DARE TO START

The X-PYR adventure with Elisa Deutschmann

In summer 2026, Elisa Deutschmann took part in one of the most challenging races in the Hike & Fly world in Europe, the X-PYR. A race that forces athletes to fly and hike across the Pyrenees over 7 days, from the Cantabrian Sea to the Mediterranean. Elisa is well known in the paragliding scene for her skills in flying, but also for her ability to communicate her adventures with a wider audience that not only likes paragliding but also follows a healthy and active lifestyle.

The communication goal for the race was to provide a daily update on the adventure while focusing on building a final documentary that could deliver a positive and inspiring message for the audience, despite the result in the race.

It was the first time we (Elisa and I) worked together, so we decided to keep things simple and effective. The race itself is a constant challenge in logistics, where access to data, electricity, or communications is always a constant struggle.

During the race, I had to mix my filming/editing time with lots of driving and helping the support team.

The conditions during the race were quite good, and Elisa could cover huge distances in the air, which meant the ground crew had to stay on the road for long periods of time, trying to find the most efficient way to catch up with her while navigating the complex valleys and crossings of the Pyrenees.

Elisa managed to arrive at the finish as the first woman ever in the X-PYR race, after covering 465 km in the air and 147 km on the ground in 5 intense, super-hot days. This ending closed the whole story in the most fantastic way.

In terms of filming and editing “dailies” on the road, the main challenge was to keep things up to date in a “one-man-band” setup. The key to this was to have a good understanding of the sport and to know which moments one could miss and which others could be decisive for the story. Managing all this while driving for 6–7 hours per day was one of the main difficulties I faced during the race.

Building the documentary was, fortunately, a slower-paced and rewarding process. Because Elisa’s agenda was full after the race, we decided to record an interview right after the end of the race to capture her fresh feelings and reflections. We didn’t want to focus too much on numbers and opted to step away from the “pure performance” talks and dive more into the feelings, the lessons, and the moments that made this race so unique for Elisa.

Following her way of communicating and her spirit, the message to deliver was clear: leave the excuses at home and do it. Dare to start and find out what the adventure brings.

The result is a documentary over 15 minutes long that captures the essence of the race and Elisa’s experience in it. An inspiring story that shows that, despite the excuses she could have had not to start this race, trusting herself and her skills made her write her name in the history books of paragliding Hike & Fly races.