SAFA Skysailor Magazine

29 July | August 2023 SKY SAILOR athlete Reto Reiser who delighted crowds with his ‘Reto flip’ – a frontflip he does on landing – which ended with him splashing in the water. Wednesday, 21 June: Day 11 Eli Egger (AUT4) became the first woman in the 20-year-history of the Red Bull X-Alps to make goal on Wednesday afternoon. The 28-year-old Austrian from Dachstein arrived at Schmittenhöhe, the final TP above the town of Zell am See, exhausted but relieved after 11 days of hiking and flying. To cheers from fans, she launched into the air one final time to land on the float in the lake and couldn’t contain her joy: “I don’t have any words for how I feel. I haven’t even realised yet that I’m really here, but that will probably come in the next few days. This has been an adventure I will never forget. I have had such great experiences and learned a lot. Of course, I had ups and downs, ...but it doesn’t get any better than this.” Ulrich Grill enthused: “Many congratulations to Eli. A great achievement. She has shown that women can take on and succeed in this race. Eli’s achievement will give more women the confidence to take on the world’s toughest adventure race.” Earlier that day, Logan Walters (USA1), 32, touched down in goal, ahead of Canadian James Elliott (CAN) with both had been locked in a duel for much of the race. The arrival of the three takes the tally at the finish line to 22 – three more than the record number of athletes to make goal in Monaco in 2015. After 13 days of intense racing the clock officially stopped at 11:30am on Friday 23 June, just a few hours after Emoto Yuji (JPN) became the 23rd athlete to make goal. This 20th aniversary year has been a historic and record-breaking edition of the race. Red Bull Content Pool, clockwise: Tom de Dorledot (BEL) and Simon Oberrauner (AUT1) finish in Zell am See, Austria, 18 June Elli Egger (AUT4) celebrates the finish on 19 June Photos: Christian Lorenz Logan Walters (USA1) launches, 20 June – Photo: Adi Geisegger