
2021
What a year! From the X-alps to the world championships, through Brazil and the world cup final...
Since 2013 I have been dreaming of the X-alps, but without being sure that I would participate one day. The technical level required, the mental strength needed, the endurance... I dreamed of acquiring all this to register for this race which, I know now, corresponds exactly to the pilot, passionate about the outdoors and the mountains that I am. August 2020, I feel ready to try to realize this dream, to take up this extraordinary challenge. But before I did it, it was really hard to have an idea of what performance I was going to be able to show, if my capricious left knee would make me last 2 days or 2 weeks, if I was going to manage to eat well, if I would sleep enough... A lot of unknowns, questions to which I didn't have any answers that were going through my mind every day and that since the selection. I think that already before leaving, the mental work that I did was enormous. As Mom often tells me, "you can !". It was the only answer I had and the one I wanted to believe in, to stay positive and ready. On the day of the start of the race, I am tense, but not a tension due to pressure, I am finally there, touching a dream, surrounded by my best buddy Joël, Michael the eternal positive, Alex the inexhaustible and my biggest fan, Dad.

The first day is not a test. It starts off fast, and very quickly I find myself in an uncomfortable situation. After a first transition south of the Gaisberg, I'm low and struggling to regain some height, we're in the thick of it. If I land here, I'll be last and I might not have a chance to come back before the first elimination. It's a hard blow, but I'm fighting, slowly managing to catch up with the back of the pack. One day. One day and I've gone through all kind of moods in the air, and unfortunately, that's not how it works for me. I absolutely have to be relaxed in the air, positive and focused. I swear myself for the rest of the race to manage my emotions so I can stay clear-headed, otherwise it won't go well. The team seems to be working well. They are there when I land, when I walk I get food regularly and the good mood is there.
1600m D+ / 35,5 km / 4 flights / 44,51 km




During the next day, the routine settles in the team, and my routine, one step after another like a metronome, works well too. A little omission of the speedarm put me in a good stress and added 1 kilometer hike to sign the turnpoint in Wagrain. A small 1000m uphill and I'm in the air towards Kitzbühl. The air mass is weird, very windy at times, foehn wind in the lateral valleys, but despite that, it flies pretty well and I land behind the Kitzbuehl ski area. I had to hike a little more to get to the signboard at the top of the famous Streif, and then took off direction Germany. It's already the end of the day, the sun is not warming up much and the north wind is present. Michael flies in front of me and lands, when I feel a slight lift. 0,3 meter per second, so to that's is almost nothing, but I work in this bubble not to lose it, fully focused and finally manage to get high and to pass over magnificent cliffs ending up landing close to the German border. It was an incredible day, but still the flying conditions were quite rough. I don't know what this represents on my risk/safety scale.
2200m D+ / 38,56 km / 4 flights / 107,25 km




ay 3, or the absolute fun in hike and fly. 25km of asphalt for breakfast, I knew it was part of the game, but these portions are hellish. They are never ending, there is nothing beautiful to see, the cars always pass too fast and too close. I sign the Achental turnpoint, my feet are burning and Joël take care of them. Then with Alex and Michael, we are heading to take off, a 1000m climb. At the takeoff, we feel some north wind, but at times the thermal takes over and we get some south wind. We hesitate then finally we take off in East and jump into the lee side in the south. It works, the beginning of the flight is laborious, it does not climb very high and it is again very windy. It's a struggle, ridge after ridge I feel like I'm going through a washing machine and I'm desperately looking for the exit. I finally reach the entrance of the Inn valley, a funnel where the whole Bavarian air mass rushes in. The wind accelerates, I manage to soar up sometimes almost backwards and cross a plateau behind. It is better than expected and the Bischofzell valley is more welcoming, but the thermals weaken because of the thickening cloud cover. Still in survival mode, I progress in this valley, and the more I progress, the less welcoming it is to land. Trees, everywhere ! Not only is it a pain to land, but there is no take-offs in sight. If I land here, I would have to walk out of this hellish Bavaria, and that motivates me to stay focused and to fly away from here. At a certain point, the sky becomes really dark and I decide to prepare for landing for safety reasons. The only option, a river bed. The wind is strong, it's narrow and therefore very turbulent. But suddenly, I can climb a few meters by hiding in the lee of a ridge and get on the luv side, hoping to find a better landing. There is only one, a roadside surrounded by high trees. It's hot but manageable. Happy to have my feet on the ground, I fold and set off leaving some things to the GER1 team. The troubles of this day are not over, we debrief then with the team for what's next. I am in a national park now, it is forbidden to sleep here. I have to go out of it by foot, but the timing is tight, no time to loose. At 9:30 pm, I arrive at the campsite, exhausted, the night will be regenerating !
1100m D+ / 63,73 km / 1 flight / 67,15 km




For day 4, we decide with my assistants to go to a take-off North East of the Zugspitze, a summit that we have to pass by the North before going to Lermoos. With my super router Joël, we sink in a dense forest in the fog to reach this takeoff. The navigation is very complicated, the trails are not well indicated and we struggle, feet soaked in the wet grass. After an never ending adventure in this forest, we arrive at the take-off… In the fog. It is a hard blow. What to do ? Wait, go down again on foot ? I prefer to wait, and finally the sky opens a little and I can take off in direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The valley is much more less cloud covered than the relief and I dare to hope finding a climb and fly towards Lermoos. Hope makes you live, the reality is that I land at the foot of the Zugspitze. Here we go again, on foot for a rocky takeoff under the cable car with Joël. Half an hour before arriving there, the weather becomes capricious again and a thin rain from the edge of the storm starts to fall. I don't have a minute to lose, I have to escape from here as soon as possible. At take off, I meet Laurie (FRA4) who is struggling to inflate her glider. The wind is coming from the right, the lines are hooking everywhere and it's not easy. My glider just opened, I opt for a cobra launch and manage to take off directly. I fly as fast as possible away from the rain and end up landing on the golf of Lermoos, one kilometer from the signboard. Laurie then passes me over, in flight. I am a little upset that I didn't dare to climb in the convergence in the middle of the valley, but I was too afraid of the wet glider, so I run the kilometer to the turnpoint. There, Laurie is waiting for me to sign together, a nice action. Then I enjoy a good refueling with Laurent, who flies on the race course and travels by public transport, with nights in hotels. It's funny, I don't even envy them, so much focused on what I do. With Laurie, we decide to go on another takeoff. The weather keeps changing. Sun, storm, rain, and always wind, as if there was not enough spice in all that ! We are hiking under a light rain and when we get to the takeoff, the sky becomes clearer and I launch quickly. I thought I would be able to gain some height soaring, but in reality, it's quite different again, and I can only glide to finally land in the valley. A 1000m climb that may have been useless, because the distance flown is really negligible. I pack and it starts raining again, harder this time. No more flight for today, let's walk in direction of the Namlos valley, to be ideally placed the next morning.
3050m D+ / 42,25 km / 3 flights / 21,25 km




The wake up is hard on the morning of day 5. It hurts everywhere, my knee is a weak, but the magic of the place allows me to enjoy the moment anyway. I quickly understand why I am so much in pain. It's part of the game every month and I have to deal with it, but with an ibuprofen every 6 hours, at least for the pain. The climb to the take-off is hard, in steep scree, and normally my steps are sure in these kind of terrain, but not today. Michael is worried about my fitness and I tell him that it will be fine, I just have to go easy. Fully focused and silent, we arrive at the chosen takeoff. The weather is nice, clouds are showing instability and the timing is perfect for the takeoff exposure. I take off to join the Lechtal. And guess what? It's obviously not as good as it looks like. The strong north wind will allow me to low save and soar up. When I finally reach a cruising altitude, I recognize the typical characteristics of an overpressure from the North in the Alps. Waves of wind coming down rush into the passes and push me down. I cross the valley to soar in this air mass which must go up on the other side. It works this time and I can cover a few kilometers towards Warth. Before I get there, in the middle of the valley, I have a big doubt. I only see forest, and considering how turbulent it is, if I have to land I might not have any options. I decide to spiral down and land safely. Steve (GB1) continues and calls me later saying I did the right thing, his landing was a close call. My assistants are all at the pass, eating and I'm lucky enough to get a good burger that Alex will bring me after their Kaiserschmarrn. I'm in pretty good shape at this point considering the conditions. I get to the pass and we decide to go up on the ski slopes to take off and fly towards the Walsertal, like Steve in front of me did. This climb hurts me, I feel nauseous, I am at the limit of vomiting. I take off and it's gliding super bad I can't fly over the plateau below. It's a fail, I'm seeking for another take-off on the edge of the small plateau to try to get out of there, I succeed but it's not enough, a cable underneath blocks my way and I have to land, to go back down on foot the last part of this damn pass, then we'll start the climb on the other side to reach a hut and sleep there. The tension is palpable in the whole team. Dad tries to be positive and to motivate Joël, but he replies sharply: "Jean-Lou stop now!" I think I see a path on the map that would save me time, I mention it to Alex who suggests that if he plans routes, I should not do the opposite. Both of them hike with me to the hut, and things are said. I'm too negative today, and it's taking a toll on the team's atmosphere. After this reset, we continue uphill under the rain, to finish by running under a violent storm. Soaked, we find Michael, eating a good cake, who landed higher. In reality, the hut is opened only for voluntary workers who work on the trails and there is not much to eat, the dormitories are free but there are no blankets. Fortunately, I can take a hot shower, then wrap myself in all the layers I have, ending up in my glider to sleep.
2600m D+ / 50,96 km / 2 flights / 31 km




Waking up on day 6 is difficult, I slept well, but I look like a zombie. We are getting closer to Switzerland, the next turnpoint is the Säntis and I am looking forward to be there. We take off with Michael at 6 am from the hut, for a glide in the Walsertal. It glides well, and I land in the valley where my favorite breakfast is waiting for me. The sky is completely covered, but this bad stratus does not discourage us. We try the option of hiking up to a take off, with Joël and Michael. The ascent is interspersed with rain and drier moments, we laugh, always hoping for a flying window. When we reach the mountain pasture, it rains and we are in the cloud. We wait at a hut where a guy is producing cheese, my teammates are tasting it, I drink a tea, nervous because the situation is really complicated and since my bad experience in the cloud a few years ago, I do not dare to fly when I do not see the ground. Slowly, a hole arrives, we hurry to take off and I can escape in the valley under the cloud layer. The loss of time due to the wait makes me think that it was once again not the best option, that walking down in the valley would have been faster. But hey, I didn't come here to cross the Alps only on foot with my paraglider on my back. That's the game, I accept it and continue on foot towards Feldkirch. Aiming at the take-off used by some competitors 2 days ago. At that point, I get a call from the race director who tells me that I have flown into the cloud, that another competitor has denounced me. I'm mad as hell, I waited for ages up there not to do it and someone says I did it. It is his word against mine, I leave the bad thinking at the side of the road, hoping that the small drizzle remains also there and starts the hike up with Alex, after a good meal prepared by Joël and Dad. At takeoff, we find Laurie, and we decide to fly together to cross the Rhin valley. It's quite covered but despite that, small thermals allow us to cross without too much trouble and to land at the foot of the Säntis. It's amazing how a small flight can make me happy ! I'm all pumped up, happy to be where I am and in good shape. With the FRA4 team, the atmosphere is good and we all go up to the takeoff in the radius around the summit of Säntis. On the way up to the launch Michael is busy optimizing the plan for the next day. We are in the playground of Martin Scheel, the team leader of the Swiss paragliding league, and he suggests a detour through Graubünden rather than a crossing of the canton of Glarus. "It could work, but it won't be easy" he says. Are we that close? We decide to go for it. At the takeoff, it is again the worst conditions imaginable which welcome us. Wind goes down in all the combe, it is steep and any mistake could be tragic. Taking off with such a tailwind on such a slope is risky. I unpack and prepare myself, hoping for a less windy window to take off. It comes slowly and I take off towards the Churfisten. I land in the last village, hotel room and restaurant to recover from another hard day.
2350m D+ / 45,39 km / 4 flights / 38,53 km




n the morning of the 7th day, I feel quite tired. My legs are heavy, but my mental is good. Joel accompanies me for the first climb of the day, the Chäserugg. A third of the way up, we are graced by a magnificent sunrise above the stagnant mist in the valley, it's one of those timeless moments when we simply let ourselves be dazzled by the morning light, alone in the middle of nature. It takes me a while to find a good rhythm. It's slow, but that's all I can do. Joël is boosted by the perspective of a flight he has always dreamed of, as he was in the army in Walenstadt. The take-off is incredible, on the cliffs dominating the Walensee. A light south wind allows me to inflate the wing and jump off the cliff. A glide follows, unfortunately way below my expectations. The south wind is already strong and my glide ratio is catastrophic. At the landing, I am a little depressed. That adds a good 5 kilometers on foot to join the trail which will lead us to the takeoff of Pizol. I have a solid breakfast while Michael packs my wing. Honestly, I think that if I knew how long would be the hike which awaited me after, I would have been really down. But one step after the other, I reach Sargans and start the uphill hike with a local and Michael. The plan was to stop at half slope on the official takeoff and to leave to the south then, the reality is that the gliders in the air are showing us that it is stable and that launching there was useless. We thus add a good 500m up to our hike to reach the south exposed ridge. The last meters are interminable, I am hungry and that's never ending. I reach painfully the take-off, Laurie is here too. Her team offers me a banana, it makes me feel better. We take off together and again, the conditions are not as expected. The wind from the South is quite strong, I try 3 times to pass the first ridge and each time I'm in a washing machine in the lee rotor. I give up and try to pass lower, as soon as the ridge will allow me to jump in the luv. When I finally can fly over, an alpinist is climbing on the rocky ridge and I surprise myself talking to him in my head. "Look at me guy, in case you should call Rega". That's how horrible and committed this passage was. Once on the other side, it's a rollercoaster ride in the wind-choked thermal again. At the next ridge I am finally on the right side, the air mass calms down and I could finally enjoy the place, which I know relatively well from having flown there many times in the world cup. Going up to the source of the Rhine is nevertheless a fight, the wind is still present, except that now that I'm going west, it's coming from the west... I progress, focused, ridge after ridge to reach Disentis, low but happy with the flight so far. At this moment, I'm thinking that I'm going to land because the thermals have disappeared with the shadow that the cumulus clouds bring. But my assistants are on fire and tell me to hang on, that it will work again. They are right, it works. Soaring up with the west wind, I gain altitude again and head towards the Oberalp pass. Just before the pass, it's 4pm and there are only East faces in front of me, obviously in lee again. But it's climbing. I still can't believe the moment when I glide to Andermatt! Once again, I have to make a choice: left side or right ? Michael tells me that Manu (GER1) is on the north facing slope and that he's soaring up. Unfortunately, the information arrives a bit late and I'm on the South exposed face. So I land in Hospental, deeply happy after an epic and ultra technical flight. "Tonight, guys, we sleep in Wallis !". A good refueling at the roadside and I'm off to the last piece of the day, the Furka. I've been there a number of times by car before, the curvy, narrow road is in front of me and in my souvenirs, it's not that long... Since when do we rely on car rides while hike and flying??? At the top of the curves, the distant memory of the straight line to the pass is in front of me and not distant anymore. God it's long, but, we sleep in Wallis!!! I'm invigorated by the mental strength that this perspective gives me. Joël is with me on the e-bike, the atmosphere is great and he still do not believe the distance covered today! The arrival at the pass brings tears to my eyes, the emotion is so intense, shared with the proudest dad in the world. In the emotional memories related to this sport, this is by far the most powerful I have ever had. It's ahead of world records, ahead of being a world champion. It's indescribable and yet, if we talk about the race, the ranking, this moment doesn't mean anything ! A good supper, laughter, sharing and we lay down for a cold night.
4200m D+ / 46,93 km / 2 flights / 96,45 km




In this morning of the day 8, I am fit, still a bit euphoric about yesterday. We opt for a takeoff on a small summit which will make us glide in the Goms valley. The weather is good, but hiking is a little difficult, the snow did not melt yet, the steps are careful, because often we get through the layer of snow and sink to the hip. With Alex, Adi (race photographer) and Melanie (his partner), we arrive at the take-off, the conditions are perfect, and this flight turns out to be magical, very smooth in morning light. Unfortunately, I have to shorten it by 2 kilometers because otherwise I would enter in the airspace of Münster. The day looks good despite a light foehn, and I have to hurry up to fly as far as possible. But before reaching the take-off of Fiesch, I have to pass through Fiesch village to sign the turnpoint. I opt for a fast pace, alternating running and walking, boosted by the prospect of a nice flight in my garden. The arrival at the turnpoint is again rich in emotions, my sister is there with my little niece, I am happy to see them. Signature, refueling and covid test and here we go for the hike. I meet Chrigel's assistant (SUI1) who is already on the way back to Zell am See, Thomas Theurillat, who is also my mental coach. He is completely stressed, Chrigel's GPS didn't charge during the night, and he has to bring him a cable at take-off. As if mistakes happen even to the most experienced. The meeting is short but the hug is warm: "you look happy, it's wonderful what you're doing, keep it up !". Coming from him who knows my problems and who has seen through my personality, it is an encouragement that is worth its weight in gold. The climb is shared with Beat (a local who is in phenomenal fitness for his age), he also guides us on the most efficient path and it's a welcome help. When we arrive at the take-off, Joël is there with my stuff and some friends, the atmosphere is great. Michel Lacher (GER3) is also with us, and we are off! It's not climbing very well, we land twice at the slope to temporize instead of flying away and risking to pass under the limit of the forest because then we would have to land in valley. At the third attempt, we finally manage to gain height and we are off for the classic Wallis descent. In the thermals, it drifts west, which means that the foehn is already present. Despite this, the conditions are more than acceptable compared to what I have experienced in this race so far. There are not too many difficulties until Crans-Montana, the sky is quite overcasted and the thermals are weakening. The lift is small, right on the pylon of the Plaine-Morte cable car, and it's difficult to use it correctly because there are 3 of us now, Eduardo (MEX1) has joined us. After this difficult part, we continue to progress towards the Diablerets. Now there is no more sun, the only way to climb is to soar on the cliffs of the glacier 3000. The wind is strong but the moment is magical, surreal. It climbs well, luckily because we'll soon have to jump on the canton of Vaud, to avoid the detour by Martigny. Each meter gained in flight means less walking, and we exploit the climb until the top of the cliffs, to jump then in the lee in direction of Villars. It works well, and behind the air mass is still quite buoyant, thanks to a convergence. Then I glide towards Le Bouveret, and finally land in Vouvry. A lot of friends are there, it's great, we define the plan for the next hours. Either to go up in direction of Tanay, which forces us to bivouac somewhere because there is no road, or to hike in direction of Bouveret, then to go up to Novel and to sleep there in the camping car. Not too motivated by a night in tent, we take the second option. In Bouveret, some colleagues from Villeneuve are there, they offer me a strawberry cornet and I am escorted in a good mood. On the forest road which brings me in direction of Novel, an Audi arrives on us. It is Reynald, our weather router, and his two sons. I'm happy to see them, but I feel less and less talkative, feeling quite tired. Joël says to me "if I had known it was so long I would have taken the e-bike! It makes me laugh, because despite the kilometers I'm covering, I still don't imagine to make them in another way than on foot! We arrive early at the campsite, what allows me to enjoy a good supper in company of David and Jerome, other friends who came to see us, and to make an interview with the RTS.
1700m D+ / 49,27 km / 2 flights / 104,34




The Dent d'Oche is not far, I have to go around it from the North. The sunrise is magnificent, it's David and Michael who accompany me for this warm up. We arrive at the take off to notice how hard is going to be the day. High altitude clouds are hiding the sun, there is south wind and thunderstorms are forecasted at the end of the day. Basically there is a small window of instability, and as soon as the sun will have warmed up enough, that is going to overdevelop and rain. We take off thinking to soar up the Dent d'Oche but it is too weak, and the flight is going to last 3 minutes. After having made a small crater in the valley below, we carry our gliders open to climb up 200m. With Eduardo and Michel, we take off again, heading south, direction Morzine. Small flight of 10 kilometers, not a single beep, we land in pastures at the entrance of Abondance valley. We leave on foot for the Pointe de la Croix, I really hope that we will be able to cover some distance by flying. We choose to wait a little at the take-off, we all want to leave this Chablais by the air. We finally take off, and directly after it, we have to cross a valley. On the other side, it's beeping, a light breeze allows us to soar up and we manage to progress, slowly, but by flying, it is the essential. I manage to land on the official landing of Morzine. Alex packs the glider and I relax a bit before going back on foot towards the Col de Joux Plane. The instability arrives as we hike up with Michel, we decide to push the pace not to miss the window. Arrived at the pass, it is a rush. The sky is already black on Samoëns, the rain threatens. Incredible how fast the weather changes. After having soaked my risers and lines in fresh cow shit, I take off in the direction of Mont-Blanc. It goes up, but I'm scared, it smells like rain, the wind is strong. I escape to land on the other side as soon as possible. I pack in a hurry and it starts to rain a little but the cloud that is pouring down has drifted away and I could have tried something. Too bad, now it is time to hike again, to find a takeoff because the forecast lets us dare a flight to approach the valley of Contamines. We emerge on the ridge above les Carroz, on the map, a clearing in the forest seemed to offer a good takeoff, but in reality... We continue to hike, to reach the top of ski slopes. There, it is the apocalypse. A huge storm arrives on us and it is absolutely necessary to find a shelter. Lightning falls on a pylon of the chairlift just beside us. It's scary but my assistant engineers keep telling me that on our little piece of terrace, we are protected. At this exact moment, Chrigel arrives at the end of the race in Zell am See. I send him a picture of the rain showers and congratulate him. This time I realize how difficult this race is and how strong he is. Slowly, the sky clears up and our flight window is coming We opt for a take-off under a power line, that feels really strange. The flight is calm and I am happy to be in the air, not to have to go down from this mountain on foot. I landed at the eastern end of Sallanches and decided to stop there for the night. Michel and Eduardo will continue hiking to cover 10 more kilometers.
3200m D+ / 32 km / 5 flights / 40,2 km




The alarm clock at 5am rings again, the fatigue is there but the mental is still good, and I learned these last days that the head can make me go forward even when the legs can't. I'm leaving on foot and I'm joined by Yves, who helped me a lot to find sponsors for this race. I was also afraid, before the start, that my performance would be not as good as people who helped me financially expected. Now, even if I know that I won't reach the goal in Zell am See, I feel that I have done a great job so far. We discuss it and he agrees, what I am showing is incredible. Now, a big piece of it stands on my way. The tour of the Mont-Blanc, on foot by the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Seigne, because the weather is terrible and gives no hopes of flying. I didn't manage very well the part from Saint-Gervais to the upper end of the valley. I did not eat enough and at lunchtime, I eat all I can but still feel that I should eat more, without being able to. We set out with Alex and Michael, and after a small hour of hike, I feel the hypoglycemia coming. It is critical, and the only way to stop it is to eat. Every 15 minutes, I eat something and it finally passes, phew ! The ascent to the col du Bonhomme is punctuated by thunderstorms, with hail as a bonus. When we finally arrive at the top, it is a surprise, the sky is clear in the Beaufortain. I have the impression be slow, but we pass nevertheless hikers who make the tour of the Mont-Blanc. Maybe it's not so bad after all... The good weather window allows me to take off and avoid the descent by foot and land at the foot of the col de la Seigne. A flight on a day when it was not supposed to fly is very appreciable. I see Eduardo who gets into the air left from the pass and dare to hope for the same outcome, but when we reach the pass, it is very windy and the terrain behind is very flat. This would mean taking off into the wind, crossing the pass and hoping that the downwash in the lee would not be too strong in order not to crash. The game is not worth the candle, and I have the (very very false) impression that Courmayeur is just there down, behind the first plateau below. We opt for a descent on foot or skiing on spring snow, having fun like a kid. The distance which separates me from Courmayeur is in reality 15 kilometers, I've already hiked 44 of since this morning... It is really very long, after every little plateau there is another one, the weather is always changing, light rain, wind and sometimes sun. We still manage to start laughing when Michael decides to interview me in Gavin's way. I finish the descent on Entrèves with Joël who has fun on the bike, looking forward to eat, the last meal was a long time ago. At the restaurant, I don't have any strength left, I eat my pizza but I don't have the patience to wait for dessert. I go to bed, but I won't sleep, too many things in my head. Joël has to go back to take care of his family (it was planned), Alex feels useless and wants to go back because whatever happens now, the result won't change. So I have to organize my things to put them in the California because only Michael and Dad will continue with me tomorrow. This stress prevents me from sleeping, and for the first time in this epic adventure, my mental is not strong anymore.
2850m D+ / 59,82 km / 1 flight / 6,82 km2850m D+ / 59,82 km / 1 vol / 6,82 km




Although late, waking up on this 11th day feels hard. The plan did not change, we separate the stuff and with Michael we leave in direction of the Pavillon, a take-off in the middle of the South faces of the Mont-Blanc. I'm cracking again, the tears come without I can do anything about it, I doubt. I am afraid with this fatigue to put myself in danger, not to take the right decisions in flight. Michael is there to support me, he makes a plan. When we get to the take-off, I have to sleep, and tonight we will be in Verbier. This prospect is pleasing but too far away for the moment. Joël joined us by bike and with Michael, they prepare a bed, in the glider. I sleep a little, which makes me feel a tiny better, then we get ready on the takeoff. The wind is good, and as soon as I get out, a nice lift allows me to climb. This thermal, I will realize a little later, is in fact a convergence of the North wind which flows behind the Col Ferret and of the valley breeze which rushes by Courmayeur. I leave in transition, hanged in the south faces, it's snowing under the clouds and now it's obvious, there would be only one thermal in this flight. I land with Michael in the Italian Val Ferret. We have to go up on foot to the Grand Col Ferret, from where we hope to launch direction home. The ascent is hard, since my mental is still failing, the legs do not want to work any more. We stop again for a nap in the grass, but I would not manage to sleep, unfortunately. Arrived at the pass, I finally see home. The goal is clear and all the energy I had lost returns to me. Griffon vultures indicate a thermal just in front of us, here we go. The flight is complicated, the North wind comes in strong in the valley and I have to fly against it. The vultures are thermalling with me in the lee side, it is a magnificent spectacle and they don't seem scared. When I arrived above Saleinaz, it starts to rain and I thought of landing high and wait that it goes away. Unfortunately, the area below me is in a free district (kind of natural parc), and I am not allowed to land or take off there. I am forced to continue under a light rain. To switch over Orsières it's hot, I'm really downwashed in the lee and I have to slalom between the trees to get over the ridge. Then I glide towards the West face of Six-Blanc, but my line is catastrophic and I loose a lot of altitude. Instead of landing at the bottom of the valley, I land at middle hill in La Rosière, directly joined by JP then Dad, Tim and a bunch of friends. I enjoy a nice refuel with Valle d'Aosta specialities and strawberries and, guided by Jean-René, we set off again to next take-off, hoping to soar up and to finally reach Verbier. My problems of the morning have totally disappeared, I feel like being in another day now. At take off, a lot of friends are there, they help me to prepare the glider and launch. In the air, the wind has weakened and it is not possible to soar, so I opt for a landing in Cotterg. Dad is there, but also the Brinkreve family, who supported me before the race. I enjoy the moment before heading up home by "le Reposoir", a trail I've done countless times in my training. Benjamin and Valentine join us, it's great to see young guys motivated to share a hike like this. Michael is amazed by the pace I can set now, thinking about how bad I was this morning. In Verbier village, I am greeted by cowbells, cheerfully shaken by Ruoss and Dédé, owner of Medran sport, who lent us an electric bike for the race. I am welcomed home by Mom, it's good to see her again and feel her pride. They cook me a good pasta dish and I get some choco banana muffins that Kasia (my flatmate) made. I slip into my cozy bed for a good sleep.
2700m D+ / 19,89 km / 3 flights / 33,51 km




Today is the penultimate day of the race and it's true, whatever I do, I don't risk elimination, so I'm enjoying the moment, and will finish this challenge that, I must confess, is now too long. We have to move on anyway, I'm not going to stay at home and wait for it to pass. I leave home alone in the direction of the Croix-de-Coeur. Michael slept at my parent's place, and I join him at Namasté. I take a break with a dried meat sandwich and a coffee, then we finish the hike to the pass. Up there, Lydia and other friends are waiting for me, and the rain also... It's not really the conditions we were expecting. The sky is gray and the showers, light certainly, follow one another. When it calms down, we go up a little bit higher to take off and jump in the lee of the pass, direction Nendaz. I manage to climb a little on the Fou ridge, to finally land at the foot of the Tracouet lifts. One more climb to get to a takeoff, in the beautiful larch forest of Balavaud. Arrived at Tracouet, Michael takes off and manages to fly away. His take-off is a bit on the limit, I'm not sure to manage over the trees in front, so decide to go to the official take-off a bit further. But the wind is strong, the rain is right next me, and I doubt. I take off, gain a few meters but land immediately because it rains again. It would be too stupid to go over the limit now, but I'm boiling while waiting. It annoys me that I don't dare to commit, knowing that it worked for Michael. But there is a fine line between reason and stupidity, I have to listen to my feelings. More waiting, then I get back in the air, soar up to the top of the Dent de Nendaz and glide towards Veysonnaz. The sky is nicer now, there is even sun. On the Piste de L'ours, I get my feet out of the cocoon to land when I feel a little lift. Focused, I manage to keep it and slowly to get out above Thyon 2000, and start the next transition to Nax, which is quite long. I reach the side of the mountain in the middle of the forest, but I don't manage to gain enough altitude to go around the Sion airport area. I have to make a decision and quickly, if I sink more, there will be no more landing possibilities and it would lengthen the next hike to Mont Noble. So I land on the slope, pack my glider and set off again for a takeoff on Nax ski piste. At the takeoff, I find Michael who is ready, and we launch together to move forward, in the main Rhone valley this time. At the landing, some friends are here, we laugh and we set the next meeting at the Relais Bayard for a nice piece of beef on hot stone, with my sister and her children and Joël's family. After having eaten, the tiredness assails me and I fall asleep at the table. There are still a few hours to go, so I motivate myself and take the direction of Niedergesteln where I will be hosted for the night by a friend of Michael, Thomas.
1900m D+ / 32,87 km / 3 flights / 42,13
