We've just shipped out equipment for the 12 Ozone Pilots in the 2013 X-Alps. Here's a sneak peak at what they'll be flying: The LM5

The design brief was to make the LM5 best suit the needs of all the athletes that had chosen to fly Ozone in the Red Bull X-Alps, the ultimate paragliding event in pilot skill coupled with endurance and careful tactics. It was developed specifically for the extreme challenges of the X-Alps race, and more X-Alps competitors will be flying it (12) than any other wing. Weighing in at a mere 3.35kg in the MS size, the LM5 is an ultralite high-tech performance wing designed to excel in the most difficult alpine conditions. The R&D Team describes it as the “Ultimate X-Alps Wing”, due to its unparalleled ratio of efficiency to comfort in active air. Equipped with the Ozone SharkNose leading edge and a some complex but lightweight internal construction, the LM5 performs equally well in deep-brakes for backcountry valley or top-landings as it does on full speed in active air.

The OZIUM We have also released a new harness for the X-Alps Team Pilots, designed in cooperation with Eric Lotscher. The X-Alps Team version of the OZIUM weighs in at just 1.8kg (with back protection, 1.5kg without), and is a seatboard-less pod with a carbon-fiber footplate and a rear-mounted reserve compartment. The OZIUM will be released to the public after the X-Alps race and will feature slightly more adjustment capabilities and EN certification. Stay tuned for the race, and follow the pilots at www.redbullxalps.com  Cheers from all the Team.