An Italian paraglider has just rewritten the limits of human endurance in the mountains. Aaron Durogati, a Red Bull-sponsored athlete based in Merano, climbed and flew the equivalent of more than two Mount Everests in under 24 hours on Norway's Mount Slogen, shattering the previous world record by nearly 1,900 meters. The feat, completed between June 7 and 8, marks a new benchmark in the hike-and-fly discipline—a brutal hybrid sport that fuses alpine mountaineering with paragliding.
Why This Matters:
• New world standard: Durogati logged 19,424 meters of positive elevation gain in 23 hours, 42 minutes, and 32 seconds—breaking the 2024 mark set by France's Tanguy Renaud-Goud.
• Italian excellence: The achievement cements Italy's position at the forefront of extreme mountain sports, showcasing homegrown talent on the global stage.
• Technical innovation: The record required custom-modified paragliders, ultra-light harnesses, and obsessive efficiency—every second counted across 18 brutal laps.
The Anatomy of an Extreme Challenge
Hike-and-fly is not for the faint-hearted. Athletes must climb a mountain on foot carrying full paragliding gear, launch from the summit, fly down at speeds exceeding 80 km/h, land, and immediately start ascending again. Repeat until your body gives out—or the clock runs out.
Durogati chose Mount Slogen in Skylstad, Norway, a 1,564-meter peak that rises almost vertically from fjord level. The route, a punishing 2.57-kilometer vertical kilometer with roughly 1,080 meters of elevation per lap, was the same track that legendary ultra-runner Kilian Jornet used for his own record attempts. The choice of location was strategic: in early June, Norway's extended daylight provides nearly 24 hours of usable light, reducing the risks and complexities of night flying.
Over the course of his attempt, Durogati completed 18 consecutive ascents, maintaining an average climbing rate of 900 meters per hour. He spent more than 21 hours hiking uphill, while the descents—each a high-speed glide down—consumed just over an hour combined. His flights reached a maximum velocity of 86 km/h, and he covered a total distance exceeding 103 kilometers between walking and airborne travel.
What This Means for Italian Mountain Sports
Italy has long been a powerhouse in alpine disciplines, from mountaineering to ski touring. Durogati's record reinforces that tradition, but also signals a shift toward hybrid endurance challenges that blend multiple skill sets. Hike-and-fly, once a niche pursuit, is gaining traction thanks to innovations in ultralight gear and international competitions like the Red Bull X-Alps, which Durogati won in 2025.
For Italian outdoor enthusiasts, the discipline offers a compelling new frontier. Equipment that once weighed over 20 kilograms has been slimmed down to a few kilos, making the sport accessible to serious mountain athletes who already possess hiking and paragliding skills. The evolution mirrors broader trends in alpine sports: lighter, faster, more technical.
Durogati's success also highlights Italy's role in advancing paragliding technology. He works closely with Gin Gliders, a manufacturer known for cutting-edge wing design, and his record attempt involved custom modifications to both paragliders and harnesses. This kind of technical refinement—driven by athletes pushing boundaries—often filters down to recreational gear, benefiting everyday pilots.
The Mental and Physical Toll
The physical demands are staggering, but the mental battle begins far earlier than most would expect. Durogati admitted that exhaustion set in after just 4,000 to 5,000 meters of climbing—barely a quarter of the way through. "I was already really tired, especially thinking about the 20 hours still ahead," he recalled. His strategy: break the challenge into micro-segments, focusing on one lap, one step, one flight at a time.
Night brought additional hardships. Despite the extended Nordic twilight, darkness did creep in, accompanied by intermittent rain showers. Flying in low light demands heightened concentration and precise glider control, especially when fatigue is already wearing down reaction times. Durogati credits his support team with keeping him motivated through the lowest moments, providing nutritional guidance, weather updates, and psychological encouragement.
Training for such an endeavor is year-round and multi-disciplinary. Born in 1986, Durogati started tandem flying with his father at age six and soloed by fifteen. Today, his regimen includes mountain running, ski touring, speed riding, and acrobatic paragliding. Winter months are devoted to skiing and speed flying, while summer focuses on uphill training—up to two hours daily, often with added weight. He emphasizes arm, leg, and neck strength: arms for glider control, legs for operating the speed bar, and neck muscles to hold the aerodynamic body position during flight.
A Record Built on Obsessive Detail
The margin between success and failure came down to seconds per lap. Durogati explained that shaving 10 seconds here and there—optimizing transitions, improving launch efficiency, choosing faster flight lines—added up to a minute or more per round. Multiplied across 18 laps, those micro-gains translated into the cushion needed to break the record.
Equipment played a crucial role. His custom harnesses and packs were designed specifically for this attempt, prioritizing weight savings and ergonomic efficiency. Even the paragliders underwent modifications to enhance speed and handling. "Knowing that every small improvement could make the difference between having a world record or not kept me motivated to be as efficient as possible," he said.
The Evolution of Hike-and-Fly
The discipline has come a long way from its origins in the 1970s, when pioneering hang-glider pilots first combined high-altitude launches with alpine ascents. For decades, equipment weight was a barrier—early paragliders and harnesses often exceeded 20 kilograms, making the uphill slog a necessary evil rather than an integral part of the sport.
The turning point came with the launch of the Red Bull X-Alps, widely considered the world's toughest hike-and-fly race. The competition spurred innovation in ultralight materials and ergonomic design, transforming the discipline into a distinct specialty. Today, the focus is on experiencing the mountain environment holistically—earth, rock, and sky—with the ascent as vital as the flight.
Records have escalated rapidly. In 2014, Austrian Florian Ebenbichler set the first recognized 24-hour mark at 8,860 meters. In 2024, Renaud-Goud pushed it to 17,534 meters in France. Durogati's 2026 achievement represents a leap of nearly 2,000 meters—a testament to both human endurance and technological progress.
What's Next for the Discipline
The sport is poised for further growth. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) is planning the first-ever World Hike and Fly Championships, with a test event scheduled in Spain for June 2026. This institutional recognition signals that hike-and-fly is transitioning from fringe pursuit to mainstream competitive discipline.
Competitions now feature multiple categories, from elite "Pro" divisions to more accessible "Sport" and "Hobby" levels, broadening participation. Events like the Hike & Fly Moravian Challenge in the Czech Republic and the Wanaka Hike & Fly in New Zealand are drawing international fields, while regional races in Switzerland and Italy offer entry points for aspiring athletes.
Technological trends include the development of electric-assist propulsion systems—quieter, more eco-friendly options that could open new training and recreational possibilities. Meanwhile, the continued refinement of ultralight wings and harnesses promises to make the discipline safer and more efficient.
For Italy, Durogati's record is more than a personal triumph. It reinforces the country's legacy of alpine innovation and positions Italian athletes—and Italian gear manufacturers—at the cutting edge of a rapidly evolving sport. As hike-and-fly gains recognition and infrastructure, expect more Italian names on the podium—and more records set in the mountains.
