Thomas de Dorlodot (born 20 June 1985) is a professional adventurer, paraglider pilot and public speaker.[1][2] Born in Belgium, he is known for his exploratory journeys around the world, flying remote areas by paraglider and paramotor in places such as Pakistan, Madagascar and French Polynesia.[3]
Thomas de Dorlodot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 June 1985 |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation(s) | Professional paraglider pilot and sailor |
| Website | http://www.thomasdedorlodot.com/ |
Biography
editIn 2011 he broke the Asian and Himalayan paragliding distance record with a flight of 226 km in 10 hours[4] and in 2022 he made a pioneering freeflight around the Karakoram mountains of Muztagh Tower, K2, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum[5] of approximately 120 km.[6] As a sailor he has crossed the Atlantic three times, once solo. He has also competed in the Red Bull X-Alps, the biannual adventure race, every edition since 2007, which sees competitors hike and fly a route around the Alps over the course of 12 days.
Other notable firsts and exploratory flights include:
- The first paraglider flight from Machu Picchu, Peru, 2008. De Dorlodot was arrested afterwards.[7]
- The first paramotor flight above the ruins of Tikal, Guatemala, 2010.[8]
- The first crossing of New Zealand's Southern Alps by hike and fly with Ferdinand Van Schelven in 2013.[9]
- The first solo hike and fly crossing of the Pyrenees from Hondarribia to Cap de Creus in 13 days in 2013.[10]
- The first hike and fly crossing of Colombia from Cali to Medellín.[11]
- Pioneering flights across Madagascar in 2016; after one, de Dorlodot landed in a minefield.[12]
De Dorlodot studied communication at IHECS in Brussels and has a masters in photography and movie directing. He runs SEARCH Projects, a production company specializing in sport and adventure documentaries. His films include Karakoram Highway (2013),[13] directed by Olivier Boonjing, winning the public award and the best human adventure award at Coupe Icare Film Festival, and Fly Spiti, directed by Benoit Delfosse[14] winning Best Aerial Adventure Film at the International Air Film Festival 2019. De Dorlodot also produced three seasons of his own TV series, Explore, which was broadcast on the Belgian TV network RTL.
In 2016 he published L’aventure de la création d’entreprise, about the parallels between being an adventurer and an entrepreneur.
De Dorlodot is based in the Azores, where he lives with his wife Sofia Pineiro and two children.
References
edit- ^ "Thomas de Dorlodot, aventurier entrepreneur !". L'Éventail (in French). 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "À la rencontre de Thomas de Dorlodot, un businessman aventurier". So Soir (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "Sur terre, sur mer et dans les airs, avec le nomade moderne Thomas De Dorlodot". Metrotime (in French). 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Ewing, Ed (2011-06-08). "New record flight set in Karakoram". Cross Country Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ King, Marcus (2022-09-12). "Cross Country 234". Cross Country Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ l'actualité, Outside fr : l'aventure au coeur de (2022-09-28). "Parapente : comment Tom de Dorlodot s'est-il préparé pour voler sur les flancs du K2 ?". Outside.fr : l'aventure au coeur de l'actualité (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "Paragliding over Colombia". Red Bull. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "Paramotor Magazine, Issue No 24, April - May 2011". UKPPG. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ Greenland, James (2013-02-26). "Adventurers paraglide over the South Island". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ externe, Contribution. "Illégal mais superbe". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "A high-efficiency hike-and-fly in Colombia". Red Bull. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "Explore by Tom de Dorlodot". Télé 2 semaines (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "Karakoram Highway". International Air Film Festival. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Delfosse, Benoît (2021-04-01), Fly Spiti (Documentary, Adventure, Sport), Search Production, retrieved 2023-02-07