Extreme Athlete Reached Seven Highest State Peaks in 111 Hours
Extreme athlete Christian Bruckner completed his Seven-Summits-Austria-Challenge on Monday faster than planned: In just 111 hours - four days and 15 hours instead of five days - he climbed the seven highest peaks of Austria in all nine federal states. He completed the route from the start in Vorarlberg to the finish in Vienna by bicycle. "Live your dreams - never give up," the 45-year-old stated as his motto and motivation for this challenge.
Seven-Summits-Austria-Challenge began in Vorarlberg
The Linz professional firefighter started on June 12 in Vorarlberg from the foot of the Piz Buin (3,312 m), the next day the Großvenediger in Salzburg (3,666 m) was on the agenda. On Saturday, the Großglockner (3,798 m) in Tyrol/Carinthia was next, on Sunday he climbed the Dachstein (2,995 m) in Upper Austria/Styria and on Monday for the finale, three peaks: the Schneeberg (2,076 m) in Lower Austria, the Geschriebenstein (882 m) in Burgenland, and the highest mountain in Vienna, the Hermannskogel (542 m).
"1,000 km, 20,000 meters of elevation and only five days, everything just has to fit. I had respect especially for the Großvenediger and the Großglockner, as these stages are very long and the altitude should not be underestimated. But no mountain is easy," admitted the 45-year-old. Additionally, the weather can change quickly and the long cycling with daily stages of 250 kilometers, sometimes with significant headwinds, makes the challenge "really extreme."
What Bruckner wants to achieve with the project
With his project, Bruckner, who comes from Wallsee in Lower Austria, wants to inspire more movement and motivate to athletic achievements, but also to present Austria's unique mountain world and raise awareness for sustainability and environmental protection.
His seven peaks in five days were tackled by the 45-year-old, who has also completed Ironman events in Austria and Hawaii, with the support of a dedicated team. In preparation, his good physical condition, which he has built up over the past years, helped him, among other things, through regular endurance training with 15 to 20 hours per week. In winter, Bruckner focuses on ski touring and cross-country skiing, in summer a lot of swimming, cycling, and running, as well as mountaineering and paragliding. And: "Strength and athletic training are, of course, a fixed part of the training all year round."
(APA/Red)
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