Pierre Carter, South African climber and paraglider will be representing SA at the Red Bull X-Alps starting on the 17th of July.

In short, it's a 900km race across the Alps, with paraglider and running shoes the only weapons.
No rules - first one home... Typical winning time is 10 days.

Check out details, and we can follow him live during the race at http://www.redbullxalps.com

Best of luck Pierre!

yes, best of luck and i look forward to following.

Wow, the Russian team profile is hilarious:

"What does your typical training week consist of?
Secret."

typical Russian

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If you aren't willing to solve your own problems, how can you expect others to?

Pierre is presently ranked no 7 out of 30!

Pierre you biscuit you!

We can track the race in real-time on a map at:

http://www.redbullxalps.com/live-tracking.html

(Just remember to find the little 'ranking' tab and select more than just the top 3)

It looks like he's the only one setting up to fly any time soon, let's hope it pays off. Go Cuntie!

Last night it seems the guys had to climb a really big and cliffy mountain to a checkpoint.
Most slept up there, hoping for a good flight down this morning, but with a dodgy weather forecast. A pack of 12, including all the race favorites, and Pierre, elected to rather forego that and make their way down the 'via ferrata' on the other side in the dark and get on with it on the ground. It paid off, and today the pack of 12 have had a 6 - 12 hour lead on the rest.

Pierre seems to have posted two short flights today while most of the competitors have stayed on the ground all the way (more dodgy weather?)

Both contrarian moves as he had to leave the pack who were running along the valleys, and send some big hills to get uncertain take-offs - both worked wonders!

Pierre seems to be teaming up with the USA representative "Honza"

When he landed his second flight this eve he was lying in 8th position, just 3.5 hours behind the leader.

Go Carpet Go!

Looks like Pierre and Honza's "partnership" is paying off. They're ready to fly again, while most of the guys in front of them are not, this should let them catch up a lot! Go Pierre!

This is easily the most interesting non-climbing thing to happen on this site, thanks for putting it up and keeping us in the loop.

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If you aren't willing to solve your own problems, how can you expect others to?

Yesterday Pierre, Honza (USA) and one other took a 'right' while the others in the front pack took a left and the others passed them. Pierre and co have caught up again though, and Pierre is back in 7th position. Places 6 - 10 are all within a kilometer. These okes have been running for 4 days now! (With a little bit of flying)

This seems to be what has allowed the front 2 to get where they are - finding air.

The locals must really have tricks up their sleeves - I've been gliding with Pierre and he can take off on a Dassie-fart.

Good work Pierre!

Pierre took a gamble this morning and hiked up a particular mountain instead of down, in the hope of getting some air - and got lucky - this is how he caught up again back into 6th place. :-)

More info here: Carters Gamble - 2400m leapfrog launch pays off

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Climb ZA - Administrator

Bad news...

CARTER OUT

Tailwind on take-off prevents catch-up flight

Pierre Carter (RSA) has been eliminated. He had hoped for a long glide today to try and catch the pack ahead of him but a tailwind prevented him launching. Carter, who was laid up quite ill three nights ago, has shown amazing perseverance in the last four days. His mission was to stay in the game until the leader made Monaco, but the race's 'tail-end Charlie' elimination rule put paid to that.

The next elimination happens 0700 hrs on Thursday 28 July.

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Climb ZA - Administrator