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.

SUCH A PERFECT DAY

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Country

Gallery

NEED TO KNOW • News and insight from around the free-flying world

HOT SHOTS

BIG DAYS IN THE AIR

BORNES TO FLY 2022

ADVANCE’S NEW ALPINE TEAM

NAKED PILOT TIM ALONGI

THE BUTTERMERE BASH • This unique and much-loved free-flight festival celebrated its 15th anniversary this year – Jack Sheard was there

FULL BLOOM

IN THE MIX AT KÖSSEN

BACK IN THE DAY

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

HOW TO SWOOP FLARE • Greg Hamerton has been flying and teaching for 30 years. He is an instructor, reviewer and film maker. This year he is competing in the X-Pyr again. He runs the Online Flight Academy for progressing pilots at flywithgreg.com

WHEN VALLEY WINDS BITE • Adrien Colombié and friends were caught out by a strong valley wind in the Alps. He shares what he learned

DEALING WITH STRONG WIND • Caught out by the valley wind?

THE MARTIGNY VALLEY WIND

MIDSUMMER MAGIC • Gavin McClurg is a Red Bull X-Alps pilot, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. He hosts the Cloudbase Mayhem podcast at cloudbasemayhem.com

FULLY MEDICATED

RIDGETOP ACCELERATION • Meteorologist Honza Rejmanek has been a paraglider pilot since 1993. He has competed in five Red Bull X-Alps, and came third in 2009. He lives in California. Got a question for him? Email editor@xcmag.com

SATELLITE EYE • Looking down at Mars from the sky above

OVERLOADING ON PPG TRIKES • Jeff Goin is author of the Powered Paragliding Bible and producer of the Master Powered Paragliding DVDs. A commercial airline pilot he lives in Florida and blogs at footflyer.com

In The Mind’s Eye • Photographer Adi Geisegger’s search for the perfect shot of the perfect stabi-touch all came together on a two-day trip in the Swiss Alps, with friends Michi Maurer and Melanie Weber

A WEEK AWAY • Whether it’s first-time SIV or coming back after a lay-off there is nothing better than a dedicated course to focus the mind and sharpen the skills. Surrounded by like-minded pilots and with nothing else to focus on your progression can only go one way – up. This spring these three writers and pilots took three different courses – here’s what they learnt.

LIFETIME LEARNING • Whatever you want to do, there’s a course for it

The DREAM CATCHER • Film maker Bastian Brüsecke learned to fly because he wanted to get closer to the desert world he loves. He tells Ed Ewing about his most recent trip to the Arabian Peninsula

Everest South Col • Pierre Carter has been slowly ticking off the seven summits for the last two decades. In May he faced an agonising decision on Everest – to climb to the summit or fly from 8,000m. Matt Warren finds out what he did

‘IT’S VERY GOOD NEWS – WE CAN FLY FROM 8,000M’

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

IN BRIEF

SONATA 2

VOLT 4

RU-BI 3

AMARUK

UP HPR SERIES

SKY BLOWBAG

IN BRIEF

GIN AVID

PHI MAESTRO 2

TRIPLE SEVEN QUEEN 3

WINDTECH BIOS

OZONE SWITCH • Ozone’s modular harness comes in two modes – slick and complete. Lawrie Noctor tries it out

GIN GENIE X-LITE • "You have three wishes…" Marcus King flies this work of art from Gin Gliders

FINAL GLIDE