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Red Bull X-Alps 2007: paragliding and adventure racing in the Alps

Published on Thu, Jul 19th 2007 Sports Rectangular SD

The trailer for the 2007 Red Bull X-Alps event. The X-Alps is a 800+km race through the Alps from the Hoher Dachstein to Monaco using only paragliders and foot power. The full movie is available through www.xcshop.com.

Cross Country magazine's review says:

"Lets face it. Even if you live in Outer Mongolia, work in a sheep-eyeball removal factory and take the number 37 camel train to and fro each day, youve probably still heard about the Red Bull X-Alps. The most gruelling event in paragliding hit its third anniversary this year and celebrated by delivering a race like none other.

Thirty teams set off on the 850 km route to traverse the most difficult and impressive terrain the European Alps has to offer. The Marmolada, the Eiger and Mt Blanc all played their role as the race unfolded and the teams battled along the course. I was part of the entourage that followed behind, interviewing and reporting on the trials and tribulations of the teams. I saw first-hand the beauty and the pain of the event. Not just the splendour of the mountains they crossed, but the story of Tomo Coconeas audacious ground-based assault on the might of the Swiss superstar pilots, the crushing blows of the airspace infringements and Hofers genius last flight that catapulted him from nowhere to a second X-Alps title with such aplomb.

With such incredible backdrops and a story like no other I was keen to know whether the Red Bull film team had managed to do the 2007 race justice. Well, relax. They have.

The 2007 film is even more of a five course meal than the previous editions and as such its a worthy addition to any pilots arsenal of inspirational movies. It digs deep into the minds and motivations of the athletes and faithfully documents the pain, hardships and sheer physical challenge of the race. The footage is stunning, a great amount of it shot in HD from a helicopter with hi-tech equipment - if you want rousing flying footage, then this film has it by the bucketload.

The eye candy is spliced with candid portrayals of life on the road gathered through the team cameras. Watch Lloyd Pennicuik bursting blisters, Kaoru Ogasawa flaked out in a hedgerow with exhaustion, the eternally smiling Aiden Toase brushing off another bad day, or the true grit of Tomo Coconea as he rewrote the rules for endurance. The 2007 Red Bull X-Alps film will swing you one of two ways: itll either motivate you to get off your butt and start hiking and flying more so that you too can experience for yourself the amazing sensation of truly travelling with a paraglider; or youll find yourself shaking your head as you light up a cigarette and guzzle another can of Stella from the safety of your armchair, muttering something like, Bloody nutters! You wouldnt catch me doing that! Whats wrong with a weeks holiday in Annecy full-board? Either way, this hour-and-a-half long film is entertaining, informative and awe-inspiring."

If you love hang gliding or paragliding then Cross Country magazine is for you. It's the world's leading magazine covering paragliding and hang gliding and is read in over 75 countries around the world. In print it's available exclusively by subscription through www.xcshop.com/subs, or you can read it cover to cover online through www.zinio.com or through the Zinio app on your iPad.

www.xcmag.com