When Toni Bender paraglided and partially hiked across the Alps from north to south, he laid the foundation for the Red Bull X-Alps, the most challenging and prestigious adventure race in the world. This year's edition marks the 20th anniversary of the race and will test the endurance and courage of the best "hike & fly" athletes to the fullest. The main race starts on Sunday, June 11th, and Adventure Menu can’t miss out on it!
Adventure in the sign of a (red) bull
To climb about 4,000 meters in altitude every day, catch the wind, and fly. Not only as far as possible, but also extremely accurately. And that's every day, for almost two consecutive weeks, across five Alpine countries. It looks like a real challenge even on paper, but according to the participants, it's even tougher in reality. When asked why the Red Bull X-Alps is held only once every two years, most of them usually respond with the same answer: "At least a year after the race, you know that you never want to do it again," only to add, "But in the second year, we train and look forward to it like crazy," which tells you quite a lot about their nature.
For the first time in history, this year's race starts in Kitzbühel, Austria, known to skiers for its terrifying Hahnenkamm downhill slope from the World Cup. The participants of the Red Bull X-Alps have to climb up that very slope to be able to let the wind carry them on their wings. Although, "carry" is a term used loosely here because it requires a lot of skill, constant monitoring of weather conditions, and intuition. This adventure demands perfect sensitivity, an open mind, and precise skills in perfect combination
The start of this year's prologue was a "rehearsal" where everyone still had a smile on their faces.
Flying across & round the Alps
This year, the athletes will face an uncompromising circuit of over 1,223 km across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. They all have to pass through 15 turnpoints, including the majestic Mont Blanc, to even dream of reaching the finish line. The fact that less than half of the starting field usually manages to do so is the best proof that it's far from certain. The luckier ones, however, will be rewarded with a landing in the famous Zell am See.
Everyone still made it to the finish of the prologue on Thursday June 8th.
Red Bull X-Alps with a taste of the Krkonoše Mountains
Only the absolute world elite qualifies for this race. And participating in one edition doesn't guarantee that the athletes will be able to participate in another. That's why we are happy and proud at the same time that we have been a partner of this amazing event for the third year in a row. For a whole two weeks, Adventure Menu fuels all the athletes, their support teams, and the organizers of this crazy journey throughout the Alps. There is no better proof that our 100% natural food provides the necessary strength and comfort for the soul than this. The fact that our main gourmet and spiritual father, Radek Slabý, can soar through the sky during training flights with his role models is just the cherry on top.
A sweet reward after a successful flight.
Our STARS
In addition to supporting the entire race, we also have our own aces in the starting field, whom we support and look forward to their long-term adventures, successes, and experiences.
An Italian paragliding icon. He has achieved almost everything possible in this sport. A two-time world champion and participant in half of all X-Alps editions. His achievements are not a matter of chance. Aaron contributes with his experience to the development of wings and embodies the epitome of a professional athlete in every aspect. This includes strict dietary habits. We are delighted that Adventure Menu meets his high demands for the quality of food!
New Zealand's queen of the skies and a lover of adventure with Polish roots. Kinga, as the first woman in history, managed to qualify for the Red Bull X-Alps twice. And this year, she is looking forward to her third edition of the race. She is fully prepared and ready to go. Not only does she have a bunch of goulash packed from us, which supposedly tastes exactly like the one her mother makes in Poland. Last year at the X-Pyr, she was the only woman to participate in the famous hike & fly race across the Pyrenees and left behind more than half of the male competitors in her wake.
It's not often that someone from the Czech Republic makes it to a race such as the Red Bull X-Alps. But when it happens, as a proud Czech company, we can't miss out on it. After three participations in the Red Bull X-Alps as a support pilot, Ondra Procházka has qualified this year as a competitor flying under the colors of our small country. And a guy like him truly deserves it. With over 5,000 flight hours under his belt, he holds the title of world champion in classic paragliding and has held several world records for years, including the one in aerobatics where he performed the Esfera maneuver nine times in a row. Don't know what that is? Well, we don't know how to describe such a daring feat in words either. It's simply something that must be seen. We believe that Ondra will reach the highest goals in the final rankings.
Be a part of the action!
The 20th edition of the Red Bull X-Alps race promises to be a first-class spectacle that you don't want to miss out. Over 30 determined adventurers, including four women, will take on the challenge of this grueling journey, filled with exhaustion and unpredictable situations. Will Swiss phenomenon Christian Maurer secure his eighth consecutive victory, or will there be a new champion after 14 years? The competition is fierce, and the participants are ready to give all in until the finish line.
If you're not flying directly to the Alps, but still want to stay up to date with what's happening in the race, there's nothing easier than following the live tracking of the Red Bull X-Alps. You won't miss any changes in the rankings, and you'll also have the opportunity to see breathtaking aerial and ground shots in real time!
Although the Red Bull X-Alps is a race, in reality, it's much more than just a competition among top athletes. The starting field is like one big family that, through collective efforts, pushes the boundaries of human capabilities further and further in harsh conditions on land and in the sky.
And we, from Adventure Menu, wish this crazy family to enjoy their adventures to the fullest!
