The Red Bull X-Alps 2025 is more than a race—it's the ultimate high-octane adventure, slicing through the raw, awe-inspiring Alps across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. This epic hike-and-fly challenge pushes the world’s top athletes to their limits, fusing grueling mountain treks with precision paragliding over a record-breaking 1,283 km course—the longest in the event’s history.
This one-of-a-kind competition demands an extraordinary blend of physical stamina, technical skill, and razor-sharp strategy. Athletes must navigate 16 mandatory turnpoints, including the new X-Turnpoint in St. Moritz, which they must pass twice—adding a unique strategic layer to the race. Each day, they cover the equivalent of two mountain marathons on foot, climb up to 4,000 meters of vertical gain, and can spend over 10 hours in the air. From launching off narrow alpine ridges to gliding for dozens of kilometers through constantly shifting weather, every decision—whether to hike, fly, or pause—can determine the outcome. In an environment where the terrain is unforgiving and the weather unpredictable, every move becomes a calculated risk in this ultimate test of endurance, skill, and strategy.
Set against iconic landmarks like the Hahnenkamm, Mont Blanc, and Germany’s Zugspitze, the 2025 race kicks off in Kitzbühel on June 15 and ends on a floating raft in Zell am See’s Lake Zell. Legends like eight-time champion Christian “Chrigel” Maurer and rising stars like Lars Meerstetter battle not only the elements but also each other, with only the toughest managing to reach the finish line by the June 27 deadline.
My journey alongside Aaron Durogati—Red Bull athlete and hike-and-fly legend—offered a front-row seat to the raw pulse of this adventure. From brutal climbs up via ferratas to adrenaline-fueled take-offs and soaring flights over jaw-dropping alpine vistas, I witnessed the meticulous strategy, physical intensity, and liberating sensation of chasing the wind with his team. The Red Bull X-Alps 2025 is not just a race—it’s an epic tale of grit, freedom, and human stories etched into the mountains and carried by the skies.
Project: Red Bull X-Alps
Client: Aaron Durogati
Photography: Andrea Zaffaroni
