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Thomas de Dorlodot

Adventurer and paraglider pilot

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tomdedorlodot

Another bird in the family. 🤩 Another bird in the family. 🤩
Monte Rosa. One highlight of this @redbullxalps 🏔🪂🤩
After a long hike, taking off in a nasty lee side and battling against strong North wind, I made it to this magnificient mountain. I kept going for 10 more hours above huge valleys and massive lakes and almost made it to Brenta. It was my third 200km + flight of this race and for sure the most demanding one. I was properly exhausted when I landed but so happy at the same time. What a crazy race 😜. 
@advanceparagliders

🚁 @antoinefranc 
🎥 @gopro
The smile says it all… 😁 So cool to share the The smile says it all… 😁
So cool to share the sky with those 2. 🪂
Jack only wants to do acrobatic moves… He keeps Jack only wants to do acrobatic moves… He keeps repeating « je veux faire une crobatie ». 😂 @advanceparagliders
I believe Hike and Fly… @advanceparagliders @r I believe Hike and Fly… 

@advanceparagliders @redbullbe @gopro
One of these key moments at the @redbullxalps . It One of these key moments at the @redbullxalps . It was still early when I left Brenta to cross the next valley and conditions were not installed yet. @tobifly had just landed flying the straight line so I decided to follow my intuition and changed course. I glided towards a small village where I saw a few clouds forming. It was a huge glide and I would have walked a lot if I didn’t find a lift. It felt like flying in the Belgian flatlands. Hopefully, I found it just a hundred meters above the ground. 🤩 It worked! I followed with a solid 150 km flight to the Tre Cime. Well done @advanceparagliders for making such an amazing glider! (It was a 14.9 km glide…) 
Comments in French 🇫🇷 
🎥: @gopro
Magic sound : @xctracer
Finally home after 37 days away. 🫶 Finally home after 37 days away. 🫶
One of those moments during @redbullxalps 🤩. I One of those moments during @redbullxalps 🤩. 
I just couldn’t hold my joy. So much beauty up there. Flying out of Brenta on in a rocket thermal. 🚀 
@advanceparagliders @gopro @xctracer
Eating homemade cookies at 3000 meters. This year Eating homemade cookies at 3000 meters. This year our friend @pierre.chefprive prepared all the meals in advance. Everything was ready before the start and packed in my California’s fridge. Our team just had to warm it up. We gained a massive amount of time in logistic but most importantly we enjoyed delicious and highly nutritious food. Thanks Pierre! Please give me that cookie recipe now 😜🙏🏻. 
@redbullxalps
🎯 We made it to goal in P14. It was so tight. I 🎯 We made it to goal in P14. It was so tight. I have no words to express my feeling right now. It’s just too big, I feel like I’m still out there in the mountains. I’ll have to process it a bit. 
So here are some numbers: 
We finished the race in 7 days and 1 hour. I flew 1256km in 55,5 hours and ran 208km (only 😜).
I can not thank my team enough! @antoinefranc , @jeandbio and @maureenraway your unconditional support made the success of the team. You are incredible! WE DID IT 🤜🏻

@advanceparagliders @volkswagen_belgium @garmin_belux @xctracer @biosolissuncare @patagoniaeurope @blackdiamond @europassistancebelgium @reliefmaps @redbullbe
DOLOMITI We're coming to the end of this race but DOLOMITI

We're coming to the end of this race but nothing's over yet.

We all know that the @redbullxalps has plenty of surprises in store for us.

But with TP13 and TP14 finally in the bag, we're going to give it our our all for this final stretch! 

Keep pushing ! ☄️

📸 - @maureenraway

#parapente #paragliding #redbullxalps#hikeandfly
#xalps #adventurerace
①⓪ 🅗 ③⓪ in the sky … 🪂 Another am ①⓪ 🅗 ③⓪ in the sky … 🪂

Another amazing flying day. 205km over the Alps 🏔️

A few more thermals before reaching TP12 tomorrow📍

Let’s do this ! 🤟🏼

📷 - @maureenraway

#parapente #paragliding #givesyouwings #redbullxalps #redbullxalps2023 #roadtoxalps #xalps #hikeandfly #adventurerace
Yesterday. Managing to reach the TP7 in @frutigres Yesterday.
Managing to reach the TP7 in @frutigresort was not an easy thing to do 🏔️
I am so happy I made it thanks to the support of my team 🙌🏻
Let’s keep pushing 🔥

📷 - @maureenraway

#parapente #paragliding #givesyouwings #redbullxalps #redbullxalps2023 #roadtoxalps #xalps #hikeandfly #adventurerace
Big day up there… 😜 3 countries / 210km 🪂🇨🇭🇫🇷 🇮🇹
Great first day at the @redbullxalps Pushing with Great first day at the @redbullxalps 
Pushing with the leading pack and checking two turnpoints off the list. Let’s push. 😁
📷 @maureenraway 
@advanceparagliders
Let me introduce team Belgium for this @redbullxal Let me introduce team Belgium for this @redbullxalps 2023 😁. 
@antoinefranc is a logistic master, a solid pilot and he manages an amazing event agency called @wagonblanc based in Annecy. 
@maureenraway is a super talented photographer who flies and spends her free time in the mountains. 
@jeandbio is one of our Belgian paragliding rising stars and is a fierce hike and fly competitor. 

I’ll be flying and hiking like an animal. 😜 

I wanted to have a small, agile and experienced team. I think we have a great crew. Thank you so much for being there. 
Now let’s do this. 🚀
📷 by @maureenraway
Some action at the prologue today. Good sensations Some action at the prologue today. Good sensations on the hike up (1 hour 3min, 8.3km / 835 D+) and a nice flight just behind the leading pack. We all went pretty fast. The level is crazy. 😜 Everything went smooth, I’m super happy with my glider. Looking forward for the reel race starting on Sunday. Congrats @max_pinot for a well deserved win. 
Thx @antoinefranc for the amazing logistic 🤜🏻
🎥 @gopro
That is it… The preparation for @redbullxalps co That is it… The preparation for @redbullxalps comes to an end. We are ready to go. Hundreds of hours of training on the ground or in the sky,  endless hours studying maps, analyzing options, preparing the material,… I feel ready now. It’s soon time to go 😁. Thanks @acroracio for joining for the last weeks and for those amazing reco flights we made. Thanks @sofiapineiro for your amazing support. @antoinefranc , @jeandbio , @maureenraway , let’s do this. 🤜🏻

📷 by @ludojfcdelrez & @kevinoliveri
There is no better way to start a day ⛺️ 🎥 There is no better way to start a day ⛺️ 🎥 @ludojfcdelrez 
#unlockwithcalifornia
#parapente #paragliding #vanlife #alps #alpsmountains #switzerland #givesyouwings #droneshot
Making friend with a golden eagle at 3000 meters. Making friend with a golden eagle at 3000 meters. 🪂 @advanceparagliders  @gopro 

 #alps #paragliding #eagle
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Forum Finance Group

Forum Finance Group

Forum Finance Group is the perfect partner.
With 28 years of experience, they have the proven expertise and knowledge of all available investment instruments and have built a rich network of experts and partners in order to offer relevant and effective solutions that go beyond simple wealth management.
Forum Finance is 100% owned by its partners, all of whom are active in the company, and thus offers a committed, transparent and objective management, totally free from conflicts of interest. Their investment decisions are dictated only by their convictions and by the desire to obtain the best performance.

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Red Bull

Red Bull

Red Bull has always been one of my strongest partners. It’s great to be supported by such a brand but also inspiring to be part of a big family of athletes from all over the world, which often leads to new friendships and adventures.

The first time I took part in the Red Bull X-Alps, a 1,000km race across the Alps, was in 2007. I was 21 and had no idea of the magnitude of this race! But it was one of my greatest experiences and I discovered a passion for bivouac flights, which led me to my first expeditions in Pakistan. Since then, they’ve supported me on countless adventures, from the Himalayas to the Alps, Pyrenees, Africa, Asia, Latin America and beyond. In my case, they really do give me wings! Red Bull is my energy shot and together we challenge the limits of our sport. I’m really happy to be a part of their family.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen

My parents used to take me to school in their Passat and later in my father’s Caddy. I grew-up with Volkswagen. When I got my driving license, I borrowed my dad’s old Caddy and got my freedom. I built a bed in the back of the car and started travelling around Europe in search of good paragliding places. Since then, I can guarantee that I spend more nights sleeping in the back of my car than in my own bed. When Volkswagen came to see me and they lent me my first AMAROK, I decided it was time to expand our trips and start crossing frontiers. We created the SEARCH Projects and crossed Africa from Egypt to South Africa, stopping in 10 countries to fly our gliders. The team at Volkswagen Belgium has always been very supportive and really involved in all my projects. We dream bigger every year and that has led us to a round-the-world trip on board the SEARCH Projects sailboat.

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Garmin

Garmin

Garmin keeps me focused and on track! They are like the brain behind every operation. Their up-to-date devices follow and track me wherever I go, whether I’m up in the sky, crossing a mountain range or sailing. I have a lot of affection for the Garmin team. They are true enthusiasts and they have managed to develop a unique know-how when it comes to technology and adventures.

Starting with their GPS that guided me on my first flights, today I use the complete range: GPS for my road trips and bike tours, the Fenix 5 for my training sessions, the Inreach for my safety and connection when I’m far from civilization.

I always enjoy my visits to Garmin’s main office in Belgium. We always end up exchanging interesting ideas about the future of sports and technology. They know how to combine both disciplines and find new solutions to produce the ultimate device. I leave feeling inspired and always learning something new.

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Advance

Advance

For more than thirty years, ADVANCE have kept the needs and wishes of the pilots at the forefront. With Swiss precision, they refine model after model. Highest quality and absolute reliability have their top priority, in the air and in their customer service. So from pioneers they have become perfectionists.

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Patagonia

Patagonia

After reading Yvon Chouinard’s “Let My People Go Surfing”, Patagonia’s success story really hit me – how it can be a successful business while at the same time championing the environment. Such is their commitment they make their own research and development on sustainable manufacturing processes available to other brands to encourage them to do the same.

Their philosophy speaks to me and I want to support them through my expeditions. I’m driven to explore while promoting the beauty of our planet through images we produce and share, encouraging others to help preserve the environment for our future generation. Just a simple gesture can make a difference. It’s all about the choices we make. Patagonia is a true leader in that field and I’m very happy to work with them.

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Europ Assistance

Europ Assistance

When you spend most of your time doing activities that involve a certain risk, it is fundamental to have a reliable insurance company that will be there no matter what. With their worldwide medical assistance, Europe Assistance has accompanied me all over the world, sometimes, to the most secluded places. Never have they failed me when I most needed them. Like a faithful companion, Europe Assistance always has your back and will encourage you to reach your destination safely. I’m happy to count on them for every adventure I undertake.

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Positive Thinking Company

Positive Thinking Company

I wouldn’t be doing what I do if it wasn’t for the art of communication. Being able to share my adventurers around the world is the essence of my passion as an adventurer. “It’s all about sharing”. With our images and video we’re able to show some of the world’s most beautiful places and inspire others to discover it for themselves.

Positive Thinking Company kindly offered to help me bring to life this new website you are discovering today! Big thanks to the team for the amazing work and energy you all put into this! Now we aim to bring more to our followers by using the latest technologies such as the VR. Stay tuned for exclusive content…

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X-Dream Fly

X-Dream Fly

X-Dream Fly is a brand that values the passion for flying and willingness to pass on the existing knowledge. They inspire pilots in ways that help keep the passion for this fantastic sport alive even after many years.

Through their meticulous work, they produce equipment of excellence that make you feel safe and enjoyable while flying.

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Biosolis

Biosolis

Being constantly outside, whether flying my paraglider or sailing on board the Search, I have finally found a sunscreen that not only protects my skin from sunburn but also it causes no harm to the environment! Indeed, Biosolis is the first complete certified organic sun protection line for adults and children, face and body. It has become fundamental to leave as little impact as possible to preserve our beautiful planet, so I am very happy to collaborate with a brand that helps to do so.

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Greentripper

Greentripper

Greentripper neutralises the CO2 impact of your trip and guarantees yourself concrete actions for the climate.

We travel for pleasure, for leisure or for work and this has unfortunately an impact on the climate and the environment.
Greentripper allows everyone who appreciates the beauty of nature to give back by supporting their climate projects.

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BioIn the cloudsAt seaOn stage
Search Project
Photo & Video credits:
John Stapels - Benoit Delfosse - Adrien Nisan - Krystle Wright - Tom de Dorlodot - Horacio Llorens - Olivier Vanaschen - Laurent Dryon - Thibaut Darscotte

© Thomas de Dorlodot 2023

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