Wow, what an exciting and eventful day! The weather did not promise record conditions, it was supposed to be a bit too windy and the base a bit too low for that. But it should have been well possible to fly around Mont Blanc, the turnpoint 9 so feared by all athletes, on its west side. Because if that didn't succeed, "very nasty hiking" would be…

Today, the leading group was on its way from Turnpoint 7 Fiesch to Turnpoint 8 Dent d'Oche. The weather forecast did not promise a great day, but paraglidable.com displayed “green”. So, it should have been reasonably flyable. In the morning, however, the cloud base lay on the mountains for a long time. Would it open up? And if so, when and where…

A short review about Wednesday evening up front: Of the top guys, Paul Guschlbauer still managed a glide over Lake Walen, didn't make it or wouldn't make it into Glarnerland. The others flew into the valley. Chrigel Maurer flew the farthest in much shade and climbed to the Klausen pass. Close on his heels were a host of competitors, including…

Today's route: The leading group is already on its way from Lermoos towards Säntis. On this leg - unlike between the Achental and Lermoos - there are two clear and obvious route options:

• Further north through the valley of River Lech, passing Schröcken (famous ski area) then through the Walsertal valley to Feldkirch to cross the wide Rhine…

It's only day 3 and already the field of athletes has spread out over some 250 km! The conditions are sporty because the valley winds are strong. The latter have to be exploited to one's own advantage and their dangers avoided. Those who had not yet made it to the Achental turnpoint had the ‘Bavarian Wind’ whistling in their faces (the Tyroleans…

Maxime Pinot has had to take a severe daily beating again. Yes, well, he is not very far behind. But you don't want to show your face, do you? The Frenchman has said on occasion that he wants to stay relaxed, take the days as they go. And really, really nothing is lost yet. His trauma from the Titlis is nowhere in sight yet.

Another Prologue? You'd almost think so. A veritable migration of X-Alps pilots are on the ascent to the Grießenkareck above Wagrain, prepare their gliders and fly down to Kleinarl. But a number of things are different: it is after six in the evening and the competitors have had strenuous and difficult hours of flying behind them. They all took off…

Oahh, Chrigel Maurer ahead of Maxime Pinot, winning the X-Alps! Again! - But no, that was the Prologue for now. The Prologue to the Red Bull X-Alps is a very different thing, three days before the start of the alpine race in Salzburg. The Prologue is a one-day celebration of joy. All competitors run and fly together. Supporters, manufacturers,…

We are pleased to announce that we will be following the Red Bull X-Alps starting on Sunday 20 June with our own blog. There will also be a report from the Prologue that took place today. We not only want to inform about the three NOVA pilots, but also comment on the race from the perspective of a cross-country pilot. According to the motto "from…