À 4 meters above sea level, 27 meters above the summit of Mont Blanc, Julien Roux has achieved what few dare to imagine: walking between two hot air balloons on a wide strap of only 2,5 cmThis dizzying aerial crossing has earned him today the world record for highline altitude, a technical, human… and technological feat.
From fall to flight
Julien Roux, originally from Lyon and living in Annecy for a decade, saw his life turned upside down at 18 following a serious accident during a freestyle skiing competition. During his convalescence, he discovered slacklining, initially as a rehabilitation tool. What began as therapy quickly became a consuming passion, leading him to explore the dizzying heights of highlining.
In August 2022, he participated in "Project 2700" in Auvergne, where eight French highliners set a new world record by crossing a 2-meter slackline stretched between two mountains in Puy-de-Dôme. Julien completed his crossing at night, between 710:1 a.m. and 30:4 a.m., in extreme conditions, describing this experience as "the biggest fight of [his] life."
On November 15, 2024, he pushed the boundaries again by walking on a 20-meter rope stretched between two hot air balloons at an altitude of 4 meters, setting a new highline world record. Inspired by the film "Up," this project, the result of two years of preparation, symbolizes his quest for personal growth and innovation in a rapidly growing discipline.
Julien Roux embodies exceptional resilience, transforming a personal ordeal into a series of dizzying exploits, and continues to inspire with his determination to push the boundaries of what is possible.
The irony of fate? This young man, once subject to vertige, learned to transform it into an ally. From straps stretched between two trees to aerial bridges in the Alps, he rewrote his relationship with the void, step by step. And on November 15, 2024, he literally walked in the sky.
20 meters, a suspended eternity
The line was only 20 meters long. But at that altitude, every step was a challenge. -14 ° C, gusty winds, lack of oxygen : unforgiving conditions. Hanging from his harness, Julien moved forward, focused, between two swinging balloons, defying gravity and fear.
“In heaven, it is humility that keeps you alive.”
DJI : eyes in the sky, a partner on the line
This feat was also achieved thanks to the decisive contribution of technology. DJI. From the preparation phase, drones played a crucial role. The DJI Flip, in particular, has established itself as a daily training tool for Julien. Ultra-light and secure, it allowed visualize its trajectories, repeat the gestures, and anticipate the behavior of the line at height.
“The DJI Flip has become my suspended mirror. It shows me what my senses, caught up in adrenaline, might ignore.”
In the field, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro allowed to position the strap between the hot air balloons with unparalleled precision, a job that would have previously taken several days. For the images, DJI brought out the big guns: breathtaking aerial shots, new angles in the onboard camera with the Osmo Action 5 Pro, and an perfect stability in the nacelles thanks to the DJI Ronin 4D, despite the turbulence.
More than a record: a message
This project was not just a sporting challenge. It was about build a vision, push the limitsand of share a story of personal transformationFrom accident to ascent, Julien Roux embodies a form of spectacular resilience, transcended by technology and the poetry of emptiness.
« This isn't just a record. It's the result of a journey, of every step I've learned to take despite fear. »
What's Next ?
Julien doesn't intend to stop there. Other projects, even more extreme and poetic, are in the works. He's already dreaming of other celestial lines, ever higher, ever more beautiful. And one thing is certain: DJI drones, and particularly the flip, will continue to fly alongside him.
DJI, the silent engine for extreme exploits
For several years, DJI establishes itself as a key player in the world of extreme sports, not only as a visual capture tool, but also as technology partner in its own right. Whether in base jumping, mountaineering, surfing or highlining, its drones and cameras are revolutionizing the way athletes train, plan and share their performances. Thanks to models like the DJI Flip for preparation in a controlled environment, or the Mavic 3 Pro For technical installations in inaccessible areas, DJI offers adventurers tools that eliminate logistical barriers, optimize security and allow capturing the essence of their exploits with cinematic precision.
This role as facilitator and narrator of the extreme places DJI at the heart of a new era where technology does not replace humans, it magnifies them.
Patrick Koune
Photos: Julien Roux
