18 times toward the sky
WORDS → Francesca Robasto
Pics → Daniele Molineris
DATE → 2026-09-25
Aaron Durogati has rewritten the limits of Hike&Fly: 19,424 meters of vertical gain in 24 hours on Slogen Mountain, Norway.
He comes straight from a training session, as if after a feat capable of rewriting the limits of Hike & Fly there was still only one thing to do: keep working. This is perhaps the most representative trait of Aaron Durogati, Salewa People athlete, reigning Red Bull X-Alps champion, and author of the new world record for vertical gain in 24 hours: between June 6 and 7, 2026, he strung together 18 consecutive ascents on Slogen Mountain, Norway, for a total of 19,424 meters of climbing in 23 hours, 42 minutes, and 32 seconds. A result that surpassed the previous record of 17,534 meters and, above all, tells a philosophy: no goal is reached without daily preparation and constant dedication.
For those who don’t know Hike & Fly, how would you explain this discipline and what makes it so fascinating? Hike & Fly is a discipline that combines two worlds: mountain climbing and paragliding. The “hike” part means reaching the takeoff point on your own two legs, often starting from the valley floor and arriving above the tree line or on ridges and peaks. The fundamental concept is exactly this: earning your altitude with your own strength and then using flight as a way to descend or move around. There are different interpretations of this discipline and also different materials depending on the goal. For the Red Bull X-Alps, for example, I use a slightly heavier paraglider, around 3-3.5 kg, which in favorable conditions allows for very long flights, up to 300 kilometers. For the record, however, I chose a different approach: a paraglider weighing less than a kilo, very light, designed to be efficient on the descent and allow me to save time and effort. Hike & Fly is beautiful precisely because it leaves room for many interpretations: it can be exploration, racing, adventure, or the search for personal limits.
When did you start thinking that this record was actually possible? Was there a specific moment when you decided to go for it? The idea was born a long time ago, I’d say almost ten years ago. It was a project I always had in my head, but first I had to find the right place and the right time to really dedicate energy to it. My career has always been characterized by cycles: in 2013, after winning the World Cup, I started focusing on the Red Bull X-Alps. After winning it, a circle was closed and I finally had the chance to dedicate myself to this project. The ideal mountain came almost by chance. In October 2025, I was invited to Norway for a private event and the organizer took me to Slogen Mountain, a mountain where Kilian Jornet had also achieved one of his best performances. I did the first climb, took off, and immediately realized it could be the perfect place.
It had all the characteristics I was looking for: during the summer there are practically 24 hours of light, no special permits are needed to fly, and above all, you can start from sea level. This means having more oxygen and being able to make better use of the vertical gain. It was the right place.
In 24 hours you repeated the same cycle eighteen times: climb, takeoff, flight, landing, and all over again. What was the hardest part to manage, physically or mentally? The most delicate part was definitely managing my stomach: being able to eat and hydrate correctly for so many hours is fundamental. To arrive ready, I did several specific tests: one of 12 hours and one of 16 hours in mid-May. The first one gave me some digestive problems, but it was useful because it allowed me to correct the errors before the second test. Behind this record, there was a great structure: trainers, nutritionists, doctors, and the support of Red Bull. It wasn’t just a matter of physical training, but of building a system that would allow me to reach the end. During the attempt, I took in about 90-110 grams of carbohydrates per hour, equivalent to about three gels every hour.
In such a long feat, I imagine there are moments of crisis. Did you experience any? How did you manage to overcome them? The second lap was definitely the most difficult moment. The first was characterized by the adrenaline of the start, the motivation, and the energy of the project. Then, after about an hour and a quarter of walking, I looked at my watch and thought: “I’m only at the beginning.” For about ten minutes I had a hard time, but I managed to get back into the right frame of mind immediately. From then on, I entered my rhythm, the so-called “flow,” and I simply started focusing on one climb at a time.
Is there a moment of the day that you will remember most of all? A flight, a sunrise, a particular feeling? There are many moments I will carry with me. Certainly, the people who shared even just a part of the adventure played an important role. I remember the Norwegian supporters who climbed with me: even having them alongside for a few minutes was a great motivation. When I then managed to drop them on the climb, that feeling gave me extra energy. I remember Riccardo, my supporter, but especially my wife Johanna, who was waiting for me at the landings together with the nutritionist. And then the finale: the last hundred meters, when I saw the people who were already celebrating my arrival. It was an incredible emotion.
Many think that a record is just a matter of physical preparation. How much does mental management count instead? The mental component is fundamental. I was also supported by a Red Bull mental trainer, but I have always worked hard on this aspect throughout my career. For this project, I had to dust off some concepts I had already internalized. The difference compared to a race is that here you are completely alone with yourself. In competition, you have opponents, strategies, external dynamics. In a record, however, the responsibility is totally yours: it’s your project. And that’s exactly what makes it special. I was convinced I could reach at least 18,000 meters of vertical gain, but reaching 19,424 was something that surprised even me.
Hike & Fly is a continuous dialogue with the mountain and the weather. How important is it to be able to change plans and adapt? As in all outdoor sports, the ability to adapt is fundamental. The day was good, but not perfect: I encountered rain twice and also sustained wind. Fortunately, the direction was right and it allowed me to continue. Out of 18 takeoffs, only one I couldn’t do from the planned altitude of 1,100 meters and I had to start from about 900. In the end, I finished at 11:30 PM. I could perhaps have reached 19,600 meters, but a storm passed less than 10 kilometers from the mountain and the sky closed in. I had anyway trained to manage flights in the dark, so I was ready for any situation.
During such an extreme test, how do you manage nutrition, hydration, and recovery? I was followed by the nutritionist Nataly and we studied everything in detail. During the climb, I drank about half a liter of water with 40 grams of liquid carbohydrates, while the rest came mainly through gels. I used very little caffeine. I also brought something more “normal,” like South Tyrolean products: Schüttelbrot and pretzels. Three times during the test, I ate a chicken soup with star-shaped pasta, which was an important moment from a mental point of view as well. After so many hours, even a small gesture like eating something warm becomes fundamental.
After reaching such an important goal, what does this experience leave you with on a personal level? Certainly a confirmation: when I have a goal I can reach it, but only through consistency and determination. It’s something I’ve learned many times in my career, but every new project reminds you of it in a different way.
And now? Are you enjoying this record or is your mind already on the next challenge? My head is already turned toward the next challenges. I just participated in a race in Kitzbühel and I will do two other long-distance competitions that I also consider training in view of the next Red Bull X-Alps, especially to get to know the new team that will follow me better. The Dolomiti Super Fly will be one of the most important events of the season and my goal is to win it. The Red Bull Dolomitenmann is also a race very suited to my characteristics: I’ve already won it five times, but the record is seven victories. I’d like to get to eight.
After eighteen climbs and eighteen flights, the record remains a number. What is instead the image or emotion that you will carry with you forever? The strongest image is definitely Johanna waiting for me at the landing. She stayed awake for 24 hours to support me and not miss anything that was happening. The Friday before the test she had come to visit me, the day before my birthday (which I celebrated by going to bed early). We looked at the weather together and she simply said to me: “Go to sleep. Sunday you try.” And so it was. Without her and without all the people who supported me, I would never have been able to do this. A record may have only one name, but there is always a team behind it.
