A new paraglider hike-and-fly race has emerged for 2012, in the same vein as the Red Bull X-Alps which happens every odd year: The X-Pyr kicks off on 5 August 2012, when 20 selected pilots will have a maximum of 12 days to traverse the entire chain of the Pyrenees.
If you’re a lover of this kind of race, and feel you have the skills, stamina and desire to take on this challenge, you have until 15 April to get your name on the list for the selection jury to choose from. Fill in the online pre-registration form here.
The rules are similar to the X-Alps. Pilots must cross the Pyrenees from west to east via the yet-to-be-confirmed waypoints, moving for up to 17 1/2 hours a day, with an enforced rest period from 11pm to 5:30am. Pilots must carry certain items of equipment with them at all times, including a tracking device to enable thousands of people to watch their progress online.
Once the first pilot has made goal, all other athletes will have 18 hours in which to get as far as they can along the course, hopefully into goal. If nobody has made goal by 11am on 17 August 2012, the winner will be the person who has travelled the furthest along the course.
Each pilot has an assistant to support them, providing food, shelter, weather and other advice and general encouragement. Each assistant will also carry his or her own tracker, so beware, we’ll be able to see any little accidental course deviations or prolonged stops in Spanish taverns.
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