Author: winguu

Nick Warren, communications manager for the Red Bull X-Alps in 2011, relives the decade-long history of the world’s toughest adventure race …read more
Source: Cross Country – International Free Flying Magazine

Looking for a secondhand, used or ex-demo paraglider? Want to find a secondhand hang glider or paramotor? SkyAds.aero is the new website for doing all that and more. …read more
Source: Cross Country – International Free Flying Magazine

One of the iconic pieces of Utah state history is currently being mined away and we are on the brink of losing a great treasure. Paragliding and Hang Gliding are ingrained in the history of Salt Lake and Utah County. Each year, this flying site brings thousands of visitors from all over the world and is frequently chosen to host both national and international Hang Gliding and Paragliding competitions. Images of hang gliders and paragliders are shown on underpasses and in state tourism commercials. These sports have transformed this entire neighborhood and they inspire people everyday. Walk down the street and take note of how many houses are occupied by pilots. If you live in either Salt lake or Utah county, this mining is also affecting your air quality by adding to the dust and pollution infiltrating the air. Finally, the Point of the Mountain serves as the catalyst for the air flow of both valleys. Change the mountain, you change the air flow, which expands our problem from local to global. Welcome to our site, we hope you will help preserve a part of Utah’s history so that it can be a valuable and viable part of Utah’s future.

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Source: US Paramotor News

Congratulations to Felix, Keiko and Kirsty who all finished on the podium in the first PWC of the 2013 season!
Porterville, South Africa delivered 6 out of 6 tasks. The first few days were difficult, with inversions and stable conditions, but it improved throughout the week to give some great flying at the end. Pepe Malecki was leading the competition on the last day, but then dropped to 10th overall after getting stuck on the course. Felix flew excellently all week, and finished strongly in the last task, just behind the task winner (Julian Wirtz) for a 2nd place overall, just 20 points behind the comp winner Andre Rainsford. Well done Felix! It is extremely rare for a pilot to stand on podiums in both acrobatic and cross country paragliding, and Felix is truly one of the most talented (and dedicated) pilots we have ever known.
Congratulations to Keiko …read more
Source: Ozone Paragliders

Two years ago we were privileged witness to the arrival of the Takoo 2 at the top of the world. On that occasion, the pilot Babu Sunuwar flew over the highest mountain of the world, Everest, piloting a light version of our tandem glider setting the world paragliding record of altitude. Historic!

From that point, we knew that flying higher would be almost impossible, but new goals were waiting us…On February the 7th, we lived another exciting event: the Nepali pilot Babu Sunuwar, again with his ultra light Takoo2, brought us from Everest to the highest summit in Africa, Kilimanjaro while he was taking part of the Wings of Kilimanjaro. Superb!

As a result, Takoo 2 has achieved two incredible records and it has proved to rise to the occasion. It has demonstrated being a glider with excellent handling in extreme conditions as well as maximum performance in order to enjoy freedom and security in tandem flights.

Congratulations Babu! We thank you for trusting us and for bringing us to the world summit. “Next destination?” We will keep a close eye on your new adventures!

Source: Niviuk

Ozone / X-Rid’Air  Team Pilots Alex Jofresa and Martin Bonis recently climbed the Escarra Route on the Aiguille du Chardonnet in the Mt Blanc Massif. The duo climbed snow and ice to the summit, where they launched together flying XXLites, and flew back to the refuge near the glacier. They then picked up their skis, and launched again to fly back to Chamonix for a drink. The two-stage air descent took just minutes, and as anyone who has climbed much in the mountains knows, was infinitely more fun than walking down

Alex reported that the launch site at the summit of the mountain was very small, snowy, and highly technical. He said that without the XXLite, which “inflates” (rises overhead, we mean) effortlessly, and begins flying so soon (due to the slow trim speed), the launch would have been very difficult or impossible. Therefore, they chose the right tool for the job.

Nice work guys, that looks like an excellent project. Cheers from all the Team.

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Source: Ozone Paragliders

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Source: US Paramotor News

The one-stop-shop for all things paragliding in New Zealand went live on 7 March. …read more
Source: Cross Country – International Free Flying Magazine

Alain Zoller and the team at Air Turquoise have issued a statement saying that they have made a ‘decision to stop immediately certification of “Gun” competition gliders’. Quite what this means for the competition scene until the new competition class comes into force in 2014 is anyone’s guess. But, for now it seems that it […] …read more
Source: Cross Country – International Free Flying Magazine

We devote this issue’s Gallery to the photography from this brilliant high-level competition …read more
Source: Cross Country – International Free Flying Magazine