Paragliding
A line-up of legends
This year, the veterans are more experienced and stronger than ever.
You’ve met the rookies. Now it’s time to get to know the veterans – they may not have youth on their side, but they share a ton of experience. Tom de Dorlodot (BEL1), Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) and Aaron Durogati (ITA1) have done the race 23 times between them. Overall, the 17 veterans have participated a total of 52 times.
Some still have unfinished business with the race. Maxime Pinot (FRA2) is one of them. A former world champion and distance record holder (457km), he’s made second and third place in previous Red Bull X-Alps races, but the top spot still eludes him.
Strong French veterans
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The French veterans are particularly strong. “World record hike-and-fly holder Tanguy Renaud-Goud (FRA4), who climbed over 17,000m vertical in less than 24 hours is more than a physical athlete,” says race analyst Tom Payne. “He's a top pure flying speed race-to-goal pilot and is supported by an incredible team.”
Tim Alongi (FRA3) started the 2023 race unsure how he would perform after a serious skiing accident. He came seventh. Like Maxime, he also shares the French national 457km distance record and will start the race with his eyes set on the prize.
Tim Alongi (FRA3) flying over the Dolomites, Italy in 2023
© zooom / Adi Geisegger
“Some veterans have very much made their statement on the race and have nothing left to prove,” adds Tom Payne. They are here for the adventure alone, and first and foremost amongst these is Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) who has only ever known the yellow speed arms of the champion. Damien Lacaze (FRA1) similarly returns after his mind-blowing finish in the 2023 race.
Personal goals
Tom adds: “The most hard-fought races amongst the veterans will be those with the goal of proving themselves to themselves.” These include Juraj Koreň (SVK), who first competed in 2019. “He’s a pure adventurer who is pioneering future combos of paragliding, climbing, and skiing.”
Juraj Koreň during Red Bull X-Alps 2019
© zooom / Vitek Ludvik
Like Juraj, two other athletes are returning with the goal of erasing the memory of a bad performance – Celine Lorenz (GER2) and Ondrej Prochazka (CZE) who bombed out early in 2023 and never recovered. “Celine has the top-level competition results and attitude to deliver in 2025,” says Tom.
Aaron Durogati (ITA1) is another athlete with an incredible sporting resume. He’s a World Cup Superfinal winner, a multi-sport mountain athlete, mastering extreme skiing, speed riding, acrobatic flying, and BASE jumping. This will be his seventh Red Bull X-Alps.
Success and frustration
Contenders for the podium – besides Chrigel – include Patrick von Känel (SUI2) whose world record for the longest paraglider flight through a tunnel was a simple expression of his unbelievably precise glider-handling skills.
Others include Damien Lacaze (second in 2023) and Simon Oberrauner (AUT1) who just seems to get stronger as an athlete. He came third in 2021 and goes into this race as the current winner of the X-Pyr hike and fly race across the Pyrenees.
Damien Lacaze and Patrick von Känel during Red Bull X-Alps 2023
© zooom / Adi Geisegger
The most experienced veteran is Tom de Dorlodot (BEL1) whose first outing in the race was in 2007 when he was just 21. This edition will be a very different battle for him. For much of 2024 he was battling complications from a snow kiting injury and will be doing well just to make it to the start line physically fit.
They have lived these emotions, and, with them, we will live these emotions too
“These are people who share their adventure with us,” adds Tom Payne. “They are not afraid to face a challenge in full view of the public. They have lived all the emotions that this race brings. Success and frustration. Fear and elation. They have lived these emotions, and, with them, we will live these emotions too.”
Meet the complete line-up
Check out all of the rookies and veterans and get to know them better here. In case you missed the Athletes Announcement, which included some of the best adventure athletes, rewatch it now!
