The first Red Bull X-Alps began with 17 athletes starting from the Dachstein Glacier in Austria and racing toward Monaco. The format—traveling only by foot or paraglider—set the core identity of the event as a “hike-and-fly” endurance race. Only three athletes reached Monaco, showing how difficult the concept was from the start.
Swiss athlete Kaspar Henny won the 2003 race after nearly 12 days of combined hiking and paragliding to Monaco. His victory established that success required both strong flying skills and the ability to sustain long days on foot. The early results also reinforced that finishing was a major achievement in itself.
In 2005 the course was adjusted, including new turnpoints such as Zugspitze and Mont Blanc, before the finish in Monaco. The event also marked the first participation of female competitors, reflecting a broader field as the race returned. Swiss pilot Alex Hofer won the edition, confirming the race as a repeatable series rather than a one-off challenge.
The 2007 edition expanded to five turnpoints and became notably demanding, with many teams withdrawing due to injury and fatigue. Alex Hofer won a second consecutive title by flying a larger share of the course than previous winners had managed. The outcome highlighted how equipment choices and flight strategy were becoming more decisive.
In 2009, the start moved to Salzburg’s Mozartplatz and the route expanded to seven turnpoints, raising the tactical complexity of the race. Christian “Chrigel” Maurer won on his first attempt, beginning a long period of dominance. Only two athletes finished, underscoring that the expanded course still allowed little margin for error.
Maurer won the 2011 race by reaching Monaco on July 28, 2011, after roughly 11 days of racing. The win confirmed that his 2009 performance was not a one-time success, and that consistent decision-making—when to fly and when to hike—could decide the race. His repeat win also set the stage for the event’s defining competitive storyline: whether anyone could catch him.
The 2013 edition increased to ten turnpoints and a longer route from Salzburg to Monaco, while also seeing a higher number of finishers than many earlier races. Maurer won again, crossing the line on July 14, 2013 in a record time of just under seven days. The faster winning time showed how tactics, fitness, and modern lightweight gear were pushing the race into a new era.
In 2015 organizers added a separate “Prologue” race shortly before the main event. The top Prologue finishers earned small advantages (such as a brief head start), increasing the importance of early performance and sprint-style speed. This change made the overall competition more layered: athletes had to excel in both short, intense efforts and long-distance endurance.
Maurer won the 2015 edition, stopping the clock at the final turnpoint above Monaco on July 13, 2015. The same year, a record 19 athletes made goal, indicating that the field had become deeper and more capable. The combination of a strong pack and a dominant winner highlighted both rising competition and Maurer’s continued edge.
In 2017 the route stretched to over 1,100 km and the race again finished in Monaco. Maurer won his fifth consecutive title, but only one other athlete—Benoît Outters—managed to complete the full course. The low number of finishers showed that, despite progress in the sport, the event could still be shaped heavily by route demands and conditions.
Maurer won the 2019 edition, again reaching the final turnpoint above Monaco before completing the finish procedure. Reporting emphasized he remained unbeaten at the event since 2009, making the race’s competitive narrative largely about chasing the leader’s pace and decisions. His sixth win in a row also raised questions about how long a single athlete could remain dominant in such a variable mountain race.
The 2021 edition used a new concept: a circular course around the Alps that finished in Zell am See, Austria, rather than Monaco. This change altered late-race strategy, because the endgame no longer relied on reaching the Mediterranean finish area. Maurer won again, reaching the finish raft on June 28, 2021, as organizers later confirmed final podium results when the race clock ended.
Red Bull X-Alps Paragliding and Hiking Race Seasons (2003-2021)