SAFA Skysailor Magazine

33 September | October 2022 SKY SAILOR Red Bull X-Alps announce their new race director Ferdinand Vogel has joined the Red Bull X-Alps race committee. As a test pilot, paragliding instructor and examiner based in Innsbruck, Austria, Vogel is thrilled to take on the challenge, “I’m really excited… I’ve followed the race for many years, both as a fan and supporter. It’s the ultimate and original hike-and-fly race, so it’s a huge honor, I can’t wait to get started.” Struggling to make up your mind whether to enter the 2023 event? Just do it, say the vets! Don’t let the doubts put you off, says Tom de Dorlodot: “If you feel that you can do it safely, just go for it.” Gavin McClurg offers some hard won advice: “Very little of the flying is ‘recreational’… flying in Föhn winds, landing in boulder gardens on the side of a mountain in gust fronts, launching in 40km/h crosswind surrounded by trees can be a daily event!” But don’t let that put you off. Anyone who wants to take part in the next edition has until 31 August 2022 to apply on redbullxalps.com . One of Vogel’s first jobs, together with the rest of the race committee, will be to select the 30 or so athletes judged fit and experienced enough to take on the world’s toughest adventure race in June 2023. The athlete line-up will be announced in October. Red Bull X-Alps From top: Ferdinand Vogel Tom de Dorlodot during the 2021 race Gavin Mc Clurg hiking the last metres at the 2021 Prologue in Wagrain Photos: F. Vogel, zooom / Adi Geisegger