down on the last man in the field – likely to be Jose Arevalo Guede, despite him pulling a Ledlenser Night Pass. He’d need to cover over 70km to stay in the game.
But the race will gain two athletes from tomorrow when Evgenii Griaznov and Pal Takats are allowed to get on the move again after their 48 hour penalties.
This has been the most brutal race in recent Red Bull X-Alps history and it shows no sign of letting up.

"We fly down, hike back up again, fly down – it’s the story of my life", said Krischa Berlinger this morning. This evening he was still 100km from Turnpoint 5, Monte Baldo. No doubt he – and every other athlete – will carry on doing a bit more hiking up and flying down before it’s over.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 8

Here are the highlights from day 8 of  the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) passed Turnpoint 6, the Matterhorn, yestterday morning, and then made slow progress south towards the final Turnpoint at Peille. With some flying and some hiking he is now just over 200km away from goal.
Maurer announced yesterday afternoon that, because of the weather conditions, he would take the Italian route to Monaco - unlike in the previous four editions where he has flown through France.
The bad weather may actually help Benoit Outters, who has pulled a Ledlenser Night Pass and was making the most of the day with a late evening flight at 19:30. He is 86km behind Maurer, but he is also an accomplished ultra-runner and mountain man - by taking a direct line towards the Matterhorn across serious alpine terrain it is not inconceivable that he could close the gap considerably overnight.
Yesterday evening he said: "I am feeling fine! I just had a good flight, and now I plan to walk to a mountain refuge and spend the night there at 2,200m. In the morning I will hike up to a ridge, take off, fly to another ridge, climb up, fly, and get to the Matterhorn this way".
Behind him, Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) is in third position. He has run his own race through this edition of the Red Bull X-Alps, and today he continued to do the same. He took a line further south compared with the rest of the chasing pack. It meant he had to hop across two big lakes by air, and run around one.
Further back, the chaser pack kept on chasing - just for most of the day it was along the road. While Pal Takats (HUN) enjoyed an ice cream on the shores of Lake Como while starting his 48-hour time penalty, the others motored through.
One athlete who did his own thing was Nick Neynens (NZL). He went north, a long way off the course-line. Why?
"It all started yesterday, when I had a cracker of a flight", he explained from the road. "I got to Lake Garda by flying and then had another great flight. So today I was trying to do the same thing and stay high, but I didn’t make one transition across a valley so I drifted north - because I thought that looked like the best chance of getting high. But I was wrong. The clouds overdeveloped and there were some storms. I landed before the storms, and then there was another flyable window later, but it was weaker conditions".
He wasn’t too downbeat about the lost time. "I prefer flying to hiking", he said, adding: "I’m now planning to hike on and get into a good position for an early morning glide down to Chiavenna. Physically I’m doing ok. My legs are good, I have the odd blister from the first day but nothing serious".
From front to back the athletes are now spread out over 550km.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 7

Here are the highlights from day 7 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

It’s been a busy day across the Alps. Up front, Christian Maurer (SUI1) extended his lead and was this evening within touching distance of the Matterhorn, Turnpoint 6.

"I think he’ll make Monaco on Monday", said race director Christoph Weber. "I’m leaving tomorrow" (In 2009, Maurer actually beat the organisation to Monaco.)
However, Maurer is not so optimistic. "I think more like four to five days. The weather is not really flyable for the next day or so".
His plan is not to fly north and pick up the Rhone superhighway, but to enter the Aosta valley and then head for Val d’Isere and then onto Briancon before following a similar line to Monaco from 2015. 

"I will climb up to 2,000m tomorrow and I hope it’s not too windy so I can fly down to Aosta, otherwise I will have to walk. It’s going to be a hard day for sure".
If it does take him another four to five days to make goal it could be one of his slowest years. His record is 6d 23h in 2013; his slowest time to Monaco was 11d in 2011.
Otherwise he said he’s feeling strong and the team is the best it’s ever been. "I’m within my comfort zone and flying as before but I also have better planning, better logistics, I can push more on the ground. I’m very relaxed and this makes me positive". There’s a small knee complaint but nothing serious.
In second place was Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) but today he was forced to retire after injuring his wrist and knee during a bad landing near Lake Como.

"I was trying to get into a small landing and a thermic bubble blew me into a wall", he said.

"It was the perfect race until this", he added. His retirement from the race comes just 383km from Monaco. He had spent 35.8 hours flying, during which he covered 1,401.5km in the air.
Near the back, Che Golus (AUS) also quit after picking up an injury.
Rookie Benoït Outters (FRA4) now assumes 2nd place. "It’s very sad news for Gaspard but the race continues", he said.
And it’s turning into quite a battle as there are now eight athletes in with a chance, all within 30km of each other. For the last two days they’ve been jockeying for position but also co-operating, sharing intel, the good times and the bad. As Pascal Purin (AUT3) told us yesterday: "It’s great to fly with my friends".
The gaggle of Pascal, Sebastian Huber (GER1), Ferdinand van Schelven (NLD) and Simon Oberrauner (AUT4) started the day with an epic flight off the Brenta, gliding with minimal thermal activity for more than 20km all the way from glaciated peaks to the warm shores of Lake Garda. "It was very impressive", said Weber.
Pal Takats (HUN) would have been in contention and is now within touching distance of Lake Como, but he is now grounded for 48 hours following an airspace violation.
After a bad day yesterday, during which he fell back to 7th place, Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) put in a blinder today and is currently behind Manuel Nübel (GER2) in 5th. But that 3rd spot is open to anyone – who will take the prize?
But there’s still a way to go, and as Chrigel warns: "The difference between a normal paragliding competition and an adventure race like this is that with an adventure you never know what’s going to happen – and anything can happen".

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 6

Here are the highlights from day 6 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Six days ago 31 athletes started out from Salzburg. Today, just 26 athletes are still plugging away and the field now stretches for 500km across northern Italy, Austria and southern Germany.
At the front is Chrigel Maurer (SUI1), now on the western slopes of Lake Como. At one point this afternoon, it looked as though a new chapter in Red Bull X-Alps history would have to be written as Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) reeled him in and then drew level.
No one has caught up with Maurer like that before. But that was before Maurer got airborne again this afternoon. By the time he’d touched down, he’d managed to open up a 64km lead, flying along the south-facing flanks of the Valtellina valley.
But whereas yesterday he’d been able to cruise along the summits, this time it looked a lot more rough and dirty. The valley is notorious for its afternoon winds and Maurer would have had to fight against turbulent conditions. It would have demanded total commitment and skill, but then he’s not short of either.
Just a few hours earlier it had all looked so different as Gaspard Petiot drew level and then – for a brief moment – his name appeared at the top of the leaderboard. It was such a unique moment, we had to screenshot it for posterity. For a moment Maurer looked threatened.
Elsewhere it was a day in which the talent really showed itself. Red Bull X-Alps rookie Benoït Outters (FRA4) put in a great flight and overtook Guschlbauer (AUT1), who fell to 7th place. This evening just 9km and 1,000m of vertical ascent separated him from Turnpoint 5, Monte Baldo.
For a man of his ultra-running capability, that should take no longer than two to three hours, too long to bag tonight. But expect him to launch across Lake Garda early in the morning.
The chasing group who gathered on the summit of Matatze this morning, just north of Merano, had mixed fortunes. Nick Neynens (NZL) decided not to wait for the inversion to clear and took a bold decision to go anyway. Seeing him find some lift had Pal Takats (HUN) running for his wing and launching himself off the slope in hot pursuit.
By the end of the day, Neynens was 65km from the Turnpoint while Takats, along with Manuel Nübel (GER1) and Stanislav Mayer (CZE) were just behind Outters in the resort of Riva del Garda. Takats has a Ledlenser Night Pass so he’ll reach the Turnpoint tonight - but then he has to serve a 48-hour penalty (starting Sunday 05:00) for airspace infringement yesterday, so it’s a bitter-sweet experience for him.
Good days and bad. Every athlete experiences them. In 18th place, Krischa Berlinger (SUI2) complained of 50kph winds that made flying impossible en route to Turnpoint 4. He still had another 50km to go. Michael Gierlach (POL) also said he’d had a tough day. "It’s been hot, I tried to fly but it was windy, so I got into the lee side and had short flights".
He is currently about 45km from Turnpoint 4, about 350km from the race leader. "I hoped for something better, but it is what it is".

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 5

Here are the highlights from day 5 of  the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Day 5 was a story of mixed fortunes for lone warriors and the chaser groups.
Coming up fast in third place was Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1), who passed through Turnpoint 4 at lunchtime before swiftly moving on, destination Italy. He put in another incredible flight to make Merano by evening.

It was then the turn of the chaser groups. Early in the day alliances had been formed between Hungarian acro legend Pal Takats (HUN), Benoit Outters (FRA4), Ferdinand van Schelven (NLD) and Manuel Nubel (GER2). And just behind them another gaggle had also formed consisting of Pascal Purin (AUT3), Sebastian Huber (GER1) and Stansislav Mayer (CZE) "There’s one plan: fly far", Purin said before take-off.
And boy did they succeed. Outters was first to arrive, then Nick Neynens (NZL) who’d taken his own line south of the main pack. Then in quick succession, Manuel Nubel, Ferdinand van Schelven and Pal Takats. They then all raced across the valley to hike 400m up a steep gully on Sonnenspitz and within minutes of arriving were hurling themselves down the scree slope and into the air. (Head over to Live Tracking to check out their traces).
But just over the valley, the next group to come through, consisting of Huber (GER1), Mayer (CZE) and Purin (AUT3) had the cheek to launch off a grassy slope a mere 200m behind the Turnpoint. And they got away too after a mere 10 minute hike.
Last to bag Turnpoint 4 by 8pm was Frenchman Nelson de Freeman (FRA3), who was not having a happy day. Clearly exasperated he said: "I was on the wrong side of the mountain. And I was flying like a sh*t!"
But within minutes he was also back up in the air. The top 13 athletes are now firmly on their way to the Oetztal and beyond.
The only other athlete to pull a Ledlenser Night Pass was Duncan Kotze (RSA), in a bid to get clear of Claudio Heidel Schemberger (ARG). It looks like he’ll be successful and it will be the Argentinian who’ll be eliminated tomorrow.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 4

Here are the highlights from day 4 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Day four saw some big moves and amazing flights from all athletes. Christian Maurer (SUI1) maintains his lead but the likes of Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) and Nelson De Freeman (FRA3) were hot on his tail. Pal Takats (HUN) makes a huge leap up the rankings too
In a patch of grass surrounded by the dramatic soaring peaks of Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) finally touched down at Turnpoint 4 in the evening after experiencing the flight of his life. He could not hide his exhaustion and elation, punching the air as he landed, crying out in delight.
"That was so hard", he said. "I was constantly fighting. I’m so happy to be here. I never thought it would be possible to make this Turnpoint today. At the beginning it was very stable. Then I was able to cross the Inn valley and fly with the Bavaria north wind which I used to counter the effects of the west wind. I had to fight against the wind all the time and had many collapses. Then eventually everything calmed down and it was became paragliding – not war".
Earlier, at 2pm after touching down in Lermoos, Maurer also said he found the flight the most difficult he’d ever experienced in the Red Bull X-Alps. But the experience clearly didn’t put him off. He set off within half an hour and was soon gunning hard down the Oetz valley and into Italy, where he finished up the day just south of Merano. He still has another 100km to go to reach Monte Baldo, the half way point of the race.

"Day 4, Turnpoint 4, everything is on track", he said at Lermoos. Maurer has previously let it be known that his goal was to tag a Turnpoint a day. At this rate he’ll easily make Turnpoint 5 tomorrow, especially since the forecast from official race Meteo service Morecast is for favourable flying conditions.
Elsewhere it was a day of mixed fortunes with many in the mid-pack getting pinned down by bad weather. Tom de Dorlodot (BEL) said he’d had a ‘horrible day’ after being grounded again by rain. “I’m a little bit disappointed. Sometimes you need a bit of luck", he said.
Gavin McClurg (USA1) said he’d also been stuck in bad weather. "There wasn’t a burp of good air". "It’s wicked stomy here, with monster cells and rain, but I’m feeling great", he added. He also got a good meal thanks to some friendly locals.
Unfortunately for Evgenii Griaznov and team Russia, they didn’t get to experience the same hospitality. He top landed after being hit by strong winds but then his support team got into a misunderstanding with a farmer who locked them in after they drove on private land. Eventually, with the help of some sign language they managed to get their way out. Griaznov is now lying in 20th place.
Other athletes who had great days include Nick Neynens who took a slightly more southerly line after Turnpoint 3 down the Inn valley and was last night lying in 5th place.
Special mention should also go to Aaron Durogati who landed short of Turnpoint 3.
"It shows just how hard the flying must have been if a pilot of Durogati’s ability cannot get over", says race director Christoph Weber. "It shows it was not so easy. He is one of the greatest athletes in the race as he’s suffering more pain in his knee. He doesn’t give up. I have very big respect for him".

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 3

Here are the highlights from day 3 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

Day 3 was action packed! From big flights to sore limbs, the adventure continues with Christian Maurer (SUI1) reaching Turnpoint 3 - Aschau Chiemsee in first place and had his sights on Lermoos Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, Turnpoint 4.
He spiralled down from a clear blue sky and landed next to the sign-in board where he was greeted by crowds of cheering fans. He started early this morning on the southern side of the Alps, and had hiked and flown for 12 hours, landing shortly before 7pm.
Meanwhile, behind him the French athletes Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) and Nelson de Freyman (FRA3) are enjoying the race of their lives, both completing epic flights over the main alpine chain.
For Petiot, his day began with an 1,300m ascent up Mangart’s northern flanks with Toma Coconea (ROU) to bag Triglav, Turnpoint 2. They arrived with time to spare before the thermals started. While Coconea signed t-shirts and agreed to fans’ requests for selfies, Petiot was swapping base layers and towelling himself off. "I feel like a tennis player", he joked.
And the mental pressure was not far off a centre court either. As he agonised at the take-off over whether to fly, he confided to feeling the pressure with everyone watching. Both he and Coconea were playing the waiting game hoping for clouds to clear. In the end, they could wait no longer and launched into the mist. Unfortunately for Coconea, his flight did not last so long and his time at the front is most likely now over.
Throughout the day, most of the pack cleared the turnpoint. Of particular note was Aaron Durogati’s (ITA) rise through the rankings. Yesterday it looked as though he might be forced to retire with a painful knee, but then he got into the air and also showed what he is capable of. He was lying in fifth place with still an hour of flying left in the day, an heroic comeback from the back of the field.
Unfortunately it was not such a happy ending for Stephan Gruber (AUT2) who has retired with severe pain in both ankles. "I can’t walk and I can’t fly with them", he said.
Meanwhile at the back, Claudio Heidel Schemberger (ARG) must take the award for dogged determination. He spent a very uncomfortable and cold night in the mountains and was close to hypothermia and in a bad state by the time his supporter found him at 2am.
But he’s determined not to be eliminated when the axeman comes down tomorrow and has pulled his Ledlenser Night Pass to fight on through the night – even though he only got three hours sleep last night.
This morning has seen the first elimination of the race. David Liano Gonzalez (MEX) was officially cut from the back at 6am. From now until the end of the race one team will be cut every 48 hours.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017 Race Report: Day 2

Here are the highlights from day 2 of the Red Bull X-Alps 2017:

If Day Two started slowly, it certainly made up for it as the afternoon progressed. Maurer (SUI1) surged from 22nd place into the lead to pass TP 2, Triglav, crushing the all-day lead that Coconea (ROU) had established after hiking through the night.
For most of the day the lead athletes had been pinned down on the approach to Spittal an der Drau. Strong winds on the Hohe Tauern main ridge made taking off precarious and not every athlete was happy to chance it. For those that got away, the rewards were high.
Frenchmen Gaspard Petiot (FRA2) and Nelson de Freyman (FRA3) managed to escape and de Freyman at one point soared into second place, overtaking Chrigel a few kilometers north of Triglav.
Athletes such as Sebastian Huber (GER1) and Jesse Williams (USA2) could only watch as they flew overhead. But sometimes the right decision is not always the most obvious one. Late in the day Antoine Girard (FRA1) announced that he is retiring from the race after injuring his knee during take off.

He was attempting to launch his paraglider when the afternoon wind conditions caused him to misstep during take-off. The result was a sprained knee.

Antoine Girard is an experienced adventure paraglider pilot, who has competed in two previous Red Bull X-Alps races, in 2013 and 2015. He finished third in 2013 and fourth in 2015.
If the day began with the story of Toma Coconea, it ended with Chrigel Maurer. Having started the day an hour behind the last team in 22nd place, by the end he’d managed to fly into the lead and tag the second Turnpoint of Triglav in the air while the others struggled on foot.

Red Bull X-Alps 2017: Race On...

The Red Bull X-Alps 2017 will be the eighth edition of the world's toughest adventure race. It starts on July 2th and will see 32 athletes from 21 countries battling over 1,000km across the Alps from Salzburg to Monaco via 7 mandatory turnpoints in 7 different countries, in the fastest time possible. Every kilometer must be covered either on foot or flown by paraglider.It's a formidable undertaking and takes place in one of most breathtaking yet also unforgiving environments. Each team consists of one athlete and up to two supporters. No technical or outside assistance is allowed.
Here are the highlights from day 1 of Red Bull X-Alps 2017. The athletes start their epic journey on a day with the worst weather conditions in the history of the race.
A rainy Mozartplatz set the mood for the start of the Red Bull X-Alps earlier today, with athletes arriving covered by umbrellas, wearing rain ponchos and just trying to stay dry.
The scene on the Gaisberg wasn't very different, with stormy winds, low visibility and pouring rain.
The first two athletes to summit the Gaisberg were Sebastian Huber (GER1) with a time of 1h03m, followed by Toma Coconea (ROU), summiting in 1h10m.
Chrigel Maurer (SUI1), Aaron Durogati (ITA), Nelson de Freyman (FRA3) and Benoit Outters (FRA4) made the top of the Gaisberg as a pack in a time of 1hr 12mins.
Watch them as they power through the rain to Turnpoint 1 at the Gaisberg and then on to Turnpoint 2: Triglav, Slovenia!

Where To Ski in The Alps in July?

Switzerland

Saas-Fee in Switzerland is scheduled to open for summer skiing in less than two weeks, on July 15. Skiing in Saas-Fee in summer is an amazing experience and not just because of the pleasant temperatures and 20 km of diverse glacier pistes. You might also spot national and international sports teams training at the summer skiing area.

Zermatt. Zermatt has a whopping 21 km of summer skiing on its Theodul Glacier accessed by the Klein Matterhorn cable car. Zermatt is Switzernd’s only year round ski resort and one of the two remaining glaciers in the Alps to open 365 days a year. The summer ski area is shared with Cervinia in Italy, so you can ski over the border for lunch. The 13 runs are divided into blues and reds. The Gravity Park features a half-pipe, kickers and rails and also offers one of the best views of the Matterhorn.

Italy

Cervinia. The access to the glacier from Cervinia will be open from June 28th to September 10th 2017.

Passo Stelvio. 20 km of slopes among Ortles-Cevedales and Cristallo mountains, at 3000 meters of height, on the glacier near the biggest Pass of Europe. The glacier is open from May to November.

Austria

Hintertux. The Hintertux Glacier is Austria’s only year round ski resort and one of the two remaining glaciers in the Alps to open 365 days a year. The Hintertux is During summer, 22km (14 miles) of runs are open and accessed by nine lifts, including the Glacier Bus 3 with 24-person cabins, capable of transporting 3,000 skiers per hour. The Hintertux offers a good range of runs for all levels, but is famous for its steep, challenging terrain. The Betterpark Hintertux with 5 lines (Pro Line, Medium Line, Easy Line, 2 Jib Lines) and a 100-m long super pipe was designed by park builder Wille Kaufmann according to the motto "Best air time for everyone", so that not only the pros, but also rookies will find obstacles suitable for their individual skill levels.

Dachstein. Glacier skiing Hunerkogellift opened until July 9th The Dachstein Gletscherbahn brings you uphill to 2,700 metres above sea level.

Kaprun. The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier ski lifts and slopes are open down to Alpincenter. Glacier skiing area opened until July 23rd. After a few runs, chill out at the Ice Arena with its snow beach, igloos, snow slides and ice bar. Non-skiers can take free guided panoramic hikes across the glacier between July and September.

France

Les 2 Alpes. Les 2 Alpes has one of the largest summer ski areas in Europe. The Mont-de-Lans Glacier will be open from June 24th to September 2nd, 2017. A cable car (Jandri Express) transports skiers up to the glacier’s eight runs (2 red, 4 blue and 2 green) and a freestyle area in 24 minutes. Les 2 Alpes’ snowpark rivals that of Saas-Fee's glacier, with its snowskate zone, slopestyle (Big Air, tables, kickers and rails), cool zone, half-pipe (4.5m/15ft high, 120m/400ft long) and a smaller pipe suitable for beginners.

Tignes. This summer, the Grand Motte Glacier ski area will be open from June 25th to August 6th 2017. The 20 kms of pistes and 12 lifts are accessible via the Perce-Neige funicular which takes you up to the glacier in just 7 minutes.
At an altitude of 3,456 meters, the glacier was the meeting place of freestylers, pros and amateurs for summer snowboarding and skiing.The snowpark team shaped many runs for both beginners and experts (10 kickers and about 12 rails).
You also get free access to the Lagon swimming pool with your 2-to-10 day Tignes ski pass.

Val d'Isere. The Val d'Isere summer ski season is quite short. The Pissaillas glacier is open from june 10th to July 16th. The ski area is served by two ski lifts: Teleski des Montets and the Cascade Express chairlift.