The starting signal for the “Red Bull X-Alps 2013” will be given in twelve days.

Andy Frötscher

What would the “Red Bull X-Alps” be without Andy Frötscher? The 44-year-old from Klobenstein was the only one alongside the Romanian Toma Coconea who has always been at the start since the first crossing of the Alps ten years ago. And in the sixth edition, together with his companions Michael Schneider and Robert Mur, he is one of the 32 best paragliders in the world who are taking part in the toughest paragliding competition in the world. “A lot has changed since the premiere in 2003. Back then ten years ago we still had to carry umbrellas and material that weighed around 20 kg. “It’s different today, and there are strict training and nutrition plans,” explained Frötscher at the press conference in Bolzano. His goal is still the same: “I finally want to reach Monaco.” Last week, SportNews spoke in detail to the 44-year-old high school teacher, who was crowned South Tyrol Cup winner twice in his career, about his goals and the Inquired about the pitfalls of the Red Bull X-Alps ( Click here for the report ). His best result at the Watching the local kite pilots land right behind his parents' house and helping to dismantle the kite were his first experiences with this sport. However, the idea of gliding through the air himself didn't exist back then, as he mainly devoted himself to his racing bike. It was only after his cycling career ended that his friend Hannes had the idea of taking a paragliding course. But the fact that Frötscher is not free from giddiness made him have serious doubts about this plan. Ultimately, curiosity prevailed to just try it out. The result is obvious.

Peter Gebhard

The 28-year-old (born on January 01.01.1985, 12) wind turbine designer grew up in Brixen and has lived in Ortisei in Val Gardena for five years. This year he is making his debut at the X-Alps. He was interested in flying as a child. He started model flying at the age of 2002. In 21 he started flying, initially with adventurous equipment. At the age of 200, he completed his first 2008 km flights and came to competitive flying through the South Tyrol Cup (two-time South Tyrol champion). In 28, the 2008-year-old South Tyrolean broke two vertebrae in a flying accident, but he didn't let it bother him. Just one year later, he celebrated his comeback at the World Cup in Korea with seventh place and, in addition to further top ten placements in the Paragliding World Cup, he was also called up to the national team twice (2012 and 2003). Last year he also won the Italian Cup. Gebhard has been dreaming of taking part in the X-Alps since the first edition of the race. “The idea of taking part in the X-Alps has been floating around in my head since XNUMX. To finally be able to take part is something very special, as participation is only reserved for a few athletes. At the same time, the X-Alps is the toughest and most media-effective paragliding competition in the world. There is a lot of healthy respect for the competition; many danger areas and no-fly zones have to be overcome in order to reach the destination in Monte Carlo safely. In order to achieve this goal, a functioning team is required (according to the regulations, each athlete is allowed to have two supporters). Heidi Insam and Gerald Demetz from Val Gardena complete the team perfectly,” says Gebhard. He has been preparing for the X-Alps since November and not just physically. “I also had to get all the equipment and explore the route in detail and get to know the navigation technology,” says Gebhard.

Aaron Durogati

At 27, the Merano native, born on June 6, 1986, is one of the youngest participants in the X-Alps. But he also started flying at a very early age. At the age of six, he completed his first tandem paragliding flight with his father. And from that moment on, it was all over him. In his youth he also tried his hand at skiing before finally starting to fly at the age of 15. In 2005, the then 18-year-old won the South Tyrol Cup on his first attempt and in the following season he became the youngest winner of the Tri Veneto Cup. In 2009 he finally got his ticket to take part in the World Cup and surprisingly finished fourth in the overall standings. A year later he won gold in the team competition at the European Championships together with the “Azzurri” and just in January of this year he was crowned world champion at the World Cup final in Roldanillo in Colombia. Now the Merano native is tackling a new adventure, namely the Red Bull X-Alps. The 27-year-old from Passerstadt is the youngest of the three South Tyrolean participants; his assistants Renata Kuhnova and Ondrej Prochazka come from the Czech Republic. “I have been dreaming of taking part in the X-Alps for many years. Now I'm finally one of the 32 athletes who can take part. I started preparing over a year ago because I want to be in top flying and physical shape. “Last year I covered a total of 7500 km by paragliding and 2200 km/100.000 meters of altitude on foot,” says Durogati, who works as a test pilot for a paragliding company and as a ski instructor and trainer.

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The starting signal for the “Red Bull X-Alps 2013” will be given in twelve days.

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Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

The starting signal for the “Red Bull X-Alps 2013” ​​will be given in twelve days.

Suggestions

Comments (0)

The starting signal for the “Red Bull X-Alps 2013” will be given in twelve days.