Red Bull X-Alps 2009 - Pierre Carter and James Braid from SA!!
The Red Bull X-Alps is an international adventure race event that is one of the worlds toughest events. Paragliding athletes from all around the world enter and endure a thorough screening process and finally the field is narrowed down to 30 athletes. The race takes place over the length of the Alps and has a direct distance of around 800km's (this year starting in Salzburg and ending in Monte Carlo), but is actually about 1300km's with the curve etc. of the Alps and their non-direct routes.
The athletes have to carry all their own equipment (paraglider) and are not allowed any form of transport other than to walk/run and paraglide. Hence they are running and walking when the weather does not permit flying. They fly through amazing scenery, and gruelling weather conditions. The race takes about 14 days to finish. Athletes carry live tracking equipment so the race can be followed by millions of viewers on the website (www.redbullxalps.com). A ground support crew of 1 person is allowed per athlete, who are responsible for analysing weather reports, preparing meals, planning routes etc. It really is one of the most exciting flying events in the world.
This year is the first year a South African team has been accepted. Pierre Carter (athlete) and James Braid (support), both immensely talented, experienced and respected South African pilots are the team. Please can everyone support them through this gruelling event - you can write your words of support on the website in the athletes guestbooks. They need all the support they can get. And trust me, with the amount of preparation Pierre has been doing, he is going to give it one helluva run! See a report of his training below - he is a machine, and has made it his life goal to fly off each continents highest peak - he has already flown off Mt Elbrus in Russia and Aconcagua in Argentina.
"Did 60 km yesterday with full pack, felt great up to 40 km, then it started
to hurt, left knee and the balls of my feet, good side is I'm feeling great
today, no stiffness and knee slightly swollen.
But managed the hole lot at an average of 6.5 minutes /km or around 9km/Hr,
not to bad for an old man.
We shall rest today, and then the final push this week and weekend, then
start to taper off, did 201km this last week, this week will do 130, and
then drop +- 40km a week till race start."
Please give him all the support you can! And watch the event - it really is awesome! Starts 19 July!
The athletes have to carry all their own equipment (paraglider) and are not allowed any form of transport other than to walk/run and paraglide. Hence they are running and walking when the weather does not permit flying. They fly through amazing scenery, and gruelling weather conditions. The race takes about 14 days to finish. Athletes carry live tracking equipment so the race can be followed by millions of viewers on the website (www.redbullxalps.com). A ground support crew of 1 person is allowed per athlete, who are responsible for analysing weather reports, preparing meals, planning routes etc. It really is one of the most exciting flying events in the world.
This year is the first year a South African team has been accepted. Pierre Carter (athlete) and James Braid (support), both immensely talented, experienced and respected South African pilots are the team. Please can everyone support them through this gruelling event - you can write your words of support on the website in the athletes guestbooks. They need all the support they can get. And trust me, with the amount of preparation Pierre has been doing, he is going to give it one helluva run! See a report of his training below - he is a machine, and has made it his life goal to fly off each continents highest peak - he has already flown off Mt Elbrus in Russia and Aconcagua in Argentina.
"Did 60 km yesterday with full pack, felt great up to 40 km, then it started
to hurt, left knee and the balls of my feet, good side is I'm feeling great
today, no stiffness and knee slightly swollen.
But managed the hole lot at an average of 6.5 minutes /km or around 9km/Hr,
not to bad for an old man.
We shall rest today, and then the final push this week and weekend, then
start to taper off, did 201km this last week, this week will do 130, and
then drop +- 40km a week till race start."
Please give him all the support you can! And watch the event - it really is awesome! Starts 19 July!
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