Cross Country

Cross Country is the world’s leading voice for hang gliding, paragliding and paramotoring pilots. Ten times a year, our magazine content reflects our obsession with flying, and we express it by packing each issue with the most imaginative, inspirational photography and writing we can lay our hands on.

THE FREE-FLIGHT THREAD

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

Opening Shot

IN THE CORE •  People, news and insight from around the free-flying world

POLAND’S RECORD-BREAKING SUMMER

WHAT’S ON

ALEX PLONER WINS FOURTH WORLDS GOLD

ON LAUNCH WITH ELIYA ZEMMOUR

IN THE COCKPIT LUKE NICOL • The bi-wingual pro tandem pilot on what he uses to get around

STAN’S THE MAN IN AKSARAY

BACK IN THE DAY

THE BEST OF OUR SPORT • Head in the Clouds is the latest book from Cross Country. The book’s co-editor Hugh Miller tells us about it

FLYING IQ • Helping you fly better with expert advice and know-how

HOW TO STEP UP WHEN IT MATTERS

PRO TIPS: HOW TO PLAN YOUR HIKE-AND-FLY • “It’s not all about the gear.” Tarquin Cooper gets some advice on how to hike up and fly down

MY SEVEN STAGES OF MENTAL GROWTH

GUST FRONTS FROM AFAR

SATELLITE EYE • Looking down on our ever-changing Earth

HOW TO PACK FOR A WEEKEND AWAY

DESTINATION: CAPU ROSSU

KARAKORAM GOLD • After flying in Pakistan last year Jake Holland returned in June this summer with Antoine Girard, Will Sim, Veso Ovcharov and Medhi Bidault. There for seven weeks of XC and combo days of skiing, flying and climbing Jake had a personal goal – to repeat John Silvester’s classic 120km ‘Magic Line’ by flying over 7,000m Spantik and along the remote Chogo Lungma Glacier

A hymn to a persistent dream • Violeta Jimenez fell in love with flying – with the sport, its people, and the places it can take you. This is her love letter to free flight

“I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED” • Sixty years ago this month Australian hang gliding pioneer John Dickenson, who died in July aged 89, designed and flew his revolutionary machine for the very first time. Ed Ewing tells the story

KITLIST • All the latest reviews, gear and technology for free flying

KITLIST

IN BRIEF

SKYWALK MINT • Skywalk’s fresh two-line Mint (EN C) has replaced their spicy Cayenne.

TRIPLE SEVEN Q-LIGHT 3 • For talented XC pilots this new three-line EN-C is an absolute first-class speed machine, says Brian Steele

BOGDANFLY COCOON V2 • Looking for a lightweight pod harness? Try this one on for size.

WOODY VALLEY TRANSALP 2 • The promise is a hike-and-fly harness that has storage and also significant in-flight comfort. Marcus King clips in

SALOMON S/LAB SKYWAY • These specialist hike-and-fly shoes have been designed with world champion Maxime Pinot. Charlie King goes for a run

BUDGET ALTERNATIVE: DECATHLON EVADICT TR2

MY FLYING LIFE CJ BROCKWAY • The president of the Cloudbase Foundation on what matters most