Team Helleland

29/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on one of the year’s biggest adventures: competing in X-Pyr for the second time.

While we didn’t make it all the way to the goal line, the experience was incredible – filled with stunning scenery, challenging moments, and great teamwork. It’s been a journey we’ll remember for a long time.

A big thank you to my fantastic team and our sponsors for making this adventure possible.

We’ve put together a video about the experience – hope you enjoy it! https://youtu.be/yFhFUy9R1uM

Here’s to more adventures in the future!

X-Pyr | Streamer | Kystdesign | Niviuk Paragliders

Yermolay Mc Alice | Daniel Kapusta | Nikolas van Etten

Join Johannes Helleland and his team as they take on X-Pyr, one of the most grueling paragliding competitions in the world. This epic journey through the Pyr...

27/06/2024

Even though we had to pull out of the X-Pyr yesterday evening, we managed to cover some distance over the last few days and as a result our sponsor Kystdesign have contributed with more fundings for Ungt Løft in our fundraising.

Monday NOK 3.000,-
Tuesday NOK 4.000,-
Wednesday NOK 6.000,-

We really appreciate the contribution from Kystdesign. This will generate great joy among kids that need a smile on their face.

If you want to contribute the fundraising is still open. See the link below:

https://www.spleis.no/project/369509

26/06/2024

Day 4 and the race has come to an end...

The day began with a 400 hike with a following glide towards TP2. Then a 1500 m hike for the next take off. The day was slow but also with potential of overdevelopment. We got airborne at a pretty good timing. We continued to TP 2, but then we had a major challenge with some angry clouds. Never been that close to a lightning strike in a paraglider before... Managed to circumnavigate/wait out the clouds and were able to continue on route. Unfortunately all the required focus on the weather lead to a mistake, and I missed the radius on the turn point.

After landing the team agreed that running backwards for 36 km to tag the turn point was not an option. Both with regard to motivation, but also the fact that the inflammation in my ankle is now so bad that I can barely walk.

That means that even we ended at approximate 165 km after todays flight, the official result will be at TP 2: 136 km.

Mixed feelings about this. Finally we got in a position to make use of the flying conditions, and then I make a foolish mistake. Not good. On the other hand my ankle is in such a bad shape that it would probably be impossible to proceed, so the race would end today anyway. In that matter it ended with an eventful flight where we caught up on several competitors which gives an OK feeling.

Based on the preparations with illness and antibiotics just prior to the competition, and the fact that we were considering our participation only the day before the start, the race went better than feared in the beginning. We had our bumps in the road as the days went by. Today, when we finally put the pieces together, it came to an early end. As said, mixed feelings.

Thanks a lot to my team Yermolay McAlice, Nikolas van Etten and Daniel Kapusta. They have done a superb job to supply me through this race. Kudos to all of you!

Now I will rest with my feet high and a cold beer! ;)

Streamer As
Kystdesign
Niviuk Paragliders
X-Pyr

25/06/2024

Another day to learn from! It started after a bad night with almost no sleep due to a mosquito invasion in the van last night.

Today the forecast said strong and warm winds from S aloft, creating a stable air mass on the French side of the Pyrenees. The day was forecasted to improve a bit in the afternoon especially closer to the Spanish border.

We were in a position where we had to choose between a really long hike into the higher mountains, and potentially wait for conditions to improve, or continue more on route with lower mountains to work, but with the possibility to hike/glide already early in the morning. We went with the latter.

At the beginning the day worked much as planned. But the day turned out better than forecasted, and we were not in a position to take advantage of that. Stuck on low hills, and with fairly strong valley breezes. All others in the higher mountains with patience to wait had good flights and covered way more distance than we did. Patience is not my thing.

Misjudgements like that costs a lot in these races. Not only on the progress, but also on the body. Due to a lot of hiking I have gotten a bad inflammation in my left ankle and need to monitor that over the coming days.

Anyway tomorrow brings new opportunities and hopefully good flights!

24/06/2024

Day 2 has come to an end!

After some sleep by the road we decided to trust the forecast from Fabian who predicted that the clouds would start go away around 09:00. Thus we set off to Jara at around 800 masl and hoped to get a decent flight from there. The forecast was pretty precise, but that also meant the wind was fairly strong and the direction was more or less headwind. It ended up with a short flight and in hindsight it would probably be better to wait for the conditions to improve further, but in such a race it often does not pay off to wait.

The next hike ended up at Buluntzagaina at 700 masl and it was finally possible to stay up. The wind made stuff complicated though, and together with the forecasted overcast weather, progress was slow. It was possible to fly further south and into the higher mountains, but as it looked more cloudy and somewhat off track we decided to push to the east. After battling the wind for a few hours a landing was required and from there on the tactic was to fly short flights and land high before hiking over to the east-facing side to re-launch.

Today was much about timing. There were a few OK hours to be in the air. We missed a part of that window today. We need to improve on that!

All in all the day did not go as smooth as hoped for. It could probably have been just as effective to just hike, but this is a hike and fly competition so if flyable we try to do just that.

To round things off we managed again to end the day at the exact same spot as in 2022. And even though camping at the same place makes life a bit easier it was not by intention. :) Honestly!

Distance flown - 28,3 km
Distance hiked - 33,1 km
Distance to goal - 410,7 km
Steps - 47 289
Elevation gained - 2 086 m
Calories burned - 5 988

Streamer As Kystdesign Niviuk Paragliders X-Pyr

24/06/2024

Yesterday's effort in the X-Pyr gave NOK 4.000,- to Ungt Løft from our sponsor Kystdesign. They are supporting us with NOK 1.000,- per 10 km straight line in the competition.

Thank you! Many kids that will be happy for your contribution!

If you can contribute with a small amount please do so by following the link below: https://www.spleis.no/project/369509

23/06/2024

Day 1 done!

Due to my recovering from illness has been going a bit slower than I wished for I woke up this morning hoping for flyable weather in order to save a bit of energy. Unfortunately we experienced even more rain than two years ago, so there was nothing but hiking to be done.

The first leg up to turnpoint 1 was as usual pretty hard. I did not make things easier by doing a detour in the center of Hondarribia, but in the end I found a decent pace that I was able to keep all the way to the steeper path leading up the mountain. Yogi and Daniel kept me with company up to La Rhune where the signboard was signed. Due to the weather there was no chance to fly so we had to hike down on the other side.

The rest of the day was spent in direction of turnpoint 2. After 11 hours of moving we actually ended up on the exact spot where we spent the first night in 2022. And that time I did four short flights on the first day.

Tomorrow looks better with less rain, but it might get a bit windy. Fingers crossed we can cover some distance in the air!

Distance flown - 0
Distance hiked - 65,7
Distance to goal - 443,6
Steps - 76 972
Elevation gained - 1 780 m
Calories burned - 5 082

22/06/2024

An update on the last preparations before the tomorrow;

The team has been to mandatory briefings, prepared our gear, car, and all other stuff that needs to be sorted out before we begin. In that matter we feel ready.

Unfortunately I woke up not feeling too good this morning. My body is still struggling to get well. Anyway, we have decided to still give it a go. It's not worse than I can start the race, but we'll have to see how my body responds tomorrow and have a reality check or two as we progress. We'll keep you updated! 

You can all follow the race here: https://www.livetrack24.com/tasks/4926

20/06/2024

Heading west towards Hondarribia!

The last few days in Annecy have been more challenging than shown on social media. Truth is that I have been struggling with an infection for a long time, and just came off antibiotics. As a result my body has been working hard during hikes and physical effort.

As more days go by the shape will improve. The only thing we need is time, which is limited before the race starts on Sunday. But hopefully it's enough.

The team stays positive and we all meet up in Hondarribia tonight.

05/06/2024

The route for this edition of the is out!

For a better view of the route check the link below:

https://youtu.be/mFuWyAo0Dqw?si=F2-HeGShD1bLjyyz

For every 10km we progress our sponsor
will contribute with 1000,- NOK to to help realize several tandem paragliding events for kids and young adults who need a positive experience in their life.

If you want to contribute to please check out our fundraising link below, or use the QR code in the pics above.

https://www.spleis.no/project/369509

25/05/2024

Together with our sponsor we will use this edition of the to do a fundraising for .

Ungt Løft organizes tandem paragliding to kids and young adults who need a positive experience in their life. Adrenalin and endorphins are proven to be important for recovery from any sickness or trauma!

Please share, and contribute if you can.

Link for more information below:

https://spleis.no/369509

20/05/2024

Introducing my team for the
Kudos to my teammates for supporting me!!

Also kudos to my sponsors
and
Without their support we would not be able to participate.