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.

STEP BY STEP

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

Opening Shot

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

WHAT’S ON

TURKEY GOES ALL IN

EPIC IN FRANCE

NEED TO KNOW: COUPE ICARE 2024

IN BRIEF

K2 FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME • Four pilots caught the ultimate weather window on K2 this year – and flew from the summit.

ON LAUNCH WITH MAX LOIDL

UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

BACK IN THE DAY

ENDURANCE WORLDS 2024 • France clean up as new competition format aims to create airtime friendly “Pac-Man in the sky”

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS LIZ DENGLER (NOT) LIKE RIDING A BIKE

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

HOW TO: STAY SAFE AROUND POWER LINES • Staying alert to power lines is a key part of learning to fly XC.

THE LONG GAME GAVIN MCCLURG TAKING THE AESTHETIC LINE

PROJECT VOLCANO • Paul Guschlbauer on how to go volcano hopping in remote Alaska

LETTER FROM… AMERICA GALEN KIRKPATRICK ‘IT WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER FOREVER’

DESTINATION: MANASLU NEPAL

FLY, HIKE, CLIMB, REPEAT… • Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel set the worlds of alpinism and paragliding on fire by climbing-and-flying all 82 4,000m mountains in the Alps in less than eight weeks. They share their remarkable X-Peaks story

PETER VON KÄNEL

CHOOSING THE WING • Both pilots flew a mid EN-B – here’s how and why they made that choice

The end of the world • The wild Atlantic coast of Portugal offers year-round sun, sea and flying along its length. Close to its southern tip there are secret spots that make the perfect flying hideaway for souls who like to soar.

아시아 Winging it in Asia • Fed up with the winter weather at home, Norwegians Merethe Leirvik and Ole Dalen headed to Asia for three months to recharge, reset and fly

The Devil’s Work • Jacques Paul-Stefani achieves a lifetime ambition by flying from Capu Tafunatu, a unique mountain in the heartland of Corsica

IBERIAN FLYOVER • “I went from zero to doing it.” Nico Aubert shares the highs and lows of mid-summer vol-bivouac flying

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

New Gear

IN BRIEF

THE HARNESS FILES: PART 3 • Competition harnesses are developed for maximum performance – but does that sacrifice safety or user-friendliness? Bastienne Wentzel takes a look

INSIGHT: SKY AND THE MERLIN • Sky Paragliders recently brought in new blood from young company Drift, attracted by their two-line EN-C Merlin. Erwin Voogt and Bastienne Wentzel find out more

INSIGHT: NEO SUSPENDER 2.0 • Designed for cross country with input from Maxime Pinot, we take a look at this high-end XC harness. By Charlie King

STAND-UP RESCUE SYSTEM

THE RUCKSACK

CHRIGEL MAURER AND PETER VON KÄNEL • The two adventure pilots on their X-Peaks gear – and what really mattered