Home and Dry in Millionaires' Playground

After ten days of torture, Christian Maurer (SUI) reached the finish line of the Red Bull X-Alps 2009 in Monaco on July 29 at 11:24 a.m. (MEZ). Outfitted only with a paraglider canopy and mountaineering equipment, the 26-year-old extreme athlete celebrated a superior race victory.

After a physical and mental torture, Christian Maurer (SUI) crossed the Red Bull X-Alps 2009 finishing line in Monaco at exactly 11:24 a.m. local time on July 29. Having set off from Salzburg armed with only a paraglider and hiking gear, the 26-year-old extreme sportsman came out on top in the toughest of battles across Europe’s highest mountains against 29 other athletes from 23 countries. The 2007 winner, fellow countryman Alex Hofer, was the only other athlete to reach the Mediterranean principality. Maurer covered an incredible 1,376 kilometers on the edge of physical and mental exhaustion during the planet’s toughest adventure race as he became the first athlete to plunge into the refreshing waters of Monaco’s legendary harbour, writing extreme sport history in the process as he finished over a day ahead of Hofer.

However, the Swiss athlete’s route to the millionaire playboys’ favourite playground on the Mediterranean Coast was anything but luxurious. As well as completing turnpoints at mountains including the Gaisberg (AUT), the Watzmann (GER), the Großglockner (AUT), the Marmolada (ITA), the Matterhorn (SUI), Mont Blanc (FRA) and Mont Gros (FRA) with no external help, Maurer was also forced to withstand the worst nature could throw at him, including heavy rain, fierce storms and extreme heat. Yet, thousands of vertical meters over rough terrain with bleeding blisters and extreme flights despite sleep deprivation weren’t enough to bring Maurer off course as he emerged victorious in the 2009 edition of the race.

Third place went to the American athlete Hozna Rejmanek as he recorded the best ever result for a non-European racer. The pain in Rejmanek’s knees was so extreme during the final days that he had been forced to walk down the mountains backwards. Only 18 of the original 29 starters made it into the final standings, with twelve athletes retiring from the race early or being disqualified. Meanwhile, Maurer began to take stock of the toll the race had taken on him: “My body is totally exhausted, I won’t move a meter over the next few days. I was on the edge during the whole race, but since landing in the water I feel better than ever – mentally, at least!”

The Swiss athlete spent a total of 42.17 hours in the air, ran for a further 87.32 hours (and spent a mere 100 hours resting!) as he covered no fewer than 34,890 vertical meters on foot and 999 kilometers with his paraglider during the 1,376 kilometers from Salzburg to Monaco.