Team Canada X Alps 2023

Team Canada is going to the Red Bull X-Alps!!

It’s been many years since a Canadian has taken part in this epic race, but that’s about to change! The Red Bull X-Alps is the highest class of hike and fly competition and only 35 paragliding athletes in the world are selected to participate. For those unfamiliar with the race, it is an adventure race known to be the toughest on the planet, in which athletes fly a paraglider and hike along a 1,223 km course over the European Alps in 12 days (please see below for some informational links). James’ rise in this sport has been swift since dedicating a large part of his life to hike and fly training and competition over several years. After solid performances in the X-Pyr (Spain) and the X-Redrocks (USA), he’s thrilled about the opportunity to represent Canada in 2023.

However, this is not your average near-continuous multi-day ultra-marathon through the mountains! Although James is the athlete for Team Canada, there is NO WAY he can compete on his own. Racing at this level requires a dedicated and high-performance support crew, consisting of Dan Vallieres, Norm Krcmar, and Jonathan Klimow. While James is hiking or flying, the supporters are just as busy analyzing and relaying a plethora of real-time data to James to optimize our race strategy, 17hrs a day. This includes competitive analysis, micro and macro weather forecasting, route planning, navigation and strategy. They will also be hiking with James when possible, capturing and editing content for social media, driving the support vehicle, preparing meals, maintaining equipment, and generally keeping James alive.

Racing across the alps will test every limit; physical, mental, as well as financial. After adding up the expenses of flights, a support vehicle, food, insurance, and fuel, for several weeks, it’s enough to make your eyes water. James isn’t one to ask for money but we all realize he needs as much help as he can get to effectively compete against some of the top athletes on the planet. In many countries, significant financial support is available to athletes through clubs, associations, and even their country’s athletic programs to help them with their training prior to and during the race. Unfortunately, paragliding in Canada is such a small niche sport that it is challenging to fund such a race, which is why we are turning to you for your support. Many of you have reached out to us and asked us how you can be a part of the team or can help, and while team Canada would greatly appreciate your assistance in person during the race, this GoFundMe gives you a chance to help when you can’t be there in person.

All funds raised go directly to offsetting Team Canada’s expenses of approximately $24,000 in the order listed below. Only a small portion of this is offset by official sponsor support, so we cannot overstate our appreciation for any donation amount! If you choose to contribute and leave your name, we’ll make a shout-out to you later on our social media and in our daily race videos. Or if you have any custom contribution requests, feel free to send them our way!

Key team expenses:

Airfare/Insurance

Camper Rental

Food/Supplies

Misc Equipment & Fuel

James has been a great advocate for the sport of paragliding in British Columbia. He’s donated an incredible amount of his time and energy to leadership and governance at both the local club and provincial association levels. He also started a mentorship program, has personally mentored many other free flight pilots, and his competition results have proven that Canada belongs on the international hike and fly competition stage! We’re incredibly appreciative of all your support no matter what form it comes in.

We encourage you to share this fundraiser as much as possible, as even that helps! Lastly, just before the race, we’ll update you with the Red Bull X-Alps live tracking links (where you can watch the race live) and all the places you can follow us on social media from wherever you are.

Thank you in advance,

X-Alps 2023 Team Canada

James Elliott

Jonathan Klimow

Norm Krcmar

Dan Vallieres

More info:

Red Bull X-Alps race info: https://www.redbullxalps.com/

Last edition teaser (new one coming soon!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOZsN07wxwk

James Elliott athlete profile: https://www.redbullxalps.com/athlete/james-elliott

James Elliott Instagram (main training and race update channel): https://www.instagram.com/flying.james/?hl=en