Annecy Mondial 2014, the multi-class hang gliding world championships held in France from 22 June to 5 July, saw some of the world’s best hang glider pilots flying in a perfect arena. Antoine Boisselier and Christophe Tong Viet were on hand to capture the action and the atmosphere of the competition, focusing on each class […] …read more
Stan Radzikowski: Naked Pilot in issue 154
Stan Radzikowski is one of 25 pilots competing in this year’s X-Pyr – the X-Alps-style hike-and-fly race across the Spanish Pyrenees. A tandem pilot and vol bivouac pilot whose first love is flying in Nepal, Stan is typical of the lower-key X-Pyr racers. No sponsored vehicle and high-gloss for him, oh no: The support vehicle is […] …read more
Follow your Instinct: Icaro’s Instinct TE, EN B
The EN B class is crowded with wings, and it takes something remarkable to mark one out. In the latest issue of Cross Country magazine Marcus King takes Icaro’s Instinct TE out into the summer thermals of southern France. And as he explains, one of the things that makes this wing different from its brothers […] …read more
Bruce Goldsmith’s Icaristics: There’s an app for that
The tech scene is bubbling over with new ideas for paragliding and hang gliding. Pilots have choice like never before – do you go for an all-in instrument for a wallet’s worth of beer tokens, or do you save the cash and hook up your smartphone to a widget and spiral up to base with ‘Kerching!’ […] …read more
Fly 100km in the mountains: Jon Chambers on planning your route
Jon Chambers lives and flies in the Alps where he is as happy flying a 30km vol-visa tour as he is planning out a 200km triangle to make the best of the epic days. His mountain flying column is essential reading for those who want to fly further, higher, faster and for longer in mountains […] …read more
Free lunch? Andy Pag on the G-Force Trainer
In the latest issue of Cross Country magazine Andy Pag goes for a spin on the G-Force Trainer – a fairground like device that spins you round at speed that is designed to help you understand and deal with high-G situations in paragliding. He writes: As the motor spins up again, every muscle I have is […] …read more
On location: Perfect places to stay around the world
“There’s this one place in Tapalpa, Mexico…” Ask any pilot who’s travelled where their favourite place to stay is – the place that ticks all the boxes of being close to launch (on launch…), laid-back, nice food, easy on the wallet, perfect weather, beautiful thermals… – and you’ll send them into raptures about their secret spots. In issue […] …read more
‘Paragliders make it possible’ – A Magic Carpet Ride
The wonder of free flight never wears off. Goals might change, distances might increase, and our horizons expand, but the magic of taking off from a hillside and flying cross country remains the same. In Cross Country issue 154 Hugh Miller touches down after a 200km flight across the English countryside and puts pen to […] …read more
It’s an El Nino year – What’s going to happen?
It’s an El Nino year, so what does that mean for free flight sites around the world? Hotter in Brazil or wetter? Dryer in Australia or windier? Where’s the best place to go to take advantage of the upside – and where to avoid to stay away from the down? Honza Rejmanek is Cross Country’s meteorologist […] …read more
Advance’s new Sigma 9: Meet the team
Advance’s new Sigma 9 was released at the start of the Alpine summer, and Cross Country was there to greet the arrival of this new kid on the block. We headed to Thun in Switzerland and the Advance HQ to get an up close and personal introduction with the latest Sports class glider from the […] …read more