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Tom 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]
Tom de Dorlodot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 June 1985 |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation(s) | Professional paraglider pilot and sailor |
| Website | http://www.thomasdedorlodot.com/ |
Biography edit
In 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]
Between 2014 and 2016 de Dorlodot suffered a trilogy of accidents. In 2014 he broke his back in a paragliding accident while crossing the Adriatic – he successfully fought his way back to a full recovery, and completed the journey. A year later he broke his ankle and required rescuing from a steep face during the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps. The year after he severed a finger while rock climbing in Greece.
Tom studied communication at IHECS in Brussels and has a masters in photography and movie directing. He is the founder of SEARCH Projects, a production company specializing in sport and adventure documentaries. His films have won many awards. They include the 2013 Karakoram Highway, 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[13] 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 authored the book, 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 Jack and Leonor.
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.
- ^ Delfosse, Benoît (2021-04-01), Fly Spiti (Documentary, Adventure, Sport), Search Production, retrieved 2023-02-07