Who will be in the Red Bull X-Alps 2013?
The deadline to apply for next year’s Red Bull X-Alps is looming. Organisers sent out a press release today, which says:
Aspiring athletes have just two weeks left to apply to race in the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps. Applications for the world’s toughest adventure race close on September 15th!
The Red Bull X-Alps is a unique adventure race in which athletes must hike or fly almost 900km across the Alps from Salzburg (AUT) to Monaco. The 2013 edition of the race promises to be the best yet and comes ten years after the first Red Bull X-Alps.
Dozens of applications have already come in. Some are familiar names and veterans of previous races but there is also plenty of fresh talent looking to take part for the first time. Jon Chambers (GBR) and Paul Guschlbauer (AUT) are both reminders that rookies can perform well too.
To be successful, applicants must not only be very experienced pilots but also accomplished mountain athletes capable of covering up to 100km a day on foot. The best 30 candidates from all over the world will make the start line.
Race mastermind Hannes Arch says: “We choose candidates according to their experience, expertise and motivation. The participating athletes need to be both outstanding paragliders and excellent mountaineers. We are looking for sportsmen who love going to the extreme.”
He adds: “When we fired the starting gun for the first Red Bull X-Alps race in 2003, we initiated an entirely new form of adventure racing. Back then, 17 athletes started. Due to the great success of the competition, almost twice as many athletes are able to participate in the incredible experience today.”
Each team consists of one athlete and up to two supporters. There are no race or application fees to enter. For more race details and to apply, simply visit the website: www.redbullxalps.com. Athletes have until September 15th to enter.
While it’s never certain who will apply and who will get accepted for the Red Bull X-Alps, one person who will be high on the list is Babu Sunuwar. The addition of the Nepalese pilot who has flown tandem across Nepal and last year flew from the summit of Everest will add an extra element to the competition, and his inclusion is almost a sure thing.
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