The conditions were perfect and the best paragliders of the Mont Blanc area knew it. They took off from Plaine Joux (1400m), Plan Praz Chamonix (2000m) and other spots around Mont Blanc like Champex in Switzerland. The target: use the thermal conditions to land on the Top of Mont Blanc. Last Wednesday was the day. They took off at 13.52h and 1.30h later they landed at the summit of the Mont Blanc... the fastest ascension ever without any mechanic help. At the end they were eleven paragliders to reach the summit, one in a tandem flight (a first one). "It was very hot. Not a lot of wind. The thermals were perfect", says Max Jeanpierre. The only time that this had been possible was in 2003, during the "Summer of the Canicule". That day, Laurent Valber, that works for Meteo France and a paraglider too, took off for a normal paragliding flight. The thermals were so strong that he found himself at 5000m high. The Mont Blanc was there, just 200m below. "We waited for this moment for six years. It was magic" says Max. The Paragliding World Champion Caroline Brille was also there, the first woman to do this. CURIOSITIES Denis Vesin, Caroline Brille (first woman), Julien Serré, Denis Cortella, Max Jeanpierre, Christophe Fulchiron, Eric Roussel, Lionel Pouzadoux, Julien Irrili, Laurent Valbert et Olivier Laugero (first in tandem) AUGUST 2003 On August 2003, seven paragliders had landed at the top of Mont Blanc (4810m). The only time it was done. Le Dauphiné
