Red Bull X-Alps 2011, tough race for second place between Toma and Paul

Toma Coconea chooses to run the entire day the last 50 km to the end (that will prove to be actually 79 km) . Paul instead picks up the flying path.

facing a strong had wind, Paul was forced to land in the lee side of a mountain at 20 km behind the finish. Toma still has 10 km to go, this could be his opportunity to win the second place.

Paul takes off again but fights strong breeze, he manages to cover other 10 km but stops at only 9 km from the finish. Toma gets the second place, him and Christian Maurer are the only two pilots able to finish Red Bull X-Alps 2011 race in time.

Red Bull X-Alps 2011, Christian Maurer writing Hello

Christian Maurer writing Hello at Red Bull X-Alps 2011, it was his birthday too :)

Red Bull X-Alps 2011 day 3, heading to Grossglockner

Paul, Toma and Christian are heading towards turnpoint 3 Grossglockner, they are followed by Kaoru, Clement, Ferdinand, Pierre and Honza. In the mean time other pilots from behind (Thomas de Dordolot, Vincent Sprungli,  Martin Muller)  have started hiking some hills preparing for a flight.

Update: Kaoru Ogisawa is disqualified after airspace infringement. Christian Amon is out too because of knee injury. 

Red Bull X-Alps 2011 day 2, a lot of work for Coconea

Coconea got his shelter close to Dachstein last night.

But he found impossible conditions for takeoff from Dachstein  in the morning, thought some athletes succeeded doing it later in the day. 

However after a lot of hiking he places himself in the third position, very close to Paul Guschlbauer and Christian Maurer at the end of the second competition day.

Red Bull X-Alps 2011, Paul Guschlbauer takes the lead

With an intelligent move, using a small hill, Paul Guschlbauer flies over Oqisawa, Maurer and Amon and takes the lead .

Red Bull X-Alps 2011, working hard the slope

Clement Latour and Thomas de Dorlodot after takeoff from Dachstein are working hard the slope.

Red Bull X-Alps 2011, first thermals

Red Bull X=Alps 2011 edition has just started and Ivar Sandsta from Norway, the second pilot to take off enjoys the first thermals and...

...and the first turbulences:

You can watch live this competition here: http://www.redbullxalps.com/live-tracking.html