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.

MAGNUM 4

HIKE-AND-SMILE

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

OPENING SHOT

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

XCONTEST • More than 30,000 pilots log their XC flights in XContest. Here are this season’s winners

SEB BENZ WINS XCONTEST 2024

WHAT’S ON

BAPTISTE’S WORLD CLASS WORLD CUPS

RED BULL X-ALPS 2025 ROOKIES REVEALED

THÉO DE BLIC WINS THE LOT IN ACRO SEASON 2024

ON LAUNCH WITH MARCELO SANCHEZ

THE SHV’S GOLDEN JUBILEE

BACK IN THE DAY

BRAZIL DOMINATES PANAMS • Team USA’s Nick Greece reports from the leading gaggle at the FAI Pan-American Paragliding Championships

JARED SCHEID WINS XREDROCKS

MY KINDA VOL-BIV

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

WHY CAN I NOT FIND A GLIDER IN MY SIZE?

HOW TO: PEE IN THE AIR • Hugh Miller explains how to stay hydrated, focused and relaxed in the air

‘IF YOU ARE GOING TO FLY LONG XC, USE A SHE-P’ • Joanna Di Grigoli on the benefits of using a She-P versus adult nappies

TOP TIPS: STAYING HYDRATED

UNDERSTANDING WIND GUSTS

SATELLITE EYE • Looking down on our ever-changing Earth

LEARNING FROM MY ‘FAILURES’

SRS ST ANDRÉ-LES-ALPES • The final stop on this year’s Sport-class Racing Series was St André-les-Alpes in south-east France

DESTINATION: BIR, INDIA

‘It’s the freedom to explore’ • After a decade chasing it “pretty hard” the globe-trotting pilot Kinga Masztalerz looks back on some wild adventures and why today – and the future – is all about beautiful lines

HOW TO NAIL YOUR TOP-LANDINGS

KINGA’S STORY

THE PARAKITES ARE HERE • “Dive, swoop, climb, soar…” Launched in a blaze of high-octane glory in 2022 parakites have now definitely come of age – attracting new pilots from disciplines like skydiving and kiting as well as paraglider pilots who want to go high-wind soaring at the coast. Bastienne Wentzel dials in…

SIX PRO TIPS • Parakite instructor Ali Andrews on how to do it

TRIED AND TESTED: WINGS YOU CAN FLY NOW

THE DOLOMITI SUPERFLY 2024 • François Montuori takes us inside the heart of an elite hike-and-fly race – this year’s five-day Dolomiti Superfly race in the Italian Dolomites

True Colours • Dimitris Kolliakos headed to Albania’s Narta Lagoon on the Adriatic coast to fly the unique Vlorë salt flats

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

COUPE ICARE 2024

New paragliders and harnesses

The Supair Skymate system

INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY

ALSO SPOTTED IN THE GEAR TENTS

MY FLYING LIFE MARTIN JOVANOSKI • The paragliding guide and competition pilot on what matters most